Joseph Casasanta served as Director of Bands for 19 years, beginning in 1923. He also served as Chairman of the Notre Dame Department of Music from 1927-32 and as Glee Club Director from 1927-38. During his Tenure as Band Director, Casasanta composed many Notre Dame School Songs such as Hike, Notre Dame, On Down the Line, When Irish Backs Go Marching By, and Notre Dame, Our Mother written for Knute Rockne’s funeral in 1932. While Casasanta did not compose the Notre Dame Victory March he did provide the first scoring for marching band as well as the 1932 published arrangement currently performed by the Notre Dame Band. Professor Joseph J. Casasanta died on December 1, 1968.

H. Lee Hope served as Director of Bands for 10 years, beginning in 1942. Originally form Hillsboro, Illinois he graduated from James Millikin College and the University of Michigan. During his tenure at Notre Dame, Hope was credited with the formation of the famed Irish Guard, originally called the Irish Pipers. While the pipes did not survive, the Irish Guard has been a Notre Dame tradition for over 50 years, fulfilling his original intention of adding color to the military look of the 1940’s Notre Dame Band. After leaving Notre Dame in 1952, Hope spent time at Indiana University as a director with the Marching Hundred while pursuing his Doctorate in Music Education. He eventually went into business starting the H & H Music Service in Evansville, Indiana. H. Lee Hope died in McAllen, Texas on January 8, 1989. Seventy Six Trombones and the Notre Dame Victory March were played during the visitation.

Robert F. O'Brien served as Director of Bands for 34 years, beginning in the Fall of 1952. Under his leadership, the Notre Dame Band grew in both history and quality, developing the roots for the character of today's Notre Dame Band Program. In 1953 O'Brien founded the National Catholic Bandmasters Association. He is credited with composing the school song Damhsa Bua (the Victory Clog) which is performed after Irish victories. O'Brien implemented creation of the official Notre Dame Plaid, which is worn by the Irish Guard and all members of the Notre Dame Band. He admitted women from St. Mary's College into the Notre Dame Band in 1970, two years before the University of Notre Dame became coeducational. O'Brien retired from the University of Notre Dame in 1986. He died in South Bend on July 1, 2003.

Dr. Snavely served as the Director of Bands at Notre Dame for 13 years, beginning in June of 1987. Prior to Notre Dame, Snavely was Director of Bands at the University of Mississippi for sixteen years. He is a graduate of Baylor University, Vandercook College of Music, and the University of Texas. Among his awards are the Leadership and Achievment Award from the Texas Music Educator’s Association and the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Music Department at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Snavely retired from Notre Dame in May of 2000. Dr. Snavely and his wife Becky currently reside in Florida.

Professor Phillips served as Associate Director of Bands for 33 years, beginning in 1965, but his tenure spans approximately 43 years, entering Notre Dame as a freshman in 1955. Phillips earned both graduate and undergraduate degrees in Music from the University of Notre Dame. As Associate Director, he was responsible for designing all of the marching drills for the Band of the Fighting Irish. Phillips received the Adam P. Lesinsky Award from the National Catholic Bandmaster’s Association. After retiring from Notre Dame, Mr. Phillips served as the Executive Director of the Band Alumni of Notre Dame (B.A.N.D.).

James S. Phillips also served as Director of Bands during the 1986-87 season.