MARK L. EDSALL is a native of Watkins Glen, NY where he was a member of The Squires Jr. Drum & Bugle Corps from 1972-75. After a thirty-seven-year hiatus, he joined Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni in July 2012. In addition to MSJ, he performed with Ghost Riders Mini Corps from 2013-15, including their DCA World Championship title his first year in Annapolis, MD. From 2016-19 Mark returned to the competition field as a member of The Skyliners DCA Corps based in Scranton-Wilkes Barre, PA. Over the past nine years he also performed with Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights Alumni, NY Skyliners Alumni, St. Joe’s of Batavia Brass Ensemble (where he became Asst. Director), St. Kevin’s Tribute Corps, as well as competing in multiple Buglers’ Hall of Fame and DCA Individual & Ensemble contests. During this time Mark also developed relationships with people throughout the Marching Arts community.
Kacy has been around drum corps and marching bands all his life. After graduating from Attica High School he obtained his bachelor’s degree in music education from The Crane School of Music and his Master’s degree from The University of Buffalo. He was fortunate enough to march with The Cadets of Bergen County in 2003, 2004, and 2005. After aging out in 2005, he performed with The Ghost Riders mini-corps in the late 2000s for several years, where he met Mr. Donny Allen, who introduced him to MSJ. He has been graciously accepted by the many people who make up the Mighty St Joes Drum and Bugle Corps and strives for musicality and entertainment in his instruction. He feels very fortunate to be part of this organization and to have made so many friends that treat him like family.
HAROLD MCJURY began his drum corps career at the age of five when he joined St. Joe’s Peanut Corps in Batavia, NY. Moving up to Mighty St. Joe’s Junior Corps when he was eleven was a dream come true, playing both French horn and soprano bugle. Later he would become one of Mighty St. Joe’s soloists, winning many individual contests in both New York and Canada.
At age 19, during the Vietnam War, Harold enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During boot camp he taught the Naval Drum Corps at Great Lakes and played in the stage band as well. As a Navy submarine sailor, Harold would never leave “on patrol” without his trumpet. When the sub was topside, one would often find Harold on deck practicing. Today, he plays the Star Spangled Banner several mornings a week at the Veteran’s Hospital in Batavia with his colleagues.
Harold and friends wanted to give the drum corps experience to others in and around Genesee County, so The American Patrol Drum and Bugle Corps was formed. Harold was horn instructor, arranger, and finally took on Corps Director. At that time, he was also an arranger and horn instructor for the Rochester Patriots. He has since performed with the Rochester Crusaders and was a horn instructor and marching member of the Hamburg Kingsmen.
Harold has been a member of Genesee Symphony Orchestra since 1974. He was active in playing in the Batavia Big Band for many years with Lyle Mark as director. Another significant accomplishment, Harold started the band program at Notre Dame High School in Batavia which is still active today. He continues to play for many high school musicals around the area and for the Genesee Choral.
In 1990, Harold was one of the founding fathers of Genesee Quest Junior Drum and Bugle Corps and became corps director and musical arranger. At about the same time, Bob Sullivan decided to form Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps with past St. Joe’s members. As one of the original horn instructors, Harold was thrilled with the success of the 1995 performance at the DCI World Championship Finals in Buffalo. He continues today as horn instructor and arranger for Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps of Leroy, NY.
Harold is also an instructor, arranger, and member of St. Joe’s of Batavia Brass Ensemble which was formed in 2009. All their performances are done for charity, including Christmas Brass, playing for Veterans, and nursing homes. Harold is proud to be a member of the Hit Men Brass Band under the direction of his longtime friend Dave Martin. He also enjoys being horn instructor of the Militaries Alumni Corps from Niagara Falls, Canada.
Harold has been married to his drum corps sweetheart, Donna for 46 years. They have four children and six grandchildren. He plans to continue instructing and playing for a very long time.
