As announced in October, 2023, Catholic University Athletics will add a Pep Band in the Fall of 2024! The goal of the band will be to create an enhanced game day experience at each venue and starting first with football, and men's and women's basketball.
The initial group will be made up of woodwind and brass instruments with a drum section, but the ultimate makeup and direction will be decided under the leadership of the Director of Athletic Pep Band.
This new addition to Catholic University Athletics provides a unique opportunity for the University's athletics and admissions departments to partner on a key growth opportunity for the University. The Director will be tasked with recruiting new incoming students to the band each school year.
In January, Chris Pearlberg was announced as the first-ever Director of Athletic Bands at Catholic University.
Pearlberg joins Catholic after spending the past year-plus as the Athletic Bands Director at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Pearlberg was tasked with the similar role of developing and directing a new college pep band upon his arrival at St. Mary's.
Pearlberg holds a Bachelor of Music, Performance degree from Temple University ('12), a Master of Music, Performance degree from Carnegie Mellon ('14), and a Doctor of Music, Literature and Performance degree from Indiana University ('20).
His extensive teaching background includes time spent at St. Mary's Ryken in Leonardtown, Md., and Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH. Pearlberg also has teaching experience at the Luzerne Music Center in Luzerne, N.Y., the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Campbellsville University, and Timberlane Regional School District in Plaistow, NH.
Students of Pearlberg's have gone on to great success including, but not limited to a gold medal in the Indiana State School Music Association (Solo and Ensemble), Juilliard Pre College, Juilliard Music Advancement Program, and the New Jersey Youth Symphony.
