Dr. Daniel Atwood enters his seventh season as the Director of University Bands in 2017-18.
The new Saint Francis University Marching Band marked a major milestone on June 29, 2011 as Dan Atwood was named it's first-ever director. Atwood comes to Loretto from Everett (Pa.) High School where he had served as Band Director since 2003.
"It is a historic time for Saint Francis as we announce that Dan Atwood will be joining our Red Flash family as Director of Bands and will lead the development of our new marching band set to perform in the fall of 2012," said Director of Athletics Bob Krimmel. "Dan brings a passion for marching band and for music that will energize our new program while he provides dynamic leadership for our students."
"I wish to express my thanks to Assistant Director of Athletics Jim Brazill for his leadership throughout the search process, the search committee for their diligent work and many of the local high school band directors for their contributions and interest in our new program."
A past President and Vice President of the District 6 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Atwood will also oversee the University's Pep Band as he builds the marching band from the ground up.
Under his direction, the Everett Marching Band routinely performed at events such as the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. and the National Fourth of July Celebration in Philadelphia in addition engagements at several professional sporting events.
"I am thrilled to have been hired as the first Director of Bands at Saint Francis University," said Atwood. "This is an exciting opportunity for our student body, our campus community and our surrounding communities. There will be obstacles to overcome, but I welcome those challenges, and I am looking forward to a long productive career at Saint Francis."
Atwood earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1999 and went on to earn a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago in 2007.
