SV Band History

HISTORY OF THE SHENANDOAH BAND

Compiled by Retired SV History Teacher Robert Yudinsky and Current Band Director John P. Shoener

The Shenandoah High School Band was formed at the request of newly hired Superintendent A.J. Ratchford on November 10, 1927.    Ratchford took on the role of organizing the band with assistance from SHS Music Teacher Miss Alverda Dunzilla, who taught chorus and orchestra in the school.  The first band director was Professor Victor Oswald, who became the Supervisor of Music. The first concert was held in February 1928 in conjunction with the grammar school commencement.

In 1930, Professor Frank Sinipoli, who studied music in Naples, Italy, was hired as the new band director.  He held this position until 1937. He was succeeded by Professor Edward McDermott, a position he maintained until his retirement in June of 1975.  “Pro”, as he was called by his students, led the Shenandoah Band where it blossomed to over 120 students in the instrumentalist and band front. His long tenure was only interrupted when he served as a member of the United States Army from 1942-1946.  During this time, the band was under the leadership of local music teacher Walter Twardzik. For almost four decades, Pro was the heart and soul of the Blue Devil Band. 

After Pro’s retirement in 1975, he was replaced by Mr. Michael Malocu, who had been teaching elementary band in the district since 1969.  Mr. Malocu stayed on as director of the band until 1986, when he moved back to elementary music, and Mr. Brian McDonald took over the band.  Mr. McDonald only last a few months at Shenandoah before he was replaced by Ms. Bonnie DeAngelo, who was a member of the Army Reserve, and Mahanoy Area alumnus.  During her tenure, she was called to serve in the U.S. Army, and the band was run by Mr. Malocu and Mr. Walter Choplick, who had been working in the business office of the school district.  DeAngelo returned in 1988, but resigned shortly after. Mr. Malocu and Mr. Choplick took the reins of the band once more. 

In 1997, Mr. Malocu resigned as marching band director, but continued to teach music in the school until his retirement in 1999.  In 1997, Ms. Lynn Griffiths was selected as director, and was assisted by former band member Kim Kimmel. She lasted one year, until she was replaced by Mr. Stan Griffis, who did not make the entire year.  Ms. Kim Kimmel was picked to fill the spot of Band Director, with assistance from Patti Beltz. In 1999, the first alumni band was held, where over 150 former band members returned to perform with the current band.  This was coordinated by Ed Tobin, Mickey Gilroy, and Dan Kershetsky.  The performances benefited the current students as it made the band a lot bigger when combined.

They both stayed at Shenandoah until 2000, when Ashley Crust was selected as director.  Crust was a member of the Army Reserve, and was deployed to the Middle East in 2003. Until she returned in 2004, Ms. Lee Marcavage, a former member of the Penn State Blue Band was temporary director with assistance from Walter Choplick and Chris Malocu (Mike's brother).  Ms. Crust stayed at SV until 2006. 

In 2006, Ms. Lori Schaeffer was appointed Band Director, who only stayed a year at SV.  In 2007, Mr. Robert Stoner was appointed Band Director. He served as Band Director from 2007-2013.  In his tenure, he continued the work that began with Ms. Crust in energizing the band that suffered from a lack of musicians.  Both Crust and Stoner felt the best way to rejuvenate the band and increase membership would be to provide musical instruction to the elementary students.  With new uniforms and new attitude, which he called the “Blue Devil Pride”, the future of the band looked quite promising. 

With Stoner’s departure in 2013, the position of Band Director was give to Shenandoah Valley alumni Walter Choplick, son of past music instructor Walter Choplick.  Under Choplick’s direction, the high school and elementary band has revitalized and grew in numbers. Assisting Mr. Choplick was elementary music teacher Kayla Steily, who provided musical instruction for band students in grades four, five, and six.  She helped grow the Elementary Band to over 60 students. Ms. Steily left in 2017, and the high school and elementary band director positions were consolidated by the school board,

In 2017, Walter Choplick left Shenandoah to teach High School band in Gettysburg Area High School.  He was succeeded by John P. Shoener, a recent graduate from Penn State, and a member of the Penn State Blue Band.  Knowing he was leaving, Choplick worked hand in hand with Shoener to make the transition as smooth as it could be. Shoener would be in charge of all bands grades 5-12.  Shoener’s congenial demeanor and enthusiasm went a long way in getting students interested in band, especially with elementary band students. When he inherited the Elementary Band program, there was only 8 musicians.  His first year, that blossomed to 28 musicians, and then to over 60 musicians his second year in grades five and six. The future looks bright for the SV Band program.  In 2023, Miss Britney Bidding was hired to teach Elementary Music.