Jason DeGroff
Director - Chargers Marching Band
2011 marks Jason DeGroff’s second season as Director of the University of New Haven Marching Band, a brand new program that just completed its second season of marching in the fall. DeGroff holds a Masters and Bachelors Degree in Music Education (trumpet/conducting) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Ma. 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 Marching 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 CT State University where he served as director for five years. DeGroff is currently the drill designer for the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, winners of the Sudler Trophy, an award given to the best college marching band in the country.
He is currently on the visual staff with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps where he was also a member for three years (1989-1991) of the 9-time 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. Contact Jason DeGroff
Tim Harrington
Associate Director/ Percussion Caption head
Tim Harrington is a drumset performance major at the University of Massachusetts. He has studied with such well-known educators as Bob Gulloti and Thomas Giampietro. Tim has been involved with marching bands since 2002 at Bunnell High School in Stratford, CT where he was in the pit for one year and marched snare for the next three. From 2005-2007 he marched snare with the CT Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps. At UMASS, Tim was in the pit for two years and marched snare for two years under the instruction of Thomas Hannum and Colin McNutt. Also, he has been a part of the UMASS Marimba Band which has recently received the award for best jazz combo in 2011 from the distinguished Downbeat Magazine. In 2009, Tim was the drumset player for the Holy Name Cadets 75th anniversary.
Gino Cipriani
Music Arranger - Chargers Marching Band
Mr. Cipriani received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Education from the University of Mississippi. As a student at Ole Miss, he studied trumpet performance under the guidance of Dr. Charles Gates. Gino also had the great pleasure of studying trumpet under Roy Poper when he attended California State University at North Ridge
Mr. Gino Cipriani has served as a consultant to Marching Bands, Jazz Bands, Concert Bands as well as Drum and Bugle Corps across the United States, Canada and Korea. In Korea, Mr. Cipriani had the pleasure of working with the Korean Armed Forces Bands in preparation of the World Cup Ceremonies in 2002. In addition, Gino serves as an adjudicator at marching band competitions throughout the United States for US Scholastic Band Association (USSBA).
Gino Cipriani spent ten years, 1990 through 1999, as a brass instructor for the fourteen-time World Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. He then took the position as brass supervisor for the nine-time World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2000 and 2001 season. In 2002 and 2003 Mr. Cipriani had the honor to serve as the brass caption head and assisted in bringing Magic of Orlando back to the field as a finalist after two years of inactivity. In 2004, Gino held the brass caption head position for the six-time World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Gino Cipriani headed as well as consulted for the brass section of the five-time DCA champion Syracuse Brigadiers. In 2007 he took the position of brass caption head of the six-time DCA champion Reading Buccaneers.
Currently, and once again Mr. Gino Cipriani holds the position of the brass supervisor for the nine-time World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He led the brass program to its World Champion brass titles in 2000 and 2005.
Suzanne M. Broadbent
Assistant Director/ Color Guard Caption Head
Sue started in the color guard activity when she was 13 with her local high school color guard. Since that time she has performed with various world class color guards throughout the country, including the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps from 1992 to 1994; Blessed Sacrament winter guard in 1995; and Phantom Regiment, including their world championship year in 1996, and 1997. Sue also spent many years teaching local color guards, including Danbury High School, Sacred Heart University, Brookfield High School, and Norwalk High School, where she was part of the team that led Norwalk High School to WGI Finalist status. She has also consulted with various other high school programs. Sue remains involved with the activity as she currently works with the Trumbull High School color guard.
Professionally, Sue is a lawyer working for a Lloyd’s, London Syndicate that has an office based in Connecticut.
