Performing Arts Hall of Fame
The Central York Performing Arts Hall of Fame was established in 2023 to recognize and honor Central York High School alumni, teachers, directors, and supporters who have achieved a high level of excellence and accomplishment in music, theater, and/or film, during their high school career and/or after graduating from Central York. Hall of Fame recognition helps maintain spirit, pride, and sense of community as well as provides an historical account of outstanding traditions of excellence in our music and theater programs.
2025 Class
Juan Calix
Juan Calix
Class of 2006
Juan Calix is a 2006 graduate of Central York High School, where he was actively involved in the performing arts and theater programs. Juan was born to immigrant parents in Maryland and grew up in York, Pennsylvania with his older brother José and his twin sister Anna. Juan is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he got a BFA in Theatre. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Film from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, a CalArts affiliate. Juan works professionally as an actor and singer, and has begun producing his own work as a writer and director.
As an actor Juan's been seen in: Tours: Sister Act (Pablo) International Tour, El Otro Oz (The Iron Chef); Off-Off B’way: Shooting Star (Bruce/Martin); Regional: Sunday In The Park With George (Soldier/Alex), Fun Home (Bruce), The Little Mermaid (Sebastian), With Bells On (Natasha), Christmas In Dikanka (Vakula). On film Juan was recently seen in What You Deserve, Vanishing Shore, Street Behavior, and Rabets. Juan wrote and produced two short films this past year: What You Deserve, and Surviving Myself Part I: Powerless exploring themes of addiction and sexual assault. He made his directorial debut on Surviving Myself. www.thejuancalix.com | IG @thejuancalix
Darryl Engler
Darryl J. Engler
Employee 2003-2017
Darryl J. Engler began his musical journey in elementary school with French horn, piano, and organ. He continued musical pursuits in high school at Susquehannock High School in Southern York County by playing strings, woodwinds, and percussion, participating in orchestra, band, dance band, basketball pep band, district band, and The Patriots folk-singing group.
At Ursinus College, he served as chapel organist, student conductor of band, Messiah chorus, and Meistersingers touring choir. He played with intercollegiate bands and soloed with Ursinus/Drexel joint band concerts. Following graduation from Ursinus College and Millersville University, Darryl served as organist at Messiah Lutheran Church, Zion Lutheran Church, Trinity UCC, and others. After years of singing in barbershop quartets and directing the White Rose Barbershop Chorus, Darryl served more than 20 years as musical director for productions at York Little Theatre (YLT), now the Belmont Theatre.
Darryl joined the Performing Arts staff in 2003 as Musical Director and Conductor for twenty-three musicals between 2003-2017 on the Central York stages, including four community productions, and being selected to perform Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the International Thespian Society Conference in Nebraska in Summer of 2010. Guys and Dolls (2003 & 2011); Honk! (2004) Anything Goes (2005); *Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2005); Les Misérables, Student Edition (2006); *The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (2006); Peter Pan (2007 & 2015); Crazy For You (2008); The Music Man (2009); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2009-2010); Curtains (2010); Altar Boyz (2011); The Wizard of Oz (2012); *Into The Woods (2012); Oliver! (2013); Spamalot (2014); The Addams Family (2014); *The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2015); Disney's The Little Mermaid (2016); The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee (2016); Sister Act (2017)* - Community production
In his retirement, he continues to play organ in churches, and French horn in the Encore Orchestra in Orlando.
Chris Hoffman
Chris Hoffman
Class of 1989
Chris Hoffman is a 1989 graduate of Central York High School, where he participated in the Concert and Symphonic Bands, Jazz Lab and Stage Band, Pit Band, Marching Band, the Keystone 5, and Numerous other small ensembles. He also played in the orchestra and sang in the Mixed Choir, Celebration and in the stage production of The Princess and the Pea. Chris was active in the theatre program as well, appearing onstage in Arsenic and Old Lace and Rehearsal for Murder, and working backstage for Dracula. Chris was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award in 1989.
Chris went on to study music at Penn State where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory. He went on to earn his Master of Music in Music Theory from the University of Maryland, where his master’s thesis was a spectrographic analysis of the first movement of Gyorgi Ligeti’s Cello Concerto He then went on to do post-graduate studies in Australia at the University of Sydney, where he continued his research in the post-electronic works of Gyorgi Ligeti.
Following his graduate studies, Chris took a position as a middle school music teacher in the Peel District School Board in Mississauga, Ontario, teaching general music, choirs of over 100 students every year, a ukulele ensemble, and a string ensemble. He is regularly a guest conductor, clinician, and audition adjudicator for multiple groups in the Greater Toronto Area. Chris sits on the executive board for the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra and regularly accompanies and performs with them, having been a part of their tours and performances to Spain, Chicago’s Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Spring International Music Festival in Shanghai.
