Program Coordinator - Jay Kennedy  Jay Kennedy is currently the Program Coordinator as well as Boston’s Brass Arranger, and has been involved with the Boston Crusaders' design team since 2002.  He works at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he holds the position of Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.  His compositions and arrangements have been heard in a broad array of media and venues, including television and radio throughout the world, high school and college concert halls, drum and bugle corps competitions, Radio City Music Hall, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, the Playboy Jazz Festival, the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl, and Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV.

Jay has composed and arranged music for a variety of genre including television and radio commercials, episodic television, the movies Wayne's World, Electric Horseman, and Fast Break, jazz ensembles, concert bands, marching bands and musical theater.  He has written and produced music for hundreds of commercials including Pontiac, McDonald's, Levi's, Coca Cola and Nike.  His published compositions include concert band works -- The Path Between the Mountains (Hal Leonard Publishing), Heartland (Arrangers Publishing Co.) and Scottish Fantasy (TRN Publishing) -- and works for percussion ensemble -- Odyssey - Concerto for Multiple Percussion and Percussion Ensemble and Three Sketches for Percussion (both published by Innovative Percussion).

As an active adjudicator of marching band and drum corps competitions for more than 25 years, Jay has judged 13 Drum Corps International World Championship contests and numerous state marching band competitions in 44 states, four Canadian Provinces and England.  For five years he was Judge Administrator for Drum Corps International.  He has been an instructor in the UCLA Extension Program, percussionist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, and Assistant Director of the Marching Band at Northwestern University.

Jay received a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from Boston College, as well as Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University.

Brian Murphy will be returning to the Crusaders in 2008 to fill the role of Visual Coordinator as well as being the corps’ Visual Designer.  Brian was last with the corps during the 2000-2002 seasons where he simultaneously held the roles of Color Guard Caption Head and Visual Designer and was instrumental in the highly successful programs of that time.  Brian is no stranger to the visual world.  He was the designer for St. Ann’s Color Guard, which garnered 10 WGI medals during his tenure.  He has gone on to design for numerous high school and independent organizations in addition to being an adjudicator for WGI.  Brian currently works for IBM where he holds the position of Program Manager.

Matt Winans joins the Boston Crusaders team as Color Guard Caption Head and Designer.  Matt was born in raised in the small town of Medina, NY. After graduation he attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Brockport in Rochester, NY where he earned two bachelors degrees in Communications and Dance. Soon after, he moved to Florida where he joined the Staff of the Flanagan Colorguard team.  Matt is currently a 9th Grade Occupational Research Teacher at Flanagan as well.
Teaching guard is in Matt's blood--his mother, Clara Lake, marched and taught colorguard for 25 years at Medina High school. Matt was a member of the Medina High School Winterguard and Marching Band as well as being the drum major. Other marching experiences include the Empire Statesmen Senior Drum Corps, the Rochester Patriots Independent World Guard, and most recently, The Cadets. He has also taught many groups throughout the east coast including: Eastridge High School (Director 2002-2005), The Cadets (2005-2007), Empire Statesmen, Orchard Park High School, East Syracuse Minoa High School, Medina High School, Pheonix High School, Cypress Bay High School, Western High School and Cooper City color guards. He looks forward to joining the Boston Crusaders Drum Corps and hopes to be a part of the program for years to come.

Rich Viano has been writing the percussion book for the Crusaders since 2001, and returns for his 8th year.  Rich is the Manager of the Express Music Publishing Percussion Division, as well as the leader of the Village Beatniks at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, FL. Previously, Rich was a member of Future Corps at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center for eight years.

Rich did his undergraduate studies at Morehead State University in Kentucky and Rollins College in Florida. While Rich was there, MSU was crowned the 1989 Percussive Arts Society's National College Indoor Champions, including Best Snare Line, Tenor Line and Pit. Rich was also the 1989 PAS Individual Snare Drum Champion. In that same year he was named the Drum Corps Midwest and Drum Corps International Individual Snare Drum Champion. He marched five seasons with Suncoast Sound, and ended his marching career with Star of Indiana in 1989. He was an instructor with Magic of Orlando in 1990. Most recently, Rich has been the Percussion Coordinator and arranger with Cypress Creek High School for 7 seasons.

