Dennis F. Cramer, a native of McKeesport and a 1971 graduate of Kittanning High School, earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 1975 and his Master of Arts in Music in 1982; both from IUP. He studied trombone at IUP with Richard Thorell from 1970-1975 and 1979-1982. He has worked at Ford City High School since 1977 and has been the band director for a third of the band’s existence. He and his students have presented over 1000 performances during his career at FCHS. Cramer has been selected to Who’s Who in America and honored for his volunteer work by WQED Multimedia of Pittsburgh as a VITA Award winner. Cramer is a member of the International Trombone Association, American Federation of Musicians, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and is a past president of District 3 of PMEA. He has composed and arranged music for a wide variety of ensembles throughout his career. Mr. Cramer is the founding director of the Armstrong Concert Band (1984) and a former member and director of the Kittanning Fireman’s Band (1968-1980). He performs with the Butler Symphony Orchestra (1986), Gibbons Big Band (2002), Die Posaunen Schallen (2008), and the Armstrong Brass Quintet (1992) as well as doing freelance playing in a variety of venues. He performed with the Yellow Dog Six Dixieland Band (1968-1975), the Anthony Calderone Combo (1980-1987). and the IUP Trombone Choir (1995-2006). He has worked as a guest conductor with professional, college, and high school ensembles. In his free time, he is an Instructor and Operator at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. His book, The Trolleys of Armstrong County, PA was published in 2000. During the 2006-2007 school year, Mr. Cramer studied with James Markey of the New York Philharmonic while earning a Performance Certificate in Trombone from the State University of New York at Purchase.