Chris currently lives in Mississauga, Ontario and regularly performs in a wide variety of ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area and south-central Ontario. He has performed with the Rose Orchestra, the Mississauga Symphony, the Oakville Symphony, the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, the Oakville Masterworks Orchestra, the Burlington Symphony, the Ontario Pops Orchestra, the Greater Toronto Philharmonic, and the Milton Philharmonic. Chris has also performed with wind ensembles, including the Plumbing Factory Brass Band, the Mississauga Pops Concert Band, the Brampton Concert Band, the Milton Concert Band, and the Metropolitan Winds of Toronto. He plays in several jazz ensembles: the George Rose Big Band, Jazz Connections, the West End Jazz Orchestra, the GTA Swing Band, The Advocats, and Big Band Theory. Chris is a founding member of the B Town Brass Quintet, has performed with the PA 46th Regiment Civil War Band, and every year can be heard performing at Renaissance and Medieval Faires as a member of the Gemsmen Renaissance Consort.
Prior to his move to Canada, Chris performed in numerous ensembles in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington DC, and Sydney, Australia.
While Chris is primarily a bass trombonist, he is also regularly called to play tenor, alto, and contrabass trombones, euphonium, tuba, string bass and electric bass. He has also been called on to play ophicleide and helicon on occasion. As a member of the Gemsmen Renaissance Consort, he can be heard playing gemshorn, sackbut, crumhorn, recorder, and several other historical instruments from that time period.
Chris has what he refers to as an “unhealthy” collection of instruments, starting with numerous trombones and other low brass. His collection also contains an original ophicleide and helicon, numerous historical brass and woodwinds, and many stringed instruments. He also has an extensive” collection of mutes to accompany his many brass instruments.
Rebecca Malinowski-Farquhar
Rebecca Malinowski-Farquhar
Class of 2000
Rebecca Malinowski-Farquhar is a member of the Central York High School graduating class of 2000. During her time at Central, she participated extensively in band, orchestra, and numerous small-group ensembles, as well as varsity tennis and softball. She was a 1999 participant in the York County Junior Miss program (now Distinguished Young Women). She also served as National Honor Society President, National Art Honor Society, and was among the top 5% of the graduating class of 2000.
Rebecca studied violin privately with Venona Detrick and Priscilla Howard, saxophone with Curt Sipe, and piano with Winifred Walters. While at Central York, she had the honor of learning from the late great Ken Matthews, Paul Grill, and Mark Zortman.
Rebecca is a 2004 cum laude graduate of Gettysburg College where she pursued a double major in Heath and Exercise Science and Music as well as a minor in Biology. During her time at Gettysburg, she served as concertmaster for the Gettysburg College Orchestra, played regularly with other groups such as the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, and frequently returned home to maintain her position within the York Symphony Orchestra’s violin section. While at Gettysburg she also participated in the Bullet Marching Band and Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Buzz Jones. She studied violin under Lori Zeshonsky and the late John Eaken.
Rebecca pursued her Masters of Science degree in Physician Assistant studies at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, graduating in 2007. She returned to her hometown and started her medical career in family medicine before accepting a position with Dermatology Associates of York in 2010. Becky maintains board-certification by the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants. She is a member of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants and has achieved the distinction of Diplomat Fellow. She enjoys making a difference in the lives of her neighbors, friends, and patients in the town in which she grew up.
Becky still regularly performs with the York Symphony Orchestra, a position that she has held since 1997 (with a hiatus during graduate school). She is thrilled her two young sons, Liam (Central York Middle School) and Reid (Sinking Springs Elementary) are learning saxophone and piano. She enjoys watching them perform on the same stages at Central that she once did.
Michael Yasenchak
Michael S. Yasenchak
Class of 1973
Michael S. Yasenchak is a 1973 graduate of Central York High School. While at Central York, Michael was active as a horn player in the band and orchestra programs and participated in multiple PMEA District and Region Band and Orchestra Festivals. After graduating high school, Michael was a United States Marine Corps bandsman. He was selected as the youngest member of the United States Armed Forces Bicentennial Band, touring all 50 states and US territories in 1975 and 1976.
Michael graduated in 1980 from Elizabethtown College with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. During his college years, he performed as principal horn in the York Symphony and Hershey Symphony Orchestras. He was a frequent soloist with the Hershey Symphony performing concertos of Mozart, Haydn and Richard Strauss. During this time, he also spent summers as principal horn of the Rome Festival Orchestra in Italy. After his undergraduate studies, Michael studied with Meir Rimon, principal horn of the Israel Philharmonic in Tel Aviv. In 1983, he earned a Master of Music in Music Performance from Notre Dame, where he served as Graduate Assistant Band Director. While at Notre Dame, he also studied privately with Dale Clevenger, principal horn of the Chicago Symphony and performed with the Chicago Civic Orchestra and the South Bend Symphony.
