Staff

Richard K. Pugsley, Director

Richard K. Pugsley began working with Spirit of America in 1993, and has been the director for 17 years. The Spirit of America Field Band, Winter Percussion, and Fife and Drum ensembles were instituted under his tenure, further expanding the already established marching and concert bands. He has led the band on tours and conducted workshops in schools throughout the United States, Australia, Canada and South Korea. Under his direction the band has toured in exhibition with Drum Corps International (DCI). They have also made tours of US Military bases to show support for the men and women and families of the U.S. Armed Forces. As a result, Mr. Pugsley was recognized as an “Honorary Member” of the USO.

In 2006 Mr. Pugsley led the band as they won the title of World Champions, competing against 27 other international bands at the World Association of Marching Show Bands in Jeju, South Korea. He has helped members of Spirit of America hone their skills as they have taught and shared the joy of music in motion with thousands of young people around the world.

A leading figure in the world of marching show bands, Mr. Pugsley was asked by WAMSB to share about the new art form of “Instrumental Theater: in motion” with band directors from over 27 nations in Jeju, South Korea. While in Korea, through Mr. Pugsley’s vision, Spirit of America embarked on the new performance medium of Instrumental Theater: in motion with A Quest for Honor. After seeing the fully staged and costumed “story-in-music,” the excitement of the students all over South Korea expressed an excitement that was tangible and overwhelming. Spirit of America is looking forward to another performance of Instrumental Theater in 2011.

Through Mr. Pugsley’s introduction and friendship, Spirit of America Wind Ensemble has been privileged to study with Ray Cramer of the Indiana University School of Music, in workshops and performances. This relationship led to a collaborative recording with Dr. Cramer conducting, Call to Freedom: The Music of a Great Nation, released in July 2009.

Mr. Pugsley received the Bachelor of Music Degree, with a minor in Community Music, from Oberlin Conservatory. His studies have included conducting with the late Margaret Hillis, Hugh Floyd, and John Knight.

Karen Moore, Administrative Director

Karen began her career with Spirit of America in 1983 as a member of the concert and marching band Color Guard. Her passion, dedication, and leadership skills led her to become the Color Guard Captain in 1995, a position she held for the next ten years. In that role, she oversaw the growth of the Spirit of America Color Guard in movement, style, and precision of technique, leading them to the World Championships in Calgary, a multi-cultural tour of Australia, and throughout the United States. Subsequently as Color Guard Section Director, Karen’s broader vision for the guard’s development led to further dance studies and increased focus on weaponry. These skills directly contributed to the success of the guard and the band as a whole in South Korea, in both the WAMSB Championships and Instrumental Theater performances.

Karen became Administrative Director in 2006. Her responsibilities include overseeing staffing, personnel, schedules, budgets, and tours, as well as coordinating that all the parts of the show come together. Her love for young people and vision for the opportunity marching and field band bring to them, combined with her many years of experience, continue to inspire the band to attain new levels of artistic and technical performance.

Colin McNutt, Show Coordinator, Percussion Designer

Colin McNutt has instructed and arranged for the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, and the popular stage production, Blast! He has also written for and instructed Northern Star, the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Magic of Orlando, and the Madison Scouts. Colin has served on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he is an alumnus and received degrees in Classics and Music Education. Currently, he is the Percussion Caption Supervisor for the 9 time DCI World Champion Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. He is a clinician for the Avedis Zildjian Co., Pearl Corporation, REMO, Inc., and Vic Firth.

Pamela Jordan, Music Director

Pamela Jordan brings a high level of musicianship, a dedication to educating young musicians, and passion for rich, symphonic sound to both wind ensemble and field band. Pam joined the band as a clarinetist in 1978, and performs in marching band, field band, and wind ensemble. When Spirit of America traveled to South Korea, she was jointly responsible for coaching the instrumentalists in preparation for Quest for Honor. Pam’s clarinet studies include training with the late Julie Vaverka, Aline Benoit, and currently Anthony McGill.

Br. Joel Sweet, Woodwind Director

Br. Joel Sweet has honed his skills as a horn and trumpet player for more than three decades in Spirit of America Band and Gabriel V brass quintet, performing all over the United States, Europe, Russia, Australia, and South Korea, and in several recordings. He also played the fife in Spirit of America’s Fife and Drum Corps. Br. Joel was the Assistant Music Director for the band’s premiere of Quest for Honor in South Korea. He has been the woodwind director since 2009, and has expanded his horizons this year by picking up the tenor sax in preparation for South Africa 2011. Br. Joel’s brass studies have included work with Kevin Owen (Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Rhode Island Philharmonic and the Boston Philharmonic), and Steve Emery of the Boston Pops.

Br. Andrew Smith, Brass Director

Born and raised in Bermuda, Br. Andrew served as an NCO in the Bermuda Regiment, and his eye is trained in military precision. Br. Andrew has played in the horn section of the band since 1983, and has served as Drill Sergeant since 1996. He was named Winter Percussion Director in 2007, and has co-led the Spirit of America Winter Percussion ensemble to the finals in the Winter Guard International Percussion Championships in Dayton every year since then. In 2008 he became Brass Director. Br. Andrew has studied with Kevin Owen, Abbe Meyer, and Kendell Betts of the Minneapolis Symphony.

Kathy Schuman, Guard Director

Kathy’s career in Spirit of America Band began in her youth as a majorette. After performing with the color guard for many years, Kathy became the Guard Coach in 2007, and Guard Director in 2009. She lends a great passion for the musicality and depth of performance that are particular to the art of color guard. Kathy served as assistant Drum Major in 2005 and 2006. She was stage manager for Spirit of America’s production of Quest for Honor in opera houses across South Korea in 2006, and is currently stage manager for Exploration.