String Band Sessions

Host Jim Donio's next stop on the String Band Sessions roadshow is a visit with the Avalon String Band. He speaks with Music Director Joe Urzillo, Presentation Director Jeff Crompton, and Captain Bobby Gagliardi about their bakery production "Confection Perfection." All of our favorite cakes, pies, cookies, donuts, cupcakes, and more are brought to delicious life...with genre-bending melodies and...

Host Jim Donio is on the road again with String Band Sessions at the Hegeman String Band to get a glimpse into their 2026 theme "Viva Las Hegeman." Captain Kelliann Gallagher and President Ryan Echols let us in on what we can expect to see and hear as they show us how much fun a trip to Vegas can be from casinos, showgirls, magicians, and more with classic Vegas tunes blended with contemporary pop...

Host Jim Donio is taking the String Band Sessions show on the road as he visits all 14 bands in the next three weeks to get a backstage preview of their productions for New Year's Day 2026. First up is the Aqua String Band with their theme "Shamrock Shenanigans," a whimsical celebration of all things Irish. Jim chats with Music Director Andrew Maminski, Presentation Director Ed Maminski, and Capta...

Our final guest in the "Moms of Mums" series, where Jim Donio chats with the mothers of String Band captains, is Colleen Kudrick, whose son Jake is Captain of the Duffy String Band. Among the String Bands, Colleen is the only mother who is also a musician marching behind her son as Captain. Colleen shares the heartbreaking, and ultimately heartwarming, story of the sudden loss of her husband, Duff...

Our next guest in our new "Moms of Mums" series, where Jim Donio chats with the mothers of String Band captains, is Paula Tilley whose son Austin is Captain of the Aqua String Band. Paula was actually the inspiration for this series after she posted photos of Austin on Facebook with the caption..."I just love watching you do what you love!" Of course, we had to explore how much a mother's support...

Our next String Band Sessions podcast series is entitled "Moms of Mums," where Jim Donio will be chatting with the mothers of string band captains. The love, support and pride that mothers give to their families is like no other. When it comes to the Mummers, you may find a mom who enthusiastically cheers from the sidelines or at home, takes care of everyone with food and drink, pushes props as a...

Episode 14 of String Band Sessions podcast is a Special Episode that answers the question..."How Are the String Bands Judged?" Host Jim Donio speaks with Judging Committee Chairman Louis Speziale, who delivers a master class in the current judging process, as well as reliving his experience in real-time following the 2025 Parade that resulted in an unprecedented tie for 1st Prize between the Quake...

Episode 13 of String Band Sessions podcast continues our series "Putting It Together" as host Jim Donio chats with experts about how they contribute their unique talents to help the bands complete their productions. In this episode, masterful arranger John Wernega shares his musical journey as a veritable "one man band." We learn about his early string band career as a member of the Broomall Strin...

Episode 12 of String Band Sessions podcast continues our new series "Putting It Together" as host Jim Donio chats with experts about how they contribute their unique talents to help the bands complete their productions. In this episode, costume and set designer David Rigler shares his professional background and experience bringing his visions to life for many Mummers groups. We get to see glimpse...

Episode 11 of String Band Sessions podcast begins our new series "Putting It Together" as host Jim Donio will chat with experts from make-up & masks, costume & set design, music arranging, and costuming about how they contribute their unique talents to help the bands complete their productions. In this episode, make-up and mask maestro Jim LoSasso shares his 40+ year journey of literally c...

In Episode 10 of our String Band Sessions podcast, Jim Donio brings us interviews and highlights from the New Year's in North Wildwood Parade on September 6. He chats with fans, a member of Durning String Band, iconic costumer James May, and young future Mummer Jaxon McKelvie, whose dad Ryan is a member of the South Philadelphia String Band. We end with the Fralinger String Band playing their 1984...

This is the last episode our "Concept to Creation” series. Jim Donio discusses band background and history and plans for 2026 with South Philadelphia String Band Presentation Director and Theme Chairman Jim Browne, and Theme Co-Chairman Jay Nestor, who give us a preview of their Aladdin spinoff “Cave of Wonders” and Joseph A. Ferko String Band Music Director Matt Gibson, and Theme Coordinator Just...

This episode of the String Band Sessions podcast continues our "Concept to Creation” series. Jim Donio speaks with Durning String Band Vice President & Theme Chairman Gary Pisarek and Presentation Director Steve Palys about their version of a Beauty & the Beast “Be Our Guest” theme; and with 2025 co-reigning champion Quaker City String Band Executive Vice President and Theme Chairman Chris...

This episode of the String Band Sessions podcast continues our "Concept to Creation” series. Jim Donio speaks with Polish-American String Band Captain Nick Magenta and his brother Tim (who designed the costumes) about their lumberjack theme; and with Fralinger String Band Music Director Dave Zagorski and Presentation Director Bob Thiel about their undersea production. Check out our previous episod...

This episode of the String Band Sessions podcast continues our "Concept to Creation” series. Jim Donio speaks with Uptown String Band’s President Thor McLaughlin about their history and their upcoming Hollywood production; and with Jersey String Band brothers, Captain Pat Walton and Alex Walton, about their history and their upcoming 1950s theme. Check out our previous episodes and watch for new e...

This episode of the String Band Sessions podcast continues our "Concept to Creation” series. Jim Donio speaks with Greater Kensington String Band’s President Mike Kavchok, and Drill Master Matt Krohn, about their jungle presentation; and Woodland String Band’s Musical Director AJ Ford, III about their 100th Anniversary New Orleans Mardi Gras production. Check out our previous episodes and watch fo...

This episode of the String Band Sessions podcast is the next in our series "Concept to Creation” where host Jim Donio chats with band leaders to discover how they are bringing their themes for the 2026 Mummers Parade to life. This week we meet Hegeman String Band Captain Kelliann Gallagher and President Ryan Echols to hear about their Las Vegas casino theme; and Avalon String Band’s Theme Chairman...

The next episode of the String Band Sessions podcast is the first in our new series "Concept to Creation." Host Jim Donio will be interviewing representatives from all 14 String Bands to go behind-the-scenes and get a preview of their progress on planning and developing their concepts for the 2026 Mummers Parade. This week we chat with Duffy String Band Captain Jake Kudrick about their music store...

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Association’s new “String Band Sessions” Podcast. Our host Jim Donio, who will be returning to the broadcast booth for the 2026 Mummers Parade, spent the day at last Saturday’s Luau Palooza at Seaport Pier in North Wildwood interviewing band captains, members, fans, friends, and family for this special episode. Upcoming episodes this Summer will preview bands’ behind-th...

Welcome to the debut episode of String Band Sessions, the official podcast of the Philadelphia Mummers String Band tradition! 🎭🎷We’re kicking things off with a major announcement: Jim Donio is returning to the broadcast booth as a color commentator for the 2026 Mummers Parade, marking the historic 125th anniversary of the parade — and the 250th anniversary of the nation. Jim brings a rare, all-e...