[19] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. I was just going to say, check his will! Also in 1971, the Garfield Cadets, along with the 27th Lancers, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock, formed the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance"). I want to see what else is in that video that is dramatically different than what she told detectives two months later, Bergstrom said. Also in '96, the Cadets performed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls, California residents do not sell my data request. Hopkins was forced out as director of the . George Hopkins 260 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). Tips to help protect your smartphone from thieves, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. Through his attorney, Hopkins denied "any nonconsensual relations" with the sisters and also denied having "any relations whatsoever" with Lee Ann Riley while she was a minor. This has directed more than enough negative attention to the Cadets when in reality, it should be pointed at George Hopkins himself. Hopkins was also accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Allentown in 2008. Overall, the deficit was about $200,000. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! Hopkins' accusers ranged from 16 to 37 at the time of the abuse and harassment they say they endured, including three who were members of The Cadets and five who worked for Youth Education in the Arts, the parent organization that Hopkins also led as chief executive officer until his resignation. As promised, here is Part 1, of an eight part interview/discussion with the designers and teachers of the Cadets 1983-84-85, the holders of the first Drum Corps International three-peat, and . To honor their 75th anniversary, the corps was called the Holy Name Cadets for the 2009 season. Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. and only for this show no black uniform. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? George Hopkins, longtime director of the Cadets drum corps, resigns after sexual misconduct allegations April 6, 2018, 7:20 AM The decorated director of The Cadets drum and bugle corps. Since the crime occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. In 1998, the corps rebranded once again, dropping any reference to locale from its name and becoming simply The Cadets. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment, he sued the organization for more than $580,000. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation he could be sent to a state prison. She said that one evening in 2008, Hopkins asked her to come to his Allentown apartment to do some work. Board of Directors Resigns, New Board to Guide Organization", "Former drum corps director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault", "Finding no resignation letter, YEA board fired Hopkins with no severance", "DCI action on YEA! Shes four years removed from the corps now, and married. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. Youth Education in the Arts governs the Allentown Cadets drum corps. There is an interview with Beyer that is readily available to the public that will allow the Bergstrom to build his defense, Berry argued. "I just kept saying no, don't do this, I don't want to do this," said Marie, who said she went by her middle name at work. But even after he was let go, Connell said he was still allowed around corps members who knew what had happened and had reported him to the administration because he was the organizations connection to the housing site where they were staying. As temperatures have plunged this winter, water use has risen. Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark. There was an error processing your request. As one of the only returning baritones, he was offered the section head spot by Jackson but turned it down I thought I didnt deserve it.. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years. She marched from 2015 to 2017, around the same time as Calhoun. There was upset from some people, as you can see, and others saw the progression as an effort to maintain the Cadets as an organization steeped in tradition but also very, very progressive when it came to new ideas, new concepts, and fresh presentations. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. The women who accused Hopkins of harassment ranged in age from 16 to 37 at the time of the alleged incidents, which dated to 1980. After a great experience his first year, Calhoun said he was looking forward to coming back in 2017, even as some changes in his personal life took a toll on his mental health. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press. [10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation[14] and fined $5,000. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. It took a summer without performances, said Connell, for people to step back and realize that what they thought was tough love was actually systemic negligence. The Cadets of Bergen County won DCI Championships in 1990, '93, '98, and 2000. And I never said no. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Assistant District Attorney Matthew Falk declined to comment afterward on whether the two sides were discussing a plea deal. [21] Committees were created in the areas of Health and Wellness, Equality and Inclusion, Performing Arts Education, Governance, and Finance. The City of Erie welcomed The Cadets with open arms, offering access to local business relationships, services, volunteers, and new opportunities for funding and partnerships. In addition to The Cadets, YEA! In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. In 1969, the corps became coed. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. After the summer of 2020, the first summer in years without a Troopers tour, Ian Calhoun said he started to hear from friends hed made at the corps who were interested in reporting some of their experiences to the advocacy group MAASIN (Marching Arts Access, Safety & Inclusion Network). As a member of MAASINs whistleblowing committee, Calhoun helped compile six reports and publicized them in January. Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations. Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. But this isnt the military. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. 