John is the Elementary School Principal for Saint Cecilia School in Pennsauken, NJ. He also serves as the Assistant Band Director for Gateway High School, Woodbury Heights, NJ. John served as the director for Eagle Percussion from 1999-2002 and is currently the executive director for United Percussion. John’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science-Accounting; Bachelor of Science-Finance; and a Bachelor of Science-Marketing from Drexel University. John also attended Rowan University and received a Post-Bac. Certification Program for Secondary Education. John’s other teaching experience includes Haddon Heights High School-'99-'01 and Collingswood High School '96-'00.
MARCEL ROOS
OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS DIRECTOR
Marcel started with UP in 2005 and has assisted the operational side and logistical part of the organization. Originally from Holland Europe, Marcel came to the States in 1994 and is married to the love of his life, Joyce, whom he met when they marched in the Crossmen together. They have a set of triplets who are currently 7 years old: Mackenzie, Matthew and Marcel. Little Marcel loves the drumline scene so you will see him around at shows. During the day Marcel is the General Manager of the Residence Inn in Cherry Hill, NJ. Marcel comes from an extensive drumcorps and marching band background and has been one of the assistant directors at Cherry Hill West HS for over 10 years where he teaches with both his wife Joyce and Uncle Chesta.
His drumcorps experience started in Holland with Excelsior, Avant Courir, Beatrix and Blue Wave and continued in America with his marching experience in the Crossmen. Besides several local bands and indoor high school drumlines, Marcel has assisted with The Jersey Surf for several years as well. He is excited to be a part of the team that is about to enter their first year in the World league of WGI and is proud of the progess the organization has made over the last couple of years.
DESIGN/INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM
CHAD MOORE, ESQ.
DIRECTOR OF UNITED PERCUSSION / CO-BATTERY ARR.
Email: info@unitedpercussion.net
Chad began his marching career with the 15-time Atlantic Coast Champion Middle Township High School Marching Band. In 1993-1994 Chad marched snare with the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps. Chad currently teaches and arranges for MTHS High School. During his span with MTHS, they won 15 ACC titles including 7 straight, 4 percussion titles and 8 top three percussion placements. MTHS has also won 3 TIA indoor titles during that span, including 2 undefeated seasons. In 2001 Chad joined the two time WGI PIO finalist Riptide Indoor Percussion Ensemble as the battery instructor. From 2002-2003 Chad served as the percussion caption head and arranger for the 2002 WGI Mid-Atlantic Regional finalist and 2003 TIA PSO bronze medalist Archbishop Ryan.
Chad has been with United since its inception. In that span the unit has medalled 3 times. In 2007, the unit was named the WGI PIO World Champions. Chad has been a member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board since 2003 and is a current member of the Vic Firth Education team. Chad’s educational background includes a B.A. and J.D. from Rutgers University. He practices civil law in New Jersey and was recently named a partner in the law firm Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas.
WILLIAM WOODWARD (AKA WOODY)
COMPOSER/ARRANGER
Woody is currently the acting Band Director and Instrumental Music Teacher for Winslow Township High School. His recent achievements include: 2006 Marching Unit Director, Hatboro- Horsham High School- Cavalcade of Bands American Division Champions; High Percussion, High Music, High Marching, High General Effect, High Color Guard. 2006-07 Music & Percussion Arranger, Springs-Ford HS, Royersford, PA- Atlantic Coast Championship Group IV, Chapter III, 2004-07 Indoor Percussion Director, Plymouth-Whitemarsh HS- Cavalcade of Bands Indoor Percussion Champions, 2004-06 Arranger & Percussion Instructor , Hammonton HS, USSBA Group I State Champions.
Woody has been Caption Head, Percussion Composer and Arranger for Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps (5 Time National Top 5 Group II Finalists, Marching Member, Composer & Arranger for Bushwhackers Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps (5 Time National DCA Champions), United Percussion Ensemble (3 time PIO Top 5 Finalist), Riptide Percussion Ensemble (2 time PIO Top 5 Finalist).
Woody has also taught percussion and drum lines for Upper Moreland HS, West Chester University, Southern Regional HS, Highland HS, and Pennsauken HS. He is also an independent composer for marching bands and indoor percussion ensembles in PA, NJ, GA, TN , FL & CA.
