New Hall of Fame honors music alumni
charles cassio ’64, ’65 directed instrumental music and chaired the Fine Arts Department at Boulder High School, in addition to serving as music coordinator for the Boulder Valley Public Schools. He received the Mac Award for Colorado Outstanding Band Director in 1979, and his program won the National High School Band Achievement Award in 1981. Cassio is a past president of the Colorado Bandmaster's Association and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1990. He also served on the Board of the Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA), was named their Administrator of the Year in 1995, and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1996. gary hall ’73, ’92 is coordinator of instrumental music at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo. Previously, his Montezuma-Cortez High School (CO) ensembles performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and at the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France. Marching bands under Hall's direction won seven state championships and were recognized at the University of New Mexico's Zia Marching Band Fiesta and the University of Utah Marching championships. Hall was elected to the Colorado Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2005. john icabone ‘67 completed his post-graduate work at University of Northern Colorado and was director of bands at Trinidad State Junior College and Sinclair Junior High School. His Marching Scots at Overland High School performed in numerous prestigious parades. His percussion ensemble performed at the internationally acclaimed Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. He served as president of the Colorado Bandmasters Association, received the 1996 CBA Hall of Fame Director of the Year Award, and was named the 2003 Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster. As a child, c. wayne manzanares ’70, ‘71 marched alongside as his parents rehearsed with the Adams State band. He transformed Douglas County High School’s 39-member band into a 260-member strong championship marching band that was invited to march in the 1981 Tournament of Roses Parade. Under his leadership, the Ponderosa High School marching band won five state championships. He was chairman of Marching Affairs and elected to the Colorado Bandmasters Hall of Fame. frank montera ’67 retired from public education after serving as music supervisor/coordinator for Colorado Springs Public Schools, District 11, overseeing a staff of 92 music educators. He served on the CMEA Board of Directors, includ-
ing a term as president. He was inducted into the CMEA Hall of Fame in 2002, the Colorado Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 2007. joe "ernie" montoya ’54 produced some of the finest bands in Colorado over his 40-year career. He helped establish the Colorado All-State Jazz Band as part of CMEA in 1971. In 1988, the Colorado Bandmasters Association named him a Hall of Fame Band Director, and Phi Beta Mu honored him as Director of the Year in 1997. Although retired, he continues to attend conferences and clinics and perform on his trumpet.
From left, ASU President David Svaldi, Music Department chair Dr. Tracy Doyle, C. Wayne Manzanares, William Duane Zanotelli, Frank Montera, Joe "Ernie" Montoya, and Linwood Warwick.
linwood warwick ’57, ’60 has had a tremendous impact on music education in the San Luis Valley. He has taught band, choir, and instrumental music at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels at Centauri, Alamosa, and Sangre De Cristo schools. In 2011 he was inducted into the CMEA Hall of Fame. A knowledgeable and passionate music educator and CMEA member for 47 years, he has remained active as a musician, educator, and clinician. william duane zanotelli ’72, ’73 was director of bands for Trinidad schools and taught at Trinidad State Junior College. His marching bands placed in the Colorado Bandmasters State Finals and in the Colorado State Fair Parade numerous times and were the overall winners on three occasions. He twice received the Trinidad Hispanic Chamber of Commerce award for excellence in teaching. In 1998, he was a Boettcher Foundation winner and received the Masonic Teacher of the Year Award. He was inducted into the Colorado Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1997, the Colorado Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2003, and received the Outstanding Bandmaster award from Phi Beta Mu in 2009.
aStater alumnotes
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Eight music alumni were inducted into the newly formed Adams State University Music Hall of Fame in a ceremony November 9. Music Department Chair Tracy Doyle said these alumni have “instilled the love of music in many young students and continued to promote the importance of music in our education system and in society.”
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