Harold Burgmayer

Harold Burgmayer served as music director and composer-in-residence for The Salvation Army’s Chicago Staff Band from 2015 until his retirement in 2022, producing over 40 works. Previously Harold gave leadership and contributed arrangements for the Pendel Brass (based in Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware) for 34 years. This group recorded 16 albums and traveled to South America, Canada, the Caribbean, Scandinavia, South Africa and throughout the US, including participation in the Rose Parade. During these years, Harold also wrote for the New York Staff Band and its American Band Journal.

Harold has exhibited a wide compositional versatility, addressing a variety of musical styles in conducting and writing for the Atlantic, Chesapeake, Chicago, Five Lakes, Imperial, and Lancaster brass bands, as well as the Salvation Army’s Canadian Staff Band, International Staff Band, Japan Staff Band and Melbourne Staff Band.

Harold earned master's and doctoral degrees in music composition from Temple University, and has produced over 400 arrangements and compositions ranging from simple children’s songs to a symphony for full orchestra. Over 125 of these settings are in print, with more recorded in many parts of the world. While in Chicago, Harold managed the production of The Salvation Army’s Hallelujah Choruses and American Festival Series publications.

Harold has taught as an adjunct instructor, as well as conducted and arranged for the wind ensemble at Cairns University (outside Philadelphia). Harold, along with his wife Priscilla, have appeared as guest clinicians with an emphasis given to the training of young singers and instrumentalists. Numerous articles and instructional materials, including the 'Music Arts Proficiency' (M.A.P.) curriculum; the book 'The Beat Goes On! – Music as a Corps Ministry'; and the 'Music Leadership Academy – Basic Conducting' video series reflect the intent to equip emerging music leaders. Much of this instruction evolved over full summers of music camps across the US and Canada, but also internationally as musical guests in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, the Caribbean, Congo, Nigeria, South Africa, and South Korea. In 2023, Harold was inducted into the Star Lake Music Camp Hall of Fame, having served on that faculty since 1978.

In retirement, Harold continues an active arranging and composing schedule. He particularly enjoys coaching emerging composers from Africa, Canada, Europe, and the US through online instruction.