From 1983 to 1986, Michael resumed his full-time military band professional performance career with the First Army Band of Fort Meade, MD, where he was frequently a featured soloist and director of the brass quintet. During this time, Michale also began to sing professionally as a member of the Baltimore Symphony Chorus. From 1986 to 1993 he was a member of the Air Force Band of the West in San Antonio, Texas as principal horn, where he was also a featured soloist and director of the Ceremonial Band. Michael has made frequent guest appearances with the San Antonio Symphony, a member of the San Antonio Brass, and continued to explore singing with the Air Force Band and other groups in San Antonio. From 1993 to 1996, Michael was a member of the horn section of the Air Force band of Flight, Dayton, OH. Extra duties included director of music library and band operations, responsible for organizing and booking concert tours throughout a five-state region. He began fully transitioning to singing duties with this organization as a member of a five-person cast that developed small -scale versions of large stage productions of Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, Camelot, and a WW II themed review of Glenn Miller favorites.
From 1996 to 1999, Michale was a member of the horn section of the US Air Force Band, Europe in Ramstein, Germany. He became more focused as a singer with this organization, performing as soloist specializing in opera and Broadway standards throughout the European continent and the United Kingdom. He performed title role in fully staged runs of Phantom of the Opera, and as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. His extra duties included chief of music production, spearheading efforts to research and create a fully staged all-original Broadway style review show to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. Highlights of this tour included performances in many of the great halls of Europe including the Gewandhaus, Leipzig; Semper Oper, Dresden; Deutsches Theater, Munich; Beethoven Hall, Bonn; Royal Albert Hall, London. He performed as soloist for wide variety of dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth II in England, and the granddaughter of Giacomo Puccini in Milan.
From 1999-2001 Michael was a member of the horn section and featured singer with the Air Force Reserve Band in Warner Robins, GA. He toured throughout the Southeastern region of the US, serving as commander’s executive non-commissioned officer and band operations executive.
In 2001, Michael began a second career with the American Battle Monuments Commission. He served throughout from 2001-2019 as director of various American WW II cemeteries in France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium, while still managing to keep involved in music on the side. Michael reunited with fellow Performing Arts Hall of Fame member, Paul Grill, to sing with the PA Ambassadors of Music in Cannes, France in 2004. He also sang as a member of the Hoensbroek Oratorio Society in The Netherlands from 2006-2010. And as the director of the Netherlands American Cemetery, with the mayor of Margraten, NL co-founded the Margraten Liberation Concert series, performed each year since 2006 on the grounds of the Netherlands American Cemetery by the South Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra to commemorate the liberation of the southern part of The Netherlands by the US Army in September 1944. He took his final professional bow with them at the 2018 concert, as narrator for Copland’s Lincoln Portrait.
Michael is married to the former Jane Burkins, a 1975 graduate of West York Area High School. They have two children: Kristen (Yasenchak) Ables, a professional performer and member of the cast at Sight & Sound Theatres, Branson, MO; and Sgt Michael J. Yasenchak, a Military Intelligence Systems Technician with the US Army in Wiesbaden, Germany.
2024 Class
Matt Belanger
Matt Belanger is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and television news anchor. He graduated at the top of his class from Central York High School in 2002. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a minor in Political Science from Elon University in North Carolina, graduating summa cum laude in 2005.
While at Central, Matt participated in the theater department’s plays and musicals all four years holding many leading roles. His favorite role was playing Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors his junior year. The high school presented that musical in the fall of 2000 as a special production because Central was hosting the State Thespian Conference that year. Matt also had roles in Arsenic and Old Lace, The Pajama Game, Noises Off, The Wind and the Willows and Children of Eden, among others. Matt was a member of the International Thespian Society and earned a varsity letter and honor bars for theater. He also received several performing arts department individual excellence awards for his performances. He was a member of Celebration show choir, the National Honor Society and he wrote for The Prowler newspaper. Matt was in chorus and was chosen to sing with the York County Honors Choirs while in high school and later in life returned to serve on the board of that organization for several years.
Matt also returned to Central several times after graduation to perform and host community events while he was also working at WGAL-TV. He emceed the Encore awards program recognizing high school musical performances from across York County for several years including when it was formerly known as The Rosies. He also hosted the Distinguished Young Women of York County event several times. And, he returned to the Central stage to perform playing the role of John Utterson in a community production of Jekyll and Hyde in 2009.
Matt’s career in broadcasting has taken him across the country. He’s lived everywhere from rural South Dakota to downtown Atlanta and has reported on everything from natural disasters to politics.
He currently resides in Minneapolis where he anchors the Twin Cities’ most-watched morning newscast. In 2020, Matt was awarded the Emmy Award for best news anchor in the Twin Cities. In his 20 years working on television, Matt has made appearances on national broadcasts including Good Morning America. His investigative reporting exposed a problem with how the state of Georgia was handling funding for services for people living with disabilities and resulted in a change in state law.
Most recently, Matt has served on the board of Skylark Opera Theatre in the Twin Cities. He was selected as a "celebrity contestant" for a production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Matt is regularly asked to emcee community events and fundraisers throughout the year and is always eager to use his talents to help those causes — even occasionally singing for the crowd at those events. Matt is deeply grateful for this honor and is proud to be a lifelong champion of the arts.
