INDIANAPOLIS – Music for All has announced three music education leaders who will be inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame as the class of 2020: John Casagrande, Darrin Davis, and Philip Geiger.
The Bands of America Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have had a positively life-changing impact on Music for All and Bands of America programs, as well as in music education. The 2020 members will be inducted at a ceremony during the Gala Awards Banquet of the Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, on Saturday, March 14, 2020, in Indianapolis. Hall of Fame members are permanently recognized at Music for All’s Indianapolis headquarters.
John Casagrande
John E. Casagrande served as Executive Administrator for the National Band Association and served as Director of Bands at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax County, Virginia from 1982-2000. He was also Director of Bands at Mount Vernon (VA) High School from 1978-1982, East Stroudsburg (PA) from 1968-1978, and in the Wissahickon (PA) schools from 1963-1968. He joined the faculty of George Mason University in the fall of 1997 as an adjunct professor of music and was promoted to a full-time contract as an associate professor of music in 2002 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2010. Mr. Casagrande was a long-time clinician and evaluator for Music for All. He received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Ithaca. His honors include election to the American Bandmasters Association and the American School Band Directors Association, five “Citations of Excellence” from the National Band Association, the Sudler Flag of Honor, the “Mac Award” from First Chair of America, “Who’s Who in American Education”, five awards for “Professional Excellence” from the Fairfax County School Board, W.T. Woodson High School “Teacher of the Year” and finalist for Fairfax County “Teacher of the Year.” John Casagrande was born January 30, 1942 and passed away July 8, 2019.
Darrin Davis
Darrin Davis currently serves as the Director of Bands and Assistant Director of Fine Arts for the Broken Arrow school district. He has enjoyed teaching band in the Broken Arrow Public Schools since 1993 and is responsible for guiding the 1,500 band students and 12 band instructors within the school district during this time. Within the band program, Davis is the conductor of the nationally acclaimed Broken Arrow High School Wind Ensemble and director of the Pride of Broken Arrow Marching Band, the 2015, 2011, and 2006 Bands of America Grand National Champion. Davis’ marching bands have marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 2017, 2013, and 2009. On three occasions, the John Philip Sousa Foundation has presented the Broken Arrow Marching Band the prestigious Sudler Shield. Broken Arrow is a 24-time Oklahoma State Marching Band Champion, a 13-time Bands of America Grand National Finalist, and a 16-time Bands of America Regional Champion. He is a member of Music for All’s Bands of America marching advisory committee. In March of 2017, Mr. Davis was elected into the membership of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association honored Davis as their 2012 “Band Director of the Year.” At the 2015 Midwest Clinic, the National Band Association awarded Davis with a “Citation of Excellence” for an outstanding contribution to band and band music.
Philip Geiger
Philip Geiger completed 23 years as Director of Bands at Westfield High School (TX) in the Spring Independent School District. While at Westfield, Mr. Geiger’s bands were recognized nationally; the marching band was the 2003 Bands of America Grand National Champion and the concert bands performed several times at the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival. The Westfield Band was a consistent finalist in the TMEA Honor Band Competition and the Symphonic Band earned the distinction of being selected as the TMEA Honor Band twice during his tenure at Westfield. Concert Bands under his direction have performed twice at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and while Mr. Geiger worked at Westfield, the program received both the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield and Sudler Flag. Mr. Geiger is a 1975 graduate of Southern Methodist University and received post-graduate instruction from Eddie Green, Dr. Gary Garner, and Tom Bennett. Prior to his time at Spring ISD, Mr. Geiger worked for seven years in the Klein ISD both as a middle and high school director. In 2000, Mr. Geiger was recognized by the Texas Bandmasters Association with their inaugural Meritorious Achievement Award.
Music for All congratulates these 2020 Hall of Fame inductees. See the members of Music for All’s Bands of America Hall of Fame here.
