Cavalcade Jazz Judges

Alan Kinsey is in demand as a clinician, teacher and adjudicator. He has an in-depth and varied career in jazz performance and education as demonstrated by his engagements with Bob Brookmeyer, Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Gary Foster, and Frank Mantooth. Alan has also worked in concert with Tori Amos, Joel Grey, Maureen McGovern, the New York Voices, Rare Silk, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr, and Toni Tenille. He has also performed with road productions of the shows 42nd St, Chicago, and Cats. Mr Kinsey has directed many College Jazz ensemble appearances and has presented clinic’s at music educator’s conventions, in Kansas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and jazz festivals, such as Notre Dame Jazz Festival, North Texas Jazz Festival, University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival, and the University of the Arts Jazz Festival.

A native of Souderton Pennsylvania, Alan has completed both Undergraduate, and Master’s Level degrees from Temple University, Philadelphia PA both in education and percussion performance. Alan holds a DA in Jazz administration and percussion performance, from the University of Northern Colorado. He holds a certification to teach K-12 music in New Jersey public schools. He currently is involved with the Elementary Band program in Gloucester Township NJ, teaching 5th beginners on all band instruments.

Alan is also advising several districts in New Jersey both in percussion and Jazz performance. Alan Kinsey is active in Percussive Arts Society, Jazz Educator’s Network, New Jersey Music Educator’s Association and the Technology Institute of Music Educators.

Bill Powers is a retired band director and music educator/administrator who taught elementary, high school, and college bands at West York Area High School, Gettysburg College, and the Hempfield School District. He holds degrees from Gettysburg College, The Pennsylvania State University, and Millersville University. Additional graduate studies were completed at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, West Chester University, Catholic University of America, Temple University, Capitol University, Villanova University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Illinois State University, and the University of Hartford. He has served as a guest conductor, clinician, program evaluator, and adjudicator in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Professional affiliations to his credit include PMEA, the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the American Federation of Musicians, and Phi Beta Mu. He served as President of Cavalcade of Bands from 2000-2008, and was the association’s Marching Band Administrator from 2010-2015. He was awarded Cavalcade’s “Director of the Year” award for 2007-2008, and is a member of Cavalcade’s Hall of Fame. He is a Past President of the Lancaster-Lebanon Music Educators Association and a former member of the Bill Dayton Orchestra and the Dave Stahl Big Band.

Bill Pusey is a graduate of the Philadelphia Musical Academy in 1974 (Univ Of Arts) with a Bachelor of Music. He has toured with the Glenn Miller, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Big bands along with headliners Burt Bacharach, Anthony Newley & Ben Vereen. Pusey has also toured Europe, Australia & South America in the ’80’s with various European big bands performing, recording and tv performances with Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Holland, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman & Howard Johnson. Bill Pusey has been first trumpet in Philadelphia, NY & Atlantic City performing for Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Doc Severinsen, Johnny Mathis, Louie Bellson, Natalie Cole. Mr. Pusey has performed on Broadway as well as Philadelphia theatres with shows such as: Grand Hotel, Cats, Meet Me In St.
Louie, Fosse, Saturday Nite Fever, A Chorus Line, Kismet & Bubblin’ Brown Sugar. He was First Trumpet with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops for 3 yrs. He was co-producer, arranger & contractor for the Musical Christmas Tree performing in Phila. for 12 yrs. Leader of the jazz trumpet ensemble Trumpets East. He was on the faculty at University of the Arts for 10 years directing the jazz trumpet ensemble along with the Rick Kerber tribute ensemble and the ” Z “jazz big band.

Bob Wagner is well known around the Philly music scene as an in-demand lead trumpeter, soloist, and bandleader. He also holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University and spent the first 18 years of his career traveling the globe in sales and marketing roles for fortune 500 technology companies.

Hearing the call of the trumpet, however, Bob set aside corporate life in 2011 and dedicated himself full-time to his music career. Since then, Bob and his versatile blend of commercial & classical trumpet playing have performed to standing ovations across the country in some of the nation’s most prestigious concert halls – including New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Locally, Bob is the director and trumpet soloist for the 18 piece “Jump City Jazz Orchestra” and the chamber brass ensemble “The Hickory Brass”. He is also a featured performer with Victor Records in Camden NJ.

