Meet the 2012 Reading Buccaneers Brass Staff!

[TomMoore]

We are pleased to introduce the 2012 Reading Buccaneers brass staff! This is the first in a series of announcements about the world-class team that will lead the Buccaneers' design and instructional program in 2012.

Joining brass arranger Mark Lortz and caption head Paul Cullen is a team of exceptionally talented and versatile instructors who will help the Buccaneers provide a world-class brass education to its members and entertain fans with the Buccaneers' signature balanced, full sound.

A celebrated composer, arranger, and educator, MARK LORTZ is currently Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Stevenson University (MD), where he is also the music arranger for the university's Mustang Marching Band. He was previously employed by the Carroll County, Maryland Public Schools, where he oversaw the high school's orchestra, concert and marching bands, percussion wind ensemble, color guard and music technology programs. Lortz holds a Bachelor of Music in percussion performance and a minor in composition and piano from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where he also earned two Master's degrees in music composition and music education. Lortz has already made a significant contribution to the success of the Buccaneers as arranger for the corps' standard-setting front ensemble for many years.

PAUL CULLEN returns for his second season with the Buccaneers. Paul is a 2003 graduate of The Berklee College of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Film Scoring and also studied conducting and trumpet performance. Paul has served as a music arranger and consultant for several marching bands and has also served as a music designer and editor for many independent and scholastic winter guard programs throughout the United States. Paul enjoyed a long and distinguished career with the Brigadiers Drum & Bugle Corps as a member, drum major, board member and staff member from 2001 through 2009. In 2008, he also taught on the brass staff of DCI's Boston Crusaders. Paul joined the Buccaneers brass staff in 2011 as the full-time mellophone instructor and was also a brass instructor with the DCI World Champions, The Cadets. Additionally, he is an adjudicator for USSBA. Paul is a full-time health care administrator and resides in North Wales, PA with his wife Lisa and their children; Madison and Riley.

DAN McGROGAN returns in 2012 for his eighth season with the Buccaneers. 2012 marks Dan's 28th consecutive year in the drum corps activity. Dan was inducted as a Lifetime Member of the Pennsylvania Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2010. 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. Dan 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. Dan also coaches several student brass quintets in Chambersburg and performs with the Hagerstown (MD) Municipal Band. In addition to his teaching endeavors, Dan is also a music judge with USSBA. When he is not teaching or performing, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife Eileen and their two dogs Sam & Molly.

DAVID LINTON is a 1992 graduate of Trenton State College, where he received a degree in Music Education and with an emphasis in euphonium and trombone, studying with Dr. David Uber. He began his drum corps career with the Harrison Bushwackers in 1986, where he remained as a marching member and instructor through the end of the 2003 season. He then came to the Buccaneers as a low brass instructor, and was a full-time brass instructor from 2004 through 2007. David has worked on and off with the Buccaneers since 2007 and is thrilled to return for the 2012 season. He lives in South Brunswick, NJ where he works in technology and also works with high school marching bands and performs on euphonium. He currently works with the Bridgewater – Raritan HS marching band and has worked with Edison HS, West Orange HS, West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS, and Governor Livingston HS. He currently performs around the region with the Eastern Wind Symphony and the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band.

BRIAN THOMPSON lives in Westminster, MD, where he is an elementary school band and orchestra director. He received his Bachelors degree in Music Education from Towson University in 2005 and was a member of the Towson University Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Marching Band, where he was co-drum major for the 2001 season. Brian has been involved in the marching arts continuously since 2000. He was a member of the Reading Buccaneers baritone line in 2004, 2005, and 2007. He returned in 2011 as baritone instructor. He has worked with award-winning & championship Tournament of Bands and U.S. Scholastic Band Association marching bands, and also has experience in Bands of America. Also a talented arranger, Brian has had several works performed by high school and collegiate marching bands in the mid-Atlantic region. He is currently on the marching band staff of the 2010 Bands of America Towson Regional Champion Westminster High School Marching Band and is the music arranger for the Millersville University Marching Band.