1 / Adagio for Strings / Medea's Dance of Vengeance, The Promise of Living (from The Tender Land) / Lincoln Portrait / Music for the Theater, Mvts. The Scouts, however, have not competed on the field since 2015, making The Cadets the oldest continuously active junior corps. Presidents of our country die Laura Masker-Holland and VP takes over and our country still goes on. Beyer, who said Hopkins assaulted her after she went to work for the corps, watched his plea and sentencing Thursday, but did not speak in court. But if that is the consensus of the alumni maybe WE should ensure that there will be a future for the CADET organization! George Hopkins, the former director of the renowned Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps, appeared in a Lehigh County courtroom Tuesday morning and gave up his right to a preliminary hearing on . She said Hopkins words on social media after the allegations became public in 2018 were a constant source of anxiety. he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. Wyoming teachers are leaving. Vicki Ferrence Ray, Interim Executive Director of CAE, subsequently signed an agreement to make the Erie Sports Center The Cadets' year-round home. On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years. : p or should it be, willing away the cash cow?Someone sold our souls to this legacy (too) many years ago. For more than 30 years, George Hopkins has been a major proponent of changes in instrumentation, education and contest guidelines, such as initiating the use of band instruments, electronics, removal of sidelines and other alternatives. The 36-year-old woman addressed Anthony and spoke about years of fear, shame and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. Drum and bugle corps perform intricate routines that incorporate music, marching, dance and color guards. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. George Hopkins, former director of Allentown's elite Cadets drum and bugle corps, pleaded no contest to indecent assault after an Inquirer investigation revealed years of misconduct. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. The Cadets have won these caption awards:[25], John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award, George Zingali Best Color Guard Performance Award, Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award. 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Man missing since 2021 was murdered, co-worker arrested: DA, Brian Laundrie was 'emotional bully,' Petito family lawsuit says, Pa. woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico. Morning Call reporter Laurie Mason Schroeder can be reached at 610-820-6506 or lmason@mcall.com. They dont eat lunch until their section is perfectly lined up by twos. GEORGE HOPKINS 1983 - present George Hopkins, better known as "Hop" to his friends and marching Cadets, is the current Director of our corps, as well as the longest serving (25 years and still going strong). [2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. People are using more water. After their third Finals appearance in 1980, the Cadets quickly regained the corps' former championship form. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. I want the victims to know that what you did was horrible beyond description, the judge said, READ MORE: Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls. 10 in E minor, Op. The group said it was taking steps to address the issues raised by past members, and has subsequently hired a new interim director. agreed to take over the assets and liabilities of the Crossmen in 1997. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Ryan Macpherson, who hails from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, will start his work as dean of the college on Aug. 1. George Hopkins, the director of The Cadets, talks about the 2017 show, "The Faithful, The Fallen, The Forgiven." George talks about the process of designing the show, the use of the singers, the three different uniforms worn by the corps, and about the issues the activity is facing around amplification On July 4, 1986 the Cadets performed as a part of the Liberty Weekend celebrating both the hundredth anniversary and the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. 253 votes, 88 comments. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps who was accused of sexual misconduct by nearly a dozen women, pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was. Success! The judge did question how the defense would know if the witness impeached her own testimony on the stand, if it didnt know ahead of time what she may have said in an earlier interview. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. which will ALWAYS take priority over my work. George Hopkins, the former CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Defense in sex assault case wants newspaper to hand over accuser's video interview, George Hopkins' defense attorney wants access to the Philadelphia Inquirer's unedited video, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? This action was taken in reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low or nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. YEA! Fine time to ask me now. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He's due back in court in February. The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! An order filed Tuesday in federal court says Hopkins and YEA have reached an agreement. The story of George's van trip to Mississippi and Louisiana He began as Director in 1983 A statement issued late Thursday night by the YEA board of directors, the organization that operates The Cadets, an elite drum and bugle corps, said CEO George Hopkins denies the allegations but . On the social media site Medium.com former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins writes: , Sexual assault charges have been filed against the former director of the famed Allentown Ca. [2][3], The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. Philly.com reported the alleged misconduct ranged from lewd comments and groping to rape. Free Access to this video! . They reportedly tried to convince the VFW officials that the peace symbol in their drill was actually the Mercedes-Benz logo. Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. Cadets are in troubleGH loves it that way.He wants there to be no Cadets if something happens to him.Cadets are in trouble for the FUTURE!!! Error! If his probation officer recommends it, Hopkins will have to undergo sex offender therapy. Sean King was named as interim CEO for YEA! Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation, he could be sent to a state prison. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! One former Youth Education in the Arts employee who spoke to Philly.com on condition that she was identified only by her first name, Marie, said Hopkins routinely harassed and assaulted her at work. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. It comes from a lot of different places.. In 1937, the corps song, "O Holy Name", was written for the corps. ), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Hopkins: Briefly, after I personally assisted the project in 1996 (Chris Marino was the chairman of the board for the Crossmen), YEA! The Alliance members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the monies those shows earned. Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps members perform during the corps' 50th anniversary gathering in July 2011. Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. in May, stating it had lost $1.5 million in sponsorships, donations, and ticket sales after the allegations against Hopkins were made public in the 2018 Inquirer account. Please know, you lose many, many GREAT people because of the reasons I listed and more. Steven Chirichella Richie has his gold uniform on him in his eternity as he lies in the heavens dont turn him blackplease oh Holy Name. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. I expect my final paycheck on October 18 which should include the agreed upon amount for moving expenses that has not been paid since starting in February 2017. [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. as of March 31, 2020. In February 2023, CAE announced a long-term partnership with the Erie Sports Center, resulting in a decision to move The Cadets and all operations of CAE to Erie, Pa. For the rest of the force, that means longer hours and fewer days off while earning less than peers . Follow More from Medium Mark. CEO while denying the allegations. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them. Hopkins, 63, was accused of sexual assault and harassment by numerous women in a 2018 Philadelphia Inquirer article, and was criminally charged in connection with two alleged incidents later that year. The Crossmen of San Antonio, Texas perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. Two more women say they were raped by George Hopkins, bringing to 11 the number who have accused the former drum and bugle corps director of sexual misconduct. In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. The investigation into Hopkins conduct found he had little oversight from the Cadets board, giving him the freedom to throw things when angry in rehearsals, refer to women as little girls, and send inappropriate sexual emails on the organizations server. also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 Drum Corps, 2014 WGI Independent Open Champion Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard; USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which included the Xcape Dance Studio.[18]. After the allegations surfaced, Hopkins resigned in April and was then fired by a new board of directors. Hopkins is facing two sexual assault charges after nearly a dozen women came forward with allegations in 2018. Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. [13] The corps' compliance with the terms of probation was sufficient for DCI to allow the corps to compete in 2018, and the probation was lifted in May 2019. Hopkins, 63, is awaiting trial on three counts of felony sexual assault. After the hearing, Hopkins lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers stories. Shortly after, more victims came forward, and the accounts of two of these women became the basis of the criminal charges brought in November 2018. All Rights Reserved. A six-month investigation into Allentown's Youth Education in the Arts is now complete. The women are among roughly a dozen connected to the Cadets organization who say they were sexually assaulted by Hopkins dating back to the 1980s. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. Read more Kyle Monroe by Tricia L. Nadolny The Cadets Drum Corps (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Cadets of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Executive Director, Youth Education in the Arts Director, nine-time DCI World Championship Cadets D&B Corps Social Studies Teacher: Aston Township HS (PA) 1979-80 Band Director: Northern Highlands High School (NJ), 1984 Marching as the Cadets of Garfield; wearing uniforms of white shorts, red golf shirts, and "Aussie" hats; and using instruments borrowed from the Chicago Cavaliers, the corps managed to finish in second place (one spot ahead of the defending champion Cavaliers). He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . Steven Chirichella still not the same MarieI feel your thoughts and sure Aunt Nell would be our side. In 1971, the Cadets marched a show they called, "No More War"; at VFW Nationals in Dallas. The Troopers initially denied wrongdoing, but later issued a statement apologizing for its defensive posture after facing a social media backlash. for more than $650,000 in severance and back pay, the organization filed a counter-suit against the former director for $1.5 million in losses which it alleges to have lost due to the sexual misconduct scandal. That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. Hopkins did not testify Thursday. April 13, 2018. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. George Hopkins, the former CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees. By The Morning Call PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 1:05 a.m. | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 1:32 a.m. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On, Shania Twain 'uncontrollably fragile' after husband's affair, 48 Hours: Natalie Morales Reveals How Social Media Helped Solve Case, Uriah Heep believe they have 'some merit' to be considered for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry, Amanda Seyfried wants to a role in movie version of Mean Girls: The Musical, Aaron Taylor-Johnson joins Nosferatu remake. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. says every person associated with its drum corps programs must sign a code of conduct, , There's another twist in the ongoing investigation over sexual assault allegations targeting, Documents obtained by 69 News appear to show former Youth Education in the Arts CEO and Alle, The investigation into sexual misconduct allegations at the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle , The organization that oversees Allentown's famed Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of YEA!