MIKE NEVIN
DESIGNER/CONSULTANT
Mike Nevin is an internationally recognized percussion composer, arranger, adjudicator and clinician. He has written for and taught many award winning ensembles including four-time WGI Independent World Class Champion, Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble, the two-time Winter Guard International Concert Class Champion, Gateway High School, and the 2004 DCI Champion Concord Blue Devils. This year marked Mike’s 12th season writing original music for the Blue Knights World Percussion Ensemble Most recently, Mike was the Percussion Specialist at Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Mike also travels frequently to Tokyo, Japan where he works with the All-Japan Marching Band Champion,
Renaissance Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, as their Front Ensemble arranger and instructor.
Mike has been a professional percussionist for 25 years, teaching and performing since age 15, and has experience playing a wide variety of instruments including drum set, keyboard percussion, timpani, symphonic percussion, marching percussion, hand percussion, steel pan and electronic percussion. Prior to relocating to Lansdowne, Pennsylvania area he spent the last 17 years freelancing as a percussionist in Denver, CO and the surrounding area, including Aspen and Vail, performing a great range of musical styles from Classical to Jazz and Rock. He has been a member of the Pan Jumbies Steel Band for over ten years, playing tenor and guitar pan, and has recorded two albums with the band.
As a member of the Pan Jumbies, Mike has had the opportunity to perform with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Denver Brass on several occasions. Mike received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Montana State University where he studied under James B. Campbell and Daniel P. Moore. He received his Masters of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, where he studied with Gary Barrier. During the 2002-2003 school year, Mike served as the interim Director of Percussion Studies at Colorado State Uni versity in Fort Collins, Colorado.
ERIC KITCHEMAN
VISUAL DESIGNER
Eric has been involved with pageantry his entire life. He began at age five when his father directed a drum and bugle corps in 1964. In 1980 his career began in the movement arts as a marching technician and indoor guard instructor for North Penn H.S. In 1981 he began his designing career by stepping up and writing the indoor color guard program and later the percussion program. In 1982 and 1983 he was a visual technician for the Westshoremen Senior drum and bugle corps. His first drum corps effort in drill writing was with The Conquest Alliance from Brighouse in the United Kingdom and he played a part in leading the corps to their first championship in 1986. Eric's first U.S. drum corps design effort was in returning to his alumnus the Crossmen and designing programs in 1987 through 1991, 1996 and 1997, staff coordinator in 1998 and finally the program coordinator and assistant director for the Crossmen in 2004. In addition he was the drill designer for the Velvet Knights in 1992 and 1993, the Skyliners in 1994 and 1995, the Spirit of Atlanta in 1999 and visual coordinator for the Bluecoats in 2001 and then designer in 2002. In 2000 he was hired to design the Buccaneers senior corps program where he remained until 2004. In 2006 and 2007 he returned to be the visual coordinator and designer for the Reading Buccaneers in which they achieved two undefeated seasons. In addition in 2007 Eric was hired by The Cadets as Assistant Program Coordinator and in 2008 as the Staff Coordinator, which he retains in 2009.
In addition he has designed for Indoor Color Guard and Indoor Percussion programs since the early 80's. He started with North Penn H.S. indoor guard programs in 1981 and then began designing indoor percussion drill in 1984. He has remains as a consultant for the indoor color guard and visual designer for the percussion program to this day. In 2005 he was the visual designer for Aftermath Percussion Ensemble, placing 2nd at WGI finals in Open Class.
Finally, Eric also consults with a variety of teams regarding design and planning. On winter weekends he is an adjudicator for WGI. Eric holds a bachelor's degree in History from Gynedd-Mercy College.
CHET TIETSWORTH
BATTERY TECH
Chet serves as the tech for the United snare line since its inception. A graduate of West Chester University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics. He is currently a Math and Science teacher at St. Cecilia Catholic School in Pennsauken, NJ and teaches the Cherry Hill West High School Marching Band. Chet marched in the Black Watch Drum and Bugle Corps in 83,84; Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps 86-91 and West Chester University Marching Band 95. Chet served as Crossmen snare tech from 92-93, Jersey Surf Percussion Caption Head from 94-99 and Riptide Indoor Percussion Ensemble snare tech 00-01. Chet’s other teaching experience includes, Pennsauken
High School Marching Band/Indoor Drum Line, Pennsauken, NJ 87-89; Henderson High School Marching Band/Indoor Drum Line, West Chester, PA 90-97; Hammonton High School Marching Band, Hammonton, NJ 98-99; Highland High School, Blackwood, NJ 99; and Deptford High School, Deptford, NJ 00-04.