Michael Porter began his marching enthusiasm in Mohawk, NY in 1984, performing with the Mohawk Marching Band. Then in 1990, a junior in high school, he became the drum major of the Marcus Whitman Marching Band under the direction of the late Bob Steele. In 1991, Michael joined the Empire Statesmen from Rochester, NY, marching 91-94, 96-2000, 2004-05 and 2010. Michael played in the horn line, drum line, and was many characters on the field, including Phantom in 2000, Boris the evil spy in 2005, and the cowardly lion in 2010. For the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he was the drum major of the Dansville White Sabers. In 2008 he was assistant drum major of the Rochester Crusaders.
Michael’s passion for music and the sport came from the late Vince Bruni, who in 1984, had the Statesmen perform a winter show in Mohawk, NY. The fire was lit and the fire continues to burn to this day. His love for music doesn’t stop there. He has a project called SHALOM, meaning, Spreading His Amazing Love On Media. Michael travels around the east coast helping churches upgrade and install new sound, lighting, and video equipment. Music is truly in the depths of his heart.
“I am excited to be a part of Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni. I have seen and heard them for many years and have always admired their dedication to the activity. Ace Peterson asked me years ago to join, but I was doing competitive drum corps and didn’t have the time. From the moment I walked into practice, thanks to Ace, I feel right at home.” Michael Porter
Donny Allen has been involved in music education for over four decades. Mr. Allen is a high school band director in the Corning-Painted Post Area School District. Mr. Allen has many laurels to his credit including many New York State Championships, National and World Championships in high school and college marching bands, and drum corps. Mr. Allen presently continues in his own business of music education, arranging, adjudication and consulting based in New York State. He is a certified teacher in New York State with Bachelor of Arts in Music from State University of New York and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Buffalo.
Doug started his experience as a member of the Bishop Kearney Marching Kings in the 70s at a time when the drum corp style was just being adopted by high school marching bands. It was natural to join a drum corps and get fully immersed in the activity. For 3 years he marched with the Rochester Crusaders (where he met his wife) and one year with the Cadets of Greece. Those were the formative years for his drumming career.
Doug also graduated from the Fredonia School of Music where he studied percussion and composition. In the early 80s an opportunity came up to become the percussion arranger and instructor for a new corps in southern California, the Hollywood Knights. While the corps' life was rather short lived, many of his students went on to become successful in other corps like the Blue Devils and Velvet Knights. Many also went on to pursue careers in music education.
After moving back to the Rochester area, Doug joined The Hitmen as the drummer for the brass band made up of many hall of famers and music educators. You can see them performing in area festivals and parades all over NY, PA and Canada. In addition to playing with the Hitmen, Doug joined another group, St. Joe’s of Batavia Brass Ensemble (SJBBE), where he continues to be the drummer to this day.
In the early 2000s, Doug joined the United States Association of Rudimental Drummers (USARD) at the urging of Bill McGrath, then president of the group, and served for 6 yrs on the executive committee promoting the teaching and performance of all types of rudimental drumming from around the world.
The next decade would include playing with the Ghostriders, where they competed in the DCA I&E Mini Corp division and the Bridgemen Alumni corps of Bayonne, NJ. which performed around the NJ area and at the annual DCA Alumni Corps show.
After the untimely death of Bill McGrath (MSJs long time instructor and arranger), Doug came to Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps to continue the legacy of Bill McGrath and the drum corps.
When Doug isn’t practicing, performing, writing or teaching he’s very active in the lives of his family (wife +3) and enjoys football, basketball and golf.
Sarah started her tenure with Mighty St. Joe’s with the 1995 season. She is a 20 year plus seasoned member of the corps, marching in both the Percussion and Color Guard sections of the corps. Sarah also marched several years with the Rochester Crusader Senior Drum and Bugle Corps playing keyboards in the pit.
Growing up with a strong performing arts and musical background Sarah has always found an extended family through Drum Corps. Besides her position as the Color Guard Instructor and Designer, Sarah is part of the Corps’ Board of Directors, serves on several committees including grants and recruitment, and assists with the webpage design.
When not marching or doing work for the Corps Sarah is a part-time student studying Computer Programming, working full-time as a Senior Business Intelligence Developer for the University of Rochester, and volunteers with Avon Fire Dept. and Lima Ambulance.