David Gibble
David Gibble is a 1977 graduate of Central York High School, where he participated in Wind Ensemble, Jazz Lab, Pit Band, and numerous small ensembles. David also sang on stage in the production of Oliver, participated in PMEA District 7 Band, and received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. He recently retired from Palm Beach State College where he taught from1995-2024. During his tenure as Professor of Music at PBSC, he directed the Concert Band, Tuesday Nite Big Band, 12 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Brass Ensemble, and Trumpet Ensemble. During his time at Palm BeachState, he was and continues to be an in-demand clinician for both middle and high school bands and jazz ensembles throughout the tri-county area. As a trumpet player, David freelances throughout South Florida in classical, contemporary, and jazz styles appearing with groups ranging from the Charlie Callelo Big Band to the Orchid City Brass Band and Palm Beach Opera Orchestra.
He was an original member of the Jazz Rats Big Band and Rattette (10-piece group), the resident bands at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, for 20 years.
Additional performing credits include the Woody Herman Orchestra, Duffy Jackson’s Swingin’ New Band, the Jaco Pastorius Big Band, the Capitol Bones Big Band, the Florida Wind Symphony Big Band, Urban Gypsy, as well as his own small groups, including the Palm Beach State College Faculty Jazztet.
Over the years, David has played regularly with the Brass Renaissance quintet and South Florida Wind Symphony as the principal trumpet, and has also appeared with the Palm Beach Pops. In addition, he has served as the co-founder, conductor and personnel manager for the Orchid City Brass Band, South Florida’s only British-style brass band, from its inception in 2012 through 2018.
Prior to his arrival in Florida, David graduated Magna Cum Laude from West Chester University (PA) with a B.S. in Music Education. After graduation, he taught instrumental music at a variety of grade levels in the Eastern York School District in Pennsylvania for eight years. After teaching, David earned a Master of Music. in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas where he played with the world-renowned One O’clock Lab Band and Downbeat Award winning Two O’clock Lab Band.
Gibble has composed or arranged over 45 pieces for Brass Quintet, Brass Band, and Jazz Ensemble. His original work, entitled “Duncan Celebration,” was selected and performed by the Boston Brass in 2012 at the Duncan Theatre on the Palm Beach State College campus to commemorate their 25th anniversary. His Jazz Ensemble compositions and arrangements have been performed and/or recorded by such notable artists as Ira Sullivan, Carl Saunders, Stephen Scott, and Mike Brignola, along with ensembles like Duffy Jackson’s Swingin’ New Band (Miami and Nashville editions), the Jazz Rats Big Band, the Jazz Rattette, the Palm Beach State College Tuesday Nite Big Band, the Boise State University Jazz Ensemble, Russ Freeland’s Jazz Trombone Ensemble, and the Duke Ellington Award-winning New World School of the Arts in Miami. Several of his arrangements for Jazz Ensemble have been available through the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press since 2003.
Erin Owens
Erin Owens runs Long Shot Factory (www.longshotfactory.com), a boutique distributor, consultant, producer, and awards strategist specializing in documentaries. Most recently she ran the Awards and release campaign for Mstyslav Chernov's 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL (Academy Award® Winner - Best Feature Documentary), on behalf of PBS Frontline and AP.
She has worked at various independent studios, including Palm Pictures, THINKFilm, Arthouse Films, and PBS Distribution as Head of Theatrical Distribution. At Long Shot she works for filmmakers directly and for larger clients like Netflix, Disney+, A24, and PBS (POV, Independent Lens, American Experience, PBS Distribution, and Frontline). Some of her Awards and release campaigns over the years include: Academy Award® Nominee Abacus: Small Enough To Jail directed by Steve James; Dolores directed by Peter Bratt; Dark Money directed by Kimberly Reed; Charm City directed by Marilyn Ness; Oklahoma City directed by Barak Goodman; The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution directed by Stanley Nelson; Academy Award® Nominee Hell And Back Again directed by Danfung Dennis; Academy Award® Nominee Waste Land directed by Lucy Walker; Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child directed by Tamra Davis and A Still Small Voice directed by Luke Lorentzen.
Erin also produces documentaries, her credits include: The Punk Singer, about Riot Grrl icon Kathleen Hanna (IFC Films, 2013); Academy Award® Nominee Cartel Land, directed by Matthew Heineman (The Orchard, 2015); and Skate Dreams, about female skateboarders, directed by Jessica Edwards (2021).
She has served on juries for multiple film festivals and was named one of Billboard Magazine's "30 under 30" in 2006. She is the lead programmer for the Jupiter Island Film Festival.
She currently resides in Singapore with her husband and two children.
Jon Timmons
Jon Timmons is a 2003 graduate of Central York High School. Jon is currently the Upper and Middle School Director of Choral Music at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, PA. At GA, Jon conducts five choirs and is the music director for the Belfry Theatre program. He is an active advocate and clinician for LGBTQ singers in addition to specializing in vocal pedagogy for choirs.
For 18 years, Jon has performed and taught in the Philadelphia metro area including appointments at Souderton Area High School and Hatboro-Horsham High School. Prior to public school teaching, Jon taught voice and choir through Music Training Center in New Jersey, maintaining a voice studio of over 40 students. In addition to his work at GA, Jon is the Artistic Director for the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware based in Wilmington, DE - Delaware’s first and only LGBTQ community chorus.