Rich enjoys a wide variety of musical experiences. He began the new millennium in the role of Assistant Musical Producer and Percussion Arranger/Choreographer for the Superbowl XXXIV Halftime Show. He was also the Percussion Consultant and Arranger/Choreographer for Walt Disney World's Tapestry of Nations. Rich has worked with numerous recording artists, including Phil Collins, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, and Enrique Iglesias.

Originally from New Hampshire, Rich currently resides with his family in Orlando, Florida. Email him at rviano@cfl.rr.com.

Jerry Carpenter is the Front Ensemble arranger and instructor with the Boston Crusaders in 2002. He previously worked with the corps in 1991. He has also been an instructor and arranger with the Colts, Magic of Orlando, and the Florida Wave.

Jerry holds a degree in Music Education from Tennessee Tech University, and did graduate work in percussion at the University of Iowa. He is an arranger for many band programs around the country, and an active adjudicator as well.

Jerry enjoys both orchestral percussion and jazz. He was Assistant Principal of Percussion in the Knoxville Symphony from 1983 to 1991, and has performed in many regional orchestras and ensembles in the southeast. As a jazz pianist, Jerry has played Carnegie Hall as well as the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He has also appeared on “CBS Sunday Morning” with Charles Kuralt in performance with the legendary drummer Louie Balloon.

Jerry lives in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Email him at jcpercussion@yahoo.com.

Wayne Dillon will return as Brass Caption Head for his second year with the Boston Crusaders. Wayne holds a Masters degree in jazz performance from the University of Miami (FL). He is currently the Director of Bands at the Upper Academy HS in Elizabeth NJ. Wayne is a former member of the Cadets brass staff, and served as the Brass Caption Head in 2002. Wayne also served as the Program Coordinator with the Capital Regiment drum and bugle corps. He has been a DCI adjudicator for twelve years, judging the finals twice. Wayne is currently a music judge for Bands of America, and will be judging the BOA Grand Nationals finals in Indianapolis in Nov. Wayne has also served as a music clinician in Canada, Europe and Japan. He has worked as a performing artist with Weril musical instruments. Wayne lives near Allentown PA with his wife Colleen, and their three children Shayna, Spencer and Lauren.

Frank Williams

Bands directed by Mr. Williams have consistently received "Superior" ratings and many honors and awards throughout his 31 year teaching career. Numerous students have received music scholarships and are involved in professional music and/or music education. Mr. Williams has served as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician for many high school ensembles throughout his teaching career and has also directed many all-county & honors ensembles in Florida and in the northeast. His jazz ensembles at Boca Ciega High School have received "Superior Ratings" at BF District and State Band Festivals for the past eighteen years, and also won the "Gold Status" award (1st place) at JazzFest USA sponsored by Downbeat Magazine. His jazz charts are published by FJH Music. Brass lines of the Suncoast Sound Drum & Bugle Corps consistently received praise from colleagues, judges and fans. The 1986 Suncoast Sound Brass line won the highest score in individual Brass performance ever achieved at the Drum Corps International Championship. Mr. Williams is the former Brass consultant and instructor for the Cadets of Bergen County, Hackensack, New Jersey. The Cadets won the Drum Corps International Championships in 1990 and again in 1993. Mr. Williams served as the music director and consultant for the All Asia Summer Honors Marching Band in Taiwan in 1995 and served as clinician and adjudicator for the South African Field Band Championships in October of 2001.
Frank is pleased to be back with the Crusaders brass section this year.

Jeremy Hackworth - Brass Instructor - Jeremy looks forward to joining the 2008 Boston Crusaders brass staff.  He is currently the Director of Bands at Indio High School in Indio, California where he conducts the Pride of the Desert Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Winter Drumline and instructs Piano courses as well as Music History & Theory.

Mr. Hackworth’s Wind Ensemble is known throughout Southern California as one of the elite. Under his direction, the Wind Ensemble has competed at state regionals every year, receiving Superior and Unanimous Superiors ratings. The Wind Ensemble is also known nationally with performances in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.

Prior to teaching at Indio High School, Jeremy received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Bowling Green State University.  He studied conducting with Dr. Bruce Moss and Dr. Emily Freeman Brown, trombone with Dr. Paul Hunt and Dr. William Mathis, and was also part of the BGSU Philharmonic, Wind Ensemble, Trombone Choir, and the Falcon Marching Band.

