2023 LONE STAR JUDGES

Jeff Ausdemore

Jeff Ausdemore serves as President and Co-Founder of Stryvemind.com, a revolutionary online educational platform that impacts students and educators around the world. Prior, Mr. Ausdemore was the Director of Music at Grapevine-Colleyville’s iUniversity Prep. In this expanded role, Mr. Ausdemore oversaw all music curricula, including music theory, music history, music composition/arranging, as well as applied music for all primary and secondary level students. In addition, Mr. Ausdemore created the iMusic Club, a club dedicated to enriching the lives of all students enrolled at iUniversity Prep.

Prior to this post, Mr. Ausdemore served eleven years as the Director of Percussion Studies at Colleyville Heritage High School. In this role, Mr. Ausdemore served as the percussion coordinator, head of jazz studies, and co-director/composer/arranger of the Colleyville Heritage marching band. Under Ausdemore’s direction, the Colleyville Heritage High School percussion program flourished, gaining national notoriety through chamber music, guest artist concerts of all genres, recitals, and ensemble competitions. The percussion program has enjoyed competitive success at many levels, including the 2013 and 2014 gold medal for the North Texas Color Guard Association, as well as capturing the 2008 Percussive Arts Society Marching Percussion title. Other accolades include the Percussive Arts Society’s “Call for Tapes” winners, the Percussive Arts Society’s Small Ensemble Champions, the Plano Drum Line Competition marching percussion champions, as well as the Lone Star Drum Line Competition champions.

In Mr. Ausdemore’s first year at CHHS, he launched the GCISD Percussion Club, expanding the students’ musical education and enriching the lives of GCISD middle and high school percussion students throughout the district. The GCISD Percussion Club presented master classes, clinics, solo and ensemble performances by local and regional professionals throughout the north Texas area. The GCISD Percussion Club has produced a record amount of students selected for the GCISD “Select Band”, the Region 24 “All-region Band”, the Region 24 “All Region Jazz Band”, and the Texas “All-State Band”. CHHS is proud to have produced several percussion students who have earned the national title for the Percussive Arts Society’s solo champion on several different percussion instruments as well.

In addition to his teaching duties at Colleyville Heritage High School, Mr. Ausdemore served as the percussion arranger and caption head for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 through 2010. During Ausdemore’s tenure at the Blue Knights, the percussion program produced several individual solo championships, ensemble championships, and a strong reputation for excellence, placing in the elite “top 12” in the Drum Corps International Championships consistently.

Adam Bruce

Adam Bruce is an active composer, clinician, and performer residing in the greater Tulsa area (OK). His compositions and arrangements, published by C. Alan Publications and Tapspace Publications, have been performed at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, Bands of America Grand National Finals, the MACY’S Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC).

Adam was the director of percussion for Union Public Schools (2014-2022) where his teaching and arrangements helped to lead the marching band and indoor drumline to multiple BOA Grand Nationals and multiple WGI World Championships finals appearances. Previously, Adam was the percussion specialist at Western Heights Public Schools and Casady School, both in Oklahoma City. He has taught, presented, and performed at numerous conventions and camps including the OkMEA Conference, Music for All Summer Symposium, National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy (NCPP), and the Yamaha Sounds of Summer.

As a performer, Adam has played with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, and the Tulsa Signature Symphony as well as the Colts, Bluecoats, and Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. Adam taught on the DCI and WGI instructional staffs of The Cavaliers (winners of the 2011 Fred Sanford High Percussion Award), Spirit of Atlanta, Crossmen, Memphis Sound, and Gateway Indoor. Prior to his involvement in drum corps, Adam was a student at the Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar.

Adam has a master’s degree in Percussion Performance from Oklahoma City University and a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Christian University in Instrumental Music Education. He works for the Palen Music Center in Broken Arrow, OK as the store manager where “…it’s about the kids” and is proud to be endorsed as an educational artist with Innovative Percussion, a Marching Artist with REMO Inc., and a Sabian Educational Artist. Adam serves as the Vice President of the Oklahoma chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and is a member of ASCAP. Adam lives in Jenks, Oklahoma with his wonderful wife and daughters.

Martin Griffin

Martin Griffin has been a Band Director in New Jersey for 32 years, and he is currently the Director of Bands and Coordinator of Fine Arts at Monroe Township High School. His responsibilities include directing the Marching Band (17 years), Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble as well as teaching AP Music Theory. The MTHS Marching Band was crowned New Jersey State and National Champions in 2013, and they were selected to represent New Jersey at the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor in 2016. In addition, the MTHS Wind Ensemble has received multiple Gold and Superior ratings, and they have been selected to perform at Carnegie Hall and the NJ Performing Arts Center.

Griffin performed for five seasons with the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps. He has been a percussion arranger for high school bands throughout New Jersey since 1987, including J.P. Stevens High School, a multiple Bands of America regional finalist. Griffin currently judges for numerous organizations including Bands of America, Drum Corps International, and Winter Guard International. In 2006, Griffin was selected to judge for the Drum Corps Japan Championships held in Yokohama, Japan. He is currently the Percussion Caption Head for Drum Corps Associates as well as the judging coordinator for The Mid Atlantic Percussion Society. Griffin has served on the Winter Guard International Percussion Advisory Board and was on the staff for the Bands of America Honor Band that marched in the Rose Parade® on New Year’s Day 2022. Griffin received his bachelor’s degree in music from William Paterson University, where he performed with the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble and the New Jersey New Music Ensemble. Griffin also has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Kean University.

Ben Maughmer

Ben Maughmer is in his twelfth year as associate director of bands at L.D. Bell high school. His duties include teaching percussion and wind band at the high school and teaching beginner classes on both Bedford, and Hurst junior high campuses.

Ben worked for seventeen years teaching in the Birdville Independent School District, the last 11 years of which were Associate Director of Bands at Haltom High School, located in the Dallas – Fort Worth area. Under his direction the Haltom High School Percussion Ensemble won the 2004 Percussive Arts Society International call for tapes contest and performed a showcase concert at the 2004 PASIC convention in Nashville Tennessee. In 2019 the L.D Bell chamber percussion ensemble won 1st place in the PAS chamber ensemble contest held at PASIC.

