George Matrician, CHS Band Director

George Matrician was the band director at Coaldale High in the 1950’s and 1960’s, where he composed the fight song named “The Coaldale Shuffle” (see approximate words to that song below). Prior to CHS, he began his teaching career at the former East Mauch Chunk High School, where he was its first full-time instructor of instrumental music, developing a 40-piece senior band, a junior band, a school band and inaugurating the first spring concert. After CHS, he was the first band director at Panther Valley High School and later at Easton Junior High School until his retirement. He was married to Amelia (Tomasovich) Matrician. Mr. Matrician passed away in Easton, PA, on December 20, 1996.

"The Coaldale Shuffle" by Mr. George Matrician:

(Chorus)

First and ten
Let’s do it again
Do it again, do it again
C’mon you Tigers, do it again
Keep doin’ the Coaldale Shuffle

We march our boys on down the field
Oh hear that tiger roar:
Growllllll!
We ?????????????????????????????????

(If you know the rest of the words, please pass them along)

Obituary:
George Matrician, 80, Former Band Director

George Matrician, 80, of 229 Tenth St., Easton, formerly of Coaldale, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996, in the Easton Hospital. He was the husband of Amelia (Tomasovich) Matrician.

A band director at Easton Junior High School until retiring, he previously was the first band director at Panther Valley High School and band director at the former Coaldale High School.

Matrician began his teaching career at the former East Mauch Chunk High School, where he was its first full-time instructor of instrumental music, developing a 40-piece senior band, a junior band, a school band and inaugurating the first spring concert.

He composed the Coaldale and Panther Valley High School Alma Mater and wrote pep songs for both schools.

A graduate of Mansfield State Teachers College, he received his master's from Ithaca University, N.Y.

Born in Summit Hill, he was a son of the late John and Helen (Mlechick) Matrician.

He was a member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Easton.

Matrician was a past president of the Eastern District of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and, in 1967, was cited by the Freedom Foundation, Valley Forge, for his work in promoting the American Way of Life. Many years ago, he directed the WPA (Works Progress Administration) Civic Symphony Orchestra and the Summit Hill American Legion band.

He was a 50-year member of Coaldale American Legion.

He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific and at Camp Croft, S.C., where he headed the Drum and Bugle school.

Survivors: Wife and sisters, Susan, wife of Emil Krazinski of Middletown, Helen McGuire of Jim Thorpe and Anna Solak and Mary Stival, both of Summit Hill.

Military graveside services: 1:30 p.m. today, Sky-View Memorial Park, Hometown. Call 10:30-11 a.m. today in the church.

Arrangements, August M. Gulla Funeral Home, 130 E. Ridge St., Coaldale.

The Morning Call, Allentown, PA, Friday, December 20, 1996

Source: http://articles.mcall.com/1996-12-20/news/3113101_1_band-director-summit-hill-bugle

GEORGE MATRICIAN - MUSICIAN/TEACHER/SCHOLAR I (Lou Spagnola) am a trumpet player and high school music director / director of instrumental music in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I graduated from Easton Area High School in 1980. I was doing a web search to try to find out what happened to my old middle school band director, George Matrician, from what was at the time called Easton Junior High School. I was very sorry to learn from your website that he died in 1996 at the age of 80. I knew Mr. Matrician wrote the Panther Valley High School Alma Mater, but I didn't know that he was also the former band director at Coaldale. Mr. Matrician retired when I entered high school. He was a fine gentleman and an excellent musician. George's major instruments were trumpet and violin, and he played them both quite well. He was also quite a prolific composer. I think he was originally from Hungary. I don't know where he went to high school or undergraduate school, but I know he went to graduate school at the then famous Earnest Williams School of Music. The Earnest Williams school has been defunct for 60 years, but it it was a great school. They recently had the final meeting of the Earnest Williams School of Music Alumni Association. Many of the world's top orchestral trumpet players went to the Earnest Williams School at the time. I remember Mr. Matrician telling me about the Earnest Williams School, but, being about 11 years old at the time, I didn't really get it. I also know that in his younger years Mr. Matrician played qite a bit in LasVegas. Mr. Matrician was a very strict, totally old school band director. He was also a very kind man. Mr. Matrician got me my first paying gig...I was 11 or 12...The job was playing at a VFW funeral! Thank you for listing him on your website, because it's the only listing about him anywhere on the web. If anyone who knew George would like to contact me, I would be happy to talk with you. Sincerely, Louis A. Spagnola - B.S.; M.M.; Ph.D in Progress Music Department Chair / Director of Instrumental Music CFS, The School at Church Farm P.O. Box 2000 Paoli, PA 19341
From: Suburbs of Philadelphia

Lou Spagnola Thursday, 7/7/05