Frederick Delphia

Director

Steven Stroup

Assistant Director

Robert Lyon

Previous Director

Corey Swinderman

Band Arranger

Ron Barkett

Vocal Soloist

Jeffrey Huston

Trumpet Soloist

Gary Petricola

The Voice of the Band

In 1966, Fred Delphia was working as an instructor at a summer music clinic at Ohio University when he learned at the placement office that Dover High was seeking a band director.  

After learning of the great musical tradition at Dover , he applied for and became director of the Dover High School Band, a position he held for the next fifteen years. In 1981, he became assistant principal and in 1989, took over the principalship of Dover High School until his retirement in 2000.

Delphia was a clarinet player with the Steubenville Big Red Band during his high school days. After graduation, he attended the U.S. Navy School of Music in Washington D.C. , and played four years in the Navy bands. Much of that time he was assigned to the admiral’s ship in the Sixth Fleet, Mediterranean and the Navy Band at Philadelphia . Following his discharge from the Navy, he enrolled at Ohio University with the goal of becoming a high school band director. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music education in 1964, and his first teaching job was in Milan , Ohio , where he taught instrumental, vocal, and general music. He later earned his master’s degree from the University of Akron in Music Supervision and Administration.  

Highlights of his career as band director included the band’s participation in the J.L. Hudson Thanksgiving Day parade at Detroit in 1969, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at New York City in 1972, the Indianapolis 500 Parade in 1973 and 1975, and the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in 1976, in which the Dover High Concert Band won first place in the division with 30 bands competing. Another point of pride was the band’s record of nine consecutive years of superior ratings at state concert band competition.  

Delphia states that probably the greatest honor was having the Dover Band named as Ohio’s representative to the Bicentennial Parade in Washington D.C. on July 3, 1976, and then the next day, the Grand 4th of July Bicentennial Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  

Delphia’s love of music comes naturally as part of his family heritage. His father, the late Alfred Delphia, attended Peabody Conservatory of Music at Baltimore , Maryland . He played trumpet in several big bands, sitting in with the great Glenn Miller Orchestra. His mother, the late Jean Delphia was a gifted violinist, pianist, and organist who attended Geneva College in Pennsylvania . On his mother’s side of the family, a great-great-great uncle, of the family Casanova, was the director of the Army Band of Rome in the late 1800’s. Casanova also performed a special clarinet solo for the queen at the palace sometime late in the century. After the performance, the queen presented him an ivory clarinet with gold keys. “It is my understanding that clarinet still exists in the family in Italy ,” Delphia said. He also composed two marches, which are still popular, and being played in Italy today. One of Delphia’s great-great uncles, Joseph Alexandro, was a teacher at the Eastman School of Music in Buffalo , N.Y. He became well known for traveling to various U.S. communities and organizing steel mill bands.  

Fred Delphia’s grandparents on his mother’s side came to this country from a small village in Sicily and his grandparents on his father’s side came from a town outside of Rome . Delphia’s name could well be Delfiacco. When his father, Orfeo Delfiacco, entered school in Midland , Pennsylvania , in 1918, he knew little English and had difficulty pronouncing his own name. His own parents could not speak English. So, the school changed his name to Alfred Delphia, and to this day, some of the uncles go by Delfiacco and others by Delphia.

Delphia’s wife Carolyn is a well-known area vocalist. His daughter, Carla Wherley of New Philadelphia, plays oboe in the Greco Band. His other daughter, Dana Levins of Columbus, Ohio, is a former clarinetist in the Greco Band.

Many people have influenced Fred Delphia’s musical career, but he gives the most credit to his late mother, Jean, his high school band director Anthony Violi, and his very close friend, the late George Polce. “These wonderful people were my teachers, and through their guidance and support, gave me the direction to share my love of music with others.”

