4/2023

 

Buccaneers Announce Appointment of Matthew Elizardo as Assistant Director; Thank Daniel Wildonger

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

The Reading Buccaneeers Drum & Bugle Corps is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Elizardo as Assistant Director.  In a planned transition, Elizardo fills the unexpired term of Daniel Wildogner, who steps down from the corps’ Executive Committee after almost 19 years of service to the corps in an executive role.

 

Elizardo, who has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware, has long been a standout member of the Buccaneers’ tuba section and has ably served the corps as Quartermaster and as an advisor on numerous technical and logistical matters involving the administration of the corps.  He has also served as a drill writer, visual instructor and choreographer to several marching bands and indoor drum line programs.  His experience and perspective will be particularly valuable in his new role.

 

The Buccaneers express their profound and heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Wildonger for his selfless and passionate commitment to the Buccaneers at the highest levels of the organization for the past two decades.  After many years as a standout brass player, Wildonger joined the executive committee as Secretary in the fall of 2004 and has served as Secretary or Assistant Director ever since.  His contributions to the corps and to the drum corps activity have been recognized with induction to both the Buccaneers Hall of Fame and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.  Wildonger will remain involved in the Buccaneers as he transitions from day-to-day management responsibilities. 

 

“We welcome Matt to the Executive Committee and look forward to his contributions to the success of the Buccaneers,” said Corps Director Richard Strang.  “There are simply no words to adequately express our gratitude to Dan Wildonger for his years of service to the Buccaneers.  It is literally impossible to quantify the impact Dan has had on multiple generations of Buccaneers.  Our success from a programming and competitive standpoint is a direct result of tireless work behind the scenes by dedicated volunteers whose efforts set our members and instructors up to be great.  No one epitomizes this more than Dan Wildonger.  He has more than earned a large stash of quiet weekends camping and kayaking with his wife and friends, and we look forward to his continued involvement in the corps.”

 

Please join us in congratulating Matthew Elizardo on his new role and in thanking Daniel Wildonger for his dedication and service.