Last Update 10/10/2008

Ronald Waiksnoris
Territorial Music Secretary

845-620-7441

Bandmaster Ronald Waiksnoris has served as conductor and musical director of the New York Staff Band since 1992, taking the band to new heights in musical performance, programming, recording and musical ministry. Under his leadership, the band has successfully toured Australia, Europe and Scandinavia, impacting the brass banding community with its imaginative concert style and programming. Recordings during his tenure-featuring Hollywood composers Bruce and Bill Broughton, trumpet soloist Philip Smith and tuba soloist Patrick Sheridan - have been artistically and critically acclaimed.

Conducting the New York Staff Band is only part of Bandmaster Waiksnoris' responsibilities as Territorial Music Secretary of The Salvation Army's Eastern Territory, a position he has held since 1984. As Music Secretary, Bandmaster Waiksnoris oversees music and arts programs in a 12-state area, including music publications and music education programs. In addition to his administrative duties, he also makes frequent appearances as a guest conductor and adjudicator of brass bands.

Like many Salvationist musicians, Bandmaster Waiksnoris received his early training in The Salvation Army before studying trumpet at Hartt College of Music. Following his graduation from the University of Massachusetts (Boston), he enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a cornet soloist with the New York Staff Band prior to becoming its bandmaster.

Thomas Scheibner
Assistant Territorial Music Secretary

845-620-7442

Songster Leader Thomas Scheibner is a first-generation Salvationist, having been introduced to The Salvation Army through its music program at Star Lake Musicamp. He has attended Star Lake Musicamp every year since 1969, first as a camper, then as a program staff member and now serves as the musicamp program director. Tom has been a member of the staff of the Eastern Territory Music Department of The Salvation Army for 25 years and currently is the Assistant Territorial Music Secretary. He is also a member of the New York Staff Band and has served for 30 years in the band. Prior to working for The Salvation Army, Tom taught music in public schools in the Boston area for a period of 3 years. In addition to his duties in the Music Department, Tom serves as an adjunct instructor at The Salvation Army School for Officer Training in Suffern, NY. Tom has served as the Songster Leader at Montclair Citadel for the past 13 years and has served as the Corps Youth Band Leader. Tom and his wife Charlene are the parents of three daughters, Caryn, Christine and Courtney.

Aaron VanderWeele
Music Publications Bureau Director

845-620-7443

Aaron VanderWeele received the prestigious International Euphonium Player of the Year Award in 2007. He is the Principal Euphonium and Euphonium Soloist of the world famous New York Staff Band, where he has played his euphonium all over the world, including esteemed venues such as Royal Albert Hall, London, and New York City’s Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall. Aaron has been a featured soloist on over 20 professional recordings and is regularly in demand as a soloist and clinician, both in and out of The Salvation Army. Along with his family, he attends the Montclair Citadel Corps where he coordinates the Army’s Music Mentoring Program, leads the Young People’s Band and is a member of the Montclair Citadel Band. His favorite thing to do is to work with aspiring musicians of any age and ability. Aaron has served the USA Eastern Territory as Music Publications Director since 1993.

Dorothy Gates
Music Editor & Technician

845-620-7742

Dorothy joined the music department in 2002. As Music Editor and Technician, Dorothy is responsible for editing all the music published by The Salvation Army's Eastern Territory. She is also the composer in residence for the New York Staff Band where she also plays trombone. Dorothy lives in Warwick, NY with her husband Mark and attends the Spring Valley Corps where she serves as the Songster Leader.

Warren Smith Jr.
Web and Special Projects Administrator

845-620-7445

Warren Smith Jr. has worked for the Salvation Army since 1986 in various departments including the Literary Department, ARC Command, Information Technology Department, and since 2008, the Music Department.  Warren attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, where he received a BA in Theology.  He has been a member of the New York Staff Band for over 15 years from 1986 to the present, mostly playing Bass Trombone.  Warren lives in Pompton Lakes, NJ with his wife, Joan Banks-Smith, and their two dogs, Tucker and Acorn, and attends the Montclair Citadel Corps where he participates in the Songsters.

Consultant for Contemporary Music
845-620-7366

Steve (Major) Ditmer has been a Salvation Army officer for 23 years.  His parents were officers, so he grew up in the Army as his church.  He did what many Army kids do growing up – good and bad.  He got serious about his relationship with Christ in his early twenties after graduating college, started dating Carol, married her in February 1981, entered the School For Officer Training in 1983, was commissioned and ordained in 1985.

Steve and Carol have served as Corps Officers in Massachusetts, on the faculty at the SFOT, as Divisional Youth Officers in Massachusetts for 8 years, Corps Officers (pastors) of the Hempstead Corps (Greater New York division) on Long Island for 7 years.  Presently, Carol is in the Youth Dept and Steve is in the Music Dept. at THQ.  They have three children – Meghan (22), a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY; Stephen (20), a Junior at C.W. Post Long Island University; and Seth (18), a Freshman at New York University.

Steve has many interests and is described as a jack of all trades.  He does carpentry, electrical and plumbing, mechanics, auto repairs (mostly on Meghan and Stephen’s cars) computer repairs, appliance repairs – he’ll take just about anything apart, and most of the time it works when he’s done.  Steve enjoys many forms of music.  He plays cornet/trumpet, alto horn, bass guitar, enjoys singing and leading music groups.  And he loves to worship with music.  He also feels strongly gifted in craftsman skills, using his design ability, hands and tools to make things happen.  He loves to use these skills in ministry which includes audio and technical production.  He attributes his start in audio with now Lt-Colonel Damon Rader who was his corps officer as a young teenager.

Dawn Imondi
Secretary

845-620-7444

Dawn, married 24 years and blessed with two beautiful daughters, lives with her family in beautiful Orange County, New York. Dawn has worked for The Salvation Army for ten years, seven of them in the Music Department. She is a member of the Women's Book Club at Territorial Headquarters.

Last updated: 07/9/2008