As a performer and instructor Ben has accumulated thirty-five years of drum corps experience, ten DCI world championships, and four Fred Sanford high percussion titles. Ben is in his sixteenth year teaching the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, where he coordinates the music ensemble for the corps and assists with the instruction of the percussion section. Prior to joining the Blue Devils instructional staff in the fall of 2005, Ben served on the instructional staff of the Bluecoats from 2003-2005, the Cavaliers from 2001-2003 and Blue Knights from 1992-1998.

He earned his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of North Texas where he performed with the world champion U.N.T. drum line for three years and served on the instructional staff for three years.

Ben is endorsed by System Blue, Pro-Mark drumsticks, Evans drumheads, and Zildjian Cymbals. His professional affiliations include, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Band Masters, and the Percussive Arts Society. He is an active clinician, judge and arranger in the United States, Japan and China for marching band and Drum Corps. In 2013 Ben travelled to China to serve as a judge and clinician at the 16th Annual Beijing Students Arts Festival. In 2016 Ben traveled to Beijing on a clinic tour where he gave twenty-two clinics in eleven days including training for the top marching programs in the city as well as the Peoples Liberation Army and Navy percussionists.

Ben served on the staff of Metro Alliance Indoor Percussion Ensemble. He has served as a judge in the indoor percussion circuits NTCA, TCGC, MEPA, IPA, RMPA, MIA, NWAPA, and WGPO.

2022

2022 LONE STAR JUDGES

Bill Bachman

Bill Bachman has studied percussion performance at the University of North Texas and is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. He’s an international drum clinician and the road drummer in Neal Morse’s USA-based progressive rock band. Bill has played with and instructed many award-winning marching percussion groups including the UNT drumline, Cadets, Bluecoats, Blue Knights, and Carolina Crown in his 12 years touring with drum and bugle corps.

He’s the author of Row-Loff’s Rudimental Logic, Quad Logic, and Bass Logic; designer of Vic Firth’s Heavy Hitter pad series; producer of the instructional drum DVDs “Rudimental Beats” and “Reefed Beats”; and is a contributing writer for Modern Drummer magazine. Bill is an endorser/clinician for Dynasty drums, Remo drumheads, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks & mallets, Row-Loff Productions, and Sensaphonics earplugs.

Matt Quinlan

Matt Quinlan earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Music Degree from The University of North Texas with Ethnomusicology as his related field. He was a participant in the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar and holds a Texas All Level Music Education Certificate.

Matt has taught at Clear Lake High School in Houston, Mansfield High School and spent eleven years at Flower Mound High School building a nationally recognized program. With his help, his students earned five Grammy Signature School Gold awards and played at the Midwest Convention and Clinic three times. He led the percussionists to win the Percussive Arts Society Marching Division Championship for the two consecutive years of 2006/2007 and also finished third in 2008, as well as, second in 2012.

Mr. Quinlan now serves as a clinician, adjudicator, consultant, writer and performer throughout the United States. He is founder of Discover Your Rhythm, a service-based percussion company that brings music to seniors and students of all ages. His professional affiliations include: the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Band Masters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, the Percussive Arts Society, Innovative Percussion, and Pi Kappa Psi (Honors Music Fraternity).

Rick Rodriguez

Mr. Rick Rodriguez is currently the percussion director and Associate band director at Cedar Ridge High School, Round Rock TX.  Rick has been the director of the Cedar Ridge Symphonic Band and is currently assisting all of the Cedar Ridge Concert Bands and the Cedar Ridge Wind Ensemble. He is also the primary director of the Cedar Ridge Jazz Ensemble and the Cedar Ridge percussion program. Mr Rodriguez and his ensembles have been fortunate to have several appearances at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic held annually in Chicago IL.

Mr. Rodriguez is also a busy and active percussion arranger and versatile clinician. In his younger days, Rick was the “center snare” of the infamous University of North TX PASIC Drum Line where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Rick was also a snare drummer for the Concord Blue Devils. Rick has been a staff member of the Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights and is currently with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also been on the adjudicating staff of Drum Corps International (DCI), Bands of America (BOA) and is currently on the WGI judging panel. Mr. Rodriguez is endorsed by the Zildjian Cym Co., Innovative Percussion, and Evans Drum Heads.

Lauren Teel

Lauren Teel is the Percussion Caption Head for the DCI World Class Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, an ensemble member of the Heartland Marimba Ensemble, and Director of Percussion for Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. She is a recognized Innovative Percussion Educational Artist, Marimba One Educational Artist, Zildjian Marching Artist and Remo Educational Artist. She is actively involved in the percussive arts community as both performer and educator, serving on the PAS marching committee and acting as an adjudicator for several PAS international competitions, including the 2018 Percussive Arts Society International Chamber Ensemble Competition and the 2019 Percussive Arts Society International Solo Marimba Competition.

During the 2018/2019 academic year, Lauren served as the Interim Instructor of Percussion for The University of Alabama, and Adjunct Instructor for the Million Dollar Band Front Ensemble. Prior to this appointment, she was an Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at several universities, including The University of North Alabama, The University of Alabama- Birmingham, and The University of Montevallo. In addition,  Lauren was a member of the percussion educational team “ Double Stop Percussion” based out of Birmingham, AL.

Lauren earned her M.M. in Percussion Performance at Indiana University in 2016 and a B.M. in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas 2012. Her studies have allowed her to train with renowned percussionists including Kevin Bobo, Steve Houghton, Michael Spiro, Paul Rennick, John Tafoya, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, She-E Wu, Robert Schietroma and Ed Smith.

In 2012, Lauren had the privilege of traveling to Chennai, India to perform for an audience of over 75,000 people with Oscar winning composer, A. R. Rahman. Lauren also appeared in the 2013 blockbuster, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as an on screen timpanist. While living in Atlanta, Lauren performed as a member of the NFL Atlanta Falcons Drum Line. In 2018, Lauren was invited to perform the solo marimba piece, Free Flight, by composer and pianist Muriel Roth, as part of the 2018 PASIC Focus Day events.

2021

2021 LONE STAR JUDGES

Jeff Ausdemore

Jeff Ausdemore is the Director of Music at Grapevine-Colleyville’s iUniversity Prep. In this role, Mr. Ausdemore oversees all music curricula, including music theory music history, music composition/arranging, as well as applied music for all primary and secondary level students. In addition, Mr. Ausdemore has created the iMusic Club, a club dedicated to enriching the lives of all students enrolled at iUniversity Prep.

