Sergeant Major William H. Messerschmidt, is a 1965 graduate of Eastern Lebanon County
High School. He received his Bachelor of Music degree with distinction in Applied Percussion
from the Eastman School of Music in 1969. Until 1971 he was percussionist for the U.S. Army
Field Band stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland where SGM Messerschmidt was honored for
superior proficiency. Since 1974, he has been a percussionist and assistant timpanist in the
U.S. Army Band, Pershing's Own, stationed out at Fort Myer, Virginia. He is also a member of the
Concert Band and the U.S. Army Orchestra. His chief duties include performing for public,
educational and military/state programs of the highest levels. He has performed under the
direction of Leonard Bernstein, Maestro Rostropovich, and Arthur Fiedler. In addition, SGM
Messerschmidt has performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Dean Martin, Reba McEntire,
and Roberta Peters. He is a marimba soloist and has given solo educational clinics.

Outside of the Army, SGM Messerschmidt performs with the National Christian Choir Orchestra,
and the Prince William Symphony. Additionally, he is an adjunct instructor of percussion for the
Northern Virginia Community College. SGM Messerschmidt and his wife Janice live in
Woodbridge, Virginia, and have two daughters and a son.

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