Our Leadership
Our dedicated professional staff and student leaders are essential in providing leadership and direction for the band and positively shaping our culture and future.
Our Staff
Our dedicated band staff works tirelessly to educate students and put together a nationally recognized program that represents the school and state of Delaware with pride.
Richard Weaver
Director of Bands
Richard F. Weaver has been on the A.I. duPont faculty since 2003…but his roots grow even deeper. He is an alumnus from the class of 1998! After that, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and his Master’s Degree in Music Composition from the University of Delaware. Richard has also been a percussion instructor with the University of Delaware Drumline since 2002. In the past, Richard has instructed and arranged for several other local high school bands on both a competitive and non-competitive level.
Mr. Weaver was named the 2020 A.I. duPont High School Teacher of the Year. He then went on to be awarded the title of 2020 Red Clay Consolidated School District Teacher of the Year!
Richard has studied percussion with Harvey Price, Tom Palmer, Orlando Cotto, Jim Ancona and Tomo Azuma. He studied marching band techniques and drill design with Heidi I. Sarver. Richard also had the honor of studying music education with Paul L. Parets. His travel experiences with the A.I. duPont Band include performances in Rome, London, Ireland, Canada, Arizona (Fiesta Bowl Parade), California (Tournament of Roses Parade) and several other states. Richard believes that music should be a part of everyone’s life in one form or another. He continually tries to expose his students to new ways to enjoy, appreciate, and perform all styles of music.
Jessica Burton
Band Front Advisor
Jessica has been directing the band fronts since 2013. She is a 2009 graduate of AI and was a flute player and captain of the Silk squad during her time at AI.
Jessica has a diverse background in dance and the performing arts, beginning dance at age 3 and continuing until age 12. After a hiatus during high school, she began taking classes and performing at Elizabethtown College with their “Emotion” dance group and at basketball games and fundraising events with the Elizabethtown College Dance Team.
Upon graduating college, she began working full time as a dance and tumbling teacher. She taught ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, cheer dance, acro dance and tumbling/gymnastics. She now teaches dance classes for special needs children through New Castle County programs.
She now works full time as the Social Media Director at Epic Marketing Consultants. Make sure you follow the band on Facebook and Instagram!
Jessica is so happy to be back at her alma mater and sharing her love of band and the performing arts with all of the students who join! She hopes to inspire students to continue performing in their post high school careers.
Student Leadership
Our band is a student-led organization helping our students develop the best leadership skills possible.
Axel Rodriguez-Leon
Drum Major
Alexis I. duPont High School Band