Greg Drane

“It’s Now DOCTOR Drane!”

by Rebecca Burley

As of today, you can call Blue Band Director Greg Drane by his full title: Dr. Gregory A. Drane. On February 21, he successfully defended his dissertation for a Ph.D. in Music Education. Given the Coronavirus issues, just when he will get to flip his tassel is uncertain. But he officially is Dr. Drane.

His dissertation was on “An Oral History of the Navy Band B-1: The First All-Black Navy Band of World War II.” Dr. Dick Bundy, professor emeritus, was his advisor.

Greg earned undergrad degrees in music education and music performance (saxophone) from Bethune-Cookman University. He already has a master’s degree in music ed from Penn State. He became the sixth director of the Blue Band in July 2015 after serving as assistant director since 2005. Like many other ABBA members, he is a Phi Mu Alpha.

His most recent triumph was leading the Blue Band through a great Cotton Bowl experience. “It was awesome. We had a great time!” Greg says. This despite a shortage of planes that forced both the Band and the football team to fly home right after the game rather than enjoy some extra R&R.

Did he sweat more over his dissertation or the Cotton Bowl performance? “I was shaking in my boots,” he laughs. “Because of Christmas, we only had time for two rehearsals before the game.” Usually, the Band gets four runs before a show. “The kids came through! I am so proud of the students,” he says.

Congratulations are due – both on a super Cotton Bowl performance and on the newly minted Dr. Drane’s academic achievements!

–from Penn State Blue Band Alumni Newsletter. 28 March 2020. Web: https://www.psualumnibands.org/. 15 June 2020.