DARICK KELLY
SNARE INSTRUCTOR
Darick Kelly began his marching career in 1997 at the age of thirteen, in a small DCI division
III New York City drum corps called the Kips Bay Knight Club, playing bass drum. In 1998 he
made the snare line in the same corps and has been a snare drummer ever since, and in
2000 joined the Cadets of NYC until 2003. During the fall of 2003, he joined the DCI
defending world champion Blue Devils from Concord, California, until his age-out year in
2005. During his time with the Blue Devils, he has performed all over the United States,
Europe and Asia, including the Wereld Muziek Concours in Kerkrade, Netherlands, and the
Seoul Drum Festival in Seoul, Korea. During the summer of 2005, Darick placed 2nd in the
DCI individual snare drum competition. His solo was also performed at the Seoul Drum
Festival in Korea. Outside of drum corps, Darick has conducted several clinics and masterclasses
in the tri-state area including at the Stony Brook University Day of Percussion, and is
an active educator in the New York City-metro area. Darick received his Bachelor of Music in
Percussion Performance from SUNY Purchase College- Conservatory of Music, Purchase,
NY, and is currently attending NYU as a Master's candidate in Music Education. Darick Has
studied with Dominic Donato, Thomas Kolor, Raymond DesRoches, Jonathan Haas, and
marimba virtuoso Simon Boyar. He has performed with the Purchase Symphony Orchestra,
The Purchase Percussion Ensemble, The Purchase Contemporary Ensemble, The Purchase
Latin Jazz Orchestra, The NYU Symphony Orchestra, and The NYU Percussion Ensemble
ensemble. Darick has performed at PASIC in 2004 with the Purchase percussion ensemble,
and The Blue Devils in Nashville TN, and in 2007 with the NYU percussion ensemble in
Columbus, OH. Darick has also performed in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center with the
Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. Darick has arranged for several marching bands
including Passaic High School, Park Ridge High School, and Hicksville High School.
He currently the percussion coordinator and arranger for the Walt Whitman High School
marching band in South Huntington, NY, and teaches privately in the New York City-metro
area.
BRIAN STOCKARD
BATTERY INSTRUCTOR
Brian marched in the percussion section for Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps from 1996-1999. He then aged out in the snare line with The Cadets of Bergen County Drum & Bugle Corps in 2000 when they captured the DCI Championship. After Brian aged out of drum corps, he became a full time percussion instructor in the Southern California area.
He has served on percussion staff for Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, San Diego State University, UCLA, The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, as well as many high school groups that compete in circuits such as WGI, BOA, WBA, SCPA, DCI, TOB & TIA.
Brian graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Business Marketing. He's toured internationally performing with various Percussion Performance groups.
He currently lives with his wife Megan in Mechanicsburg, PA where he owns and operates Coast to Coast Performance, a company that provides private drum line and color guard camps throughout the country. He is currently the Director of Battery percussion for the Mechanicsburg High School Marching Percussion Ensembles, and also serves on the percussion staff for The Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps.
Brian proudly serves on the Vic Firth Education Team, and is an endorser for Remo products.
MIKE RUSS
VISUAL TECH
Mike started Drum Corps with the Brigantine Seahorse Lancers '69 &' 70 (yes that's 1969). He went on to march with the Wilmington Blue Rock in 1974 and the Garfield Cadets in '75 & '76. He was Cadet of the Year in 1975. He has worked with various New Jersey HS bands including Woodbury, Mainland Regional, Southern Regional, Egg Harbor Township, and Absegami. He was an instructor for the Cadets in '82 & '86 and the Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps from '85 thru '87. Mike is presently the drill designer and program coordinator for Middle Township High School. During Mike's tenure Middle has won 15 ACC titles and 6 indoor titles. He is happy to be back for his 3rd year with United.
Mike works for an Architectural Firm in Cape May Court House, NJ and is married to Ginny Russ and has three kids, Rebecca, Zach and Sarah Beth.
