JMU School of Music Ensembles and Faculty
Ensembles
Wind Symphony
The Wind Symphony is the premier woodwind, brass, and percussion ensemble at James Madison University. With an active performance schedule, the Wind Symphony is committed to performing the great works of the wind band’s core repertoire while also exploring the best of contemporary composition. In addition to on-campus concerts, the Wind Symphony recently performed for the 2015 National Conference of the College Band Directors Association (CBDNA) in Nashville, TN, and the VMEA In-Service Conferences in 2015 and 2011. Prior to that the Wind Symphony has performed at CBDNA regional conventions in New Orleans, Charlotte, Williamsburg, and Greensboro, plus numerous performances for the VMEA State Conference.
Symphonic Band
The JMU Symphonic Band is a select group of brass, woodwind, and percussion students who are dedicated to the performance of both traditional and contemporary band literature. The ensemble performs music of all periods and is open to any university student by audition.
Concert Band
The Concert Band is open to all students at JMU. Each semester, this ensemble presents several concerts featuring literature of different genres. There is no audition required for membership, although chair placements will be done at the beginning of each semester. The Concert Band meets during both the fall and spring semesters.
Brass Band
The JMU Brass Band is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. Formed in the Fall of 2000, the band has thrice been named the North American Brass Band Association 1st Section Champion (2004, 2005, 2024) and was the 2006, 2007, 2010, 2016, and 2019 NABBA Championship Section Runner-up. The group maintains an active performance schedule throughout the academic year, performing regularly both on and off-campus. The band is regularly ranked in the top 150 brass bands worldwide according to World of Brass/British Bandsman rankings.
Marching Royal Dukes
From humble beginnings in 1972, the first year of JMU football, the Marching Royal Dukes has become one of the best known and largest college marching bands in the country. The band has established a strong tradition as ambassadors of the university and community both in the region and abroad. They took their first European tour in 1997 in Monaco. Since then, the MRDs have performed in Greece, Italy, England, and Ireland. In addition to performing abroad, the MRDs are a four-time participant in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2001, 2008, 2013, 2018) and have performed in the 2016 and 2017 FCS National Championship Game, as well as the 2023 FBS Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
Pep Band
As one of the most visible athletic bands at JMU, the Basketball Pep Band has twice been selected by Eastern Basketball Magazine as the Best Pep Band in the East. With a membership selected from among the active members of the Marching Royal Dukes, this exciting group performs at all home men’s and women’s basketball games, travels to the CAA as well as post-season tournaments, and has been a crowd favorite at these events.
Faculty
Christopher Cicconi
Director of Bands
Dr. Christopher M. Cicconi is Director of Bands and Professor of Wind Conducting at James Madison University. Conductor of James Madison University School of Music’s premiere concert band, the Wind Symphony, he also teaches courses in undergraduate as well as graduate conducting, wind ensemble literature, advises Masters and Doctoral Conducting students, and provides visionary leadership for as well as oversees the School of Music’s comprehensive band program. Coupled with his duties at James Madison, Dr. Cicconi serves as the Principal Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Music Director of the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, and a Conductor of the New England Music Camp Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band.
As a strong advocate for music education and community outreach, Dr. Cicconi is in demand throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and is a sought-after guest conductor, clinician, and professional developer. He has appeared as a band and orchestra clinician in well over 200 public and private institutions and has been awarded, by the Maryland Music Educators Association, both the Outstanding Music Educator and the Corwin Taylor Music Education Leadership Awards and is a past president of the Maryland Band Directors Association. As a guest conductor, Cicconi has appeared with All-State, All-Region, and All-County Bands and Orchestras in numerous states around the country including California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wyoming, as well as the countries of Argentina and China. Finally, Dr. Cicconi frequently serves as a guest conductor for the internationally acclaimed Sewanee Music Festival as well as the United States Naval Academy and has presented clinic sessions at the field’s most prestigious conferences, including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the National Association for Music Education Conference.