Prior to this post, Mr. Ausdemore served eleven years as the Director of Percussion Studies at Colleyville Heritage High School. In this expanded role, Mr. Ausdemore served as the percussion coordinator, head of jazz studies, and co-director/composer/arranger of the Colleyville Heritage marching band. Under Ausdemore’s direction, the Colleyville Heritage High School percussion program flourished, gaining national notoriety through chamber music, guest artist concerts of all genres, recitals, and ensemble competitions.

In Mr. Ausdemore’s first year at CHHS, he launched the GCISD Percussion Club, expanding the students’ musical education and enriching the lives of GCISD middle and high school percussion students throughout the district. The GCISD Percussion Club presented master classes, clinics, solo and ensemble performances by local and regional professionals throughout the north Texas area. The GCISD Percussion Club has produced a record amount of students selected for the GCISD “Select Band”, the Region 24 “All-region Band”, the Region 24 “All Region Jazz Band”, and the Texas “All-State Band”. CHHS is proud to have produced several percussion students who have earned the national title for the Percussive Arts Society’s solo champion on several different percussion instruments as well.

In addition to his teaching duties at Colleyville Heritage High School, Mr. Ausdemore served as the percussion arranger and caption head for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 through 2010. During Ausdemore’s tenure at the Blue Knights, the percussion program produced several individual solo championships, ensemble championships, and a strong reputation for excellence, placing in the elite “top 12” in the Drum Corps International Championships consistently.

Clif Walker

Clif Walker is the director of the University of Missouri “Marching Mizzou” Drumline and a percussion staff and design team member with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He is an active arranger, clinician, adjudicator, and composer with original works performed at PASIC, The Midwest Band Orchestra Clinic, DCI, BOA and WGI.

Clif holds a BSE from Missouri Western State University and an MME from the University of Central Florida and is a former member and instructor with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.

Clif was the director of percussion, design team member and arranger for BOA Grand National Finalist Blue Springs High School (2011-2015), former design team member and front ensemble arranger for 11-time WGI PIW Championship Finalist Gateway Indoor. He is the former caption head/arranger for Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps (1999-2003) and former director of percussion at Timber Creek High School in Orlando, Florida (2001-2008), who performed at the 2005 Percussive Arts Society International as the high school IPEC winners. Clif was the founding director and arranger for WGI PIW Finalist Timber Creek Independent (2008-2010).

Clif adjudicates regularly and is a member of the WGI percussion adjudication roster and the judging coordinator for both the Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) and the Central States Percussion Association (CSPA). As a clinician, Clif has worked recently with Tarpon Springs (FL), Vandegrift (TX), Ronald Reagan (TX), and Marcus (TX) and was a percussion faculty member for the 2019 Music For All Summer Symposium.

Brian A. West

Brian A. West is Professor of Music and the Division Chair and Coordinator of Percussion at TCU. Under his direction, the TCU Percussion Studio has received international recognition. The TCU Percussion Orchestra and Ensembles were named a winner in the 2019, 2015, 2011, 2008, and 2005 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competitions, and the TCU Drumline won the 2012 and 2006 PAS Marching Percussion Festivals. Prior to coming to TCU, Dr. West served as the Director of Percussion Studies at Texas A&M University-Commerce, a winner in the 2000 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition.

He has conducted and/or performed in Hawaii, Italy, Spain, England, France, Australia, Taiwan, and across the United States. Dr. West’s passion for the percussion ensemble medium has led to commissioning and premiering over thirty-five new works for this medium. Additionally, he is the Executive Producer of four percussion ensemble CDs.

Within the Percussive Arts Society, Dr. West currently serves on the Board of Advisors and is the Chair of the Percussion Ensemble Committee. He is an active performer, clinician, composer/arranger, and adjudicator for a variety of percussive events. Dr. West holds a doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, master’s from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas. He works as an artist clinician for Innovative Percussion, Yamaha, Remo, Marimba One, and Sabian.

Brice Freeman

Brice Freeman has been pursuing a passion for percussion for over a decade. Mr. Freeman’s performance experience includes four summers marching in various drum corps in Drum Corps International. This includes Forte Drum and Bugle Corp, the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corp, and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, winning the Fred Sanford Award for High Percussion in 2014. In addition, Mr. Freeman was a member of the University of North Texas’ Green Brigade Marching Band, as well as the UNT Drumline A-Line and percussion ensemble, traveling to Poland in 2014 for the International Drum Festival held in Opole.

Whilst at North Texas Brice participated in multiple snare ensembles, winning first place in the Percussive Arts Society’s college small ensemble competition in 2015. While at UNT Brice had the privilege of working with some of the world’s finest percussion educators, including Paul Rennick, Mark Ford, and Christopher Deane.

Mr. Freeman graduated from UNT in the spring of 2017 with a degree in music education. Currently, Mr. Freeman works as a percussion educator for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, and is currently working with the Berkner High School cluster as Percussion Director.

Tyler Primeaux

Tyler Primeaux has enjoyed four seasons with the Santa Clara Vanguard being the Front Ensemble Section leader in 2019. Before joining the Vanguard, he performed with The Crossmen in 2014 and 2015. Tyler was born and raised in The Colony, TX and is currently attending the University of North Texas as a percussionist studying Music Education.

2020

2020 LONE STAR JUDGES

Bill Bachman

Bill is a world-renowned specialist in hand technique with a heavy background in rudimental drumming and its application to the drumset. Bachman is a regular contributing columnist for Modern Drummer magazine and is the author of the books Stick Technique, an Essential Guide for the Modern Drummer and Rhythm & Chops Builders published through Modern Drummer Publishing (nominated for “Best Product” in their 2018 Readers Poll, as well as the Logic marching percussion instructional book series for Row-Loff Productions. Bachman is the founder of DrumWorkout.com, designer of Vic Firth’s Heavy Hitter pad series and his signature Billy Club drumsticks and the inventor of the patented Remote Speedy Hat.

Bachman is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and has studied percussion performance at the University of North Texas. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society’s Health and Wellness committee and Modern Drummer magazine’s education team where he was recently nominated in the 2016 reader’s poll under the “clinician/educator” category.