LOU RANDAZZO
VISUAL TECH
Lou has been a member of the United visual staff since 2006. He gained his marching experience as a member and trumpet soloist of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from
2001-2003. He was Cadet of the Year in 2003. Lou's teaching experience began as visual caption head at Bensalem High School in Bensalem, PA, from 2002-2005 In 2003 he became the director, and led Bensalem to a TOB Championship, becoming the youngest director to do so in the history of TOB at age 20. Since 2005, Lou has held the visual caption head position for Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, PA, the only foreign musical ensemble in the world to perform at Beijing's Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall in the People's Republic of China. Since 2006, Lou has held the role of Assistant Band Director for the 15-time Atlantic Coast Champion Middle Township High School Marching Band.
He has served as an instructor, drill writer, and consultant for several bands in the area. Lou is also a visual judge for the National Judges Association. He earned his B.A. in Public Relations from Rowan Univeristy in 2007.
MIKE DOW
BASS TECHNICIAN
Mike Dow is a former member of United, having marched bass in 2004 and snare in 2005. He started his marching experience marching with the Absegami High School Marching Braves. From there, he marched drum corps, playing bass drum with the Crossmen (2001-2004) and the Madison Scouts (2006). He graduated from Rutgers University in 2007 with a degree in Computer Science. At Rutgers, Mike marched in the Scarlet Knight Marching Band (2002-2004). Other than at UP, Mike also currently teaches at Absegami High School, and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps. Mike would like to thank all the great people he has had the pleasure of marching under and working with in the marching percussion activity
such as Lee Beddis, Jerede Brown, Eric Kraft, Adam Miller, Frank Chapple, JJ Pipitone, Colin McNutt, Iain Moyer, Robert Marino, Dennis Delucia, Ed Choi, Carl Simpson, Jimmy Glenn, Tom Brown, Bill Woodward, Chet Tietsworth, Mike Nevin, Chad Moore, Brian Stevens, and Ralph Hardimon.
CHRIS "CJ" JOHNSON
BATTERY INSTRUCTOR
Better known to his friends as just "CJ", Chris has been long involved in the marching percussion activity. In 1986, he became a marching member of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. After his age out in 1992, he joined the percussion staff of the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps from 1993 to 1996, and 1998. After a brief stay with the Spirit of Atlanta 1999, he joined the percussion staff of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps where he helped contribute to a Drum Corps International World Championship in 2000, and two DCI World Percussion titles in 2001 and 2003. In winter percussion, Chris was the Caption Head / Battery Arranger for the Penn State Indoor Drumline from 1998 to 2001 and 2003.While there,
he helped lead the ensemble to a Winter Guard International Percussion Independent Open Championship in 2000. Chris is currently the Caption Head / Battery Arranger at Coatesviile Area Senior High School in Coatesville, Pennsylvania and is a member of the Vic Firth Education team.
CHRIS VANACORE
PIT INSTRUCTOR
Chris has been a member of the United staff since 2007. Additionally, she currently serves as the pit writer/instructor for Haverford High School and writes pit parts for additional high school pits. Chris previously taught the pit for Aftermath in 2006 and 2005 and served as the pit tech for Capital Regiment from 2002-2004. Chris also has taught both battery and pit at several schools in the greater Philadelphia region since 1999. She gained her marching experience at West Chester University, the Reading Buccaneers drum and bugle corps (1999, 2000) and at The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2001). Outside of music, Chris works in the business development department of a private equity asset management firm based in Bala Cynwyd, PA.
She also serves on the executive committee of the Tau Beta Sigma Alumni Association.
NICOLE MONTE
PIT INSTRUCTOR
Nicole started her marching career playing bass drum in the Archbishop Ryan high school drum line. Through her years of high school she played snare, bass and tenors. Nicole attended the University of Delaware for a degree in music education with a concentration in percussion performance. She studied with Harvey Price, Jim Ancona, Tom Palmer and Orlando Cotto. Nicole began her drum corps career in 1999 marching tenors for the Jersey Surf, in 2000 she decided to march in the pit at the Crossmen to advance her keyboard skills, Finally in 2001 Nicole aged out in the Glassmen pit, were she marched under Collin McNutt and Iain Moyer. After aging out Nicole taught the Crossmen pit in 2005 and 2006.
Nicole has taught at many local high schools including Archbishop Ryan, Triton, Glasgow and Upper Darby High School. She has been with Upper Darby for the Past 3 year and has won six championships with them. Nicole is currently working towards her masters degree in music education and teaching as a middle school band, choral and general music teacher in Marlboro, NJ.
