John J. DiGloria

John J. DiGloria, often written DeGloria, was the instrumental music teacher and band director of the Billerica public schools in the 1960s and early 1970s. A graduate of Lowell State Teachers College (B.S.E.), he was appointed in 1960 and is listed in the staff tables from 1961 as the instrumental teacher. The Warrior yearbooks credit the growth of the Billerica Memorial High School band to him: in 1962 it had been "both host and guest at many community and school functions" under his direction, and by 1964 it played at football games, rallies and assemblies and "competed in Music Festivals." That year the school department counted 320 pupils in the instrumental program and more than a hundred in the junior high and high school bands, and reported that "Mr. DiGloria, our instrumental instructor, plans to have a jazz band orchestra, and string ensembles" the next year. By 1966 two more instrumental teachers worked with him, among them Joseph J. DeLuca. The 1968 and 1969 yearbooks list him as Director of Instrumental Music, and in 1969 he, Mr. DeLuca and Rudolph Gentile were the advisers of the marching band. The 1972 yearbook pictures him conducting, beside Dr. Paul Cox at the piano.

References

1. Billerica Town Report 1960, superintendent's report: appointments, John J. DiGloria
2. Billerica Town Report 1961, staff list: instrumental teacher John J. DiGloria, Lowell, B.S.E., 1960
3. Billerica Town Report 1964, music report: 320 pupils in the instrumental program; Mr. DiGloria plans a jazz band, orchestra and string ensembles
4. Warrior 1962: the band under the direction of Mr. John DeGloria
5. Warrior 1964: the band under the direction of Mr. DiGloria
6. Warrior 1968: Mr. DiGloria, Director of Instrumental Music
7. Warrior 1972, p. 27: music faculty, DeGloria conducting