“All-American” Marching Band Drum Majors Selected for 2025-2026 Season

February 6, 2025 Esther Mae Kirgiss

The Purdue “All-American” Marching Band is pleased to announce the appointment of Victoria Knott and Calder Feit as our 2025-26 Drum Majors. Victoria plays quads in the drumline and Calder plays clarinet.

Victoria Knott

Grad Student in Mechanical Engineering

Bolingbrook, Illinois

Calder Feit

Rising Junior in Chemical Engineering

DeMotte, Indiana

Dr. Pamela J. Nave wins Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award

Congratulations to Dr. Pamela J. Nave for being recognized as the 2025 Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion award winner! This award was instated by the class of 1968 in partnership with that year’s class of Mortar Boarders, the Women’s Residence...

2025-2026 Solo Twirlers and Twirling Team Selected

The Purdue “All-American” Marching Band has selected twirlers for the upcoming school year. Golden Girl Ireland Jones is a rising junior from Caramel, Indiana. She is majoring in Communications with a minor in Creative Writing. She started twirling with the...

Matt Conaway appointed Interim Director

Purdue Bands & Orchestras is pleased to announce that Professor Matt Conaway has been appointed Interim Director of the “All-American” Marching Band. A national search will follow in the coming months. Conaway has been an esteemed faculty member of Purdue...

Esther Kirgiss Appointed to Staff

We are thrilled to announce Esther Kirgiss will join our staff as Director of External Relations this month! Kirgiss joins Purdue Bands & Orchestras with sixteen years of experience in hospitality. She spent the majority of those years in food...

Trudy Guthrie to Retire

Trudy Guthrie, Director of External Relations, is set to retire in December after an incredible 22-year career with the Purdue University family, 7 of which were spent with Purdue Bands & Orchestras. Throughout Trudy’s career, she has held positions in...

Symphony Sunday – Bright Shadow Fanfare by Nicole Piunno

Symphony Sundays aims to share some of the greatest recent performances given by our indoor ensembles. This week features the Purdue Wind Ensemble, directed by Professor Jay Gephart, performing Bright Shadow Fanfare by Nicole Piunno. This piece was recorded live...

Jay Gephart to Step Down as “All-American” Marching Band Director

Jay Gephart, the Al G. Wright Chair of Purdue Bands & Orchestras, has announced that the Fall 2024 semester will be his last as the 5th Director of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band. He will step down from the marching...

Bethany Robinson Appointed to Faculty

Purdue University Bands & Orchestras is proud to announce the appointment of Bethany Robinson as the next leader of the Purdue Jazz Program. Bethany will hold the title of Clinical Assistant Professor of Bands, beginning her appointment officially on July 1, 2024. She...

Janet Baker to Retire

After a total of 17 fantastic years, Janet Baker, Administrative Assistant Lead, will retire at the end of May. Janet has been an integral part of Purdue Bands & Orchestras since she started in this position in March of 2017 and was an...