Principal Conductor – Bob Thurston

Robert Thurston is a former high-school band director and retired Chief Arranger-Composer for the United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C. He joined the Prince William Community Band as a percussionist in 2014 and was named principal conductor in 2016.

Bob has been composing and arranging music professionally since 1980—including a 20-year career with the Air Force’s premiere musical organization—and has written for ensembles of all kinds and sizes, in a wide variety of styles and genres. He has several published school-band pieces to his credit, and he has written commissioned works at every level from 6th-grade beginners through professionals. His duet arrangement of “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” written for cello virtuoso Yo Yo Ma and ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, appears on Ma’s 2008 CD Songs of Joy and Peace.

A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Bob earned degrees in music education from Florida State University, where he also studied arranging and composition with Charles Carter. He taught high school bands in Florida and Ohio for five years before enlisting in the Air Force in 1994.

Associate Conductor – Jack Tilbury

Jack Tilbury was a member of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” from 1972 to 2005. During that time he performed with the Army Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Orchestra, and the Army Brass Quintet. He served as Tuba Section Leader, Band Announcer, Concert Band Group Leader and Unit Sergeant Major/Enlisted Leader. In 1983 he co-founded the annual Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Conference. He was the Editor of the TUBA Journal from 1981-1985 and has also served as a contributing editor for the Instrumentalist magazine. For 15 years he was principal tuba with the Washington Chamber Symphony. He holds a BME Degree from Wichita State University and a MM Degree from Catholic University. In retirement he spends most of his time fishing, but still performs regularly with the Virginia Grand Military Band, Prince William Community Band, Occoquan Heavy Metal Tuba Ensemble, Annandale Brass, Prelude Brass, Dominion Brass and the Classical Brass.

Associate Conductor – John Cznadel

John Cznadel was born in New York City and graduated from the public schools of Passaic, New Jersey. He received his Bachelor’s degree from The Yankton College Conservatory of Music and his Master’s degree from Western Illinois University. Post graduate studies include The University of Wisconsin (Madison), Northern State University (South Dakota), Virginia Tech, and Villanova University. “Mr. C” was on the band staff of Beloit High School in Wisconsin before coming to PWC to direct bands at Woodbridge Middle and Saunders Middle, where he was the very first band director. He retired from PWC in 2010. 

John has been a long time member of Prince William Community Band.  He plays with the clarinet section when not conducting the band.  During his career he was a member of the following: Va. Band and Orchestra Assoc. ; National Band Assoc. ; National Assoc. for Music Education; Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia; National Education Assoc. ; Marquis Who’s Who.