Jeremy has been involved in the drum corps activity since 1994.  He is a former member of the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps (94-97) and the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps (98-99), marching baritone all 6 years.  He served on the visual and brass staff with the Pioneer Drum & bugle Corps (00-01) and also volunteered time with Impulse in 2002.   He is also a consultant, music arranger, and drill designer for numerous bands in Southern California and Nevada.  You may email Jeremy at jeremy.hackworth@dsusd.us

Chad Pence is currently the associate band director at Fort Mill High School in Fort Mill South Carolina.  Prior to Fort Mill, he was an assistant band director at James F. Byrnes High School in South Carolina and Lost Mountain Middle School in Cobb County Georgia.

The Fort Mill High School Marching Band has been the South Carolina AAAA State Champion for the past three years.  The band has also been a BOA Grand National semi-finalist two of the last three years. 

Chad received his undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.  He performed with the wind ensemble as well as numerous brass ensembles including The Lexington Brass Band.  The Lexington Brass Band performed at the 1997 Midwest Clinic.  While at UK, Chad studied tuba with Dr. Skip Gray. 

Mr. Pence has been involved in the drum and bugle corps activity since 1993.    He marched with Star of Indiana in 1993 and in 1994 was a member of Brass Theatre.  In 1998 he aged out with The Cadets.  Since 1999 he has been a brass instructor with Carolina Crown and Magic of Orlando.  In 2004 he was the brass caption head for Capital Regiment as they completed their most successful season in DCI Division I competition.  Chad has also been a member of The Cadets brass staff for two of its World Championship seasons (2000 & 2005).  Mr. Pence is a member of MENC and SCBDA.

Dennis Laorenza

Dr. Jason Rinehart is the Assistant Director of Bands/Director of Orchestras at the University of Louisiana at Monroe where he directs the Sound of Today marching band, the Technical Fowls basketball band, the Symphonic Band and the Orchestra.  He has previously taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Benedictine College, and St. Louis Community College. Jason has degrees from Texas Tech University, Southern Methodist University, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Jason has studied conducting with David Effron and Gunther Schuller, as well as James Sudduth, Jack Delaney, Paul Phillips and Robert Olson.  His conducting experience includes the Atchison Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, Fountain City and St. Louis Brass Bands, numerous collegiate orchestras and wind ensembles, and over thirty main stage operas and musicals.

As the Principal Conductor for the Fountain City Brass Band, Jason took them to their first competitions at the U.S. Open and the North American Brass Band Championships.  They consistently placed in the top 3 at both events.  At the U.S. Open, the FCBB was awarded the “Most Entertaining Band” in 2005 and 2006.

Committed to education Jason has worked with the Kansas City Youth Wind Ensemble, the Dallas Youth Wind Ensemble, Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, Brickworks Theater Company the University of Dallas and he is currently the Music Director and Conductor for the Monroe Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Jason has been involved with the drum and bugle corps activity since 1992 as both a marching member and an instructor.  Jason’s drum corps experience includes marching mellophone with the Sky Ryders (1992 & 1993) and Phantom Regiment (1995). He was a brass instructor, caption head and arranger for the Pioneer from 1996-2001, and was on the brass staff at Capital Regiment from 2002-2006.

Mickey Stisher

Chris Moss

Matt Winans

Paulo J. Tavares was born in Brazil raised in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale and is now a resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Where he works and studies the art of energy and movement with Santa Fe’s own world class contemporary dance company, Moving People Dance Santa Fe. Paulo T. began his study of the arts at a young age as a brass instrumentalist. Then began traveling the country performing with Drum and Bugle Corps - The Cadets for four seasons (03' - 06') in their colorguard’s weapon line. In the winter time he also performed with Miami’s own, Braddock Ind. (03' & 04').

While living in Santa Fe, Paulo is a photographer creating fine-art and realism photography; he’s also a specialist in capturing dance at it’s highest energy point. He’s photographed dancers from Martha Graham Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Moving People Dance Santa Fe, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, American Ballet Theatre: ABT, Juilliard and Lehrer Dance.

Paulo is ready to make this season at Boston an unforgettable experience.

