In 2019, the Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band from San Antonio, TX won the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional for the third time with a record score of 97.30 winning outstanding visual performance and outstanding general effect with their show, ‘Secret World.’ After bursting onto the scene in 2000, the Reagan Rattler Band has won countless contests & Bands of America Regionals and placed in finals 5 times at the BOA Grand Nationals Championships in Indianapolis, IN.,...

William Pitts (b. 1986) is a composer, conductor, and arranger from Atlanta. Growing up in Carrollton, Georgia, Pitts graduated summa cum laude from Emory University, where he studied saxophone, conducting, and composition. He has completed graduate study in Music at North Georgia University and the University of Michigan. Pitts most recently served as the Brass Arranger for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Illinois. As a member of the corps, Pitts served as a Conductor...

In 2019, the Vandegrift High School Marching Band from Austin, TX won the Bands of America Grand National Class 4A Championship sweeping all captions and was named Grand National Champion with a score of 97.18 winning the award for Outstanding General Effect with their show, ‘Aria: Queen of the Night.’ After bursting onto the scene in 2010, the Vandegrift Viper Band has won countless contests & Bands of America Regionals and has also been a consistent UIL State Marching Band finalist...

After winning their 2nd DCI world championship in 1995 with their show ‘The Planets,’ The Cavaliers drum & bugle corps fell to 4th in 1996 and dropped to 7th place with their 1997 production, “The Firebird.” The lowest the corps had finished since finishing 8th in 1984. The Cavies then moved back up to 4th place in 1998 and then received the bronze medal in 1999 with their show, “Classical Innovations.” That 1999 show also saw The Chicago Cavaliers taking home their fourth High Percussion...

“Proud, Loud, and Pleasing the Crowd.” This is the mantra of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle corps. And it’s safe to say that since 1938, the Scouts have consistently brought audiences to their feet with their entertainment-focused programs. And while the corps had won two DCI world championships, in 1975 & 1988, for some, it was the shows of the 1990s that really solidified the Madison Explorer Scouts as one of, if not the favorite corps in all of DCI. Whether you were an alum of the...

In 2002, The Cavaliers went undefeated for the season and won their third DCI title in a row, a feat that had only been accomplished by the Garfield Cadets in 1983, 1984, & 1985, with a record-high score of 99.15 From 2000 to 2002, the Green Machine took home caption awards for Best Color Guard in 2000 & 2002, Best General Effect in 2001 and 2002, Best Visual Performance in 2000 and 2002, Best Brass Performance in 2002, and Best Percussion in 2000. When it came time to design their...

From 2000 to 2009, no drum corps was more dominant than The Cavaliers from Rosemount, IL. During that span, they won 2 bronze medals, 2 silver medals, and 5 world championships. They also took home awards for Best Color Guard Performance in 2000, 2002, 2004, & 2007, Best General Effect in 2001, 2002, 2004, & 2006, Best Visual Performance in 2000, 2002, 2004, & 2006, Best Brass Performance in 2002 & 2006, and the Best Percussion Award in 2000. After winning three straight...

In the fall of 2001, The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps had just won their second consecutive world championship and 4th to date with their show, ‘Four Corners.’ After winning in 2000 with their show “Niagara Falls” which included music from and inspired by the piece of the same name by composer Michael Daugherty, the Cavies turned to original music from their composer & arranger, Richard Saucedo for their 2001 championship show. When it came time to design their 2002 show and chase...

RYAN GEORGE currently resides in Austin, Texas where he is active as an arranger and composer. His work, ranging from music for the concert stage to music for marching ensembles is performed regularly throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Ryan completed his first work for concert band in 2007 and since then his works have received performances at the American Bandmasters Association Convention, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, W.A.S.B.E., the Music For All...

http://www.mikebishopmusic.com/ Do you remember Sledgehammer, by Peter Gabriel, Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins, or Nasty (Nasty Boy) by Janet Jackson? What about three of my favorite movies of all time; The Transformers: The Movie, One Crazy Summer, or Flight of the Navigator? Can you recall who won the 73rd Tour de France that year? It was Greg LeMond. The most popular male name of 1986 was Michael and it just so happens on a beautiful 74-degree day in San Diego, California, Michael Edward...

On Monday, November 27, 1989, George H. W. Bush was president.  In that special week of November people in the US were listening to Blame It On The Rain by Milli Vanilli. In the UK You Got It (The Right Stuff) by New Kids On The Block was in the top 5 hits. Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase was one of the most viewed movies and Alien Nation was one of the most popular TV series of the year. And in Southfield, Michigan, home of the “mixing bowl,” Geoffrey Aron Sperling was born. Geoffrey...

It was Thursday, under the sign of Leo. The US president was Ronald Reagan, the actor! And no, the Vice President wasn’t Jerry Lewis. In that special week of August people were listening to Endless Love by Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie and watching The Cannonball Run at the local picture house. And in the sleepy little town of Indianapolis, IN (the Crossroad of America), Jennifer Nicole Barton was born into this world on August 20, 1981. Jen Barton is currently the color guard director at...