We are pleased to announce the addition of VICTOR CUMMINGS to the Buccaneers brass staff for the 2012 season. Victor began marching in 1996 and in 1998 he joined the Jersey Surf, where he played baritone, lead soprano, and mellophone, also serving the corps as section leader and horn sergeant. He joined the Buccaneers in 2009, where he was a high brass soloist for three years, serving the corps as horn sergeant in 2010 and 2011. Victor's teaching credits include Eastern High School, Jersey Surf and Upper Darby High School, where he currently serves as assistant band director and music caption head. Victor attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and West Chester University, where he earned a degree in music education and trumpet performance. Victor is currently an Elementary Music Educator in the Upper Darby School District where he teaches general and instrumental music.

We are excited to welcome CHUCK JACOBS back to the Buccaneers for the 2012 season. Chuck is a long-standing Buccaneer, marching tuba from 2005 through 2007 and serving as horn sergeant in 2006 and 2007. From 2008 through 2010, Chuck served the Buccaneers admirably as drum major. Chuck received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Miami, where he also studied mathematics and music. In 1997, he received a Masters in Science from Florida International University. He then spent three years as Assistant Marching Band Director at G. Holmes Braddock High School in Miami, Florida before relocating to Pennsylvania. From 2001-2006 he was Assistant Band Director at Abington High School and since then has worked with both the Plymouth-Whitemarsh and Haverford High School Bands. Currently, Chuck is in his twelfth year as a science teacher for the Abington School District. He resides in Willow Grove, PA with his wife Melissa, a former Reading Buccaneers Color Guard Captain.

We are pleased to welcome MATT PIATEK to the Buccaneers for the 2012 season. A resident of Harleysville, PA and a graduate of Souderton Area High School, Matt has studied Music education at Penn State University, where he has also been a member of numerous Penn State performing ensembles, including Centre Dimensions, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and the Penn State Blue Band. Matt began his drum corps career in 2003 as a trumpet player with Jersey Surf, where he also served as horn sergeant. He joined the Phantom Regiment in 2008, where he was trumpet section leader and remained until his age-out in 2011.

STEVEN HOLGATE has taught brass with the Reading Buccaneers 9 seasons since 1999. His drum corps resume includes marching and teaching stints with Crossmen, the Golden Lancers and the Troopers. He holds a Bachelor of Science of Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania were his applied instruments were euphonium and bass trombone. He earned a Master of Music in Performance degree from Illinois State University in tuba and wind conducting. He has taught music in the Governor Mifflin School District since 1999, where he currently teaches band and orchestra at the Intermediate School. Steven also maintains a private brass studio at the Community School of Music in Reading, where he teaches brass pupils from beginning to adult. He currently performs over fifty engagements annually on tuba and euphonium in the greater Reading and Lancaster areas. Most often, he is performing with either Bravura Brass Quintet or Lancaster British Brass Band.

The Buccaneers are seeking members in all sections for the 2012 edition of the Balance in Blue. On Sunday, November, 27, 2011, the Buccaneers will host Membership Day 2012, at Twin Valley High School, Elverson, PA. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. The program will run from Noon to 6 p.m.. All persons interested in learning more about membership in the Reading Buccaneers and being part of the 2012 corps are invited to contact Membership Manager Karen Wildonger to indicate their interest. Visit www.readingbuccaneers.org for more information or email membership@readingbuccaneers.org.

The Buccaneers will also host Winter Camp #1 for brass and percussion members on Saturday, December 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 4:50 p.m., at Twin Valley High School.

[Fran Haring]

That is one heck of a team right there.

[Defender77]

Wow! What a line-up! And this is just the brass staff!

[Mick Krackin']

That is one heck of a team right there.

Thanks Fran! We're all pretty excited about working together this year. See you down the road!

[Mick Krackin']

Wow! What a line-up! And this is just the brass staff!

Thanks! I know what you mean though, I can't wait to read the announcements for the Percussion, Guard and Visual staffs. (Ok, so I already know who they all are. I just like to see it online!)

28 DAYS until MEMBERSHIP DAY!

Edited October 30, 2011 by Mick Krackin'

[Mick Krackin']

Less than two weeks to go! I can't wait to see this great team in action.