Kimberly Bolduc – Color Guard Technician -- Kim was born and raised in Danvers, MA. She marched with St. John’s of Beverly Winter Guard from 1992-2003 and 2005 and was captain for 7 of those years. Kim was also a member of her high school’s fall guard for 3 years and was captain her junior year. Kim started marching in drum corps with the Citations in 1999 and continued with the Spartans from 2000-2002 and The Cadets from 2003 through her age out in 2005. She had the honor of being Cadets Color Guard co-captain her final year. Kim’s last season marching was with The Pride of Cincinnati winter guard in 2006.

Kim has been so lucky to work with some amazing kids and incredible staff members. She has worked with St. John’s of Beverly, MA, Cheshire High School, CT, East Haven High School, CT, Salem High School, MA, Malden High School, MA, Danvers High School, MA, Greenfield Central High School, IN, and finally Carmel High School, IN.

Kim spent the last two summers working with Fred J. Miller Inc. as a summer clinician. She had the opportunity to work with hundreds of students in clinics around the country.

Kim currently lives in Indianapolis where she is a full time student at IUPUI. She plans on majoring in Tourism, Convention, and Event Management. This will be her second year teaching at Carmel High School and her first year with the new Carmel JV Color Guard which she helped to start and now runs. Kim is thrilled to join the Boston Crusaders team in 2008 and is looking forward to a fun and exciting summer.

Omar Carmenates, the Percussion Caption Head for the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Central Florida, a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Florida State University. He has studied with Dr. John Parks, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Ed Soph, Ed Smith, Paul Rennick, Dr. Robert Schietroma, and Jeffrey Moore.

Before becoming the Percussion Caption Head for the Crusaders. Omar served as the tenor technician for the corps for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. In addition to his work with the Crusaders, Omar’s teaching and writing credits include arrangements and original works for groups such as Infinity Indoor Percussion, Paradox Percussion Theater, the Florida State University Marching Chiefs “Big 8” drum line, and numerous other high school programs across the United States. As an adjudicator/clinician, Omar has also appeared at various festivals and Percussive Arts Society Days of Percussion throughout the Southeast. Omar is a proud endorser/clinician for Vic Firth, Inc. Remo Drumheads, and Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments.

As a freelance musician, Omar is a versatile performer, having played in many groups in various genres. He is a percussionist with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and was a utility percussionist for the Las Colinas and Garland Symphony Orchestras. In addition, he has been a featured performer with the Monroe Symphony Orchestra as a member of Bravura Percussion Trio, a Texas-based group that has performed and/or given clinics at universities and other venues throughout the United States. For five years, Omar was a musician at Walt Disney World holding positions such as a regular percussionist with the "Village Beatniks" (a five-piece world percussion ensemble from Disney's Animal Kingdom) and as a "millenium drummer" in EPCOT's "Tapestry of Nations Parade". Omar is also an active scholar having published articles in Percussive Notes and Drum Corps International, among others.

He resides in Tallahassee, FL with his wife Nicole and their two basset hounds, Ripley and Maggie.

Dennis Carty is extremely happy to be a part of the Boston Crusaders for the 2008 season. Dennis is currently the Assistant Director of Percussion Studies at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. Dennis is responsible for the Junior Varsity and Varsity drumlines as well as Creative Partner for the Warrior Marching Band. In addition to his duties at the high school, Dennis maintains a private lesson studio for the Martin cluster of schools. Prior to Martin High School, Dennis was the Assistant Director of Percussion Studies at Trinity High School in Euless, Texas.

Some recent teaching experiences include the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Marching Band where he arranged for the marching band show and for the bands appearance in the 2005 Thanksgiving Macy's Day Parade in New York, New York. Coinciding with the University of Louisiana Dennis also directed the Percussion Studies at St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Dennis has extensive experience in the drum corps activity, having performed with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps (1998), section leader of Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (1999, 2000), instructor for the DCI World Finalist Spirit of JSU Drum and Bugle Corps (2001, 2002) and DCI World Finalist Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2003 thru 2005).  Dennis has joined Paul Rennick and Marty Hurley in instructing the Phantom Regiment Snare Drum Camp since the camp's inception. He also enjoys an active schedule as clinician, arranger, composer throughout the United States.

Some of Dennis' performing experiences include performing in "Rhythm of the Night", a casino show in Gold Coast, Australia; Stickworks and Blue Devils Entertainment which also perform at conventions around the United States; Dallas Mavericks Drumline and a number of ensembles for Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas Christian University.

