About
The Galva Band has become recognized as one of the finest small school band programs in Illinois within the past several years, winning several awards and gaining notoriety around the state. The program teaches instrumental music students from 5th grade through 12th grade. Our bands can be seen in Galva at football games, basketball games, pep rallies, and other community events. We hold a performance at least once per quarter with public concerts both at the school and in the community. All concerts are free to attend!
Our Mission
Our Mission
To encourage cognitive, logical, and behavioral development through the use of music instruction and performance.
To encourage cognitive, logical, and behavioral development through the use of music instruction and performance.
Meet the Director
Meet the Director
Mr. Joe Angelo is currently the director of bands in the Galva school district in Galva, IL. This assignment includes classroom and individual work with 5th grade on up to 12th grade. He serves as the director/arranger/designer of the Marching Wildcats as well as director of the Elementary, Jr. High, and High School concert bands. He also coordinates the school pep band for baskteball season. He is also the percussion coordinator/music arranger and assistant director of the United Township High School Marching Panthers of East Moline, IL. If that's not enough, he is also the founder and director of Conquest Drum and Bugle Corps. Conquest was founded in late 2018 and is a member-team of SoundSport, a program of Drum Corps International.
Mr. Angelo is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelor's of Music in Education. While at Western, he studied instrumental music education with Dr. Mike Fansler, Dr. Matt Thomas, Dr. Rich Cangro and general music instruction with Dr. Christine Lapka. He garnered his individual musical talents studying percussion with Dr. Kevin Nichols and Dr. Rick Kurasz. While at Western, he performed with most of the ensembles of the WIU School of Music including the wind ensemble, concert band, the Marching Leathernecks, orchestra, steel band, percussion ensemble, chamber winds, and more. He was one of only a few conducting students selected to conduct for the WIU Student Conductor's Concert, which is an audition based achievement. The work he conducted is entitled "Harvest Moon". The composer, Roy Magnuson, attended the performance. He also has his Master's of Music Education degree from Kent State University.
Since college and beyond, Mr. Angelo has been sought after as a teacher and adjudicator. He taught drumline at Geneseo, Orion, United Township, and Rhythm-Quest Indoor of Rock Falls, IL. He also taught private lessons in Geneseo, Orion, and was an instructor in the Studio G private lesson studio at Griggs Music of Davenport, IA. He has also served as a judge for recital at Geneseo High School, IGSMA solo and ensemble, Davenport Schools Jr. Solo and Ensemble Festival, and Percussion Palooza in Rock Falls, IL.
Mr. Angelo has been arranging music since he was a Junior in high school. His first arrangements were performed by the Geneseo High School Pep Band. Since then, he has arranged music (percussion and/or winds) for the following groups: Galva Jr./Sr. High School, Geneseo High School, Northeast Jr. High School (East Moline), Orion High School, Rock Island High School, United Township High School, the WIU Marching Leathernecks, and the WIU Wind Ensemble. He has also composed an original work for the Galva High School Wind Ensemble.
Mr. Angelo's time at Galva has been a rewarding challenge. The program was facing a serious lack of skills from its students as well as a lack of public interest. Through tireless work, the program has regained its notoriety in the school and community. The Marching Wildcats have won numerous awards, including several Best Percussion and Best Winds captions and 2 first place titles in Fall 2019. The Galva Performing Arts Boosters have grown during his tenure, performance attendance has increased, and the band received formal commendations from Principal Joe Becker to the Galva School Board in 2015, 2017, and 2019 for success and growth as a program.
In his spare time, Mr. Angelo enjoys walks, Toyota trucks, writing music, watching comedy both live and online, traveling to new places, and spending time with his fiancee, Megan. He currently resides in Colona, IL.
Mr. Angelo is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelor's of Music in Education. While at Western, he studied instrumental music education with Dr. Mike Fansler, Dr. Matt Thomas, Dr. Rich Cangro and general music instruction with Dr. Christine Lapka. He garnered his individual musical talents studying percussion with Dr. Kevin Nichols and Dr. Rick Kurasz. While at Western, he performed with most of the ensembles of the WIU School of Music including the wind ensemble, concert band, the Marching Leathernecks, orchestra, steel band, percussion ensemble, chamber winds, and more. He was one of only a few conducting students selected to conduct for the WIU Student Conductor's Concert, which is an audition based achievement. The work he conducted is entitled "Harvest Moon". The composer, Roy Magnuson, attended the performance. He also has his Master's of Music Education degree from Kent State University.
Since college and beyond, Mr. Angelo has been sought after as a teacher and adjudicator. He taught drumline at Geneseo, Orion, United Township, and Rhythm-Quest Indoor of Rock Falls, IL. He also taught private lessons in Geneseo, Orion, and was an instructor in the Studio G private lesson studio at Griggs Music of Davenport, IA. He has also served as a judge for recital at Geneseo High School, IGSMA solo and ensemble, Davenport Schools Jr. Solo and Ensemble Festival, and Percussion Palooza in Rock Falls, IL.
Mr. Angelo has been arranging music since he was a Junior in high school. His first arrangements were performed by the Geneseo High School Pep Band. Since then, he has arranged music (percussion and/or winds) for the following groups: Galva Jr./Sr. High School, Geneseo High School, Northeast Jr. High School (East Moline), Orion High School, Rock Island High School, United Township High School, the WIU Marching Leathernecks, and the WIU Wind Ensemble. He has also composed an original work for the Galva High School Wind Ensemble.
Mr. Angelo's time at Galva has been a rewarding challenge. The program was facing a serious lack of skills from its students as well as a lack of public interest. Through tireless work, the program has regained its notoriety in the school and community. The Marching Wildcats have won numerous awards, including several Best Percussion and Best Winds captions and 2 first place titles in Fall 2019. The Galva Performing Arts Boosters have grown during his tenure, performance attendance has increased, and the band received formal commendations from Principal Joe Becker to the Galva School Board in 2015, 2017, and 2019 for success and growth as a program.
In his spare time, Mr. Angelo enjoys walks, Toyota trucks, writing music, watching comedy both live and online, traveling to new places, and spending time with his fiancee, Megan. He currently resides in Colona, IL.