Congratulations to Mr. Allen Roth, the 2025-2026 Carlisle High School Band Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient!

Allen Roth’s lifelong dedication to music began at Carlisle High School (CHS), where he played bass guitar and tuba in the band and the “Galaxies” stage band under the mentorship of Clyde Barr. He was a proud member of the 1970 Carlisle Senior High School World Champion Show Band, a formative experience that fueled his passion for music education and performance.

Allen studied at Lebanon Valley College, earning a B.S. in Music Education. He was recognized for his excellence and leadership, being inducted into “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” and the honorary fraternity Alpha Psi Omega, and he was named one of the “Outstanding Juniors” in his class.

After college, Allen launched a diverse and successful music career, touring throughout the U.S., Europe, and Puerto Rico. He performed with bands such as “The Younger Brothers Band”—which enjoyed regional popularity and chart success—and “Shucks,” a country band that achieved a #1 song on the national independent record chart and won the Wrangler Showdown state championship. More recently he has played with “The Cramer Brothers Band”, “The Maxwell Project”, Doug Brewin’s “Tribute to Alan Jackson”, as well as numerous area theater pit orchestras.

Allen’s versatility led him to share the stage with renowned performers, including Sally Struthers in “Always, Patsy Cline”. He has played for legendary artists such as Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Robert Goulet, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, the Platters, the Marcels, the Smothers Brothers, the Lennon Sisters, the Osmond Brothers and others, and he’s shared the stage and “opened” concerts with Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Milsap, Marie Osmond, the Oak Ridge Boys, Lee Greenwood, Charlie Pride, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others.

His achievements were recognized with his induction into the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame as a member of the Lancaster-based R&B group, “The Maxwell Project.” Allen dedicated 30 years to music education as a band director in the Carlisle Area School District. Starting in 1982 with high school band director Dave Rohrer, he helped grow the band program to record membership and numerous “Tournament of Bands” championships. He recalls taking seven busloads of over 200 middle school band and color guard members to parades. He created a unique “Trash Can Band” for middle school drummers who performed at the Pennsylvania governor’s inauguration in 2007. Allen has spent most of his life studying and teaching in the Carlisle Area School District, having attended or taught in every one of the district’s schools.

Allen’s creativity extends beyond music as he has designed logos and artwork for local organizations, including the well-known “marching feet” logo for the CHS Band.

He also founded and directed a “Youth Praise Team” at his church, guiding young musicians to perform at the Church of the Brethren’s 2001 international conference in Baltimore, MD.

Allen lives in Boiling Springs with his wife, Cindy (Boyer) Roth, a noted area photographer. He has two daughters who live in Nashville, Tennessee

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