With his unique professional experience, Bob frequently serves as a guest speaker and clinician to secondary, collegiate, and professional audiences covering a broad range of topics in music, business and career guidance. Bob also maintains a strong commitment to service by volunteering with Bugles Across America, an organization dedicated to providing live performances of Taps for the families of deceased veterans.

Brian received his Bachelor of Arts in Education and Percussion performance from the College of New Jersey. Following his undergraduate studies, he continued his education at the College of New Jersey receiving a Master of Arts in Education. Brian has over 35 years of professional musical experience as a music educator and performer. Having studied with local professionals such as Tony DeNicola (Harry James Band) and Joseph Nero (University of the Arts) he began performing professionally while in college as a drummer and vibraphonist. Performing in his own jazz combo and playing in area big bands he continued working throughout Philadelphia, Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore circuit. After college, he spent a decade teaching in public school education while maintaining a large group of private percussion students and continued to perform with a diverse group of professional players in a variety of music genres including Jazz, Rock, Funk, and Latin. Brian’s career has brought him to the national music company “Music & Arts Centers” where he works as a School Services District Manager throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Known for his versatility as a performer he has been closely involved with New Jersey music educators as an adjudicator and clinician for their jazz ensembles. Over the years Brian has given numerous workshops on percussion repair and clinics in percussion performance. Highly regarded as a drummer and percussionist when time allows he continues to perform with a diverse group of musicians ranging from vibraphone duos and horn bands, through to combo and big band jazz.

Danny Muller is an accomplished saxophone performer who has played with the Philadelphia Boys Choir, pianist Joanne Brackeen, trumpeter Randy Brecker, saxophonist Michael Brecker, Ralph Bowen, guitarist Jimmy Bruno, drummer Greg Fields, singer Wayne Newton, alto saxophonist Greg Osby, singer Dennis Rowland, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, trumpeter Bobby Shew, bassist Gerald Veasley, saxophonist Grover Washington Jr, as well as performances in the Philadelphia, Atlantic City and New York areas. Danny Muller attended the University of the Arts and received a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance and a Masters Degree in Music Education Danny was the 2001 Philadelphia High School Grammy Band Assistant Director and was with LaSalle College High School for Boys teaching jazz improvisation and woodwinds since 2002. He has also been at the University of the Arts teaching saxophone since 2003.

Dave Kenney is uniquely qualified by virtue of his talent, expertise, and experience to educate both students and teachers, and to evaluate the quality of their performances and programs. He has performed professionally on tenor saxophone and piano with the Glenn Miller Band, Jay and the Techniques, Marie Osmond, Shirley Jones, Clark Terry, Bobby Rydell and Aretha Franklin. He has also recorded for NFL Films. Mr. Kenney studied piano with the legendary jazz artist, Jimmy Amadie. He currently directs his own jazz trio, and also freelances with many local artists in the greater Philadelphia area. For over 20 years, Mr. Kenney was the principal pianist for the Brian Pastor Big Band. He has also been featured with the Dave Stahl big band. Mr. Kenney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and a Master of Music degree in Performance, both from West Chester University. Mr. Kenney retired from the Quakertown Community School District after a career in which he taught every grade level of instrumental music. He is recognized as the founder and ‘architect’ of the very successful Jazz Band program in the Quakertown School District. His Jazz and Concert bands were renowned for their consistently high levels of performance. Mr. Kenney is one of the founders of the Bux-Mont Intermediate Honors Band for students in grades seven and eight. His greatest legacy, though, may be the number of his former students who now direct successful music programs throughout the country.

Dr. Capolupo started as a band director in the organization then was the Music Caption Chief for two terms then he was the Judging Coordinator for two terms. Dr. Capolupo started his jazz music career by playing Lead Alto in the West Chester Criterions Jazz Ensemble. He went on to perform from New York to South Carolina with various jazz bands. He directed several award winning high school jazz ensembles and was director of the Cabrini College Jazz Band; the Lincoln University Jazz Band and the Princeton University Jazz Band. He will also be conducting the America Music Abroad Bronze Tour of Europe this summer for the 32nd year. Dr. Capolupo was the co-founder of the Pennsylvania All State Jazz Band. He served as the President of the Pennsynsyvai Chapter of the National Association of Jazz Educators. Besides his career in Instrumental Music, Dr Capolupo has served as a Coordinator of Fine Arts, Principal, Director of Elementary Education, Director of Teaching and Learning and Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Capolupo was named the 2014 National Superintendent of the Year by The National Association of School Superintendents and named the 2015 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. Dr Capolupo has recently co-authored a book on school leadership and is presenting workshops in several State Conferences and National Conferences around the country. In addition to judging jazz festivals, he also judges Marching Band festivals, the Miss America Pageant Parade and the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia. Over his career, he has judged over 1000 musical events.

