Our Band  

A graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Warren, he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University and a Masters Degree in Music Education from the Vandercook College of Music in Chicago. Additional graduate study was done at The Ohio State University, Kent State University, Bowling Green State University, Otterbein College, Ashland College and YSU.

Mr. Groth retired as Director of Bands at Boardman High School after 36 years of teaching, 30 of which were at Boardman. Under his direction, the Band Program at Boardman earned national recognition with their “Tradition of Musical Excellence Generating Excitement”. The Spartan Marching Band performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, Orange Bowl Parade, Gimbel’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Fiesta Bowl Parade, Marshall Field’s Jingle Elf Christmas Parade, Disney World and Disneyland Electric Light Parades and the Citrus Bowl Parade and Halftime Show where they accompanied jazz trumpet artist Maynard Ferguson. The Marching Band also performed halftime shows for the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts.

Under the direction of Mr. Groth, the Boardman Symphonic Band performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and professional conferences for the Ohio Music Education Association, American School Band Directors Association as well as Band Clinics at Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Akron University, Youngstown State University and at The Ohio State University in their “Partnership In Music Education Program”.

Jazz Ensembles at Boardman under his direction have performed at Jazz Festivals for Notre Dame University, Youngstown State University, Kent State University, Lakeland Community College, Bowling Green State University and at the Tri C Jazz Festival in Cleveland. They performed at the Festival of Nations in Washington, D.C., Disney World and have appeared in concert with the Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band on three special performances.

Mr. Groth has served as President of District V, Ohio Music Education Association, President of Phi Beta Mu, Ohio Chapter, National Honorary Band Fraternity, Vice

President of the Ohio Unit of the International Association of Jazz Education and on the Executive Board of the Warren Federation of Musicians, Local 118. He has chaired the State Professional Conference, District Conferences and State Adjudicated Events for O.M.E.A. For eight years he was on the adjunct music faculty at Youngstown State University where he worked with music student teachers. He has been listed on numerous occasions in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”.

Mr. Groth continues to perform with the W.D. Packard Concert Band, the Big Band Sound of Packard, serve as the Executive Director and Co-Conductor of the Henry H. Stambaugh Youth Concert Band and adjudicate music festivals at the state and national level. He lives in Canfield, Ohio with his wife Brenda.