Music for All Announces 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees

Music for All has announced the industry leaders who will be inducted into the 2015 Bands of America Hall of Fame: Remo D. Belli, Richard Saucedo, Mark Jolesch, and Dr. Nicholas Valenziano.

The Bands of America Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have had a positively life- changing impact on Music for All’s Bands of America programs, participants, and music education. 2015 inductees were announced during the Finals of the 2014 Bands of America Grand National Championships, presented by Yamaha, Saturday, November 15th, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Remo D. Belli is the founder of Remo Percussion Products and a long-time BOA supporter and sponsor. Belli founded Remo, Inc. in 1957 and continues to serves as its CEO. Remo, Inc. offers drumheads and related products. Its products include drum sets, world percussion, ergo-drum systems, educational products, kids’ instruments, sound shapes, crown percussion, and accessories. The company offers its products through dealers internationally. For over 50 years, Remo has constantly and consistently broken new ground when it comes to industry firsts.

Remo, Inc. and its founder and namesake have been a sponsors and supporter of Bands of America and music education for more than two decades. Beyond creation of the world’s finest drumheads and other percussion and rhythm accessories, Mr. Belli and his company to explore and lead the connection between human healing, wellness and therapeutic mind and body rhythm.

Richard L. Saucedo is director of Bands and Department chairman (Emeritus) at the William H. Duke Center for the Performing Arts at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, having retired in 2013 after 31 years of public school teaching. Under his direction, Carmel bands received numerous state and national honors in the areas of concert band, jazz band and marching band. His Carmel Wind Symphony performed three times at Music for All’s National Concert Band Festival, performed at the Midwest Clinic, and was named an Indiana State Champion. Under his direction, the Carmel Marching Band finished in the top ten at the Bands of America Grand National Championship for 15 consecutive years and was named BOA National Champions in the 2005 and 2012. His marching bands were Indiana Class A State Champions four times and he was named Indiana Bandmasters Association’s “Bandmaster of the Year” for 1999 and “Outstanding Music Educator” for the state of Indiana, in 2010, by the Indiana Music Educators Association.

Mr. Saucedo remains active and engaged with Bands of America and Music for All serving as an Educational Consultant, Coordinator for MFA’s jazz programming and a Chief Judge for Bands of America fall programs.

Mark Jolesch revolutionized the art of group and candid event photography for scholastic marching bands. As founder of Jolesch Photography and its successor Jolesch Enterprises, Mark and his companies have been the official photography company of Bands of America events since 1982. During that time, Jolesch’s companies have captured more than a million group and candid images of Bands of America participants and events that literally “tell of story” of scholastic band in America. His success at Bands of America events was the springboard that launched Jolesch photography services to be leaders in photography for band contest and festival across the country and marching organizations including Drum Corps International. Jolesch images have been featured in newspapers, music and arts trade publications, and Bands of America marketing and promotional materials for more than three decades.

Jolesch’s contributions to Music for All go beyond the capturing and distribution of cherished photographic commemoratives. The Mark Jolesch Scholarship at Grand Nationals has meaningfully contributed to the education and training of young men and women who are today successful music educators. In addition to these contributions, Mark and his team have been fiscal, operational and strategic contributors to Music for All’s and Bands of America growth and development as an organization.

Dr. Nicholas Valenziano is the former executive director and director of Education for Marching Bands of America and was instrumental in developing Bands of America presence in its early years.

In 1978, Dr. Nicholas Valenziano succeeded Gary Beckner, becoming (Marching) Bands of America’s second executive director. Nick came to Marching Bands of America in 1975 as its first educational director and served in that role until his elevation to Executive Director, a position he held until 1981. A childhood friend and band mate of BOA founder Larry McCormick, Nick “bought into” Larry’s dream that is Bands of America. His presence and engagement provided leadership, legitimacy and character to the vision, without which foundation might call into question Bands of America’s and Music for All survival and evolution through the years.

Dr. Nick Valenziano received his Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University, a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Missouri. In addition to his work at Bands of America, he spent more than 35 years as a music educator at the elementary, high school, and college levels and twelve years in the music industry, before he retired in 2001. A consummate musician, Nick remains active as a professional player and conductor in his “retirement” home of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Music for All will induct these newest members into the Bands of America Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 14, 2015 during the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis. They will be permanently recognized in the Bands of America Hall of Fame at Music for All’s Indianapolis headquarters, along with all the BOA Hall of Fame members inducted since the first in 2003.