Reading Buccaneers Announce 2010 Brass Staff
The Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps announced today its complete brass design and instructional staff for the 2010 season.
“We’ve put together a world-class brass staff,” said Staff Coordinator Carl Ruocco. “We will build on the championship-caliber brass program the corps has enjoyed in recent years. Our 2010 horn book will be challenging, exciting, emotional and a lot of fun,” said Ruocco.
“We are thrilled to welcome Minesh Shah to the staff,” said Corps Director James C. Gruber. “Our members benefited from Minesh’s talents when he was with us in 2009, and we’re looking forward to having him with us full-time this year.
The corps also thanks Michael Britcher for his exemplary service to the Buccaneers brass program for the past four seasons. “Mike has made significant contributions to the success and quality of this drum corps,” said Gruber. “All of us wish him, his wife Michele and their newborn daughter Gwen all the best, and look forward to having him with us as his busy schedule permits.”
Jay Bocook returns to the Buccaneers for his third season as Brass Arranger. A celebrated composer and arranger, Bocook is currently Director of Athletic Bands at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he previously served as Director of Bands. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman and a Master of Music from Northeast Louisiana University. He has written for many ensembles, including school bands at all levels and the United States Marine Band, as well as the nine-time Drum Corps International world champion Cadets, where he also currently serves as Brass Arranger.
Gino Cipriani returns to the Buccaneers as Brass Caption Head for his fourth consecutive year. From 1990 to 1999, he was a brass instructor for the DCI world champion Blue Devils. He served the Cadets as Brass Caption Head in 2000 and 2001, and held the same post for the Magic of Orlando in 2002 and 2003. He held that post for the six-time DCI world champion Santa Clara Vanguard in 2004 and returned to the Cadets as Brass Caption Supervisor in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. He will continue his DCI work with the Cadets in 2010, as well as Jersey Surf, where he was named Director of Brass Education. His DCA resume includes work with the Brigadiers and Hawthorne Caballeros. He joined the Buccaneers brass staff in 2007, and has led the corps to two brass caption titles.
Minesh Shah joins the Buccaneers as Assistant Caption Head and Tuba Technician. A native of New Jersey, Shah is a 2003 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in trombone performance. He is currently completing work towards his Master’s degree in trombone performance at Montclair State University, where he expects to graduate in 2010. Shah’s marching experience includes five years with the New York Skyliners. He has taught the Skyliners and the Hawrthorne Caballeros. Minesh has been a clinician and consultant in the northeast for many years, most recently Smyrna HS marching band in Delaware. Minesh holds the principal trombone seat with the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band. An active freelance trombone performer and private teacher, Shah is currently band director at the Jefferson Arts Academy in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
John Molloy returns to the Buccaneers staff for his third season as Trumpet Technician. Molloy has marched with the Sunrisers (1998-2004), the Bushwackers (2000), the Hawthorne Caballeros (2005-2006) and the Cadets (2001-2003). Prior to joining the Buccaneers staff in 2008, he was a clinician and teacher of trumpet, soprano and brass for the Sunrisers (2004) and the Santa Clara Vanguard (2005). John has been working with The Montville (NJ) High School Mustang Marching Band (2006-2009) and Smyrna (DE) Regiment of Red marching band in 2009. Molloy is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in music performance at Montclair State University, NJ, where for the last four years he has represented Montclair State as the lead trumpet for the New Jersey Intercollegiate Jazz Band. Molloy is a frequently performing freelance musician and private trumpet teacher.
Adam Freeman returns to the Buccaneers for his third season as Baritone/Euphonium Technician. Freeman holds a Bachelor of Music with an education certification and euphonium concentration from William Patterson University. Freeman is currently Director of Bands at Hackettstown (NJ) Middle School. He also serves as Assistant Director of the Hackettstown High School Marching Band. Freeman was a marching member of the Hawthorne Caballeros (2000-2003) and the Cadets (2004-2005). He was with the Hawthorne Caballeros as a brass technician in 2006 and assistant brass caption head in 2007 before joining the Buccaneers in 2008. Freeman has also taught, written and consulted for numerous bands in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is a marching band adjudicator for the U.S. Scholastic Bands Association.
Dan McGrogan returns to the Buccaneers for his sixth season, as Mellophone Technician. 2010 marks McGrogan’s 26th consecutive year in the drum corps activity. He began his drum corps career with the Steel City Ambassadors, and then continued with the Pittsburgh Golden Lancers, Westshoremen, Bushwackers, Buccaneers and Hawthorne Caballeros. McGrogan earned his undergraduate degree in music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University. He is currently band director at Chambersburg Area (PA) Middle School, where he has taught since 1997. He also coaches several student brass quintets and ensembles in Chambersburg and is a member of the Hagerstown (MD) Municipal Band.
On Sunday, November, 29, 2009, the Buccaneers will host Membership Day 2010, at Twin Valley High School, Elverson, PA. Registration begins at 11:00. All persons interested in learning more about the Reading Buccaneers and being part of the 2010 corps are invited to attend. Please visit the corps’ web site at www.readingbuccaneers.org for more information, or email Membership Manager Karen Wildonger at membership [dot] manager [at] readingbuccaneers [dot] org with questions.
Founded in 1957, the Buccaneers are a non-profit, education-oriented musical organization. The Buccaneers are a charter member of Drum Corps Associates and won the first-ever DCA world championships in 1965. Additional titles followed in 1968, 1979, 1980 and, most recently, in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 — all five undefeated championship seasons. In 2009 the Buccaneers set DCA records for most consecutive victories and most consecutive world championships and posted the highest score in DCA championships history, a 99.025 out of a possible 100.
The Buccaneers are sponsored in part by Ray A. Master American Legion Post 217, Topton, Pennsylvania
For more information, visit www.readingbuccaneers.org.