For three seasons, Jon sang with the Philadelphia Singers - former resident chorus for the Philadelphia Orchestra. During that time, he sang under accomplished conductors Charles Dutoit, David Hayes, and Jane Glover. He has maintained an active professional singing career as the baritone section leader in the Lansdale, PA based choir,‘The Choristers’. He has been a featured soloist in Faure’s Requiem , Handel’s Messiah, Herbert Howells Requiem, Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, and Mozart’s Requiem. His singing has brought him around the world to destinations including Beijing China, Salt Lake City Utah, and The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
Jon’s choirs have performed at numerous festivals in the region and are praised for their balance, blend, and tone. He has presented at numerous Pennsylvania Conferences; the most recent at both the PMEA State Conference and Summer Conference in 2024. In 2020, his choir was chosen to perform at the PMEA Annual Conference - unfortunately canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, Jon has led many seminars at several professional development events advocating for LGBTQ youth and faculty. He is a sought-out and active guest conductor in the region.
Jon holds a Master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Delaware in addition to degrees and certification from Temple University and York College of Pennsylvania. An avid runner, Jon enjoys time with friends and family outside of teaching and singing. He resides just outside of Philadelphia with his two cats, Ollie and George.
Mark Zortman
Mark Zortman was an involved musician in his high school years where he earned the National School Choral Award, the National School Orchestra Award and the John Phillip Sousa Award along with making District Chorus on Voice, District Band on Timpani and District Orchestra on Violin. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Science in Music Education in 1982 and a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance in 1987 - both from West Chester University. He went on to earn 60+ credits beyond his Masters Degree. Mark studied voice with Ralph Woolley and Jane Shepherd and has been a soloist with numerous organizations including the Delaware Symphony, the PA Opera Company the Harrisburg Singers and the York Symphony Chorus.
Mark began working at Central York in 1982 teaching district wide strings and middle school general music. He was also the Assistant HS Band Director and Musical Director his first year. The following year he became the High School Choral director and remained in that position until his retirement.
Over the years Mark taught beginning strings, 4th and 5th grade general music, middle school general music, high school general music, directed the Elementary Orchestra, Middle School Orchestra, High School Orchestra, Middle School Chorus and High School Chorus programs. He has hosted numerous District Chorus and Regional Chorus PMEA festivals and Show Choir Festivals.
Outside of Central, Mark has been the music director for several church choirs. He was a member of ACDA, MENC and Phi Mu Alpha.
Mark has been involved in over 260 theatrical productions as a performer, director, musical director, stage manager, pit musician, technician and consultant in plays, musicals and operas at the College, Middle School, High School, Community Theatre and Professional levels. He was involved with York Little Theatre in many roles. He worked onstage, backstage and served as Vice President of Artistic support on the board. Probably his favorite onstage roles were the title role in SWEENEY TODD and Salieri in AMADEUS. Mark also filled in as interim Artistic Director for several shows.
Mark began directing shows at Central York in 1982 and established the Performing Arts Department which over the years grew to a respected and recognized program in the community, state and even nationally. The Performing Arts Department took One Acts and Main Stage shows to the PA Thespian Conference receiving multiple honors at that level. Several One Act shows were adjudicated and selected to perform at the International Thespian Festival. In 2006 the production of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE ABRIDGED was adjudicated and selected to perform on the main stage at the International Thespian Festival as was the 2010 production of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS.
Mark has been very involved with the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) - home of the International Thespian Society - and has served as the PA Chapter Director for over a decade. He has hosted and continues to run PA State Thespian Conferences. He has been involved at the national level including helping run backstage at the International Festival and chairing the Festival Main Stage Adjudication committee.
In the mid 90’s the Distinguished Young Women program moved to Central York and Mark has stage managed that program ever since. He has also stage managed the Miss Pennsylvania and Miss Pennsylvania Teen programs, the York County Encore program and several other events.
After 35 years at Central York, Mark retired in 2017. In retirement, he has worked as an Adjunct Professor at York College and a Front of House staff member for the Appell Center. Mark served as the Assistant Director with the York Symphony Chorus, accompanies the Central York Middle School chorus concerts and is the stadium announcer with the York Revolution. He also gets to travel a good bit as a Tour Director with Notable Student Travel.
Mark is married to Nancy-Ann who also worked with the CYHS PAD for many years. They have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
2023 Class
The following individuals were inducted to the 2023 Hall of Fame Class at at the Fall Pops Concert on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at Central York High School.
Neal Dodson
Neal Dodson
Central York High School Class of 1996
Neal Dodson is a film and television producer and a (reformed) actor. He graduated from Central York High School in 1996. While there, for all four years of high school he starred in the fall plays, musicals, and studio plays, winning the Best Actor PADIE award three times. He played trumpet in the symphonic band, jazz lab, marching band, and orchestra, he sang in the chorus and the Celebration show choir. He was a part of forensics, soccer, National Honor Society, student council, and wrote for the Prowler newspaper. He was the mascot “Pete the Panther” and also co-founded the original “Underground” zine. While at CYHS, Neal attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts, and performed at York Little Theatre. He graduated magna cum laude from Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious School of Drama.
