New York Skyliners Alumni Announce 2015 Staff, Music
The 2015 season is upon us and the New York Skyliners Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps have been busy since DCA/Rochester planning for it. The corps is prepared to return to yesteryear and our roots with more of the recognizable sound and feel of NY, to a simpler time when drum corps was just like we remembered it – “Good ‘ol Fashion Drum Corps”. With major changes to the instructional staff and a revamped music direction, 2015 looks to be an exciting year for SKY Alumni.
The 2014 season marked the end of an era for Skyliner’s percussion. Wes Myers (WDCHoF/NJDCHoF), long time drum arranger/instructor for the New York Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps and the Skyliners Alumni, decided to call it a career due to increased family obligations. Wes joined SKY in 1965 and marched until 1970. He then arranged/taught SKY’s drum charts from 1971 to 1984. He has been with SKY Alumni since the inception in 1994 and in addition, also taught the Melrose Black Hawks. Taking over the reins of this talented line is Jack Murray (NJDCHoF-2014) as caption head and his lead instructor Joe Fontana (NJDCHoF-2014). Jack and Joe have made a name for themselves over recent years by entertaining many with their outrageous I&E percussion duets and ensembles. The drum line is left in very capable hands with this dynamic duo.
This past season also saw the retirement departure of long time brass instructor/affiliate Bill Moore (NJDCHoF/BHoF) due to his busy T’ai Chi teaching schedule (he is a registered instructor) and the desire to spend more time with his family and grandchildren. Bill was a founding member of Skyliners Alumni and over the years, has taught many other regional alumni corps such as Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, Brooklyn United, and Melrose Black Hawks. Taking over the helm of the horn line is Thomas McAndrew (WDCHoF/NJDCHoF-2014). As a native, “Boston Tom” started his brass career with the Saint Kevin’s Emerald Knights and then the Boston Crusaders. His senior career includes Reilly Raiders, New York Skyliners, and Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights. In the past he has arranged/taught for the New York Skyliners and Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights.
In addition to these brass/percussion changes, Director Rich Evans announces the 2015 creative/instructional staff as follows:
CREATIVE CONSULTANTS:
Carl Ruocco
Brad Coleman
PROGRAM COORDINATOR:
Greg Cinzio
MUSIC/BRASS:
Tom McAndrew – Caption head
Pete Chez – Horn Tech, bari line
Brad Coleman – horn tech
Tommy Martin – Brass Consultant
Al Chez – Brass Consultant
VISUAL:
Paul ‘Peanut’ Peregrim – Caption head
Frank Rogers – Visual Tech
Greg Cinzio – Visual Tech
GUARD:
Brenda Peregrim – Caption Head
PERCUSSION:
Jack Murray – Caption head
Joe Fontana – Lead Percussion Tech
Bob ‘Jomba’ O’Conner – Percussion Tech
Wes Myers – Percussion Consultant
Skyliners Alumni will continue to embrace the tradition of performing the legendary charts of our master arranger – Herman “HY” Dreitzer. With that, the planned musical program, although not totally solidified as of this writing, looks to include such unmistakable arrangements as Hy’s early (1960) version of “Slaughter on 10th Avenue” as an Opener, the full (1963) rendition of “Alabama Jubilee”, a center piece concert of the ever popular “Elk’s Parade”, “Traffic Jam”, the full (1964) version of “Every Street’s a Boulevard” and of course, SKY’s Signature. The 1960 version of “Puttin’ on the Ritz” and “Tenement Symphony” are also still being considered.
The Skyliners Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps is currently celebrating the 21th season and is co-sponsored by AL Post 1523 Staten Island NY and VFW Post 4591 Hasbrouck Heights NJ. The corps mission is to provide an opportunity for those wishing to be a part of a traditional drum and bugle corps by performing in a variety of indoor/outdoor performances, while maintaining a twice a month rehearsal schedule. For more information, complete rehearsal/performance schedule, corps history, pictures and audio/video of the corps, please visit our website at http://www.skyalumni.org/ or contact our corps Director Rich Evans at skyalumdirector [at] hotmail [dot] com
