The National Music Festival & Parade
at the Military Bowl

Joseph Hermann is Director of Bands Emeritus at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee

Joseph Hermann served for 28 years as Director of Bands at Tennessee Technological University. Under his leadership the Tennessee Tech Bands grew to a level of national prominence, over 25 new pieces were premiered, and the wind and percussion program became an influential force for bands in the Southeast.

Before his appointment at Tennessee Tech in 1989, Hermann was a director at the University of Arizona, Indiana University, and East Tennessee State University. His secondary school teaching includes directing the Dowling High School Band, West Des Moines, Iowa, and supervising the Des Moines Catholic Instrumental Music Program. Under his leadership, the school music program grew to unprecedented enrollment. In addition, he served briefly as the Educational Director for Bands of America and McCormick’s Enterprises, a music corporation, in Chicago, Illinois.

Hermann is sought after as a conductor, adjudicator, and speaker and has presented clinics, workshops, and has conducted in over thirty states, in Canada, and throughout Japan. His symphonic bands have been featured ensembles at state, regional and national conventions; his interpretations have been broadcast on National Public Radio, and recordings of his ensembles have been issued as reference for music educators nationwide through music publishers and on commercial labels.

Dr. Anthony Pursell is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Central Missouri. Dr. Pursell directs the Marching Band, conducts the UCM Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and music education.  Prior to joining the UCM faculty in 2017, he was Director of Bands at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas (2010-2017) and the Associate Director of Bands at Kansas State University (2005-2010).

Dr. Pursell’s professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, the Missouri Bandmasters Association, Missouri Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu.  He has honorary memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.  In 2012 he was named as a contributing editor for The instrumentalist Magazine.  He earned his Doctor of Arts degree in instrumental conducting from Ball State University and the Master and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Loyola University in New Orleans.

Director and Commanding Officer
“The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps

Major James ‘Axel’ Foley enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004. Following graduation from Marine Corps Recruit Training he reported to Marine Barracks Washington, DC for duty with “The Commandant’s Own” in 2005 as a Soprano Bugler.

As an enlisted Marine he served in the Lead Soprano and Mellophone Bugle sections, rendered funeral honors as a Bugler at Arlington National Cemetery, was highlighted as a Featured Soloist, and performed solo ceremonies as a Ceremonial Bugler. In addition to his responsibilities as a musician he assumed collateral duties including Marching Drill Designer and Instructor, Section Leader, Chief Music Librarian, Ceremonial Field Crew Director, and Administrative Chief. He was twice selected as the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps’ representative to the Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Officer Musician of the Year Board. In 2009 he was chosen through a competitive board to fill an officer vacancy in the unit and was appointed a Warrant Officer by the President in March of 2010. He served as the unit’s Operations Officer and Assistant Director from 2010-2014. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in December 2014, becoming the Company Executive Officer. He assumed duties as the sixth Director and the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps in July 2018 and his promotion to rank of Major was confirmed by the Senate in December 2018. Through his career the Drum & Bugle Corps has performed for countless military and civilian audiences around the country and abroad, including high profile dignitaries and heads of state.

Major Foley is a graduate of both the Sergeant and Staff Non-Commissioned Officer’s Courses and graduated from The Warrant Officer Basic Course at The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, where he placed on the Commanding General’s Honor Roll in the top 5% of his class. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star (second award) and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

Major Foley initiated his undergraduate studies in Music at Mercer University then transferred to the Universities of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Platteville. Major Foley graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Music (Business/Arts Administration) from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville in 2002.  While on active duty, he earned a Master of Music Degree in Conducting, studying with Prof. Mark Camphouse, from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, in 2010.

An advocate of all types and styles of musical performance, Major Foley was a performing member of the 1997-1998 Magic of Orlando, 1999-2001 Madison Scouts, and the 2002 Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. Additionally, he was member of the Washington, DC, acapella group Vox Populi and has performed in several musical theater productions, both on stage and in the orchestra pit. He is an alumni member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Men’s Music Fraternity. Major Foley is active as a clinician, arranger, and guest performer.