Dr. David L. Mills, Director of Bands at the University of Connecticut.
Professor Mills joined the music faculty in 1990 and has served as the director of the UConn Marching Band and conductor of the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Varsity Pep Bands. In addition to the bands, he teaches courses in music education and is chairman of the admissions and scholarship committees of the UConn Music Department. He holds the B.S. in Music and the Master of Music Education degrees from Western Carolina University and earned his Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Miami. Dr. Mills is active as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician for high school bands throughout the eastern United States. In Connecticut, he has conducted all of the CMEA Regional Honor Bands.
Before coming to UConn, Dr. Mills was Director of Bands at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia, conducting the wind ensemble, concert band, and marching band. At the University of Miami, he worked with the "Band of the Hour." He began his career as the band director at Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Virginia where the band established a superior reputation in the areas of both concert and marching band. As the result of his work in Blacksburg he was awarded the Phi Delta Kappa Distinguished Educator Award.
Dr. Mills is a member of numerous honorary and service societies in music and education including Music Educators National Conference, Connecticut Music Educators Association, College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, National Band Association (State Chairman of CT), and the Big East Band Association.
1295 Storrs Rd - Unit 1012
Storrs, CT 06269
Telephone: (860)486-2165
Fax: (860)486-3796
E-Mail: david.mills@uconn.edu
Marvin McNeill, Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Connecticut.
Mr. McNeill has earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, and his Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Connecticut.
After completing his Masters degree, Mr. McNeill accepted the position of Director of Bands at Sacred Heart University (1997-2002). While at Sacred Heart University, Mr. McNeill developed a comprehensive music program to include marching band, pep band, concert band, jazz band and Terpsichore, the Sacred Heart University Winter Guard. Much loved and respected by both students and colleagues, he was named Advisor of the Year in 2002.
In his current appointment, Marvin serves as the assistant director of the University of Connecticut Marching Band and Varsity Pep Bands. He also conducts the University Concert Band, teaches brass techniques, and organizes and instructs the marching percussion program.
As a trombonist Marvin performs widely in concert, commercial, and jazz venues throughout the Northeast. His trombone teachers include George Sanders, John Swallow, John Mosca, and Dayl Burnett. Marvin’s conducting teachers include James Glazebrook and Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw.
Marvin has many years of marching band and drum corps experience. As a member of the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Marvin was selected as Glassmen of the Year in 1991 and was also selected as a member of the 1992 Drum Corps East/Drum Corps Midwest All Stars. Marvin has also served on the brass staff of the Connecticut Hurricanes Senior Drum and Bugle Corps.
Marvin McNeill is a member of the International Trombone Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and is an honorary member of both Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma.
1295 Storrs Rd - Unit 1012
Storrs, CT 06269
Telephone: (860)486-5437
Fax: (860)486-3796
E-Mail: marvin.mcneill@uconn.edu
UCMB Graduate Assistants
Jennie Herreid
Ms. Herreid is originally from the town of Fairbanks in interior
Alaska. She earned her bachelor's degree in Percussion Performance
from Ithaca College in upstate New York. Jennie was a member of the
Crossmen, a division one DCI drum corps, during the summer of 2003 and
played marimba and vibraphone. She studied at the Royal College of
Music in London in the fall of 2005. After graduation, Jennie worked
for Malletech, a manufacturer of keyboard percussion instruments, in
Neptune, New Jersey. Jennie's teachers include Cayenna Ponchione,
Conrad Alexander and Gordon Stout.
She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Percussion Performance under Haruka Fujii at the University of Connecticut.
Dan MacDonald
Dan McDonald, a native of Cape Cod, is a first year Master of Music
candidate in instrumental conducting, studying with Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw.
He earned his B.A. in Music (saxophone) from the University of Connecticut
in 2003 where he studied with Ken Nigro. As an undergraduate at UConn, Dan
was involved with many musical activities including: Concert Choir, Men’s
Choir, Jazz Lab, Saxophone Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, a
founding member of the UConn Conn-Men, as well as Drill Instructor and
eventually Drum Major of the “Pride of Connecticut” UConn Marching Band.
Following his time at UConn, Dan went on to teach at Ashford School in Ashford, CT where he directed the Concert Bands, Jazz Band, as well as taught group lessons. He was also an instructor for the Rockville High School Marching “Ram” Band in Vernon, CT. From 2006 - 2009 he was Director of Instrumental Music at The Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT. At NFA, he directed the award-winning Concert Band, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles, Pep Band, and the “Wildcat” Marching Band. He also directed the “pit” for NFA’s productions of Guys & Dolls and Bye Bye Birdie. Under his direction, the NFA Concert Band was given an “excellent” rating at the inaugural CMEA Concert Band Festival in 2008, and the Marching Band won “State Champion” titles in both 2007 and 2008 as well as “New England Champion” in 2007 in USSBA competition.
Dan is a member of the Connecticut Music Educators Association, currently serving as the Eastern Region High School Festival Chair. He is also a member of Music Educators National Conference, the New England Music Festival Association, and was inducted into Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity in 2000.
Following his time at UConn, Dan went on to teach at Ashford School in Ashford, CT where he directed the Concert Bands, Jazz Band, as well as taught group lessons. He was also an instructor for the Rockville High School Marching “Ram” Band in Vernon, CT. From 2006 - 2009 he was Director of Instrumental Music at The Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT. At NFA, he directed the award-winning Concert Band, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles, Pep Band, and the “Wildcat” Marching Band. He also directed the “pit” for NFA’s productions of Guys & Dolls and Bye Bye Birdie. Under his direction, the NFA Concert Band was given an “excellent” rating at the inaugural CMEA Concert Band Festival in 2008, and the Marching Band won “State Champion” titles in both 2007 and 2008 as well as “New England Champion” in 2007 in USSBA competition.
Dan is a member of the Connecticut Music Educators Association, currently serving as the Eastern Region High School Festival Chair. He is also a member of Music Educators National Conference, the New England Music Festival Association, and was inducted into Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity in 2000.
UCMB Staff
Percussion Instructors:
-Christopher Horvat
-Marco Cancellieri
-Allen Hutchins
-Dan Fortin
-Mandy Schifferdecker
-Marco Cancellieri
-Allen Hutchins
-Dan Fortin
-Mandy Schifferdecker
Color Guard Instructors
-Eric Brust