WDCHOF Member Marella Earns Stage Award Nominations

World Drum Corps Hall of Fame member Joe Marrella has been named a member of the Cavalcade of Bands Hall of Fame, and could be called to the podium three times when the Perry Award winners for New Jersey community theater are announced in Boston on September 17, 2006. He has been nominated in three categories: best lead actor in a play (Same Time, Next Year) in New Jersey, and best director of a play in New Jersey. In addition, the entire production of Same Time, Next Year was nominated for best production of a play.

The formal award ceremony is structured like the Tony Awards, with performances by nominated productions. More than 500 evaluations of theater productions were completed during the 2005/2006-theater season. Nominees in various categories received the highest ratings out of the 500 plus evaluations.

The Perry Awards presented by the New Jersey Association of Community Theaters (NJACT) are named in honor of William Perry Morgan, a gifted director, actor, composer and musician who was a driving force in New Jersey community theater for many years. NJACT is a non-profit corporation dedicated to recognizing achievements by artists of all disciplines involved in the performance and production of community theater in New Jersey.

Marrella is currently the Educational Co-ordinator for the Cavalcade of Bands. The Cavalcade of Bands is a non-profit organization composed of member schools which compete on the interscholastic level. The motto of the organization is “Education through Musical Involvement.” Cavalcade officials believe that controlled competition can be a positive educational tool and music education can greatly enhance general education and life skills.

The Cavalcade provides competitive opportunities with marching band field competitions in the fall and indoor guard, twirlers, and drumline competitions in winter. Non-competitive jazz band activities also occur in the winter. Individual shows and contests are sponsored by member schools with championship contests held at the conclusion of the season.

Marrella was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1989. He has judged musical performances for more than 20 years. He has been asked to adjudicate groups in all parts of the United States and Canada. He was an individual snare drum champion and has also instructed national champion percussion ensembles. He has consulted with music groups and conducted seminars for music educators throughout the country.

Further, he has presented training sessions for judges’ associations and assisted in the evaluation of judges. In Pennsylvania, he has taught workshops at West Chester University for music educators as they earn credits for their advanced degrees. He is a former member of the Advisory Council for the University of the Arts, located in Philadelphia.

He has also written articles for music publications that have been distributed to 35,000 high schools in the United States. He has directed 14 theatrical musicals, including A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, The Wiz, Grease, and Bye Bye Birdie. He is also a nominator for the Barrymore Awards in Philadelphia. He has served the past three years as a television color commentator for the broadcast of various competitions involving music groups.

Since its founding in 1976 by the late Vince Bruni, of Rochester, NY, membership in the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame has grown from six charter members to more than 400 regular and associate members from the United States and Canada, who have contributed to the activity across North America, Europe, Africa and Japan. This year’s induction ceremonies will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Rochester NY on September 2, during the 2006 DCA championship tournament weekend.

Collin Campbell, Dominic J. Fulginiti, Jerry Kelsey, Vincent Monocelli, Ken Norman and Richard Price will be inducted as regular members of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame. Tom Peashey is the President’s Award winner for his long-term contributions. He will be inducted during the same ceremony.

More information about the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame is available at www.worlddrumcorpshof.org/