David (DJ) Landoll has been named the Director of Bands for Penn High School. He follows Glenn Northern as the Director of Bands for Penn. Northern will retire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year after 24 years of service as an educator at Penn, 14 as the Director of Bands.

Penn Principal Dr. Sean Galiher announced the appointment of Landoll as the Director of Bands for Penn.

“This job is an opportunity to more meaningfully take care of the people in our band community, the way that Glenn Northern has done for 14 years,” Landoll said. “I would not be here without his guidance and the support of the many great people in and around P-H-M’s band programs.”

Landoll’s primary responsibilities will include leadership of the concert band curriculum and management of the larger band program, encompassing the booster organization, resources and budget, and staff coordination.

He will also supervise and instruct one of Indiana’s elite Marching Bands. The Marching Kingsmen have competed in the Indiana State Marching Band Finals 20 times in the largest school Open Class A Division. Penn’s Marching Band has performed in the historic Tournament of Roses Parade, the Orange Bowl Parade, the Fiesta Bowl Parade, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Landoll has served as Assistant Band Director at Penn since 2017, with responsibility to the competitive marching band, each of the concert bands, the pep band, the Music Technology class, the Tri-M Music Honors Society, and the leadership development curriculum. He has held coordination/leadership roles in various aspects of the marching band program, as well as the recruitment and retention of students. 

Presiding over a period of growth and development in the pep band, Landoll’s concert bands have consistently earned top marks at adjudications, including, most often, the “gold with distinction” honors achieved by only about 15 percent of statewide high school entries. He assisted Glenn Northern in last year’s State Runner-Up Concert Band.  In 2024, he was named one of “Michiana’s Outstanding Music Educators” by the Quinlan and Fabish Music Company.

Landoll earned a Master of Music in Conducting from James Madison University, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Duquesne University. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Landoll attended St. Ignatius High School, where he was active in the band program, a National Merit scholar, and an Eagle Scout. He is an avid fan and advocate of the marching arts, and has a combined 12 seasons of marching and teaching experience in DCI’s World Class.

Penn High School Robotics Team 135 earned the Impact Award in recent competition at Lafayette, Ind.

The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Impact Award is the most prestigious award in FRC, recognizing a team that best embodies the mission of FIRST by inspiring others through their community outreach, STEM advocacy, and sustained impact. It honors programs that go beyond building robots to create a lasting legacy.

“Winning the Impact Award is a testament to the dedication and passion of our students, mentors, and community,” Penn Robotics Instructor Kyle Marsh said. “Through our outreach efforts—whether it’s mentoring teams, running camps and workshops, expanding assistive technology, or launching new initiatives like our 3-D printing program—we strive to make STEM accessible to all.

“With over 1,000 volunteer hours each year, our students are committed to something bigger than themselves, using robotics as a platform to inspire and empower others,” Marsh said. “Being recognized for this work is an incredible honor and a humbling reminder of the difference we can make beyond the competition field.”

In addition, Penn High School student Grant Spadafore was named an Indiana Dean’s List Finalist.

Penn Robotics will compete in the Robotics State Finals at Greenwood on April 3-4.

Glenn Northern, who has guided Penn bands to a nationally regarded status, will hand over the conductor’s baton at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Northern’s retirement was announced by Penn High School Principal Dr. Sean Galiher.

Northern has carved out a remarkable legacy in his 36-year journey as an educator.

Serving the Penn-Harris-Madison community for 24 years, Northern has been the Director of Bands and Fine Arts Academy Leader for the past 14 years. Prior to that, he was the assistant band director at Penn for 10 years.

“My twenty-four years at Penn have been the highlight of my teaching career,” Northern said. “The students, colleagues and parents have been a joy to work with. I will miss everyone very much. I am so proud to have been a part of life at Penn High School for all of these years.”

Penn bands students have consistently earned Gold Ratings at ISSMA contests under Northern’s direction.

The Marching Kingsmen have an elite status among high school marching bands, competing in the Indiana State Marching Band Finals 20 times in the largest school Open Class A division. Penn’s Marching Band has performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Orange Bowl Parade, the Fiesta Bowl Parade, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Northern graduated from Ashtabula (Ohio) High School and the University of Evansville. He was named the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster in 2015 and Northern was named the Indiana Music Educators Association “High School Music Educator of the Year” in 2018.

The Penn High School Symphonic Winds, directed by Northern, were the 2015 Indiana State Champion Concert Band and the 2024 Indiana State Concert Band Champion Runner-Up.

The SpongeBob Musical is a vibrant and imaginative stage adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. With a book by Kyle Jarrow and an eclectic score featuring original songs by artists like David Bowie, Panic! at the Disco, and Cyndi Lauper, the musical brings Bikini Bottom to life in a fresh, theatrical way. The story follows SpongeBob and friends as they face the impending eruption of Mount Humongous, which threatens to destroy their underwater home. Through courage, teamwork, and optimism, SpongeBob proves that even the smallest sponge can make a big difference. Filled with humor, heart, and creative staging, The SpongeBob Musical is an energetic celebration of friendship, resilience, and the power of believing in oneself.

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Penn High School hosts an Indiana FIRST Robotics Competition on Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2, 2025.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

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