Bill has played with and instructed many award-winning marching percussion groups, including the UNT drum line and various DCI World Class finalists (Cadets, Bluecoats, Blue Knights, and Carolina Crown). On drumset, Bill is the drummer for Herd of Instinct, Spoke of Shadows, has toured with progressive rock artist Neal Morse, and freelances playing and recording in the Dallas area. Bachman is an international drum clinician, and he endorses Vic Firth sticks, Remo drumheads, Zildjian cymbals, and Row-Loff Productions products.

Mike McIntosh

Michael McIntosh is a graduate of Butler University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an emphasis in Composition.

In addition to designing, coordinating, consulting and composing for many pageantry groups throughout the United States, Michael is the Percussion Coordinator for the Music For All Summer Symposium, as well as, the Percussion Caption Manager, Music Coordinator and one of two Percussion Designers for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. From 1997-2011, Mr. McIntosh was the percussion specialist at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana and an integral part of programs named the 2001, 2017 and 2018 AAA National Champion as well as the 2005, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2018 BOA Grand National Champions. Michael has been a part of 6 Highest Achievement in Music BOA Finals awards with two different groups.

Michael is an active clinician, giving clinics throughout the US, Europe, having also performed clinics in Japan and Beijing, China. He is currently an adjudicator for WGI Sport of the Arts and Bands of America.

Mr. McIntosh has had works commissioned for the Midwest Band Directors Convention as well as the West Point HellCats. and the US Army Old Guard and Fife and Drum Corps. In 2018, Michael was commissioned to write an original orchestral work for the Contemporary Youth Orchestra. Entitled “MESH”, this work premiered at the Cleveland Rock n Roll Hall of Fame! Currently, he has works published by SmartMusic, Row-Loff Publications, Yamaha Sounds of Summer, Tap Space Publications, Key Poulan Music, Drop 6 Media, The Hal Leonard Corporation, Innovative Percussion, Marching Show Concepts and JKS Music. He has created content for commercial projects across different digital mediums including video games, startups and digital advertising. Recently Mr. McIntosh was named the percussion designer for the Music For All 2021 Rose Bowl Honor Band. 

Michael is a Yamaha artist/clinician as well as a multiple signature drumstick artist with PROMARK. Mr. McIntosh also endorses EVANS drumheads, Zildjian cymbals and Daddario Accessories.

Dr. John Wooton

Dr. John Wooton is the director of percussion studies at The University of Southern Mississippi. He is well versed in many percussion instruments but has specialized in rudimental snare drum, drum set, marimba, vibraphone and steel pans. Dr. Wooton directs the Percussion Ensemble, Steel Pan Orchestra, Graduate Percussion Ensemble and the Samba Band. He also performs regularly on steel pans as a soloist or with his band, KAISO!, and plays vibes for the USM Jazz Quintet.

From 1988 to 1992, he served as percussion coordinator/pep band director for the University of Iowa bands. As an instructor and performer, Dr. Wooton has been associated with five P.A.S.I.C. Marching Percussion Forum champions. He marched snare drum for four years with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Ill. (1981-84). During those years, Dr. Wooton held the Drum Corps Midwest Individual Snare Drum title and the Percussive Arts Society Snare Drum Individual title. From 1987 to 1989, he served as the percussion caption head for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. For the 1990-91 drum corps seasons, he served as program coordinator/percussion arranger for “Nite Express” Drum and Bugle Corps of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Since joining the faculty at Southern Miss, Dr. Wooton, along with establishing a strong percussion studio, has introduced the USM Steel Band, Pop Percussion Ensemble, Samba Band and Salsa Band. He has served as the president of the Percussion Arts Society, Mississippi Chapter, and is presently a member of the Percussive Arts Society Marching Committee. Dr. Wooton gives clinics around the world representing Pearl Drums, SABIAN Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks., Remo Drum Heads and Row Loff Productions Publications.

Dr. Wooton is the author of “The Drummer’s Rudimental Reference Book” – “Perhaps the most definitive rudimental technique book of our time” – Thomas L. Davis. Wooton’s latest publication, “Dr. Throwdown’s Rudimental Remedies” (The rudimental method for what ails you!) includes 25 lessons, organized on a specific technique and/or rudiment. Accompanying play-along tracks for every exercise and each track is set in seven different tempos starting with “Tempo del Learno” all the way to “Ludicrous Speed.”

Tyler Primeaux

Tyler Primeaux has enjoyed four seasons with the Santa Clara Vanguard being the Front Ensemble Section leader in 2019. Before joining the Vanguard, he performed with The Crossmen in 2014 and 2015. Tyler was born and raised in The Colony, TX and is currently attending the University of North Texas as a percussionist studying Music Education.

Michael Rogers

Michael Rogers is a part of the Santa Clara Vanguard snareline and is currently studying at The University of North Texas.

2019

2019 LONE STAR JUDGES

Jeff Ausdemore

Jeff Ausdemore is the Director of Music at Grapevine-Colleyville’s iUniversity Prep. In this role, Mr. Ausdemore oversees all music curricula, including music theory music history, music composition/arranging, as well as applied music for all primary and secondary level students. In addition, Mr. Ausdemore has created the iMusic Club, a club dedicated to enriching the lives of all students enrolled at iUniversity Prep.

Prior to this post, Mr. Ausdemore served eleven years as the Director of Percussion Studies at Colleyville Heritage High School. In this expanded role, Mr. Ausdemore served as the percussion coordinator, head of jazz studies, and co-director/composer/arranger of the Colleyville Heritage marching band. Under Ausdemore’s direction, the Colleyville Heritage High School percussion program flourished, gaining national notoriety through chamber music, guest artist concerts of all genres, recitals, and ensemble competitions.

In Mr. Ausdemore’s first year at CHHS, he launched the GCISD Percussion Club, expanding the students’ musical education and enriching the lives of GCISD middle and high school percussion students throughout the district. The GCISD Percussion Club presented master classes, clinics, solo and ensemble performances by local and regional professionals throughout the north Texas area. The GCISD Percussion Club has produced a record amount of students selected for the GCISD “Select Band”, the Region 24 “All-region Band”, the Region 24 “All Region Jazz Band”, and the Texas “All-State Band”. CHHS is proud to have produced several percussion students who have earned the national title for the Percussive Arts Society’s solo champion on several different percussion instruments as well.

In addition to his teaching duties at Colleyville Heritage High School, Mr. Ausdemore served as the percussion arranger and caption head for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 through 2010. During Ausdemore’s tenure at the Blue Knights, the percussion program produced several individual solo championships, ensemble championships, and a strong reputation for excellence, placing in the elite “top 12” in the Drum Corps International Championships consistently.

Jeffrey Michael Moore

Jeffrey M. Moore is the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and a Professor of Music (Percussion) at the University of Central Florida. Prior to his role as Dean, he served as the founding Director of the School of Performing Arts and Chair of the Music Department. Receiving his appointment to the music faculty in 1994, Professor Moore’s instructional duties include teaching applied percussion majors, the Percussion Ensemble, and the Marimba Band.

Active in all facets of percussion, he has performed with several major symphony orchestras and is a frequent performer of chamber music. He also performs on drum set, and is an international clinician, lecturer, and soloist. He is a contributing author to the third edition of Teaching Percussion by Gary Cook and has published two method book and CD packages entitled Fundamental Drumstick Control and Drumstick Control with Alfred publications. He served as an Associate Editor of Percussive Notes and is currently on the Board of Advisors for the Percussive Arts Society. In addition, he currently serves on the Boards of the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, the Orlando Repertory Theatre, the Orlando Philharmonic and A Gift for Music.

Jeff served as the Percussion Director of the internationally acclaimed Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and as Program Consultant/Percussion Arranger with several European, Japanese, Thai, and Indonesian drum corps and bands.

Jeff is a Yamaha Performing Artist/Clinician, and endorses Paiste cymbal, sounds, and gongs. He endorses Salyers Percussion sticks and mallets, and has two signature model sticks and eight keyboard mallet models. Professor Moore also endorses Remo Drum Heads and Latin Percussion.

Travis Lee Peterman

Born and raised in Newark, Delaware, Travis began his performing career with the All-State Junior and Senior Bands. Quickly finding a passion for the marching arts, he went on to perform with the Reading Buccaneers, United Percussion, the Blue Stars, and Rhythm X.

He began his drum corps teaching career with the Cadets2 as the snare technician and battery choreographer, remaining with the corps for three years. Travis previously held the position of the director, program coordinator, and battery arranger for Cadets Winter Percussion during it’s three year tenure. He served as the battery arranger and director of percussion for the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2016 through the 2019 season. Currently, Travis is the percussion caption supervisor and battery co-arranger at Carolina Crown and the program director of the George Mason University Indoor Drumline, where he is also a battery and visual designer. Travis joined the Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2019 summer, serving as the battery designer and consultant. He is an accomplished adjudicator with circuits such as SCPA, KIDA, and AIA.

Travis is honored to have studied under educators such as Thom Hannum, Tom Aungst, Tim Jackson, Jim Ancona, Joel Hilbert, Tim Fairbanks, Darick Kelly, Rich Hammond, and Chris Feist. He is a proud member of the Vic Firth, Pearl/Adams, and Remo education teams. Outside of the percussion world, Travis holds an A.A. in Criminal Justice from Delaware Tech, a B.S. in Behavioral Science from Wilmington University, and a M.Ed. in School Counseling (also from WilmU).

JJ Pipitone

JJ Pipitone received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Morehead State University and his Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas.

JJ is currently a retired band director turned real estate investor in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. He is also is a consultant for the Texas A & M Commerce Pride Marching Band, writes high school marching band shows, and is an adjudicator for WGI. JJ was an adjunct percussion professor at Texas A & M Commerce from 2013-2016.

Before this, he served in the public schools for 16 years as an assistant band director in the Lewisville and Grapevine Independent School Districts. In addition to all of the percussion responsibilities from 6th-12th grade, his duties have included Concert Band, Music Theory, Music History, Jazz band, and Musical Theater.

JJ has extensive drum corp experience, having marched for 9 years in drum corps all over the country including numerous drum corps in the up-state New York area, the Dutch Boy, the Phantom Regiment, and the Concord Blue Devils. He won the DCI Multi tenor competition in 1989, The PAS Multi Tenor competition in 1990 and placed 2nd at the PAS marimba competition in 1992.
As an instructor, JJ taught the World Champion Phantom Regiment in 1995 and 1996. In 1997, JJ was the caption head and the battery arranger. He went on to teach the Glassmen in 1998 & 1999 and the Crossmen in 2000 & 2001.

JJ’s extensive judging experience has taken him around the globe since 2003. He is honored to be affiliated with Bands Of America, US Bands, Winter Guard International, Drum Corp International, Drum Corp Japan and various indoor Percussion circuits around the United States.

Tyler Primeaux

Tyler Primeaux was born and raised in The Colony, Tx and is currently in his fourth year at the University of North Texas as a percussionist studying music education. During his time at UNT, Tyler has had the opportunity to perform with the internationally recognized Wind Symphony and Percussion ensemble while studying privately with Paul Rennick, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, and Ed Smith.

Tyler was a member of the Crossmen front ensemble from 2014-2015 and the Santa Clara Vanguard Front Ensemble from 2016-2019, where he served as section leader in 2019. Tyler is an active educator in the DFW area and currently assists with the Marcus high school front ensemble and percussion ensemble under the direction of Kennan Wylie.

Brian A. West

Brian A. West is Professor of Music and the Division Chair and Coordinator of Percussion at TCU. Under his direction, the TCU Percussion Studio has received international recognition. The TCU Percussion Orchestra and Ensembles were named a winner in the 2019, 2015, 2011, 2008, and 2005 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competitions, and the TCU Drumline won the 2012 and 2006 PAS Marching Percussion Festivals. Prior to coming to TCU, Dr. West served as the Director of Percussion Studies at Texas A&M University-Commerce, a winner in the 2000 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition.

He has conducted and/or performed in Hawaii, Italy, Spain, England, France, Australia, Taiwan, and across the United States. Dr. West’s passion for the percussion ensemble medium has led to commissioning and premiering over thirty-five new works for this medium. Additionally, he is the Executive Producer of four percussion ensemble CDs.

Within the Percussive Arts Society, Dr. West currently serves on the Board of Advisors and is the Chair of the Percussion Ensemble Committee. He is an active performer, clinician, composer/arranger, and adjudicator for a variety of percussive events. Dr. West holds a doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, master’s from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas. He works as an artist clinician for Innovative Percussion, Yamaha, Remo, Marimba One, and Sabian.

2018

2018 LONE STAR JUDGES

Martin Griffin

Martin Griffin received his undergraduate degree in music at William Paterson University where he performed with the NJ Percussion Ensemble and the NJ New Music Ensemble.

He has been a Band Director in NJ for 26 years and he is currently the Director of Bands and Department Coordinator of Fine Arts at Monroe Township High School. His responsibilities include directing the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble as well as teaching AP Music Theory. The MTHS Marching Band was crowned US Bands NJ State and National Champions in 2013 and they have been selected to represent New Jersey at the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor in 2016.

Marty performed for five seasons with the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps and he has been a percussion arranger for high school bands throughout NJ since 1987.

Marty currently judges for numerous organizations including Winter Guard International, Bands of America and Drum Corps International. In 2006 Marty was selected to judge for the Drum Corps Japan Championships held in Yokohama, Japan and he is currently the Percussion Caption Head for Drum Corps Associates as well as judging coordinator for The Mid Atlantic Percussion Society. Marty also has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Kean University.

John Pipitone

JJ Pipitone received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Morehead State University and his Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas.

JJ is currently a retired band director turned real estate investor in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. He is also is a consultant for the Texas A & M Commerce Pride Marching Band, writes high school marching band shows, and is an adjudicator for WGI. JJ was an adjunct percussion professor at Texas A & M Commerce from 2013-2016.

Before this, he served in the public schools for 16 years as an assistant band director in the Lewisville and Grapevine Independent School Districts. In addition to all of the percussion responsibilities from 6th-12th grade, his duties have included Concert Band, Music Theory, Music History, Jazz band, and Musical Theater.

JJ has extensive drum corp experience, having marched for 9 years in drum corps all over the country including numerous drum corps in the up-state New York area, the Dutch Boy, the Phantom Regiment, and the Concord Blue Devils. He won the DCI Multi tenor competition in 1989, The PAS Multi Tenor competition in 1990 and placed 2nd at the PAS marimba competition in 1992.
As an instructor, JJ taught the World Champion Phantom Regiment in 1995 and 1996. In 1997, JJ was the caption head and the battery arranger. He went on to teach the Glassmen in 1998 & 1999 and the Crossmen in 2000 & 2001.

JJ’s extensive judging experience has taken him around the globe since 2003. He is honored to be affiliated with Bands Of America, US Bands, Winter Guard International, Drum Corp International, Drum Corp Japan and various indoor Percussion circuits around the United States.

Ray Ulibarri

Ray Ulibari is beginning his sixteenth year as a percussion instructor in public schools. Prior to teaching at Reagan High School in San Antonio, he was the percussion director at Klein Forest High School and Pomona High School in Arvada, Colorado.

During his tenure with Pomona, his band won an unprecedented 11 State Marching Band Championships and placed fifth at the 1997 BOA Grand National Championships in Indianapolis. In addition, the Percussion ensemble was a two time medalist at the WGI World Championships and perennial finalist.

In 2002-03, Mr. Ulibarri was the percussion instructor of the University of Colorado Golden Buffalo Marching Band. Mr. Ulibarri is currently the Percussion Arranger for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp and the former caption Head of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. He is also the former front ensemble arranger and caption head of the Blue Knights World Percussion Ensemble. Both groups are recognized as innovators in the world of percussion and have placed in the top three in the world.

Percussion arrangements are in demand throughout the country and he is a freelance composer. He is endorsed by Innovative Percussion, Evans, Zildgian and Yamaha. Ray Ulibarri is an active music adjudicator and clinician throughout the country.

Michael Varner

Dr. Michael Varner has been Director of Percussion at the University of Texas at Arlington for the past 35 years. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Bowling Green State University, a Master’s in Performance from The University of Michigan, and a Doctorate in Performance from The University of North Texas.  His Dissertation “An Examination of Davidi Maslanka’s Marimba Concerti is available online and from the “Percussive Arts Society.”

He draws from 40 years’ experience as a performer presenting repertoire from every musical style including Classical, Contemporary, Jazz, and World beat. He brings to each style of music an unequalled sensitivity and exuberance. He has performed chamber music and studio work in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. During his time in Michigan he was principal percussionist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Principal Timpanist with the Kalamazoo Chamber Orchestra.

He teaches all Percussion and world music courses at UTArlington and is a member of the Honor’s College Faculty, chosen recently as Honor’s faculty member of the Year.

He continues to be active nationally in the field of marching percussion adjudicating and presenting clinics. Under his guidance the UT Arlington drum line has been nationally recognized performing at numerous marching exhibitions including the 1982, 1988, 1993 and 2000, 2003, and 2008 Percussive Arts Societies International competitions. He has worked with renowned drum and bugle corps, including the DCI champion Chicago Cavaliers and the Toledo Glassmen.

He maintains an Artist relationship with Remo Heads and World Instruments, Vic Firth, Yamaha, and Sabian cymbals.

2017

Drumline Judges

Glenn Fugett

Glenn Fugett is currently the Director of Bands and Orchestras at the Nashville School of the Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. He conducts two string orchestras, two concert bands, and one jazz ensemble. The school draws students from all over Metro Nashville Public Schools. He retired from teaching in Texas this summer.

Prior to moving to Nashville, Glenn was Director of Bands at Legacy High School in Mansfield, Texas. He held that position since the school opened in August of 2007. He was the Associate Director of Bands at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas from the fall of 1991 through the spring of 2007. The first five years of his career, Glenn was the Head Band Director at Calallen Middle School in Corpus Christi, Texas.

His concert bands and jazz bands have won numerous awards throughout the United States. The Legacy Marching Band was a finalist at the 4a UIL State Marching Band Contest in 2009. The legacy Wind Symphony was a finalist in the 4a Texas State Honor Band Competition in 2009. The Legacy Wind Symphony was “Best in Class” at the 2011 and 2015 South Coast Music Festivals. They have received Superior Ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading every year since the school opened. The Marching Band was a finalist at the 2008, 2010, and 2011 BOA Arlington Regional. In 2011, they were the AAA Champion at the Arlington event. In 2013, they were finalists at the Austin and Allen Regionals, winning Class AAA at the latter. The Westlake Marching Band was a finalist at every Bands of America Regional they attended from 1999 through 2006. In 1999, the Westlake Band was awarded the coveted, Sudler Flag of Honor at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. December of 2002, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic. In 2003, the group marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The Westlake Jazz Ensemble was one of the premier public school jazz programs in Texas during Mr. Fugett’s tenure.

Glenn is a sought after clinician for Music for All, Yamaha, and Vic Firth. He is an artist with Yamaha and Vic Firth. He has been a Bands of America Summer Symposium clinician for the last 10 years. Glenn has been a judge for Bands of America since 1995, and has judged for Drum Corps International since 1992. He has judged Finals at the Drum Corps World Championships 11 times throughout his career. He was Percussion Caption Head for DCI for 5years and has been on the Music Judge Liaison team for the last three years. He is a member of the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association.

Bill Bachman

Bill Bachman is a world-renowned specialist in hand technique with a heavy background in rudimental drumming and its application to the drumset. Bachman is a regular contributing columnist for Modern Drummer magazine and is the author of the book Stick Technique, an Essential Guide for the Modern Drummer published through Modern Drummer Publishing, as well as the Logic marching percussion instructional book series for Row-Loff Productions. Bachman is the inventor of the Remote Speedy Hat, designer of Vic Firth’s Heavy Hitter pad series and his signature Billy Club drumsticks and the founder of DrumWorkout.com.

Bachman is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and has studied percussion performance at the University of North Texas. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society’s Health and Wellness committee and Modern Drummer magazine’s education team where he was recently nominated in the 2015 reader’s poll under the “clinician/educator” category. Bill has played with and instructed many award-winning marching percussion groups, including the UNT drum line and various DCI World Class finalists (Cadets, Bluecoats, Blue Knights, and Carolina Crown).

Glenn Fugett is currently the Director of Bands and Orchestras at the Nashville School of the Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. He conducts two string orchestras, two concert bands, and one jazz ensemble. The school draws students from all over Metro Nashville Public Schools. He retired from teaching in Texas this summer.

Prior to moving to Nashville, Glenn was Director of Bands at Legacy High School in Mansfield, Texas. He held that position since the school opened in August of 2007. He was the Associate Director of Bands at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas from the fall of 1991 through the spring of 2007. The first five years of his career, Glenn was the Head Band Director at Calallen Middle School in Corpus Christi, Texas.

His concert bands and jazz bands have won numerous awards throughout the United States. The Legacy Marching Band was a finalist at the 4a UIL State Marching Band Contest in 2009. The legacy Wind Symphony was a finalist in the 4a Texas State Honor Band Competition in 2009. The Legacy Wind Symphony was “Best in Class” at the 2011 and 2015 South Coast Music Festivals. They have received Superior Ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading every year since the school opened. The Marching Band was a finalist at the 2008, 2010, and 2011 BOA Arlington Regional. In 2011, they were the AAA Champion at the Arlington event. In 2013, they were finalists at the Austin and Allen Regionals, winning Class AAA at the latter. The Westlake Marching Band was a finalist at every Bands of America Regional they attended from 1999 through 2006. In 1999, the Westlake Band was awarded the coveted, Sudler Flag of Honor at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. December of 2002, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic. In 2003, the group marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The Westlake Jazz Ensemble was one of the premier public school jazz programs in Texas during Mr. Fugett’s tenure.

Ray Ulibari

Ray Ulibari is beginning his sixteenth year as a percussion instructor in public schools. Prior to teaching at Reagan High School in San Antonio, he was the percussion director at Klein Forest High School and Pomona High School in Arvada, Colorado. During his tenure with Pomona, his band won an unprecedented 11 State Marching Band Championships and placed fifth at the 1997 BOA Grand National Championships in Indianapols. In addition, the Percussion ensemble was a two time medalist at the WGI World Championships and perennial finalist. In 2002-03, Mr. Ulibarri was the percussion instructor of the University of Colorado Golden Buffalo Marching Band.

Mr. Ulibarri is currently the Percussion Arranger for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp and the former caption Head of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. He is also the former front ensemble arranger and caption head of the Blue Knights World Percussion Ensemble. Both groups are recognized as innovators in the world of percussion and have placed in the top three in the world.

Percussion arrangements are in demand throughout the country and he is a freelance composer. He is endorsed by Innovative Percussion, Evans, Zildgian and Yamaha. Ray Ulibarri is an active music adjudicator and clinician throughout the country.

Jeff Ausdemore

Jeff Ausdemore is currently in his third year at GCISD’s iUniversity Prep as Director of Virtual Music. Prior to this role, Mr. Ausdemore served eleven years as the Percussion Coordinator at Colleyville Heritage High School. In this role, Mr. Ausdemore serves as the percussion coordinator, head of jazz studies, co-director/composer/arranger of the CHHS marching band.

Under Mr. Ausdemore’s direction, the Colleyville Heritage High School percussion program has flourished, gaining national notoriety through chamber music, guest artist concerts, recitals and ensemble competitions. The percussion program has enjoyed competitive success at many levels, including the 2013 and 2014 gold medla for the North Texas Color Guard Association as well as capturing the 2008 Percussive Arts Society Marching Percussion title. Other accolades include the Percussion Arts Society’s “Call for Tapes” winners, the Percussive Arts Society’s Small Ensemple Champions, the Plano Drumline Competition marching percussion champions as well as the Lone Star drumline competition champions.

In addition to his teaching duties at Colleyville Heritage High School, Ausdemore has served as the percussion arranger and caption head for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 thru 2010. During Ausdemore’s tenure at the Blue Knights, the percussion program produced several individual solo championships, ensemble championships, and a strong reputation for excellence, placing in the elite “top 12” in the Drum Corps International Championships consistently.
Jeff Ausdemore is a clinician for Dynasty/Bergerault Musical Instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Pro Mark sticks and mallets. The Pro Mark corporation released the Jeff Ausdemore “signature series” snare drum sticks in early fall of 2009.

Solo Judges

Josh Jennings

Josh Jennings is a sought after percussion artist, clinician and educator based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex where he currently performs and teaches all forms of music. Specializing in Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean, Polynesian, and Latin Jazz, Josh is continuously traveling abroad in an effort to further his international education and make new musical and cultural connections. Josh regularly visits Brazil, Japan, Tahiti, Taiwan and Thailand to study indigenous music with native musicians.

Josh Jennings currently holds a position as the percussion coordinator for the MacArthur HS cluster in Irving, TX. Before coming to Irving ISD, Josh served as Percussion Coordinator at Vandeventer MS in Frisco, TX. For a number of years, Josh was a consultant for the drumline and Brazilian ensembles at the University of Texas at Arlington as well as several percussion programs in the Metroplex.

Josh presents various educational clinics and has served as a guest percussion artist at schools and universities around the world. He has worked at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, the University of North Texas, Western State College, Tennessee Tech University, the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and several public schools across the US. In addition to his US adjudications, Josh has also served as a clinician and judge for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thailand Drumline contests in Bangkok, Thailand. He has performed as a guest artist for the 60th and 61st Midwest Band and Orchestra Conferences in Chicago, IL as well as several Texas Music Educators Conventions in San Antonio and Percussive Arts Society international Conventions around the US.

Josh holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree of Music Performance from the famed University of North Texas percussion program. During his time at UNT, Josh studied percussion with José Aponte, Christopher Deane, Ron Fink, Mark Ford, Paul Rennick, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Ed Smith, Ed Soph, and Poovalur Sriji. At UNT, Josh toured and performed with a multitude of Percussion and Jazz ensembles. Most notably, Josh also spent three years with the UNT “A Line”; winning multiple Percussive Arts Society Drumline Championship titles. Josh began his music career in Flower Mound where he was a member of the Marcus High School percussion section where he received a number of honors and awards under the direction of Kennan Wylie; including three PASIC national championship titles and first place in the PAS individual keyboard competition. Josh also spent six years marching with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and received numerous accolades in the world of Drum Corps International. Josh was featured in the 25th Anniversary issue of Modern Drummer for receiving the highest individual percussion score in the DCI I&E competition.

When he’s not teaching in Irving, Josh can be found performing every kind of music imaginable either locally or internationally. For example, Josh was a percussion co-coordinator and performer for the NHL Dallas Stars 2006-2007 season. Josh served as designer and performer as an inaugural member of the Cutting Edge Drummers for the Cutting Edge Haunted House in Ft. Worth, TX in 2005 and 2006. As a world percussionist, Josh has performed with such artists as Bossa Tres in Chicago, IL; Sesame Flyers Steel Orchestra of Brooklyn, NY; Grooversity Brazilian group in Boston, MA; Cuatro em Cantos in Salvador, Brazil; the Papetoai Village music group of Moorea, Tahiti; and with the Genta/Nagaoka Brazilian Jazz group in Tokyo, Japan. In addition to performing with his own Brazilian Jazz group, Josh is an active member of the Dallas/Ft. Worth musical scene as an in-demand performer with Brasuka!, the Eymard Furtado Group, Nina Katrina, Te Toa Tahitian Drum Group, Sweet Steel, and the Grace Hula Dance company. He served as the international manager and key percussionist for the American new music group, FOUNDRY, featured at the 2012 International Drum Festival in Taiwan with Composer/Performer Andy Akiho. For the past 3 years, Josh has been a member of the Dallas-based Percussion group, D’Drum. They have performed the work “Gamelan D’Drum,” commisioned for the group by former Police drummer, Stewart Copeland, with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and the Corpus Christi Symphony. In Fall of 2015, the group will present multiple performances of Gamelan D’Drum with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with PASIC.

Josh is an endorser for Cadeson drums, Contemporânea Brazilian instruments, and Pro-Mark sticks and sounds.

Brandon kelly

Percussionist Brandon Kelly is heavily active in the DFW-metroplex as an instructor, adjudicator, and clinician. He currently is a member of the Marcus High School Percussion faculty where he assists with many aspects of the Marcus Band program, including private instruction, the percussion ensemble, and serving as front ensemble instructor to the nationally-renowned Marcus High School Marching Band. He is Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Texas Wesleyan University and Tarleton State University, where he instructs private lessons, method courses, and assists with various ensembles — including TSU”s “The Pride & The Fury” Marching Band. For several summers, Brandon was a faculty member for the Leigh Howard Stevens High School Summer Marimba Seminars in Plano, TX and Madison, NJ.

A native of New Jersey, Brandon received his undergraduate education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate, Brandon was highly active in all of IUP’s major ensembles ranging from pit percussionist for musicals and operas to orchestra, jazz ensemble, and wind ensemble. Following IUP, Brandon pursued his Masters in Percussion Performance as a teaching fellow at the University of North Texas, where he had the responsibilities of teaching undergraduate percussion lessons, percussion methods classes and directing UNT’s 12 O’clock Percussion Ensemble. As a performer, Brandon was active in many of UNT’s culturally-diverse percussion ensembles, and served as principal percussionist of the world renowned North Texas Wind Symphony.

Brandon’s teachers include Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Ed Soph, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Ed Smith, Paul Rennick, Poovalur Sriji, Tom Murphy, Dr. Gary Olmstead, Dr. Jack Stamp, Eugene Corporon, and Leigh Howard Stevens.

With a passion for new music, Brandon has been heavily involved in recording and can be found on 40+ commercially available recordings with various ensembles. Through the ensembles of which he has been a part, Brandon has premiered dozens of new works by some of the world’s leading composers, including Frank Ticheli, Donald Grantham, Nancy Galbraith, and Richard Danielpour. In March 2010, composer Bruce Yurko completed his first work for percussion ensemble, “Caccia”, dedicated to Brandon and the Plano West Senior High School Percussion Ensemble. Brandon also took part in commissioning nationally-recognized composer Nathan Daughtrey to compose “Halcyon Days,” a new work for marimba soloist and percussion quartet.

As a performer, Brandon continues to make regular appearances on recordings produced by the Keystone Wind Ensemble and North Texas Wind Symphony. He is currently a member of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and the Keystone Wind Ensemble and is the director and a founding member of the Lone Star Percussion Ensemble. Brandon has performed with the Dallas Winds, Imperial Brass, and the Altoona, Arlington, Garland, Johnstown, Las Colinas, and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestras. He has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), PerKumania, Texas Bandmasters Association Conference (TBA), World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles International Conference (WASBE), and the Midwest Clinic, amongst others. Professional organizations of which he is a member include the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), The National Association for Music Education (MENC), Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

2016
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