Special Medallion Recipients
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Since 2004, the Festival has been awarding medallions to the first (gold), second (silver), and third (bronze) prize winners in the Festival competition in addition to the monetary awards. The list of all competition medalists can be found clicking the button Competition Medalists.
In 2004, the Festival also began to give out special medallions to certain other recipients. Gold Medallions have been awarded to guest artist/s and composers of our commissioned works (if they are attending the Festival). During our 25th Festival year, special Silver Medallions were awarded to recognize and honor Board members and long-serving volunteers.
In some years, medallions were awarded to additional special recipients. Grateful thanks go to our anonymous donor for underwriting the annual cost of the medallions!
2008 Special Medallion Recipient: Dr. Earle Louder
Dr. Earle Louder: Good Friend to the Festival and Euphoniums Everywhere
In 2008, Dr. Earle Louder was selected as the first recipient of a special Falcone medallion to honor his 20 years of service to the Festival in a variety of capacities, including as judge, teacher, and music coordinator. Unfortunately, Dr. Louder was unable to attend the 2008 Festival, as he was in Columbus, Ohio, conducting the All-Ohio State Fair Band at that time
Earle studied euphonium at Michigan State University under the tutelage of Leonard Falcone. He earned his doctoral degree at Florida State University, where he achieved the distinction of being the first person ever to complete the Doctor of Music degree in Euphonium Performance. For twelve years, he played principal Euphonium and was head of the brass department with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC, before serving as Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Morehead State University in Kentucky. He has been a premier soloist, as well as teacher and mentor to hundreds of students and artists.
In Earle’s words: “It has always been my honor to be a part of honoring my mentor and friend, Dr. Leonard Falcone, by serving as adjudicator, teacher, and music coordinator since 1988. Tell everyone that ‘The Earle of Louder’ says ‘Hello’ and that he loves you all.”
The Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival mourns the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Earle Louder, on May 26, 2021. All of us celebrate his artistry and lifelong commitment to music, and will miss his camaraderie, his resonant bass voice, and his wise counsel in all facets of music and life.
The internment for Earle Louder was held on June 21, 2022, at the Tallahassee (FL) National Cemetery with members of his family in attendance. The folded American flag was presented by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard to Earle’s wife, Louise.
2017 Special Medallion Recipient: John Leipprandt
John Leipprandt Awarded Special Gold Medallion for 30 Years of Service
On November 1, 2017, John Leipprandt was presented a Falcone medallion in honor of his years of service to the Falcone Festival. The presentation took place at the fall concert of the Bay Concert Band in Bay City, MI, where he has been a member for more than 40 years. Assisting Falcone Past Vice President Tom Broka (at the lectern, below left) with the presentation were Falcone board members Abby Zarimba and Seanne Danielak (from right to left). In John’s work behind the scenes at the Falcone Festival, he has played such roles as treasurer and “chief elf”. It was a special treat for us to surprise John this way, by presenting the medallion at the concert in front of his many friends. (Below right: John checks out the medallion.)
John graduated from Michigan State University and played euphonium in band with Earle Louder under Leonard Falcone. His engineering career was with GM, but his avocation has always been music, specifically playing euphonium. In addition to playing with the Bay Concert Band, he co-founded The German Connection with Tom Broka in 2000, which played gigs in the Bay City for fifteen years, and he has travelled with the MSU Alumni Band on several of their international concert tours. His love of music has led to his support of the Brass Band of Battle Creek in addition to the Falcone Festival.
We congratulate John and thank him for all he has meant to the Falcone Festival. His contributions to the Festival are much appreciated by all the contestants and committee members.
2020 Special Medallion Recipient: Dr. Jason Smith
Dr. Jason Smith Receives Special Award during 2020 Virtual Festival
At the 2020 Virtual Falcone Festival, Board President Philip Sinder announced that a special gold medallion was being awarded to Dr. Jason Smith. The presentation took place online during the Virtual Festival. Jason currently serves as Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at Ohio University School of Music. He has taught at Ohio University for 21 years and is a founding member of OhioBrass, Ohio University’s faculty-artist brass quintet. Jason has adjudicated for the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA), served from 2002 to 2011 as Chief Editor for the ITEA Journal, and currently serves on its Board of Directors and coordinates ITEAonline.org. He has also adjudicated at the Falcone Festival.
