Wayne Ligas was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He studied clarinet at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned a B.S. in music education. He did graduate work in conducting at Trenton State College. He was a band director of elementary through high school levels for over 30 years, the last 28 in New Jersey. He and has wife, Linda, retired to the Williamsburg area in 2011. Wayne performs with the Keystone Winds, Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, Williamsburg Players pit orchestra, and of course, the Peninsula Concert Band.

Melvin Lauf, Jr. is a graduate of The Armed Forces School of Music. During his first tour in the U.S. Army, he was stationed with the 113th Army Band “Dragoons” at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He spent the rest of his military service as a fife instrumentalist with “The Old Guard” Fife and Drum Corps. Separate from his military career, Lauf has written works for various ensembles, most notably for the flute and flute ensembles. He is currently retired from the military living in Newport News and is an active flutist, piccoloist, and harpist in addition to running his company, FLUTE.NET Publications. Lauf’s works for the flute and flute ensemble are published by Nourse Wind Publications and FLUTE.NET Publications.

Laura Cathcart is originally from Johnstown, N.Y. and graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Music in Music and Education. After college, she was an Army musician for over 23 years, retiring as a First Sergeant. Since retirement, she became a Licensed Veterinary Technician, and has been a professional Band Instrument Repair Technician. She frequently performs with several musical groups in the Tidewater area, and resides in Hampton, VA.

George Pond was a long time member and conductor of the Peninsula Concert Band. He passed away on July 20, 2021. On December 7, 2022 he was named Conductor Emeritus of the Peninsula Concert Band in a presentation to his wife Diane.

A native of Portsmouth, Va., and graduate of Churchland High School, George Pond served as a U.S. Army musician from 1970 to 1973 with the 6th Army Band at Presidio, San Francisco. He left the Army to attend California State University, Fresno where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. While at CSUF, Mr. Pond studied conducting and trombone/euphonium performance with Dr. Larry Sutherland, Dr. James Winter, and Dr. Ritchie Clendenin.

After graduation, he served as band director at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy ins Suffolk, Va., from 1979 - 1981. Mr. Pond decided to return to the Army, serving with bands at Fort Monroe, Va.; Fairbanks, Alaska; Fort Lee, Va.; South Korea; and finally as a staff member for the Army at the Department of Defense School of Music, Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Va. After retiring from the Army in 2002, he enjoyed country life with his wife Diane on their horse farm in Isle Of Wight County.