After drama school, Neal moved to New York where he worked as a professional actor, including Broadway (Tom Stoppard’s Tony Award-winning play The Invention Of Love), off-Broadway at Lincoln Center, a workshop with Gore Vidal of On The March To The Sea, at Yale Repertory Theatre, at the Mark Taper Forum in LA, at the Tony-winning Utah Shakespearean Festival, very briefly on soap operas (Guiding Light and All My Chidren), on ABC’s series called Miracles, and in independent film. He switched careers from acting to producing after meeting his wife, actor Ashley Williams, from How I Met Your Mother and many Hallmark movies. He and his wife live in Los Angeles with their sons, Gus and Odie.
As a producer, Dodson’s films have premiered at the Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, New York, South By Southwest, Telluride, and AFI film festivals, among others. He produced writer-director J.C. Chandor’s Netflix tentpole TRIPLE FRONTIER, which stars Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Pedro Pascal, and Charlie Hunnam. Dodson produced Chandor’s first three award-winning films as well: A MOST VIOLENT YEAR for A24 starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain (with sequels in the works), the Robert Redford solo-sailing adventure film ALL IS LOST, and the Academy-Award-nominated MARGIN CALL -- his first producing effort, for which Dodson won an Independent Spirit Award. Chandor’s next three films are teeing up soon, and Dodson has projects in development at Amazon, Paramount, Participant, MRC, Gaumont, Anonymous Content, and Hallmark.
Past film projects include: Sundance Award-winner MONOS for Neon; RUN THIS TOWN starring Ben Platt; ABANDONED starring Emma Roberts; VIPER CLUB starring Susan Sarandon and Matt Bomer; JONATHAN starring Ansel Elgort; AARDVARK starring Jon Hamm, Zachary Quinto, Jenny Slate; NEVER HERE starring Mireille Enos and Sam Shepard in his final role; HATESHIP LOVESHIP starring Kristin Wiig; BREAKUP AT A WEDDING and PERIODS for Oscilloscope; HOLLIDAYSBURG for Starz; BANSHEE CHAPTER for XLRator; FOOTLOOSE for Paramount; and ANOTHER CINDERELLA STORY starring Selena Gomez for Warner Bros.
Past television projects include: Critically-acclaimed documentary series THE CHAIR for Starz which won DGA and Critics Choice awards. For the Hallmark Channel, he produced the television movies LOVE ON A LIMB, LOVE CLASSIFIED, and the two SISTER SWAP movies, all with his wife, as well as her Sundance short film MEATS and her feature film directing debut CIRCLE OF DECEPTION for Lifetime Television.
Paul D. Grill
Paul D. Grill
Central York School District Music Faculty 1965-2000
Paul Grill was a music teacher at Central York for 35 years from 1965-2000. He started at North Hills Junior High School in 1965, where he taught general music and directed the instrumental program. In 1972, Paul moved to Central York High School, where he directed the bands and taught music courses in American Popular Music, Music History, and Music Theory. He is a graduate of Conestoga Valley High School in Lancaster, West Chester University (B.S. in Music Education), and Ithaca College (M.S. in Music Education). Paul is a saxophonist and, in addition to his undergraduate and graduate studies, has studied saxophone with Frank Stachow and George Ethridge.
Under Paul’s direction, the Central York School District Bands have been recognized for their outstanding achievement, receiving invitations to perform for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association state conference and the Music Educators National Conference (now National Association for Music Education) national conference. His ensembles have received many superior ratings at adjudications for both concert band and jazz band performances. During his time as band director, the Central York HIgh School Bands traveled extensively and performed throughout the world, including concert tours of Canada, Great Britain, California, and Mexico. Paul served as the director of jazz ensemble for the Pennsylvania Ambassadors of Music for ten European concert tours.
During his thirty-five years as a music educator, Paul remained at the forefront of music teaching practice, having initiated many progressive and unique programs. While at North Hills Junior High School, he started the “Falconaires,” an auditioned jazz band that was selected to perform at the 1967 Worlds Fair Expo in Montreal, Canada. In 1971, the Junior Band was selected to perform at the PMEA state conference and the MENC national conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for which the band premiered a newly commissioned work by Malcom Lewis entitled “Phrygios.” Paul started the Jazz Lab program at Central York High School during his first year (1971-72) and accepted an invitation to perform at the Montreux Switzerland International Jazz Festival. The Jazz Lab recorded their first of four albums in 1972 entitled “Experiments.” Paul directed the pit for Central York High School musical theater productions for twenty-six years. He started several highly successful small ensemble programs, some which are still active today, including the Keystone Five Dixieland Band, the Saxy Santas, and the Holiday Brass.