Dennis currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his is beautiful Fiancé Alicia Welch, dog and cat – Casey and Taiko.

Brian Lange - Tenor Technician - Brian marched in the tenor line at Boston from 2003-2006 acting as tenor section leader for the 05 and 06 seasons.  He is extremely excited to begin his first full season as tenor tech after consulting with the corps for the 2007 season.
Brian spent 2 years at the University of Akron in the Percussion Studies program before transferring to the University of Miami where he is currently in the last year of undergraduate studies in Jazz Performance and Studio Music. Brian is currently the Director of Percussion at Miami Killian High School and teaches privately in the greater Miami area. He has worked with numerous high school and independent groups such as Goshen High School, Wawasee High School, Penn High School, Paradox Percussion Theater, and Plan B Winter Drumline.
Brian often works as a freelance Drummer/Percussionist in a wide variety of settings and styles. He plays in several local area bands as well as several school ensembles including the Studio Jazz Band and the Latin Jazz Ensemble.

Chauncey Holder returns to the Boston Crusaders in 2008 for his third year, this time to assist the bass drums throughout the winter and early summer. He is no stranger to the Boston Crusaders and bass drums, marching in 2000 and 2001 where he played second bass, and teaching the Auburn University bass line in 2003.  He has also written a comprehensive guide to bass drumming published in the December 2005 edition of Percussive Notes.

Chauncey holds degrees in Business Administration and Psychology from Auburn University in addition to an MBA with a focus in Marketing Research from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Currently, Chauncey is a Consumer Insights Specialist with McKinsey & Company.
In addition to teaching and working, Chauncey enjoys cooking, following politics, and spending time with his wife Sarah, whom he met in 2000 when she marched in the Boston Crusaders color guard.

Chauncey can be reached via e-mail at chaunceyholder@yahoo.com

Thad Anderson - Front Ensemble - Thad currently presides over the Percussion Studies program at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX.  These duties include applied percussion lessons, the percussion methods course, and directing the Southwestern Percussion Group.  He also currently has teaching responsibilities at the University of Texas at Austin campus where he directs and arranges for the storied Longhorn Band Drumline while he completes his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree.
 
Thad maintains a busy performing schedule around the greater-Central Texas community.  This includes recent performances with the Austin and Waco Symphony Orchestras, as guest soloist with Conspirare, and as timpanist with the Victoria Bach Festival orchestra.  With a strong interest in contemporary American art music, Thad has had the privilege of working with prominent American composers such as George Crumb, John Corigliano, and Joan Tower.  He has also been active in the commissioning of new percussion music and has been a part of premiers by Jonathan Kolm, Dan Welcher, John Corigliano, and Thom Hasenpflug.  He is particularly known for his arrangements and adaptations for solo percussion, percussion ensemble, and steel pan ensemble music.  Universal Editions and Santa Barbara Music are currently publishing some of these projects.
 
Additionally, Thad is highly active in the Percussive Arts Society community where he has served as chair of the Collegiate Committee and as a representative on the Board of Directors.  Thad completed his undergraduate work in Music Education at the University of Central Florida where he studied percussion with Professor Jeffrey M. Moore and composition with Dr. Stella Sung.  He received a Masters of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Texas at Austin under Dr. Thomas Burritt.  Thad is a proud member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society.

Andrew Beall - In April 2004, in New York City, composer/percussionist Andrew Beall performed the world premiere of his Testament: Symphony for Marimba and Orchestra with the Tower Philharmonic.  An hour long, four-movement work, this piece marks as the first marimba symphony in history ever to be composed or performed.  Since the premiere, he has reduced the opus to a shorter, three-movement Concerto, which had its world premiere with the Aspen Philharmonic in the summer of ‘06.  The most recent performance was during PASIC ’07 with the Columbus Philharmonic.