Dr. John Pursell has been referred to as “the best of the brass” and “a brilliant trumpeter” in the print media. He has had a musical career spanning over 4 decades, including a 21 year career as the Senior Ceremonial Trumpeter with the United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC. After his retirement from the Air Force in 2003, he became a Yamaha Trumpet Artist and has appeared as a soloist and clinician throughout the eastern and mid-western US with high school, college and community groups; he has been a presenter at dozens of state music educator conferences across the country. He has performed with such notable performers as Peter Nero, James Earl Jones, Lou Rawls, Claudio Abbado, Robert Trevino, Vince DeMartino, Chris Vadala, Awadigan Pratt and others. He has performed with the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, Wilmington Grand Opera Orchestra, Shippensburg Festival Orchestra and the 12th Night Big Band. He has taught at Gettysburg College, Frederick Community College and currently teaches at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland. Dr. Pursell holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland, BM and MM degrees from West Chester State College and studied trumpet with Mel Broiles, Seymour Rosenfeld, Emerson Head and Kenneth Laudermilch. Dr. Pursell is a published author, with dozens of articles appearing in national journals.

Dr. John Villella is the Chief of Staff and Executive Deputy to the President at West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he has been a member of the administration or faculty for over thirty years. Prior to this appointment served seven years as the Associate Dean for the College of Visual and Performing Arts. During his teaching tenure Dr. Villella directed the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Marching Band. His other duties included working in the music education department as a supervisor of student teachers and instructor of instrumental methods and techniques. His jazz performance experience includes membership in the Criterion Jazz Ensemble at West Chester University and at one time he was the student director of the second jazz ensemble the Statesman. In addition, he serves as an adjudicator for jazz festivals in the Mid-Atlantic region and as an adjudicator of instrumental ensembles for Festivals of Music and Music in the Parks. Dr. Villella holds a B.S. and M.M. in Music Education degrees from West Chester University and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Widener University. Dr. Villella is also the President of Vivace Productions, Inc. The national leader of summer camps including Band Leadership Training and the Marching Band Workshops. He frequently serves as a guest conductor, adjudicator, guest lecturer, and director of music festivals in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition, he reviewed new band music for each issue of the Pennsylvania state music education magazine, PMEA News from 2006 to 2015. His professional affiliations include membership in the National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National and State organizations, Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma, and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Edward Meyers studied Bass Trombone at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the Juilliard School. His private teachers include members of the Philadelphia, Boston, Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Symphony Orchestras as well as the New York Philharmonic. He has also studied arranging and composition with Hank Levy. Instructor, arranger, and drill writer for many marching bands and drum and bugle corps competing in the Drum Corps International, Drum Corps Associates, Cavalcade of Bands, Tournament of Bands, and USBands marching circuits. After a freelance career in both the United States and Europe Mr. Meyers is currently a band and orchestra director for Baltimore County Public schools in Maryland.

Elliot Bild, trumpeter, educator, and composer got his undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University, and his master’s degree from Temple University.

Since that time, Elliot has performed with such people as Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band, Don Braden, Duane Eubanks, Tim Warfield Jr., Norman David and The Eleventet, Conrad Herwig, Randy Brecker, Mike Boone, Adam Neiwood, Bill Jolly, and Pablo Batista, at such venues as The Kimmel Center for the Arts, Chris’s Jazz Cafe, The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Smalls Jazz Club, Smoke Jazz Club and The Litchfield Jazz Festival.

Elliot appears on recent releases by Bassists Richard Hill, Mike Boone, Nick Krolak, Organist Lucas Brown, Trombonist Nick Lombardelli, and Saxophonists Michael Hudson-Casanova and Skyler Hagner.

Elliot’s album, “ISMS” was released in November 2020, which features a collection of all original material. In addition, he has released Volumes 1 & 2 of “Car Licks”; transcriptions of trumpeter John Swana. He currently teaches at The Philadelphia Orchestra Youth Lessons Program, Gwynedd Mercy Academy and The Litchfield Jazz Camp.