Paul’s tenure at the high school saw tremendous success for the band program. Paul’s students attended PMEA festivals in record numbers, with ten students attending PMEA All-State Band in 1972 and a record 17 students in District 7 Band in 1979. The Central York Band traveled and performed abroad extensively during Paul’s time as director, including: the Gimbals Thanksgiving Day Parade, a national band adjudication in Mexico City, Mexico; a band festival in Bermuda; several tours to Canada; the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.; a second Mexico concert tour; and an England concert tour. In addition, the band participated in numerous exchange concert programs. The Jazz Lab performed several times at Disney in Orlando as well as Rockefeller Center and the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City. The band program and music students worked with many different clinicians and composers during Paul’s time at Central, including Aaron Coplan, Col. Arnold Gabriel, Maynard Ferguson, and James Colonna.
Paul was active in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, where he served two terms on the state board and hosted several District 7 Band festivals. In addition, Paul held memberships in the Music Educators National Conference and Phi Beta Mu, National Band bandmaster’s fraternity. Paul served as the director of the Pennsylvania Ambassadors of Music Jazz Ensemble for ten European Concert tours.
Upon retirement, Paul founded a travel company Notable Student Travel which specializes in school music group travel and is now one of the most successful student travel companies in the region and has organized every concert tour for the Central York music department since. Through his travel company, Paul was instrumental in the formation of Youth Music Abroad, which has been running bi-annual European concert tours with students from York County schools since 2002. In addition, Paul remains active in the music worship at Living Word Community Church and still lives in York with his wife, Mary Lou.
Kenneth H. Matthews
Kenneth H. Matthews
Central York School District Music Faculty 1968-2003
Kenneth H. Matthews was a music teacher and band director in the Central York School District from 1968 to 2003. Beginning in the elementary school, Ken became the band director at the junior high school, and later the middle school, in 1971. Ken received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1968 and a Masters in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 1971.
During Ken’s time as band director, the Symphonic and Concert Bands consistently performed at remarkably high levels, appearing at state and regional festivals and conferences, including a featured performance the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association annual conference in 2002 in Philadelphia. The reputation of the music program grew in stature and magnitude under his baton.
Ken Matthews was a music teacher and band director at Central York School District in York, PA, from 1968 until his retirement in 2003. He spent the majority of his career as the junior high, and later the middle school band director, beginning in 1971. During his tenure, the Symphonic and Concert Bands consistently performed at remarkably high levels, making appearances at state and regional festivals and conferences, and the reputation of the music program grew in stature and magnitude under his baton. Ken was the Music Department Chair from 2000-2003. In addition, Ken taught private lessons and directed the Jazz Ensemble for Pennsylvania Music Ambassadors for European concert tours from 1976 through 1983, and also for Youth Music Abroad in 2004 and 2006.
In 1971, Ken started the Central York Junior High Colonial Fife and Drum Corps. The Corps has grown into a nationally recognized fife and drum corps, having performed in cities and venues throughout the east coast and beyond. He was actively involved in planning for the corps’ 50th anniversary at the time of his sudden death in July of 2020. Ken founded the Central York Middle School Colonial Fife and Drum Corps in 1971, a result of brainstorming with his friend and high school director, Paul Grill, for a way to celebrate the nation’s upcoming bicentennial. The Fife and Drum Corps became a staple in region and a well-known tradition at Central York, performing throughout the school year for parades and ceremonies in the area. To this day, the Fife and Drum Corps is a highly active aspect of our music program and frequently performs at musters and parades, including numerous collaborations with the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps from Williamsburg, VA. Ken was looking forward to 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Colonial Fife and Drum Corps in 2023, which included a parade in York, an Alumni Fife and Drum Corps, and a Fife and Drum Muster held at the baseball stadium.
After retiring in 2003, Ken remained active in the musical community with the York Symphony Chorus and Chambers singer (serving several terms as president), and with his church’s Celebration Choir and Bell Choir. Ken worked with Notable Student Travel as tour escort for school music groups and worked painting homes. He was always helping others, actively involved in volunteer work with for mission trips, Habitat for Humanity, and the Salvation Army. Ken had many loves and hobbies, including Penn State football, time with family at their beach house in Avalon, Christmas Brass caroling with former colleagues and alumni, traveling, cooking, a good IPA or Manhattan, and most importantly, family and friends, being a doting Pop Pop.
Ken passed away in July of 2020. A scholarship was established in Ken’s memory to be awarded each year to a Central York senior pursuing a career in music. Ken is survived by Kay, his wife of 39 years, his son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Andrea Matthews of Philadelphia, his daughter, Dr. Lauren Matthews of Rapid City, SD, and adored granddaughters, Brynn and Kendall Matthews.
Robert J. Spencer
Robert J. Spencer
Central York High School Class of 1987
Robert J. Spencer graduated from Central York High School in 1987, where he was involved in the band, choir, and theater programs and also participated in District 7 Chorus. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater with a minor in vocal performance from Shenandoah Conservatory in 1991 and in 2009 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Shenandoah University for accomplishments in acting.