A multi-faceted performer and educator, Mr. Beall sustains balance between the Symphonic, Broadway, and Marching arenas.  As a freelance percussionist, Mr. Beall performs on Broadway in The Lion King and Les Miserables, as well as at Carnegie Hall with the Manhattan Pops Orchestra and the New England Symphonic Ensemble.  He has performed in various other productions such as the world premieres of the off-Broadway musical Ophelia and Scott Eyerly’s opera, The House of Seven Gables.  Mr. Beall has appeared as a soloist around the world, including 14 recitals and 6 concerto performances.  In 2001, he won the D.C.I. Solo Marimba Competition, D.C.I. Percussion Ensemble Competition, and the P.A.S.I.C. College Marimba Competition.  He has placed 1st in concerto competitions at The Ohio State University and New York University, and 2nd at the MTNA National Young Artist Performer’s Competition.  Mr. Beall spent a year as a cast member and snare drum soloist in the Australian stage spectacular, Rhythm of the Night.  He performs regularly with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and American Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the American Brass Quintet, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Percussion Ensemble, Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Garden State Philharmonic, Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, Harmonie Symphony Orchestra, Gotham City Orchestra, and served as Principal Timpanist at the Conductor’s Institute at Bard.  Mr. Beall was recently appointed Principal Timpanist/Percussionist with the Erato Chamber Orchestra of Chicago.  Currently, he tours as drummer for the New York-based rock quintet, Cordis.

As a composer, Mr. Beall’s works have been performed at the top conservatories, universities, and music festivals around the world.  As a guest artist, he has presented concerts and workshops across the country, and as a clinician he was featured at the 2005 P.A.S. Ohio Day of Percussion.  In the field of marching percussion, he has taught drum and bugle corps such as the Santa Clara Vanguard, Carolina Crown, (arranging the 2003 winning D.C.I. Percussion Ensemble), and is pleased to join the staff at Boston Crusaders.  Mr. Beall has also written and designed indoor percussion shows for such as Odyssey Percussion Theater, Surround Sound, and Mt. Juliet High School.  In addition to freelance work this fall, he has begun composition on his Op. 5, conceived as a concerto for percussion and orchestra, slated to have its premiere in June ‘08 at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City.  Upcoming performances/clinics also include the 2008 P.A.S. Louisiana Day of Percussion and the Martin High School Day of Percussion, both of which are featuring a portrait of his compositions.  Mr. Beall received his B.M. from the Manhattan School of Music, his M.A. from New York University, and was a Charles Owen Memorial Fellowship winner at the Aspen Music Festival.  His debut studio CD, Deliverance, was released on BMP Records and features four of his latest percussion chamber pieces.  He is the founder/owner of Bachovich Music Publications, Beall Percussion Specialties, and is an endorsing artist of Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drum Corporation, and Evans Drumheads.  For more information, please visit www.andrewbeall.com.

Colin Choat - Bass Drums - Returning to the Crusaders for his first year as a member of the percussion staff, Colin will be taking on the responsibilities of full-time bass drum technician for the summer.  He is thrilled to be part of the team for the 2008 season. 

Colin was fortunate enough to enjoy a lengthy drum corps career, spending his final two summers of eligibility as a member of the Boston Crusaders bass line.  In addition to marching drum corps, he is also a member of the six-time world champion WGI drumline, Music City Mystique.  Colin is currently pursuing a degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Alabama where he is in his final year of study.  At the university, he holds the position of Principle Percussionist for the Wind Ensemble, and also performs frequently with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra, the University Symphonic Band, and Percussion Ensemble.  Colin’s teaching experience includes the University of Alabama drumline, Brookwood Indoor Drumline, and the Hoover High School drumline.

Megan Arns - Megan is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in percussion performance at the Florida State University, where she studies with Dr. John W. Parks, IV.  Her teaching assistant duties at FSU entail teaching undergraduate percussion lessons and percussion ensemble conducting/rehearsal coordinator.  Megan completed her Bachelor’s degree in percussion performance at Truman State University as a student of Dr. Michael Bump.

Megan’s drum corps experience has included performing in the front ensemble of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005 and in 2006 as co-section leader.  Upon age-out at SCV, she was the recipient of the Mike Laporta Percussion Award.  She was also a member of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002 and 2004 and traveled nationally and internationally with the Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps from 1998 through 2003, serving as both fife and drum corporals. She remains active in the fife and drum activity by performing with the reenacting group 1812 Musik.

