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.
2023 Performing Arts Hall of Fame 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.
An exciting new way to recognize the accomplishments of Central York Alumni and their work in Performing Arts.
Nomination Criteria
Alumni Performer/Educator
- 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
- 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.