SHU Band & CT Hurricanes Partner

FAIRFIELD, Conn.— Sacred Heart University’s band program and the CT Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps have formed a new educational partnership to strengthen the musical education opportunities each organization provides its members.

“Both SHU and the CT Hurricanes share the goal of providing quality educational experiences,” said Keith Johnston, the University’s director of bands. “The Hurricanes have won three Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Championships, and it is the oldest, continually active drum corps in DCA. The Sacred Heart band has performed in more than a dozen states and in countries around the world, commissioned new works and appeared in national television ad campaigns. I’m very excited that these two great institutions will be partnering together for the benefit of our members.

“At Sacred Heart, we believe in music education in all forms: general classroom, concert band, chamber ensembles, jazz ensemble, choir and marching band. A successful Hurricanes drum corps is good for music teachers and their students, good for the community and good for Connecticut,” he added.

Brian Maroldt, executive director of the Hurricanes, said he believes the partnership will provide a level of institutional stability that will allow the corps to grow. “The Hurricanes have a rich and successful past, and we want to position ourselves to continue that tradition. This partnership is meant to be mutually beneficial, to build interest in both organizations and to give our members access to a diverse group of talented music educators. I am very excited to have the opportunity to partner with Sacred Heart University and am excited to see the impact of this partnership on the members of both organizations.”

John Ashelford, chair of the corps’ board of directors, also is excited about this partnership. “As a proud alumnus of both organizations (SHU class of 1988 and Hurricanes Hall of Fame member), I am happy to see this alliance. I received my degree from SHU and met my wife at the Hurricanes. I am humbled to have this opportunity to give back to two organizations that gave so much to me.”

Included among the partnership’s first projects are a “spring training” workshop for SHU marching band members with the Hurricanes’ instructional staff and the establishment of a High School Band Directors Advisory Committee that will help the Hurricanes refine its educational program to support the work being done in the public schools.

For the most up-to-date information, follow SHU’s bands at sacredheartbands.org, Facebook.com/SHUBands and @SHU_Band, @SHU_Guard and @SHU_Percussion on Twitter. Follow the CT Hurricanes at cthurricanes.org and @CTHurricanes (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

PHOTO: Sacred Heart University Band photo by Tracy Deer-Mirek