2010 marks Jason DeGroff’s ’93, ’95 M.M. first season as director of the University of New Haven Marching Band, a brand new program that just completed its first season of marching in the fall. DeGroff holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education (trumpet/conducting) from UMass Amherst. While there, he was a five-year member of the Minuteman Marching Band, and later was the Graduate T.A. for George N. Parks and the Minuteman Band.
DeGroff has worked at all levels in instrumental music; as an elementary and middle school band director, an assistant high school band director, and a college marching band director. He revived the marching band at Central Connecticut State University where he served as director for five years. DeGroff is currently the drill designer for the Minuteman Band.
He is also on the visual staff with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, where he marched for three years (1989-1991) with the 9-time DCI World Champions. DeGroff was also a member of the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps for five years. Upon “aging out” he served as the visual caption head and wrote drill for the Boston Crusaders and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. DeGroff also has been the Show Coordinator for the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps.
Arranging for the Charger Marching Band is the UMass band’s own Michael Klesch, ’90 M.M.