Also active in the classical and world percussion idioms, Megan performs with Florida State’s University Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble.  She is principal percussionist of Sinfonia Gulf Coast and also performs with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and the Macon Symphony Orchestra as an extra percussionist.  In the summer of 2007, Megan was awarded a research grant to travel to Ghana, West Africa, where she studied the dancing and drumming of the Ga and Ewe tribes with the U. Mass Dartmouth Kekeli African Drum and Dance Ensemble and ethnomusicologist Royal Hartigan.

 Kari White - Visual Caption Head - Kari White started marching in high school at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. While in high school, Kari was a member of the Denver Blue Knights in 1990 and the Concord Blue Devils from 1991-1993. During the 1993 and 1994 seasons, he was a member of the Arizona State Sun Devil Marching Band. Kari also marched the Blue Devils in 1995 and 1996. After aging out in 1996, Kari began his drum corps teaching experience beginning with the Glassmen from Toledo, Ohio, as a visual instructor. Kari then became a visual instructor for the Cadets of Bergen County. Kari remained there from 1998-2000. In 2001, he returned to teach the Concord Blue Devils. He instructed the Blue Devils throughout the winter season in 2002 when he was given the opportunity to be a cast member in Blast II (Shockwave) which first performed at the American Gardens Theatre, located at Epcot Center, Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida. Shortly after the show opened at Epcot, Kari was given the opportunity to become a cast member of the Emmy winning show Blast. During his time with Blast, Kari was fortunate to work with Carolina Crown for five weeks during the summer of 2003 before Blast went to perform their show in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. In 2004, Kari was given an opportunity to work with the brass section (primarily trumpets) from the Spirit of JSU. He also attended Jacksonville State University in the Fall of 2004 where he instructed the JSU Marching Southerners. In 2006, Kari was fortunate to become an instructor at the Arizona Academy of the Arts.

Kari is very excited to be part of the Boston Crusaders and looks forward to many seasons with the corps.  Kari resides in Southern Georgia where he is getting a second bachelor's degree in Music (Trumpet Performance).

Kari attributes his long and very enjoyable existence with drum and bugle corps to many people. Some of these people include Carolyn and Johnny Muchell, Georgia Bayless, Ruth Harris, Todd Ryan, Jaime Holly, Darryl Pemberton, Jeff Sacktig, Marc Sylvester, George Hopkins, Dave Gibbs, Wayne Downey, Roque Diaz, Errick Prince, Ralph Hardimon, Scott Chandler, T.J. Doucette, Ken Carlin, Mark Richardson, Donnie VanDoren, Cameron "Chip" Crotts, Ken Bodiford, Jon Vanderkoff and Shawn and Chris Reidy.  Email Kari

Luis Rivera - Luis is originally from Florida, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Central Florida, under the direction of Jeff Moore and Kirk Gay.  During his time at UCF, Luis participated in the UCF Golden Knights Marching Band, the UCF Percussion Ensemble, the UCF Black Steel Drum Ensemble, and the UCF Symphony Orchestra, where he was principal percussionist for two years.  He was also the winner of the UCF Music Department’s Performance Excellence Competition and the Presser Foundation Scholarship.  While in Florida, Luis was the percussion caption head and arranger at Lake Howell High School (2003-2007), a percussionist at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom (2003-2007), a snare drummer for the Orlando Magic Rhythm and Blue Drumline (2006-2007), and a percussionist with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra (Melbourne, FL).

Luis has been involved in the drum corps activity for the past six years.  He marched snare drum with the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002 and 2003, and also with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 – all of which he held a section leader position.  His drum corps teaching experience includes the 2005 and 2006 Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, and the 2007 and 2008 Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.

Currently, Luis is pursuing his Master’s degree in Percussion Performance at the University of South Carolina under the direction of Dr. Scott Herring.  He is a member of the USC Percussion Ensemble, the Palmetto Pans Steel Drum Ensemble, and is the principal percussionist with the USC Symphony Orchestra.  During the fall, Luis joined the Palmetto Percussion Independent Indoor Drumline, based out of Columbia, SC, as the Battery Co-Caption Head, as well as the Vic Firth Education Team.  Luis is also a graduate assistant at USC and has worked as the percussion instructor/arranger for the USC Drumline.

Carlos Vargas

Keith Bush - Keith Bush began marching at the age of 13 as a member of USSBA Champion Hanover Park High School Marching Band. He continued his marching band career as a member of the Boston College Screaming Eagle Marching Band where he was a section leader, executive board member and assistant drum major.