Robert’s career has appeared on Broadway, in New York and Los Angeles theater, Regional Theater productions, television, film, stand up/sketch comedy, and on stage as a musician. His Broadway credits include the original cast of Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Jersey Boys (Nick Massi), where he can be heard on the original Broadway cast recording. Robert was a Tony Award nominee for Best Leading Actor of a Musical, as well as a Helen Hayes Award nominee for the lead role in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical Next to Normal (Dan Goodman). He can be heard on the original Broadway cast recording of Side Show (Roustabout/Swing). Additional New York, Los Angeles, and regional theater credits include Breaking the Shakespeare Code (Curt), Dorian Gray (Dorian), Because of Winn Dixie (Preacher), Uncivil War (Abraham Lincoln), Heartland (Lem), Finian’s Rainbow (Woody Mahony), Lucky Duck (Drake), Cats (Rum Tum Tugger), Stand By Your Man (Don Chapel), Tommy, Funny Business, and Romeo and Juliet, to name a few.
Robert has appeared on television in “Handel’s Messiah Rocks (nominated for Midwest Emmy Award for Best On-Camera Performance by a Lead Actor), Law and Order, Law and Order:SUV, and All My Children. His film credits include Night of the Dog, where he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2015 SMMASH Film Fest, Farm Girl in New York (also directed), Heterosexuals, Seven Years Gone (also writer and director) and To Be or Not (also writer).
Robert is co-founder of the singing group “The Midtown Men,” four stars from Broadway’s Jersey, which has performed over 1000 concerts world-wide and produced multiple albums. The Midtown Men - Live In Concert was also a documentary filmed for PBS.
Robert resides in Oregon with his wife.
John Villella
John Villella
Central York High School Class of 1972
John Villella is a ’72 graduate of Central York High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1976 and his masters degree in 1982 in music education from West Chester University. He earned a doctorate in higher education leadership in 1996 from Widener University.
As a student at Central York, John participated in the band, orchestra, and choral programs as well as musical and theater productions as a member of the pit orchestra and on stage as an actor. He retired June 30, 2022, from West Chester University with 39 years of service. John was the Vice President for University Affairs and Chief of Staff, coordinating the efforts of senior staff in the Office of the President. He supervised University departments including Communications and Marketing, Alumni Relations, Cultural and Community Affairs, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Office of Sustainability, the Center for Community Solutions, Continuing Professional Education, and WEDnet Services. He was also University liaison to the WCU Foundation. John worked with government and business leaders and the University Council of Trustees to ensure timely advancement of initiatives, communications, and policy development and adherence.
Prior to this appointment, John served seven years as the associate dean for the College of Visual and Performing Arts. His duties as a faculty member included directing the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Marching Band. He also taught in the music education department as a supervisor of student teachers and instructor of instrumental methods and techniques. Prior to his university work, he enjoyed teaching in the Upper Dublin and Phoenixville Area School Districts as an elementary and assistant high school band director from January 1977 to June 1983.
In May 2022, West Chester University awarded John emeritus designation as an administrator and faculty member. He has also been recognized with the Irving Cohen Faculty Merit Award (2008); WCU Council of Trustees Certificate of Recognition (2005 and 2022); and the Division of Student Affairs’ Legacy of Leadership Award (2005).
John is also the president of Vivace Productions, Inc., a national leader of summer camps including band leadership training and the marching band workshops. He frequently serves as a guest conductor, adjudicator, guest lecturer, and director of music festivals in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition, he reviewed new band music for each issue of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) magazine, PMEA News, from 2006 to 2015. He was recognized with the PMEA Citation of Excellence in 2015 and inducted into the Cavalcade of Bands Hall of Fame in 2010.
John continues to serve the music field as a member of the Sudler Shield Committee for the John Philip Sousa Foundation and as an adjudicator for concert band, jazz, orchestra, and marching band programs in the mid-atlantic region. His professional affiliations include membership in the National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, both state and national music educators organizations, Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Sigma Alpha Iota. He has been married to Colleen for 36 years and they have been blessed with one son, Evan.
Alumni Performer/Educator Nomination Criteria
- Graduate of CYHS, or have left the district for a reason that is honorable and not detrimental to CYSD.
- Graduated or left CYSD in the last ten years prior to nomination, unless deceased prior to ten years.
- May have demonstrated distinguished achievement in CYSD's music and/or theater programs and/or further distinguished themselves in the field of music of theater after graduating or leaving CYSD.
- Graduate of CYHS who has gone on to demonstrate excellence in arts education.
CYSD Faculty/Staff Nomination Criteria
- Served as a teacher, conductor, director, or staff member for a music of theater program in CYSD for at least seven full school years/sessions and did not leave the program or the district for reasons that are dishonorable or detrimental to the image of the district.
- Left CYSD at least seven years prior to nomination unless deceased prior to seven years.
- Has demonstrated an unusually high degree of success relative to the music and/or theater program(s) for which they were a conductor, director, or staff member. Success in the programs is not measured by related awards/recognitions, but may be determined by the degree of respectability given the nominee or the program by others, evidence of significant growth in the program(s), and/or demonstrated high levels of excellence.
- Has demonstrated a high level of service to the music and/or theater programs of CYSD, helping to advance and maintain the integrity, reputation, and excellence of the district's music and/or theater programs.