The recipient of the 2014-2015 Carlisle High School Band Distinguished Alumnus Award is Mr. Douglas Cook, Carlisle High School Class of 1979.

Mr. Cook began saxophone lessons with Mr. Henry Nelson in the fourth grade and eventually took private lessons from the high school band director, Mr. Clyde Barr.  By the time Doug was in the seventh grade, he was a member of the high school stage band, The Galaxies.  In the summer of 1974, he was asked to perform with the high school Concert Band and Marching Band during their European tour and participation in the World Music Competition held in the Netherlands. Doug continued his participation in the Concert, Marching, and the Galaxies in high school and also became the Drum Major in his junior and senior years.  His high school musical honors included attending the prestigious Governor’s School for the Arts, District Band membership for six years, Regional Band for four years, All-State Band for two years, and All-East Band.

Mr. Cook attended the Eastman School of Music and earned a music performance degree and the prestigious Performer’s Certificate.  The day after graduating from Eastman, Doug joined the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra as lead alto saxophonist and clarinetist and toured the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.

After leaving the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Doug returned to Carlisle and became the Director of North American Music Festivals for the next twenty years.  He directed the Dickinson College Jazz Ensemble from 1989 to 1996, hosting guest soloists that included jazz legend Phil Woods, trombonist Steve Turre, trumpeters Marvin Stamm and Byron Stripling, vocalist Vanessa Rubin, pianist Harold Danko, and saxophonist Lou Martini.   Doug currently serves as choir director at the Carlisle Brethren in Christ church.

Doug continues to perform in the Buzz Jones Big Band, the Buzz Jones Jazz Quartet and Quintet, and as a freelance musician, having performed with Aretha Franklin, Marie Osmond, The Temptations, the Four Tops, Natalie Cole, Manhattan Transfer, Regis Philbin, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Fabian, and the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show.

Doug and his wife, Amy, live in South Middleton Township with their three children, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Ariella.

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