As an active scholar, Cicconi’s agenda includes wind and orchestral repertoire and other current music education topics such as score study, conducting, and arranging. His most recent publications, ‘The Band Music Handbook, A Catalog of Emerging Band Repertoire', and contributions to 'Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra' have proved to be valuable resources for instrumental ensemble directors worldwide. As an arranger, Cicconi premiered his transcriptions of Jonathan Leshnoff’s ‘Rush’ and David Maslanka’s ‘Symphony No. 8' with the Towson University Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra respectively, which have been subsequently published by Theodore Presser and Carl Fischer. Since then, they have both received numerous performances nationwide in university and conference settings, including a performance at the college Band Directors National Association Southwest Regional Conference.
Before arriving at James Madison University, Dr. Cicconi served as Director of Bands and Orchestras and Associate Professor of Music Education at Towson University (2015 - 2024). Previous appointments also include Young Victorian Theatre Company (Music Director, 2016 - 2020), Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra (Music Director, 2016 - 2023), Pine Crest School (High School Band Director, 2012 - 2015), Broward Symphony Orchestra (Associate Conductor, 2009 - 2015), Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra (2009 - 20015), Walenstein Youth Symphony (Music Director, 2009 - 2012), and Power Ranch Elementary and Middle School (Middle School Band Director, 2002 - 2009).
Prior to his arrival in Maryland, Dr. Cicconi earned a Doctoral of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Miami, where he was awarded a Henry Mancini Fellowship and was a student of Mr. Gary D. Green. He completed a Master of Music Education Degree, with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting from Arizona State University and earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree (summa cum laude) from Youngstown State University. He is a member of College Band Directors National Association, Florida Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, Tau Beta Sigma.
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Office: Music Building, Room 215
Email: cicco2cm@jmu.edu
Chris DeVona
Assistant Director of Bands
Chris DeVona is the Assistant Director of Bands at James Madison University where he works with the Marching Royal Dukes, directs the basketball Pep Band, and conducts the Symphonic Band. Prior to joining the band team at JMU, Chris was on faculty at Eastern University in Pennsylvania, and he taught high school and middle school band/orchestra in his home state of Connecticut.
In addition to his teaching, Chris is also the director and conductor of the PA Brass Ensemble, and he gigs often as a horn player. His recent textbook, Expanding the Canon, an excerpt book for conducting courses, forefronts music by living composers, and his most recent research article will be published in ABA’s Journal of Band Research.
During the summer and fall seasons, Chris stays actively involved with marching band and drum corps, most recently serving in leadership roles on the staffs at the Blue Knights and Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps. When not on tour or working with the JMU bands, Chris also travels frequently as a clinician, consultant, and adjudicator for concert and marching ensembles.
Chris holds undergraduate degrees from the Hartt School and the University of Hartford in music theory and mathematics, and he completed his M.M. in conducting at West Chester University (PA). He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
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Office: Music Building, Room 212
Email: devonaca@jmu.edu
Scott Rikkers
Director of the Marching Royal Dukes
Scott Rikkers is the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of the Marching Royal Dukes at James Madison University. A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, he received his Bachelor of Music Education from Western Michigan University and Master of Music Education from James Madison University. At JMU, Mr. Rikkers is the Director of the Marching Royal Dukes, coordinator of the basketball pep bands, directs the JMU Concert Band, teaches Music Education courses, and supervises student teachers. Prior to his appointment at JMU, Mr. Rikkers was the Assistant Director of Bands at The University of Montana where he coordinated the athletic band program, conducted the University Concert Band, and assisted with the Music Education curriculum. He held a graduate assistantship with the James Madison University band program prior to which he taught K-12 music in Michigan, holding positions in General Music and Middle/High School Band.
Mr. Rikkers is a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Delta Kappa, Pi Kappa Lambda, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. In addition, he holds affiliation with the Virginia Music Education Association, Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, North American Brass Band Association, Collegiate Band Directors National Association, and the National Association for Music Education. He has been an active clinician for both marching and concert events in Maryland, Michigan, Montana, South Carolina, and Virginia. In 2010, he traveled to Venezuela with a group from JMU to study the Venezuelan Youth Symphony program, El Systema, where he was a guest conductor with the Mérida State Wind Ensemble. Mr. Rikkers continues his work in the field of Music Education as an active clinician for both marching and concert venues.
Office: Music Building, Band Office Room 210
Email: rikkersd@jmu.edu