Jason DeGroff

Jason L. DeGroff became the Director of the Chargers Marching Band in the Spring of 2010, right after the marching band’s first fall season. DeGroff holds a Masters and Bachelors Degree in Music Education (trumpet/conducting) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Ma. While there, he was a five-year member of the Minuteman Marching Band, and later was the Graduate T.A. for George N. Parks and the Marching Band. DeGroff has worked at all levels in instrumental music; as an elementary and middle school band director, an assistant high school band director, and a college marching band director. He revived the marching band at Central CT State University where he served as director for five years. DeGroff is currently the drill designer for the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, winners of the Sudler Trophy, an award given to the best college marching band in the country.

He is currently on the visual staff with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps where he was also a member for three years (1989-1991) of the 10-time World Champions. DeGroff was also a member of the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps for five years. Upon “aging out” he served as the visual caption head and wrote drill for the Boston Crusaders and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. DeGroff also has been the Show Coordinator for the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps.

Contact Jason via email at JDeGroff@newhaven.edu.

Laura Choquette – Color Guard

Laura started her marching band and colorguard career with Cheshire High School in 2000, alternating as an instrumentalist in the fall and a member of the winterguard. She then went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Delaware, where she performed with the UDMB fall colorguard for all four seasons and was colorguard captain from 2005-2007. She marched the University sponsored winterguard Visual Arts Production Company in 2005 and 2006, Delazure in 2008, and one season of Apex Independent World in 2007. After graduating in 2008, Laura moved back up to Connecticut and spun with the Blessed Sacrament World guard in 2009 and 2011. 

Laura’s drum corps experience includes 10 years of marching in the Connecticut Hurricanes, as captain in 2008 and 2009 and as a technician for the 2012 season. She also marched one season with Capital Regiment in 2005. 

Laura was the Colorguard Director at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT from 2009-2012, a flag technician for Trumbull High School from 2012-2017, and is currently a colorguard technician for the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. She lives in Milford, CT and teaches elementary band and orchestra in Hamden, CT. She is currently in the process of earning a Masters in Music Education degree from Western Connecticut State University.