MICHAEL LONGDO has over 30 years of experience in the concert and marching music arenas. He has served as an educator, arranger, performer and adjudicator. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Murray State University. Mike’s teaching experience includes a 25 year career at the high school level in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and New Jersey. As band director of Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, New Jersey, he led the marching band to 11 consecutive Tournament of Bands Group IV Atlantic Coast Finalist appearances, and guided the band to Atlantic Coast Championship seasons from 2003-2005. He has also been involved with other scholastic programs, including: Webster County HS (Kentucky); Northern Highlands Regional HS (NJ); Kearney HS (NJ); Elizabeth HS (NJ); Lacey Twp HS (NJ); Egg Harbor Twp HS (NJ) and Leesburg High School (FL).
Mr. Longdo’s involvement with Drum Corps includes: Brass Caption Head for the Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps from 1986-1989 during which time the Sunrisers won two DCA Championships. From 1990 through 2005, he served as Brass Caption Head of the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps, where the Caballeros were consistently ranked in the top three ensembles of Drum Corps Associates. Mike was also on the Brass/Administration team for the Orlando Magic Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005-2006. In 2015, Mr. Longdo was elected into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.
As an in-demand adjudicator, Mr Longdo has judged with the National Judges Association, Metro American Association, and the USBands circuits.
He currently is retired, performing on french horn with the Hollingsworth Winds in Lakeland, Florida, Central Florida Winds in Melborne Fl, and the Concert Band of Orlando. He resides in Kissimmee, Florida, where he lives with his wife Terri, who is a Saint!