John S. Marshall
John S. Marshall, a native of Massachusetts, received his BME from Indiana University and his MME from Vandercook College of Music. Mr. Marshall is the 1993 Indiana Runner-up Teacher of the Year and the 1992 Pike Township Teacher of the Year. He has held positions at Center Grove Middle School, Center Grove High School, and Northrop High School. Mr. Marshall retired in 2015 after 33 years as Chairman of the Performing Arts Department and Head Band Director at Pike High School. Mr. Marshall has also taught graduate courses in Music Theory at the University of Indianapolis.
During Mr. Marshall’s tenure, the Pike Band consisted of over 380 students in five concert bands, guard, dancers and a three-time State Championship Winter Drum Line. The Band often appeared at the State Concert Band Finals and the ISSMA Regional Marching Band Competition and achieved the Indiana State School Music Association “All Music Award.” Pike’s “Crimson Rage” marching band was a long time “Sweet Sixteen” finalist and placed as high as third in State Fair Band Day competition. More recently, the Crimson Rage is proud of their “Semi State Finalist” appearances in ISSMA field show competitions. The Pike Wind Ensemble and Symphony performed in Florence and Rome, Italy, in the summer of 2009 as part of the Florence International Music Festival. Also boasting two jazz bands, Pike’s Jazz Band, Mr. Marshall enjoyed frequent placement as an “Honor Band” at numerous festivals, including the Purdue Jazz Festival, Northrop Jazz Festival, Northside Jazz Festival, and Ball State Jazz Festival. The Performing Arts Department enrollment was over 1,400 students with all facets of the program (band, orchestra, choir and theater) enjoying success and awards.
An accomplished trumpet player and organist, Mr. Marshall has two world premieres to his credit on organ. Vaclav Nelhybel’s Toccata for Organ and Band and Alfred Reed’s Christmas Celebration were both premiered at the MidWest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Mr. Marshall is a member of IMEA, IBA (a past president), and Phi Beta Mu, Gamma Chapter (past president). He is a Past President of the Vandercook College of Music Alumni Board of Directors and has served as a trustee for the college. Awards include special selection by Band World Magazine as one of ten “Outstanding Band Directors of the Year” and the coveted “Sudler Flag of Honor” from the John Philip Souza Foundation.
Mr. Marshall frequently serves as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician. A veteran of four Junior High All-Region guest conducting appearances, he has also conducted the Carmel Clay Junior High Band Festival; the Seekonk, Massachusetts, Middle School Band Festival; the Indiana West All-District High School Honor Band; the Indiana South All-District High School Honor Band; the Indiana Northeast All-District High School Honor Band; the Indiana Wind Symphony; the Indianapolis Symphonic Band; the All District High School Honor Band in Wichita Falls, Texas; the United States Air Force Academy Band; and the United States Army Field Band.
Mr. Marshall currently serves as a singer in his wife’s choir at Meridian Street United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Married to Peggy, who is an accomplished vocalist and pianist, he has four children: Benjamin, Elizabeth, Colin, and Philip and is also quite proud of his grandchildren: Lilly, Adelyn, Timothy, Oliver, Selah, Evey, Flora, Emerson, Montgomery, and Bella.