Jason is greatly appreciated for creating the online registration program for the Falcone Festival solo competition, beginning with the 2017 Festival. He has continued to maintain and update the site, as well as expand the features of this program. In addition, Jason developed and monitored the system for collecting entries for the 2020 Falcone Festival Solo Works Composition Competition.
He played a major role behind the scenes of our 2020 Virtual Festival by creating the program that collected the videos for the two semi-final and final rounds from the participating semi-finalists.
The entire low brass community joins the Falcone Festival in honoring Jason for all of his contributions!
2021 Special Medallion Recipient: Jane Goodrich
Jane Goodrich Awarded Special Gold Medallion for More Than 25 Years of Service
On August 7, 2021, Falcone Festival president Philip Sinder was able to present a special festival gold medallion to Jane Goodrich, in recognition of her numerous contributions to the success of the Festival for over 25 years. As a member of our board of directors and executive committee, Jane continues to be an integral wheel in our internal operations, and a leader regarding our external visibility.
It may come as a surprise that Jane is not only not a low brass player, but not any kind of brass player. Her instrument of choice is the flute, which she has played for the last forty-plus years in the Lansing Concert Band (and for another twenty-odd years in other venues). She came to the Festival primarily because her husband Doug, a euphonium player, was invited to attend some of the concerts by fellow low brass players in the Lansing Concert Band who were on the Falcone board. Both Goodriches were recruited to become members of the board and since have been integrally involved with the Festival.
Jane currently heads our preliminary application process, which includes working to be sure that the registration system is up to date and ready to open for applications, and that application uploads work with no issues. She answers applicant questions, ensures that adjudicators can access the preliminary round recordings, and sends each applicant notification of results. She also serves as board secretary, helps to coordinate our Festival website, works on the annual program, and chimes in as one of the Falcone Festival “elves.”
For her organization skills, knowledge of festival history and operations, concern for the continued growth and health of the festival, and commitment to the low brass world – we happily honor her with the Falcone Festival Gold Medallion!
2023 Special Medallion Recipient: Susan M. Topping
Sue Topping awarded for her 28 years of service
As Treasurer for the Falcone Festival, Sue contributed her CPA skills in managing the financial aspects of the Festival. She completed necessary reports, both state and federal, and ad hoc reports as needed. Perhaps one of her main jobs was to remind the board to keep expenses within income! Each year following making the payments to Festival judges (preliminary round and at the Festival) and the awards to the twelve Festival medalists, she issued all necessary tax related paperwork to those participants.
Sue was also the “go-to” person at the Festival for all the logistical details for the contestants. She made sure that accompanist fees were paid, gathered all the personal information (name, person to inform in case of problems, any dietary restrictions or allergies, etc.), as well as how each planned to arrive (driving, flying) and if flying, details of day, time, airline and flight number, plus total in their party arriving.
Her involvement with the Falcone Festival was natural, as she had taken lessons on the euphonium from Dr. Falcone when still a high school student. She has continued playing her instrument throughout her adult life. A long-time resident of the greater Lansing area and East Lansing in particular, Sue has been involved with many organizations, both as CPA and volunteer. Early in 2023 Sue experienced a medical emergency and had to step back from her responsibilities with the Festival and other involvements. During her time of recovery, she has very much appreciated all the cards, texts, phone calls, from everyone! She continues to improve her physical strength and overall health.
On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, a group of five board members were able to visit Sue Topping in East Lansing, MI, as she continued her recuperation. She was presented with an honorary gold medallion in recognition of all her contributions to the Festival over 28 years of service.
Thank you, Sue!
2025 Special Medallion Recipient: Kenneth (Pete) Marvin
On September 10, 2025, the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival proudly presented longtime volunteer and board member Pete Marvin with a special gold medallion in recognition of over 30 years of dedicated service.
Beginning in 1995, when tubas were added to the annual Falcone euphonium competition, Pete volunteered to serve on the logistics committee. He continued with that commitment for many years while also contributing wherever else he was needed: he transported competitors from Blodgett to Niblock and back for years and did countless airport runs; he added duties for admissions data entry and sent out notifications to applicants with the results of the preliminary round recordings; he produced the Festival printed program for a number of years; and he served on numerous committees for board activities.
Pete’s unique viewpoints and insights enriched the board process, helping the Festival to grow and mature over the years. Pete was known for his humor and honorable and caring interactions with everyone with whom he came in contact. We are also grateful to his wife, Karen, for helping with the afterglow for many, many years, as well as for her support of Pete.
Pete Marvin shared a passion and dedication as an amateur musician in the Lansing area and beyond, performing as local choir member as well as longtime tubist in the Lansing Concert Band. His long career at Michigan State University was spent primarily in Student Services, and he was most proud of his involvement on campus with the student judiciary, listening to people to help them find common ground and consensus.
Pete’s countless hours, days, weeks, and years behind the scenes have been vital to the Festival’s success. While volunteers often work outside of the spotlight, they are the heartbeat that keeps this event alive year after year.
From all of us at the Festival and throughout the euphonium and tuba community: thank you, Pete, for your extraordinary dedication and commitment!
On October 4, 2025 Pete Marvin passed away. We are all saddened by the loss of such a friend, bright, caring, thoughtful, empathetic, and dedicated to the Falcone Festival. Our heartfelt sympathies to Karen and family. He will be missed. His obituary follows:
Official Obituary of Pete Marvin Jr.
September 12, 1942 – October 4, 2025
Kenneth “Pete” O. Marvin Jr., of Grand Ledge, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2025, in Lansing, Michigan, at the age of 83. Born on September 12, 1942, in Jefferson, Ohio, to the late Kenneth and Dorothy (Green) Marvin Sr., Pete life was characterized by dedication to his family, and service to his community.
Pete met the love of his life, Karen, in 1957 at Cleveland Heights High School in the marching band. They went on to share 61 amazing years together, and their love for music continued together from the first time they met. His family and love of music were the core of his soul.
Pete’s professional life was a testament to his belief in the transformative power of education. He retired from Michigan State University, having touched the lives of countless students as a student service professional. His passion for nurturing young minds extended into his retirement, as he also served diligently as the business manager of the Michigan State University Children’s Choir. Also, during retirement, Pete continued to make an impact on the community by working at Dean Trailways, where his warmth and generosity were well known and appreciated.
A man of many interests, Pete was an active member of the University United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where his faith and family were cornerstones of his life. His love for music and community engagement shone brightly through his involvement with the Lansing Concert Band. He was very passionate about social justice, and a die-hard MSU Spartan fan. “Spartan fans bleed green and white all day every day”
Pete’s legacy is carried on by his loving wife, Karen, with whom he shared a lifetime of memories and unwavering support. He was a guiding light for his daughters, Jill Marvin (married to Scott Reitor) and Beth Schuchaskie (married to Dave), and a hero to his grandchildren: Monica (Kyle) Taplin, Ariel (Sundee Baker) Marvin, Owen (Natalie D’Agostino) Schuchaskie, Camden Schuchaskie, and Keaton Schuchaskie; great-grandchildren Griffin and Maya Taplin, with baby boy Taplin on the way. His sister, Gloria Marvin, will fondly remember Pete’s heartfelt laughter and their shared loved for the arts. Pete also leaves behind several nieces and nephews. His brother, Ronald Marvin, preceded him in death, and one can imagine the joyful reunion that must be taking place.
Cremation has taken place, and memorial services are pending so please check back for further information. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in loving memory of Pete to the Lansing Concert Band, Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival, Mother Teresa Hospice House, or the University United Methodist Church. For online condolences please visit www.millsfuneral.com