George “Jeff” Perkins, Corps Director
In 2021, Jeff was the first member to be inducted into the Avant Garde Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to Jeff Perkins who was inducted into the Avant Garde Hall of Fame in honor of his dedication & life long commitment to the more than 1,000 people whose lives he enriched as Director of Avant Garde Drum & Bugle Corps.
Jeff started his love for Drum Corps at 11 years old, playing soprano bugle in the Saratoga NY Ambassadors 1953-1956. He went on to march with Fort Edward NY Vagabonds 1957-1958, Gloversville NY Fusiliers 1959-1961, Interstatesmen 1962-1966, Marksmen 1968, and the Syracuse Brigadiers 1971. He became the Asst. Director of the Saratoga NY Bethesda Hurricanes 1966-1971, Director of the Bethesda Emerald Knights 1972-1974, and the Director of Avant Garde Drum and Bugle Corps 1975-1985. He taught M&M for Bethesda Hurricanes, Troy Muchachos, Bethesda Emerald Knights, and Avant Garde. Jeff was an advisor to Excelsior Drum and Bugle Corps and was inducted DCNY Hall of Fame.
During his time as the Director of Avant Garde Drum and Bugle Corps, the corps traveled all over the country touring, winning the Class B World Open championship and six NY state championships in a row. In 1984, Saratoga’s Avant Garde was ranked the 15th best Drum and Bugle Corp in the world. In Jeff’s words “…you become part of a unit of people that have the same goal, the same leadership and drive. That whole idea caught me and then, it was all I wanted to do.”
Inductees 2021-2025
2022 Jospeh Anderson
2022 Nick Avossa
2022 Marie Boivin
2025 Mike Boivin
2022 Omer Boivin
2025 Michelle Boivin Rashall
2025 Steve Cannon
2025 Stephen Covitz
2025 Dan Crawford
2022 Jim Crawford
2022 Tony Gambaro
2022 Rick Gathen
2025 Brian Haynes
2025 Wayne Higdon
2022 Jerry Kaiser
2022 Kathleen Kelleher Anderson
2025 Peggy Legnard Ryan
2022 Lousie Lindahl
2025 Danny Lutz
2022 Greg Mataruga
2022 Paul Mataruga
2025 Neil McBride
2025 Theresa McDonough Piekarz
2022 Tom Newell
2025 Carol O’Connell Avossa
2025 Betty Ann Ogden Burkhardt
2025 Janet Ogden Morris
2025 Martha Ogden Normandin
2022 Paul “Peanut” Peregrim
2021 George “Jeff” Perkins
2025 Roxanne Relyea Major
2022 Bob Relyea
2025 Neil Renvyle
2025 James Ryan Sr.
2025 Earl “Bumpy” Smith
2022 Paul Smith
2022 Nick Sylvester
2022 Kevin Walsh
2022 Pat Walsh
2025 Linda White Gathen
2022 Kevin “Meatsy” Willette
2022 Chet Zabek