ANTHONY BARTELLO
Class of 2021
CADET / MARCHING INSTRUCTOR / ADJUDICATOR / ALUMNI LEADER
Cadet Years: Brass/ Soprano, French Horn (1948-1955); Drum Major (1956-1957)
HIS CADET STORY:
The “heart of the Holy Name Cadets”
The 1957 season was especially challenging for the Holy Name Cadets as many experienced “regulars” aged out or left the Corps. We struggled during the early part of that season, but by the September timeframe, things started to finally jell. Then, in Atlantic City, a twist of fate: due to torrential rains, the venue for the Finals was moved from Bader Field to a cavernous inside location: Convention Hall. Bart’s leadership as Drum Major for 1956 and 1957 was both inspirational and motivating, and his talents were put to the test for the 1957 season.
His collaboration with instructors Jim Costello, Al DeRosa and cadet Don Angelica produced one of the most brilliant drum corps show concepts not only for our '57 concert selection but grew to become accepted and widely copied in most drum corps performances.
It entailed having Don Angelica come forward from his position in the concert formation and perform his featured solo out front alongside Bart as he conducted the concert. This concept was fashioned after a Boston Pops or a New York Philharmonic performance where the vocalist or soloist shares the spotlight with the conductor. It was a clever and new entertainment dimension to our show, superbly performed by Don Angelica. It was also an instantaneous and overwhelming hit with the fans and in turn, it excited the Corps members as they needed every visual/general effect point that could be squeezed out of the judges' scoring sheet. Well, all the stars aligned that weekend in Atlantic City for the American Legion National competition of 1957, and with Bart out front as Drum Major we won both the preliminary and finals competition.
Bart then returned to his drum corps roots and during the 1960’s served as a judge with the Eastern States and All-State Judges Associations where he judged M&M. In addition, he was an M&M instructor with the Little Falls (NJ) Cadets.
During the 2000’s, Bart has been a leading voice in the Cadets (Holy Name Cadet/Garfield Cadet/The Cadets) Alumni programs and is a regular at alumni gatherings. He served as the co-chairman for the 50th Anniversary Celebration in Atlantic City (2007) and currently serves on the Cadet Hall of Fame Nominating Committee and is the Liaison to the Heritage Selection Committee.
Lastly, anytime Cadets are gathered, and it is time to sing our cherished “Holy Name hymn,” Bart steps forward to lead the assembled voices in a continuing demonstration that our bond, as Cadets, lives on.