On July 20, 1976, the Viking 1 lander touched down on Mars and set back the first close-up photographs of the rust-colored Martian surface. Hank Aaron hits his last big league home run, his 755th and establishes the all-time major league record for career home runs. And in the town of Pittston, PA, The Quality Tomato Capital of the World,  Jude Joseph Boughton burst into this world with all the splendor and majesty worthy of a debut. Attending Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a focus...

https://vandoren-music.com/ Evan Christopher VanDoren is a freelance arranger, composer, designer, and educational consultant living in the greater Austin, Texas area. After graduating with honors from Butler University in Indianapolis, Evan joined the band staff at Cedar Park High School. During his tenure, Cedar Park’s marching band was named a UIL Texas State Marching Champion three times, as well as a BOA Grand National Finalist twice. Evan has been involved in the drum corps community...

Wesley Sullivan currently serves as the Director of Legal Operations for FloSports. His focus is on change management, cross-departmental efficiencies, and legal support in music licensing, mergers and acquisitions, rights contracts, and customer-facing portions of the business. His time at the company has seen him in several roles, mostly in the legal department, but Wesley began his time at FloSports as the Senior Manager of Rights Acquisition for FloMarching.  Wesley has been active in the...

Chelsea Levine is an entrepreneur and cymbal technician based out of Nashville, TN. She’s dedicating her post-marching career to the advancement of marching cymbals through teaching, building her company Seavine, & co-founding The Cymbal Scholarship. Chelsea has marched and taught in various groups around the world. She was fortunate enough to perform with Rhythm X, Crossmen, Jersey Surf, United Percussion & Gateway Indoor. Upon aging out, Chelsea has been a cymbal technician for...

Chris Komnick assumed the role of Executive Director in the fall of 2008 after previously serving on the Madison Scouts’ board of directors. He was a board member of Drum Corps International from 2012-2020 and served as the Vice-Chairman. At the conclusion of the 2012 season, he was selected as the DCI “Director of the Year”. Before taking the role of Executive Director, Chris was a serial entrepreneur with a primary focus on technology startups. He was responsible for developing product and...

Chris Komnick assumed the role of Executive Director in the fall of 2008 after previously serving on the Madison Scouts’ board of directors. He was a board member of Drum Corps International from 2012-2020 and served as the Vice-Chairman. At the conclusion of the 2012 season, he was selected as the DCI “Director of the Year”. Before taking the role of Executive Director, Chris was a serial entrepreneur with a primary focus on technology startups. He was responsible for developing product and...

N-BEAM Consortium Every day we hear and experience music that has incorporated music technology, through electronic components and instruments, to positively contribute to the listener's overall musical experience.  Electro-Acoustic (EA) music is now widely accepted in music - in both production and performance - from scores created for screen and stage, to popular music, and even the professional classical orchestra stage. As technology becomes a more important part of the daily life of our...

Dr. Bradley Kent serves as State Director of Music for the University Interscholastic League, where he oversees a system that provides educational competition for some 750,000 student participants in Texas. Prior to his UIL appointment, he held the position of Director of Fine Arts for the Richardson Independent School District, where he administrated all Band, Choir, Orchestra, Visual Art, and Theatre programs. Dr. Kent began his career as a band director in the Lewisville Independent School...

Dr. Bradley Kent serves as State Director of Music for the University Interscholastic League, where he oversees a system that provides educational competition for some 750,000 student participants in Texas. Prior to his UIL appointment, he held the position of Director of Fine Arts for the Richardson Independent School District, where he administrated all Band, Choir, Orchestra, Visual Art, and Theatre programs. Dr. Kent began his career as a band director in the Lewisville Independent School...

If you’re like me, you know Erik Kosman from his unfiltered Facebook posts about pageantry, Chicago sports, & longest marching band names (words & syllables). But Erik is also a highly sought-after designer, consultant, and educator in the marching arts. He has worked with many of the top ensembles in DCI, WGI, and BOA, including The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, The Woodlands High School Marching Band, and the Avon High School Indoor Drumline. Erik is currently the head of audio...

The year was 1979. Jimmy Carter was president, Sony released the Walkman, and Margaret Thatcher is the first woman elected Prime Minister in the UK. And on May 1st, Jeremy Wayne Spicer was born in San Antonio, TX, “Military City, USA!” Jeremy Spicer graduated from Texas State University and is the owner of SASI – The Leadership People, LLC., a student leadership consulting firm focusing on the empowerment of young leaders. Jeremy or “J-Spice” as he is known all over the known universe is the...

Dr. Andrea E. Brown was appointed the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland in 2018. In this position, she conducts the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble and serves as the Director of Athletic Bands. Brown is formerly a member of the conducting faculty at the University of Michigan where she served as the assistant director of bands and was a faculty sponsor of a College of Engineering Multidisciplinary Design Project team researching conducting pedagogy technology....