Mr. Stroup received his Bachelor in Music Education from the University of Colorado in Boulder . He has completed additional course work at the University of Akron and Ashland University . Now in his twenty-ninth year of teaching Steven Stroup has been the band director at Dover High School the past nineteen years. He has taken the bands to many festivals, parades, professional sporting events, and halftime shows. In addition to performing at all Dover Football Games, community parades and activities, the Marching Tornadoes have performed at the Peach Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Citrus Bowl Parade, the Michigan Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Hall of Fame Parade, and professional athletic events in Cleveland and Pittsburgh including the Steeler’s Home Opening Football Game. The Marching Tornadoes have appeared many times at Walt Disney World, performing in the various parks as well as the Spectro-Magic Light Parade in 2003 and in 2005 as the “Featured Performers.” Students in the Symphonic and Concert Bands successfully compete each year in the OMEA Festivals. Mr. Stroup also directs the Dover High School Jazz Band and teaches Theory and Music Appreciation.

He has served as President for the Ohio Music Education Association, which boasts over 5000 active music teachers and collegiate members. Mr. Stroup is currently serving as Immediate Past President of OMEA and has held other positions to include State Treasurer, District President and State President Elect. He serves music education as a brass adjudicator and has chaired many solo and ensemble events, at the junior high and senior high level.

Corey Swinderman began playing in the Dominic Greco Band in 1973, while a student at Dover High School . He has since found a home with the Dominic Greco Band as the group’s arranger and trumpet soloist.

Crediting many with influencing him during his early years playing trumpet, Corey took private lessons from the late George Polce. He also attributes his mother Virginia Swinderman and high school band director Frederick Delphia for giving him a firm musical foundation.

Upon graduating from high school, Corey entered the U.S. Navy and was chosen to be a member of the U.S. Navy Show Band. As the band’s lead trumpeter, musical arranger/composer and assistant show director, Corey toured in over 30 countries throughout South America and Europe for five years. During this time he had the honor of playing back up for Doc Severinsen and arranging music for a show headlined by Bob Hope.

Returning stateside, Corey was part of the U.S. Navy Band stationed in Chicago , Illinois . There he was the lead trumpeter, musical arranger and composer, show producer and public affairs director. In addition to touring the states, the band had the privilege to open for Maynard Ferguson and played back up for Manhattan Transfer.

While in the Navy, Corey received numerous awards, including the Navy Achievement Medal for writing and producing an anti-drug show that the band performed throughout the states.

After 12 years serving in the U.S. Navy, he went off active duty to pursue a career in film and television in California . In Hollywood , Corey worked as a studio musician recording background music for movies and television shows, including Simon and Simon, Magnum PI, and MacGyver. He also has major roles in the theatrical productions and a role in Miami Vice.

In 1991, Corey returned to Dover and began teaching private trumpet lessons and operating his own video production company. Using his electronics background, he joined the staff of Radio Shack and is currently manager of the Radio Shack store located inside New Towne Mall at New Philadelphia , Ohio .

Corey’s musical degrees include a B.F.A. in Musical Arranging and Composition from St. Leo’s University of Florida , Film Scoring and Composition from Berklee and Studio Sound and Recording techniques from Peavey Electronics. He also took private lessons from trumpet legend Conte Condoli, who performed nightly as a member of The Tonight Show Band.

Ronald W. Barkett, baritone, received his Bachelors degree in Voice Performance from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music at Berea, and Teacher Certification from Malone College at Canton.  He studied voice with Mel Hakola.   He has been a soloist with the Dominic Greco Band since it reformed in 2001, singing many different styles including opera, patriotic, jazz and pop. Ron has performed as baritone soloist with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic many times, as well as the Summit Choral Society of Akron,  Franciscan University in Steubenville, Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, and Mount Union College in Alliance. Ron is also a member of the Tubafours, a Tuba quartet that performs in the area.

For twenty-five years Ron has been director of choirs at the First United Methodist Church of Dover directing vocal and handbell choirs and a youth praise band.  He has directed their annual Sacred Music Festival and teaches private voice lessons there.