2002 Music Hall of Fame

Doreen (Derr) Bondy

     Mrs. Bondy is a 1977 graduate of ESHS. As an undergraduate at Trenton State College, she studied vocal performance, piano and music education. Later, she returned to college, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Therapy from Augsburg (Minnesota) College. She has worked with people with "special needs," including children with autism, brain injury and adult hospice. She is an accomplished vocalist, organist, pianist and conductor and as a singer, has performed concerts, recitals, opera, musical theatre and jazz. She won the prestigious Augsburg College Concerto Aria Competition in 1997 and 1998 and has more than 27 years experience as a church organist, pianist and vocalist in the Minneapolis area and throughout the east coast. Presently she serves in those capacities at the Grace Lutheran Church, in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

Marguerite Wallace Cramer

     Miss Cramer was a 1930 graduate of East Stroudsburg High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from West Chester University in 1936 and began her teaching career in Selbyville, Delaware. After two years at Selbyville, Miss Cramer returned to East Stroudsburg, and taught vocal music at her alma mater for 35 years (from 1938 to 1973). For more than 20 of those years, Miss Cramer was the only vocal music teacher (K-12) in the entire East Stroudsburg School District. She was very active as a volunteer within music activities at the East Stroudsburg Methodist Church and throughout the community for her entire lifetime and taught piano privately, even after her retirement from teaching in 1973.

John C. Eaton

     Mr. Eaton is a 1953 graduate of East Stroudsburg High School, and earned a Masters degree in Fine Arts from Princeton University in 1959. He is an internationally renowned composer of more than 13 operas, including Heracles, Myshkin, Danton and Robespierre, The Cry of Clytaemnestra, The Tempest, The Reverend Jim Jones, Peer Gynt, Don Quixote, Golk, and "…inasmuch," as well as many chamber and orchestral pieces. His many awards include 3 Prix de Rome Grants, 2 Guggenheim Fellowships, the1990 MacArthur Fellowship "Genius Award" as well as the National Music Theater, Peabody, Ohio State, and National Institute of Arts and Letters Citation Awards. Mr. Eaton also was an honored Composer in Residence at the American Academy in Rome and was a Guest Lecturer at the Soviet Composers' Society and the Salzburg Center for American Studies.

Bernice Zacharias Nauman

     Mrs. Nauman moved to East Stroudsburg in 1914 and is a 1920 graduate of ESHS. Her son Reg (ESHS Class of 1939) was a member of the first ESHS band in 1934, and her second son Bob (Class of 1940) joined two years later. With the support of East Stroudsburg School District Principal Carl T. Secor, Mrs. Nauman worked with the original founder of the school's band, Clement Wiedinmyer, to form the Band Mothers Club. The organization's first meeting was held in Mrs. Nauman's home. Members went door-to-door to collect donations for instruments. The first instrument purchased was a tympani and later, the club raised money to buy purple and white caps (the first band uniforms). Under Mrs. Nauman's leadership, the Band Mothers Club started the tradition of the summer band festival as one the their fund raising activities.

Dr. Kenneth R. Raessler

     Dr. Raessler earned a Bachelor of Science degree from West Chester University, a Masters degree from Temple University and his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. He was the choral director at the Hatboro-Horsham (PA) and Belvidere (NJ) School Districts, as well at at the East Stroudsburg Area School District (from 1957 to 1961). As the Director of Music at the Williamsport Area School District, his program received the MENC National Exemplary Program Award. Dr. Raessler was the Director of Music Education (for 10 years) and Chairman of the Department of Music (for 1 year) at Gettysburg College. He was the Director of the School of Music (for 12 years) and is presently a Professor Emeritus at Texas Christian University. Dr. Raessler has served as President of the Texas Association of Music Schools, College Vice President of the Texas Music Educators Association, and has presented keynote addresses at conferences of the Florida Music Educators Association, the National Association of Schools of Music, the New York State School Music Association and the MENC Exemplary Program.

Clement Wiedinmyer

     Mr. Wiedinmyer is credited as being the founder of the music program within the East Stroudsburg School District. Immediately upon his being hired by the District as its first (and only) instrumental music teacher, Mr. Wiedinmyer went door-to-door to recruit children for his band, and eventually established and directed three ESSD music programs. In addition, Mr. Wiedinmyer taught home music lessons to children throughout his 34 year East Stroudsburg teaching career. He was one of the prime forces behind the formation of the "Band Mothers" organization in 1938, which raised thousands of dollars for instruments, uniforms, travel expenses, guest conductors and an annual scholarship. Mr. Wiedinmyer organized the Northeast District of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) in 1938 and later served as its President. He also served as Vice President of the statewide (PMEA) organization. He published numerous articles in state and national magazines and co-authored a music instruction book, "Easy Steps to Melody Instruments." In the late 1950s, Mr. Wiedinmyer was instrumental in the planning of the music facilities of what today is known as East Stroudsburg Area High School-South, as well as the auditorium that today bears his name. Upon his retirement from the District, Mr. Wiedinmyer became an Assistant Professor of Education at East Stroudsburg State Teachers College.

Robert F. Zellner

     Professor Zellner taught instrumental music and was the Band Director at East Stroudsburg Area High School from 1956-68. He spent 21 years as the Director of Bands and Chairman of the Music Department and is presently Professor Emeritus at Gettysburg College. He has conducted over 400 festival bands and was the Co-founder and Director of the Pennsylvania Lions All-State Band. Professor Zellner has been the recipient of numerous music awards, including the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award (1983), the NBA's Citation of Excellence Award (1988), the Lions International Presidents Award (1997) and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 7 Distinguished Service Award (2000). In 2002, Gettysburg College established the Robert F. Zellner Music Education Award to be presented annually to its outstanding senior music education major "who has demonstrated musical and academic excellence."