KELY HOWELL
CYMBAL TECHNICIAN
Kelly is incredibly excited about joining the United Percussion team, where she will be serving as cymbal technician for this upcoming season. Very similar to most individuals in the activity, Kelly began her marching career while attending high school at Perkiomen Valley where she marched both bass and snare and acted as the drumline and concert percussion ensemble section leaders. She then decided to further her overall education and went onto attend the University of Massachusetts to pursue a degree in Political Science. Kelly was a marching member of the UMass drumline from 2001-2004 where she studied under Thomas Hannum, and Colin McNutt, and she also had the pleasure of teaching the cymbal line from 2002-2005.
During this time, Kelly wished to further her marching experience and auditioned for Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps where she was a member from 2002-2004 under Lee Beddis. After her aging out in 2004, she was asked to return to tech the Crossmen cymbal line for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Since her return to the greater Philadelphia area a little over one year ago, Kelly has been writing for and teaching Methacton High School as well as a few other groups in the area, however, outside of teaching Kelly works for the leading corporation in the advanced funding industry located in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
AMY THOMPSON
CONSULTANT
Amy returns to the Pit Tech position at United for the 4th season in a row. Prior to United’s inception, Amy was Pit Tech for Riptide ’02 where she marched in the pit ’00, ’01. Amy’s teaching experience includes writing and teaching for Penns Grove High School’s Marching Band Pit ’97 thru ’99; writing and teaching for Deptford High School’s Marching Band Pit ’00 thru ’04; Pit Tech for Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps ’04; Pit Tech for Bushwacker’s Drum and Bugle Corps ‘05. Amy is currently the Pit Tech for Bensalem High School’s Marching Band Pit. Amy’s marching experience includes Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps Pit ’96 thru ’00; Bushwacker’s Drum and Bugle Corps Pit ’03 thru ’05.
Amy attended The College of New Jersey where she earned a BS in Business Administration. While at TCNJ, Amy participated in the college’s Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble. Amy currently resides in Cherry Hill, NJ. In addition to her Pit Tech duties Amy also assists in the design and sewing of United’s uniforms.
MICAH KASMAN
DESIGN CONSULTANT
Micah's experience in the marching genre has included time as a marching member and a cymbal instructor with the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps. Micah became percussion caption head and percussion arranger for the 2001 and 2002 marching band and indoor percussion seasons at Washington Township High School in New Jersey. His accomplishments as caption head there include 5th place Scholastic A at the 2003 WGI Championships in Dayton, OH. Micah’s other teaching experience includes two TIA Championships as a cymbal instructor with Bensalem High School Indoor (PA). Micah's educational background includes a B.S. in Graphic Design Communications from Philadelphia University.
His profession as a graphic designer is at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California.
BRIAN EVANS
TENOR INSTRUCTOR
Brian started his marching experience with the Council Rock High School marching band in
Newtown, PA. He then went on to march three seasons with the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle
Corps in the quadline, spending his last year as the section leader. Brian was also a member
of United in 2007 when the ensemble won the WGI PIO gold medal, and aged out in 2008.
He has held the position of Percussion Caption Head and Arranger at Council Rock North
High School since 2006, and has taught both indoor and outdoor at various other schools in
the Bucks County, PA area where he resides. He is currently pursuing a degree in Music
Education and will hopefully graduate sometime in the foreseeable future. Brian is very
excited to be working with United this year.
MIKE WYATT
FRONT ENSEMBLE/RHYTHM INSTRUCTOR
Michael Wyatt is excited to return to United Percussion after aging out in 2008 as an Independent World Finalist.
Michael has been active in the marching community for over ten years. He started in this activity in 1998 as a member of the Highland Regional High School Marching Band.
During his schooling there, they won the 2000 TIA Scholastic A Chapter I Championship, and the 2001 TIA Scholastic Open All-Chapter Championship.
Mike has been teaching since 2002 at southern New Jersey schools such as Deptford, Burlington Township, and Eastern. Mike was also the front ensemble section captain for the 9-time world champion Hawthorne Caballeros from 2005 through 2008.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies: Percussion Performance from the University of the Arts.
In addition to his new role with UP, he also currently serves on staff Eastern Regional High School (battery instructor/arranger) and Burlington Township High School (assistant band director).
