James Ancona has over 20 years of experience as an arranger and instructor for world class drum and bugle corps including The Cavaliers, Star of Indiana, Santa Clara Vanguard, The Glassmen, The Crossmen and Carolina Crown.  Most recently he was the Percussion Caption Head for the 2006 DCI World Champion The Cavaliers.

His honors in the activity include having been a member of the 1990 DCI World Champion Cadets of Bergen County and having been on the instructional staff of Star of Indiana’s (1993) and Santa Clara Vanguard’s (2004) World Champion percussion sections. Jame’s Vanguard Percussion Ensembles and Mixed Ensembles have won DCI’s I&E Championships and several of his percussion arrangements where used in Star of Indiana’s “Brass Theater” and in the production of  BLAST!

James is currently the Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Delaware and the Assistant Director of the Blue Hen Marching Band, Director of the Basketball Pep Band and Co-Director of the Symphonic Band. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his Master’s Degree in Performance from Indiana University where he was awarded the prestigious Performer’s Certificate.