Albright College has announced the launch of its new Marching Arts Program, an exciting addition to campus life that will debut in Fall 2027. The College has also named Zachary Kuhn as its inaugural Director of Marching Arts, where he will lead the development of a year-round program designed to enrich the student experience while supporting recruitment, athletics, and community engagement.
The Marching Arts Program will feature a fall marching band and a spring pep band, providing students with opportunities to perform at football and basketball games, admissions events, campus traditions, and community celebrations throughout the academic year.
“The launch of our Marching Arts Program is another exciting step in Albright College’s continued evolution,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., President of Albright College. “We are committed to creating a vibrant student experience that prepares students for success while fostering a strong sense of community and school pride. This program will enrich campus life, strengthen our campus traditions, and provide students with meaningful opportunities to grow as musicians and leaders. We are especially pleased to welcome Zachary Kuhn to Albright. His vision, creativity, and commitment to excellence make him the ideal person to build this program.”
Designed as a serious collegiate music program, the Marching Arts Program will emphasize musicianship, leadership, teamwork, and performance excellence while creating a welcoming community for students from every academic discipline. Participants will enroll in one-credit ensemble courses during both the fall and spring semesters, creating a year-round musical experience.
Kuhn is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied film scoring. He brings a composer-arranger’s creative background together with practical experience in marching arts education, ensemble leadership, recruitment, and program development. At Albright, he will lead the artistic, instructional, and operational work required to build the Marching Arts Program from the ground up.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to build this program from the ground up. Our goal is to create a serious collegiate athletic band experience rooted in strong musicianship, disciplined preparation, contemporary design, and real student ownership. Built well, this program can give students from every major a place to belong, lead, and represent Albright with pride.”
Recruitment for the inaugural ensemble will begin immediately, with the first marching season scheduled for Fall 2027. The program is open to both music majors and non-majors, and College officials anticipate strong interest from students throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Prospective student performers specializing in winds, percussion, and color guard are encouraged to contact Admissions as recruitment begins for the inaugural Fall 2027 season.
James Gaddy, Executive Vice President, said the new program reflects Albright’s commitment to creating distinctive opportunities that attract and engage students.
“Whether you’re planning to major in business, psychology, biology, education, or music, if you’re interested in continuing your passion for performing, we want to hear from you,” Gaddy said. “I encourage prospective students to reach out to our Admissions team to learn more about becoming part of Albright’s inaugural Marching Arts Program. This is an opportunity to help build something special from day one.”
In addition to enhancing student life, the Marching Arts Program will create new opportunities for alumni engagement, community partnerships, and philanthropic support through scholarships, instruments, uniforms, and other program needs.