In 2000 Keith joined the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps as a contrabass in the Crusaders horn line. He returned the following season to age-out as the contrabass section leader.

Since then Keith has instructed many award winning programs in both the DCI and USSBA competitive circuits. As a visual technician for the East Coast Jazz Drum and Bugle Corps he was instrumental in ECJ’s capture of two DCI Division II Visual Performance Titles and the 2005 DCI Division II World Championship. After leaving East Coast in 2006, Keith was brought on as visual co-caption head of the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps where he helped them to their highest visual and overall DCI finals placement in corps history. He also spent some of the 2006 DCI season as assistant tour manager for the Boston Crusaders.

Keith holds a BS in biology from Boston College and is pursuing his master’s degrees in educational technology and educational administration at Seton Hall University. He resides in New Jersey where he is a biology and chemistry teacher as well as Assistant Marching Band Director at Parsippany High School.

Jennifer Russell -- Visual/Movement Instructor -- Jennifer is a BAC alumna having marched in the soprano line for the past three years (2005 – 2007).  She began her musical training during high school playing trumpet in the North Fort Myers Red Knight Marching Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band.  While in high school, Jennifer earned Florida Bandmasters Association superior ratings as a soloist and in ensembles and was a member of the county honors band in 2004.

As a dancer, Jennifer holds the titles of 2006 and 2007 Drum Corps International Individual and Ensemble dance division champion posting scores of 99.0 and 99.5 respectively.  She began her dance training at the age of seven at the Robin Dawn Academy of Performing Arts and has studied at several programs including the Houston Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.  To date, Jennifer has performed principal roles in over 200 Broadway performances, appeared on six nationally-aired television shows as well as off Broadway and regional theater productions, television commercials, corporate industrials and as a runway and print model for several dancewear companies. She has also been recognized nationally for her outstanding work as a dance choreographer.

Jennifer is a native Floridian and graduate of North Fort Myers High School.  She currently resides in Tampa, Florida with her cat Pixie, where she is a Senior BFA Dance Major at the University of South Florida (USF).  Jennifer is a member of the USF Sun Dolls dance team, Herd of Thunder Marching Band and is an officer of the USF chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.

Cedric Solice started his marching career at Annandale High School in the Fairfax County Public School system.  While in High School Cedric was honored to be scholarship marching member of The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Newark, Delaware in the summer of 1996, the “first” Birdland year.  While majoring in music education at Charleston Southern University, Cedric was once again honored with the privilege of serving as head Drum Major for the Charleston Southern Marching Buccaneers.  While in college, Cedric became active in the marching band adjudication process which currently has taken him across the United States to multiple locations adjudicating visual and musical captions.  Also during this time, Cedric began consulting and teaching multiple high school programs on the east coast and throughout the southern part of the United States.

Cedric’s drum corps teaching experience started with the 2000 Cadets, when his mentor and close friend Darryl Pemberton took him into the organization as an “apprentice” and provided the best on the job training imaginable for both the 2000 and 2001 seasons, one of those being a World Championship season.  Cedric was honored to join the Carolina Crown visual team in the 2002 with mentor, friend, and Visual Caption Head Don Lawrence.  His stint at the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps was brief when given the opportunity to join the visual team at the Crossmen, rejoining Darryl Pemberton once again for three exciting seasons from 2003 to 2005, becoming Visual Caption Manager in the 2005 season.  Cedric’s most recent drum Corps stop was with the Concord Blue Devils where the legendary Todd Ryan offered Cedric an opportunity to learn the “Blue Devil way”, and gain on the field experience working with and teaching their members throughout the spring training of 2006.

Cedric is looking forward to working with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, and working with long time friend and mentor in the activity Kari White.  “It is an honor to be associated with a drum corps full of such rich traditions and a unique history such as the Crusaders, and I am thankful for the opportunity to help move the Corps visual program to the next level on the ladder of excellence.”  Cedric currently attends Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music where he is working on his Masters degrees in Music Education and Instrumental Wind Conducting Performance.  Cedric also serves as a Graduate Assistant with the Syracuse University Women’s Basketball team.

Cedric attributes much of his teaching success to names mentioned above, as well as his “brother” and theme park stage show partner Kevin Mitchell, and his first marching instructor Ms. Karen Watkins.