The Red Hill Band, a musical staple in the area for more than 100 years, will start the new year with a new director, Norman Stull. 

        Stull takes over after the retirement of Vincent Bercher, the beloved longtime conductor of the organization who is staying on to play saxophone.  The Red Hill Band and Jazz Band, numbering around 50 musicians, plays dozens of free concerts each summer at venues throughout the area. 

        Of taking over for Bercher, Stull said one thing is clear.

        "His are super huge shoes to fill," he noted.  "He's been there for 40-plus years, so I'll never take his place.  I just want to add more experiences with the group.  I will try to keep all the traditions that Mr. Bercher has done."

        "We are very happy that Norm will be joining the Red Hill Band family," said band President Ed Bieler.  "It was important to all of us to find a director who demonstrates musical and leadership skills, but also has an understanding of the role played by the Red Hill Band in the Upper Perkiomen Valley and beyond.  Norm will join our organization with the overwhelming support of the band's membership." 

        Stull, as it turns out, is no stranger to leadership.  He was a music teacher at the Perkiomen School in Pennsburg for more than 20 years before retiring in 2012.  Before that, he taught at private schools in Philadelphia and Delaware County after receiving his Bachelor's of Music Education from Temple University.  He also studied under several prolific musicians from the Shubert Theatre (now Merriam Theater), while taking graduate courses at Villanova, and played as a first chair saxophonist with the Allentown Band, as well as a flute, clarinet and sax player with the Quakertown Band.

        He currently runs, and has since 1980, the Tri-County Conservatory of Music out of his Spinnerstown home.  There he gives private instrumental lessons to people of all ages, ranging from high school students from Upper Perk, Quakertown and Southern Lehigh, to senior citizens, like one man Stull said who is now learning to play violin and cello in his later years.   

        He also serves as a substitute teacher in area school districts, where he has conducted bands, choruses and orchestras.     

        Stull keeps very busy as a viola player with the Bucks County Symphony and tours the nation with the Whitehall-based Walt Groller Orchestra, a Grammy-nominated polka band.

        "It never gets less busy.  There's always something happening," he said, with a chuckle, about his weekends.

        As for his off time, the father of three daughters and two young grandchildren said he likes to spend time with family and is involved in his church, Trinity Great Swamp Church, as consistory president. 

        Coming back to his roots has been nice for Stull, who formerly played saxophone and clarinet for the Red Hill Band, from 1972-75, before beginning his teaching career.  His time with the band was his first paying job playing music, he said.  Now, he said he's looking forward to revamping some of their musical selections.    

        "We play a little bit of everything; make it accessible to all people," he noted.  "We look forward to a lot of the same music that the band is known for but we may also do some more modern music also…We'll definitely play some classical music, some musical music, but more contemporary music, like I'm familiar with."

        The band hasn't nailed down their concert schedule for 2016 yet, but plans to put on a spring concert at Upper Perkiomen High School and will play in the Memorial Day parade in the Upper Perkiomen Valley and at area peach festivals and church functions.

        "I think we're going to continue our strong ties with the community.  And we enjoy performing for the community," Stull said.