Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band Staff

Christopher G. White is currently the Director of Sports Bands at the University of Maine, directing the Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band, the Screamin’ Black Bear Pep Band and the University Concert Band. Chris received his B.M. in Music Education in 1988 from Ithaca College and his M.M. in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Maine in 1994. From 1988-1992 he was the Band Director and the district Music Supervisor of M.S.A.D. #11 in Gardiner, Maine.

Chris has worked at the Maine Summer Youth Music Camp since 1990 as the percussion instructor and is a percussionist with the Maine State Ballet Orchestra and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Mr. White is also active as a clinician for percussionists and marching bands. Chris is a member of M.B.D.A., C.B.D.N.A. and is currently the Treasurer for Maine State Chaptor of the Percussive Arts Society. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Pi Kappa Lambda, is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and is advisor for Tau Beta Sigma.

Sandy Sanzaro began her dance training with Brad Adams, in Skowhegan. She was a member of the Terpsicettes, and also performed with Sally’s Top Hat Tappers. She studied with Teresa Torkanowsky at the University of Maine, where she was a cheerleader and member of the UMO Dance Company. She received her BS in Education from MAINE in 1983.

Sandy is the owner/director of Top Hat II Dance Studio, with classes in Holden and Hampden. Her students have performed at Disney World, and have won awards at competitions in Forida, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. The studio’s dance team will perform on a Carnival Cruise in April, 2005. She is on the Board of Directors of the Maine Dance Teachers Club.

Sandy has worked with the UM Dance Team since 2000, when the team was founded, as part of the UM Marching Band.

Trevor has been involved with competitive marching ensembles since 1997. Among these include the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps (1999-2000), the Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band (2001-2004), and the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps (2002-2005).

Trevor served as an assisstant drum line instructor for the Carlisle High School Marching Band (2001-2004). He began instructing and arranging for the Black Bear Marching Band in the fall of 2005.

Since 1999, Brian has been involved with the Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band. He started his freshman year of college playing the alto saxophone. In the years that followed he became the alto saxophone section leader. During the years Brian was a student at the University of Maine, he was involved in several ensembles, most noticeable the Screaming Black Bear Pep Band, and the University of Maine Concert Band. Brian also is a proud Alumni of the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi; an organization that proudly supports all University of Maine band ensembles. Since graduating college in December 2003, he has volunteered as Stuff Guy, helping out at all UMaine football games by moving equipment, and assisting the band at home or away whenever possible.