Greg Spangler joined the Hillcrest Concert Band as a percussionist in 2005, and after serving as assistant conductor for several years, succeeded Paul Lawrence as Music Director in 2021.
Originally from Pittsburgh PA, Greg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University. He is retired after a 30-year career in retail, banking, and consulting.
Greg is a member of the Cleveland Philharmonic, Suburban Symphony, Heights Chamber Orchestra, Deutscher Music Verein, and Youngstown Saxon Band. He has also performed with the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra, Euclid Symphony, Lakeland Civic Orchestra, University Heights Symphonic Band, Medina Community Band and many other local community groups.
Greg plays professionally with the Diamond Project, a 10-piece Neil Diamond tribute band, and Take Me Back, an 8-piece Chicago tribute band. He is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity.
A Cleveland area resident since 1991, Greg and his wife, Anna reside in the Tremont section of Cleveland in the former Cleveland Fire Station No. 8.

Paul Lawrence joined the Hillcrest Concert Band in 1980 as a percussionist. He became the band’s music director and conductor in 1986, a post he held until 2021 when he was designated Director Emeritus of the Hillcrest Concert Band.
Mr. Lawrence holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Baldwin Wallace College and a Master’s degree in Instrumental Music from The Ohio State University. He has studied with Charles Wilcoxon, an international drum authority, and Cloyd Duff, former tympanist with the Cleveland Orchestra.
Mr. Lawrence began his teaching career as Director of Music in the Danbury Township Schools in Lakeside OH. He retired from the Bedford City Schools where he taught all levels of instrumental music, music theory and music appreciation. He has had several articles published in the Instrumentalist magazine. In 2009, he was named Educator of the Year by Baldwin-Wallace College
Mr. Lawrence was the long-time Music Director of the Al Koran Shrine Bands, and he still directs and plays with the Scimitars Swing Band. He is also the leader and drummer for the Clansmen II, a professional quintet specializing in Scottish and Irish music. He is a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity.