Matt Verburg has a Masters of Science degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. He also holds a degree in Entrepreneurship/Management from the University of Central Florida. Matt marched snare for four seasons with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, where he served percussion section leader in 2003. Matt is a graduate of Lake Howell High School, and performed with the University of Central Florida Marching Knights. While at UCF, he performed in ensembles with the Walt Disney World student musician program at the Magic Kingdom.
He has been on the instructional staffs of the Madison Scouts and Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps teaching both visual and percussion. Matt has taught at various high schools in Central Florida since 2000, including University, Lake Howell, Winter Park, and East River, as well as five years of battery coordinator with Timber Creek. From 2008-2010 he returned to UCF as an instructor for the Marching Knights drumline. Matt is an active judge and clinician in Central Florida, and is proud to endorse ProMark Drumsticks and Mapex Drums.
Jeremy Brown has written and taught many area high school percussion programs, most recently Hagerty High School and Dr. Phillips High School. In addition to teaching and arranging, Jeremy has performed with The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, serving as front ensemble-section leader playing timpani, Southern Winds, UCF Wind Ensemble, TCI serving as the tenor section leader for 2009, and other indoor percussion ensembles. Also, he has played professionally at Sea World Orlando with The Groove Chefs and with All That from the show America’s Got Talent.
The 2011 season will be Jeremy’s second season as Co-Director and will also be serving as the Bass Tech. Jeremy is proud to be a ProMark Educator/Endorser.
Omar Carmenates is currently the Assistant Professor of Percussion at Furman University in Greenville, SC where he oversees all aspects of the percussion program including classical, jazz, and world percussion studies. He holds a Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University, a Master of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Central Florida.
Actively involved in the marching arts, Omar has garnered an international reputation as the Percussion Caption Head for the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps from 2007-2010, and Percussion Arranger from 2009-2010. Currently, Omar is a Percussion Consultant for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps. Omar’s teaching and writing credits include arrangements and original works for groups such as the Beatrix Drum and Bugle Corps from Hilversum, Holland, Timber Creek Independent, Infinity Indoor Percussion, the Florida State University Marching Chiefs, the Furman University Paladin Regiment, and numerous other high school programs across the United States.
As a freelance musician, Omar is a versatile performer, having played in many groups and genres. His interest in contemporary chamber and solo music has led to commissions and collaborations with notable composers such as John Luther Adams, John Psathas, David Skidmore, Michael Gordon, Christopher Deane, and Brian Nozny. Additionally, Omar currently collaborates with the nief-norf Project where he acts as a faculty member and host for the annual nief-norf Summer Festival where percussionists from across the country gather to perform contemporary percussion chamber music. Omar has been a percussionist with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the Greenville Pops Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and the Las Colinas and Garland Symphony Orchestras and for five years, he was a musician at Walt Disney World. Omar is also an active scholar/lecturer having presented research in Percussive Notes and at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Omar is a proud endorser/clinician for Vic Firth, Inc. Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, and Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments.
Andy Schwartz is a visual instructor, adjudicator, and designer. He has instructed for bands in the Central Florida area, including visual caption head at Timber Creek (FMBC ‘03 State Champion, BOA St. Pete ‘06 – ‘07 and BOA Atlanta ‘07 Finalist, plus many FMBC high visual achievements). He has adjudicated in both Florida and South Carolina, and he has recently enjoyed designing drill for various bands and ensembles in Florida, including for TCI in 2010.
Marching and music is Andy’s passion. Growing up in Central Florida, he was a member of the Lake Howell Silver Regiment as well as the UCF Marching Knights, Trombone Choir and the honorary music service fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. He deeply values his five years performing in drum and bugle corps including Southwind and the Santa Clara Vanguard, where he was inspired by the drill designs of Myron Rosander.
As a published researcher, Andy is currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science from UCF. He holds a masters and a bachelors degree in the same field. In his free time, Andy enjoys spending time with his wife, Becky, and outdoor activities such as running and ultimate frisbee.
Elliott Klaber holds a B.A. in Music from the University of Central Florida. As an instructor, he has worked with the Magic of Orlando (1996-1998), Madison Scouts (1999), Southwind (2000), and Capital Regiment (2003) Drum and Bugle Corps. Elliott served as the director of percussion for the Kiski Area High School band program in Vandergrift, PA., and has taught several high school programs in Ohio, Kentucky and Central Florida.
He is a former member of the Glassmen and Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle corps, the PASIC champion Morehead State University indoor percussion ensemble, and the UCF Marching Knights, where he served as a student instructor.During his time at UCF, he performed in the student musician program at Walt Disney World, and in various ensembles including the 1998 3rd place PASIC Drumline. Elliott was also one of five presenters for the 1998 PASIC Tenor Drum roundtable.
Elliott and his wife Amy live in Orlando, where he is currently a Technology Coordinator with Orange County Public Schools.
Jonathan Cooper has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Central Florida. During his time in the UCF Percussion Studio, he studied under Jeff Moore, Kirk Gay, and Marty Morell. As a performer, Jon has played with the UCF Marching Knights, Walt Disney World student musician program, Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, Orlando Concert Band, Brass Band of Central Florida, as well as various musical theatre, jazz, and orchestral ensembles.
As an instructor, Jon has worked with several high schools in the Central Florida area including: Timber Creek, University, Satellite, West Orange, and East River. Jon was the 2010 percussion arranger for the East River Vanguard. Currently, Jon is a band director in Orange County and teaches in his private percussion studio.
Jason Phillip Burris is from Orlando, Florida. As an instructor, he has worked with the award winning Lake Howell High School Silver Regiment Percussion Section.
He is a former member of the Boston Crusaders and 2008 DCI Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, who where also the recipients of the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award that same year. For the 2009 season, Jason served as center snare for Phantom. Jason marched snare with the 2009 TCI drumline, and has returned as snare instructor.
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Matthew Rusnak is a Florida native, graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2004 and is currently attending Valencia Community College in Orlando pursuing a degree in Business Administration.
His marching experience as well as his teaching and education started at Stoneman Douglas. He marched with The Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps from 2002-2003 as section leader for the mellophones. Shortly after graduating he became the Visual Coordinator/Caption Head for Stoneman Douglas, John I. Leonard, and Jupiter High Schools from 2004- 2010.
In the winter time he has been involved with indoor percussion for 4 years working with Stoneman Douglas and the Independent Open group Stryke percussion. Matthew also works with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corp as a Visual Tech.
Ryan Sirmeyer is a native of Oviedo, FL, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Central Florida. While at UCF, he studied applied trumpet in the UCF trumpet studio under John Almeida. As an active music and visual instructor, he has consulted, taught, and helped design shows for Oviedo, Hagerty, and Freedom High Schools in the Central Florida area, as well as Northern York High School in Dillsburg, PA. For the 2009, and 2010 summer seasons, he was Tour Manager for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps.
His performing experience includes playing trumpet with the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 as well as the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005, 2006, and 2008. Distinctions include winning the DCI World Championship in 2006, and being an I&E winner performing in the mixed ensemble category in 2008. Throughout high school and college, he has also performed as a Toy Soldier in Walt Disney’s Christmas parades. Performing at UCF, he was part of many of UCF’s performing groups, including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Brass Quintet.
John Bishai is an alumni of University of South Florida, playing snare and bass drum in his three years with the Herd of Thunder Drumline (HOTDL). After graduating, he returned to HOTDL as a cymbal tech for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. His drum corps career began in 2000 playing front ensemble with Tampa Bay Thunder, and in 2001 marched in the cymbal line. In 2003, he was part of a World Champion Cymbal Line in Spirit Drum & Bugle Corps under the instruction of cymbal legends Eddie Capps and Andrew “AJ” Nixon winning 1st place in the I&E competition.
John has also been the cymbal instructor at 1st Degree in a successful season of winning the PIO class in 2005. He was also the cymbal instructor and consultant with Brahma Indoor Percussion from 2007-2010.
Marie Goltara graduated with a degree in General Business from Stetson University in 2007. She began dancing at the young age of 4. While attending Lake Mary High School Marie held leadership positions in the nationally competitive color guard, earning a Scholastic Open silver medal in 2002. Continuing her color guard career, Marie marched in the weapon line of The Boston Crusaders in 2004 and 2005.
In 2006 Marie decided return to the more intimate winterguard activity, performing as a member of The Knights during their first year in Independent World class. Under the direction of Michael James, The Knights continued to build Marie’s dance background. During this time, she had the opportunity to perform with Bon Jovi at the Daytona 500. After spending four years in the program with two as a captain, Marie ended her color guard marching career in 2009.
In addition to her dance and marching experience, Marie has continued to teach at several local schools. She has spent the past two years instructing at Freedom High School beside Michael James as the main weapon tech. While teaching at Freedom, the guard earned a Scholastic Open silver medal at WGI, and made finals during their first season competing in Scholastic World. Marie has a keen eye for detail and extreme love for technique, both for movement and equipment and will serve as TCI’s movement instructor.
Jason C. Staas is an award-winning percussion performer, writer, arranger and educator. His work at various programs has led those ensembles to a consistent level of competitive percussive success, as with his championship work with Marcato Independent and finalist work with Brahma from USF. An active arranger and instructor for schools and ensembles across the United States, his credits include semi-finalist and finalist performances at BOA, FMBC, OMEA, FFCC and WGI.
As a pageantry performer, Jason was credited during his time with Colts, placing 8th in DCI’s Individual Snare Competition in 2006. He also served as the center-snare for the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands during the 2005 and 2006 seasons under the tutelage of Dr. Terren Frenz and Nick Angelis. For more info about his work visit www.jasonstaas.com.
Matt Brown is a drummer. Always has been. Always will be. From his first gig with his dad’s touring band at age four to his present busy schedule, Matt Brown drums.
Matt spent two summers performing with Magic of Orlando Drum & Bugle Corps and continued his education at the University of Central Florida, studying percussion under Jeff Moore. Matt’s professional performance career began in 1993 at Walt Disney World. Currently, Matt is the lead of the rudimental percussion trio called the “Groove Chefs” at Sea World Orlando and is the touring drummer for Brian Howe, former lead singer of “Bad Company.”
Brown’s studio experience began in the family recording studio in 1990.Matt learned the ins and outs of the business, picking up engineering skills and experience as a studio musician. Today, Matt is in demand as a studio drummer who has played for many artists including “Shinedown” (Atlantic Records), “3AE” (RCA Records), “Bad Company” singer Brian Howe, Disney’s “Next Big Thing” artist Bre Morgan, and the soundtrack for the upcoming video game “Samantha Sky; Rock P.I.” for exclusive release on the Nintendo Wii. Matt is a Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets artist and will be heading up electronics logistics and design.
Adam Steff is the Director of Bands at University High School in Orlando Florida. In 2 years at University High School he brought the percussion section back to national prominence with numerous high marching percussion awards and percussion ensemble performances including a 2nd place Scholastic A finish in the FFCC State Championships in the first year of Indoor Drumline. In his second year, University continued their climb back ending with a first place Gold Medal in the FFCC State Championships in Scholastic A and a WGI World Championship Finals 4th place Scholastic A finish in the first year they went to Dayton. Previously he was at Cypress Creek High School for seven years.
During his 9 years at both Cypress Creek and University High Schools, his percussion sections and bands have consistently received Superior Ratings and Championships at District, State, and National level competitions. Adam has been the Percussion Caption Head and Program Coordinator for Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps (1999-2003).
In addition to his work in public schools, Adam is also an instrumental clinician for the Walt Disney World Company since 2003 where he has taught workshops for over 200 high school bands a year among many other clinics and workshops he has taught.Adam has performed as a professional musician at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando with many groups such as the Magic Kingdom Band, the Kids of the Kingdom Band, Tapestry of Nations, Cast in Bronze, Rondo Masquerade, and the JAMMitors both in the U.S. and in Japan. He also performed with the Central Florida Brass Band, Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, and many contracted Jazz Bands and Jazz Combos throughout the Southeast. Adam has performed in concert with Dave Samuels, Gregg Bissonette, Harry Allen, Wayne Bergeron, Jeff Rupert, Ney Rosauro, Arthur Lipner, and Ted Piltzeker.
Adam received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education in 2001 from the University of Central Florida where he studied Percussion with Jeff Moore and Jazz with Jeff Rupert . He was won many percussion and jazz awards through the years and is a Promark Drumstick and Mallet Educational Endorser.
Tim Hinton is a composer and arranger writing for concert and marching bands. He also serves as a consultant for all aspects of marching shows, from show concepts to drill and color guard. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his Masters from Georgia State University. Tim marched with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford Illinois for three summers (1980-82). He also taught marching with the corps during the 1983 season, learning many techniques of drill writing and cleaning that still serve him well as a consultant and show designer. Tim is especially proud to have won the DCI Individual and Ensemble Competition on french horn in 1982, being the first person in DCI history to receive a perfect score of 100 in individual competition.
Tim taught in the public schools for 10 years and developed a highly successful band program at Dunwoody High School in Dunwoody, Georgia. While there his bands consistently received superior ratings in concert and marching performances and his marching productions were heralded for their creativity and originality. Tim now creates shows for many of the nation’s top marching units each year and works part time as a personal trainer. You can learn more about his business by visiting his website at www.timhinton.com. Tim lives in Orlando, Florida with his partner, Lee, and their dogs Gus and Sally. He serves as a program consultant for TCI.
Todd Leighton has been a music educator in the state of Florida since 1989. During this time, he has been a clinician, arranger, and composer for many successful high school band programs. For the past 9 years, Todd was the Director of Bands at Lake Howell High School, where the band program consistently received superior ratings and many awards and is now the Director of Bands at Paul J. Hagerty High School. In addition, Todd served as a director of Gotha Middle School for one year.
His students have marched: Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, Boston Crusaders, Magic of Orlando, Santa Clara Vanguard, Southwind, Teal Sound and the Madison Scouts. His former students have taught: Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders, Southwind and the Carolina Crown.
As a clinician, Todd has taught and arranged percussion music for such schools as Buchholz, Lake Gibson, Port St. Lucie, Lake Howell, and Haines City High Schools. As a performer, Todd has marched with the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as performing in many ensembles at the University of Central Florida. Todd also performed as a student musician for the Walt Disney World Company and later performed professionally in the “Founders of Freedom” Fife and Drum Corps at the Magic Kingdom.
Todd holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Central Florida and an Associate in Arts degree from Polk Community College. Todd has been awarded the Silver Scholar Award at Lake Howell High School and the Principal’s Award. Todd has also been awarded the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and has been teacher of the week for the Orlando Sentinel. In addition, Todd was a guest conductor for the 2003 Tangerine Bowl Halftime Presentation. Todd is currently a member of FBA, MENC, PAS, and FOA. He serves TCI as a consultant to the program and staff.
Thad Anderson presides over the Percussion Studies program at The University of Central Florida. In addition to the percussion area, he also teaches courses in music composition and technology. Furthermore, Dr. Anderson currently serves as artistic director of the Cage Percussion Players, an ensemble dedicated to the performance of historic American percussion ensemble repertoire.
Active as a solo, orchestral, and chamber musician, some of Dr. Anderson’s performance credits include Days of Percussion in Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma, the Texas Music Educators Association convention, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Victoria Bach Festival, Austin Chamber Music Center, Round Top Festival-Institute, Austin, Waco, and Brevard Symphony Orchestras, and as a guest soloist with Conspirare and the Monroe Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Anderson specializes in the creation and performance of new music through commissioning and by collaborating with composers. Some of these projects have produced new works by Paul Lansky, Jonathan Kolm, Halim El-Dabh, and Travis Jeffords. Also active as a composer, Dr. Anderson wrote and recorded the soundtrack for the award winning documentary film Standard Deviation. Universal Edition, +Two Media, Santa Barbara Music, and C.F. Peters are currently publishing some of his compositions and adaptations.
Thad Anderson plays Yamaha Percussion, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and Remo Drumheads. Thad will serve TCI as a consultant to the music program.
Patrick Seidling is currently Stanbury Uniform Company’s Regional Manager for the California and Las Vegas territory and manager of artist relations for all drum and bugle corps partnerships.
Most recently the director of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from 2001 through 2006, Seidling was an integral part of the corps’ return to the competitive elite. In 2003 he received the Drum Corps International’s coveted Dr. Bernard Bagg’s Award for Outstanding Leadership.
Prior to his work with Phantom Regiment, Seidling was an assistant director in the Madison Scouts organization and served as director of Kentucky’s Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. Pat has also worked with the Pioneer and Velvet Knights drum and bugle corps. Pat was most recently added to the Adminstrative team of the Concord Blue Devils.
Seidling has extensive experience in the marching band and education world. A student leader in his high school music program and a 3-year member of the Louisiana State University Golden Band from Tigerland, he was also a member of the famed Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.
A former classroom teacher, Pat earned the “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award from the Victorville (California) school district in 1992. Pat’s involvement in the indoor drum line activity includes serving on the management team of 5-time WGI World Class champion Music City Mystique from 2000 to 2003, and as an active clinician and adjudicator for indoor drum circuits across the nation.
Pat continues his involvement in the marching activity by serving as an advisor to bands throughout southern California, including the Pasadena City College Lancer Band. He is actively involved with the 12-time DCI Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps and serves on the Participation Review Committee for Drum Corps International. Pat also continues to adjudicates at marching band competitions throughout the country and is an advisor for several music programs in Brazil, where he travels frequently.
Pat holds a degree in Education from Louisiana State University and lives in Santa Clarita, California with his wife Tamee.
Michael James was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, and graduated from the University of South Florida where he received a BA for Modern Dance Performance. After college, he performed in the American Stage Company’s “Shakespeare in the Park” Series for five seasons, as well as dance and choreography for the Children’s Theater Tour.
Michael was a scholarship student at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Beckett, Massachusetts, where he studied under Linda Kent and Carolyn Adams. He also danced with The Men Dancers of Jacob’s Pillow International Touring Company, which allowed him to dance and teach in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was also a member of The Repertory Dance Theatre of Utah.
As a color guard designer and choreographer, Michael has worked with Cypress Creek HS, Seminole HS, Tarpon Springs HS, The Company Winter Colour Guard, Kennesaw Mountain HS (GA), Miamisburg HS (OH), Pope HS (GA), Center Grove HS (IN), and Northmont HS (OH). He’s also been on staff with The Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, Carolina Crown, The Magic of Orlando, and Timber Creek HS for the last six years.
Michael’s choreography has also been viewed at Pleasure Island with the Pleasure Island Explosion Dancers, University of Central Florida’s Starlet Knights Danceline, University of South Florida’s Herd of Thunder and winter guard, the Orlando Fringe Festival, and numerous other high schools and colleges around the country. He will serve again as a consultant to the visual program.
Jeremy Harrington is a web and product designer living in Des Moines, Iowa. For the past 12 years Jeremy has designed web sites and products for clients like Yahoo!, Sony, FX Networks, LEGO and General Motors. His expertise ranges from interface and application design to icon and visual identity. He and his wife Angie, daughter Ella and son Cooper lived for several years in the Orlando area and have since returned to Iowa to be closer to family.
Jeremy attended high school in central Iowa and marched at drumline competitions around the midwest. An avid jazz fan and musician he studied with Ed Shaughnessy and Kenny Washington among others, performing on CBS sunday morning with the last remaining members of the Ellginton orchestra. While his friends we’re off marching corps he chose to spend his senior summer in Interlochen, Michigan under the instruction of Floridians Beth Raddock and Keith Aleo. While in college he was briefly a student of Clif Walker at Truman State in Kirksville, Missouri. His biggest claim to fame is recording at Daniel Lanois’ now defunct Kingsway Studio in New Orleans with several members of the band Blind Melon. He is the web designer and administrator for TCI.
