MEET THE 2015 READING BUCCANEERS PERCUSSION STAFF! We are pleased to introduce you to the fine men and women who will lead the 2015 Reading Buccaneers percussion program. This is an exceptional team of designers and educators! Percussion Arranger and Caption Head JOHNNY TRUJILLOs experience in drum corps started in 2001, marching three years in the Phoenix Drum & Bugle Corps, one year (2004) in the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps, two years (2005 and 2006) with the Cadets, where he aged out. He began teaching the Reading Buccaneers percussion section in 2007 and became the caption supervisor and battery arranger in 2012. In 2011, he also began teaching the Cadets as a part of the percussion instructional team. Johnny graduated from West Chester University with a degree in music education in 2006 and began his tenure at a Norristown Area High School, where he currently conducts the concert band and teaches piano classes. In the spring of 2014, he earned his Master’s degree in education from Cabrini College. Johnny is an active adjudicator (2010-present) for U.S. Band in both their marching band and indoor circuits. He currently resides with his wife and wonderful family in Phoenixville, PA. This is MIKE LALLI’s fifth year with the Reading Buccaneers and fourth year as the Front Ensemble Coordinator. Currently, Mike also teaches the front ensemble for the world class indoor ensemble, United Percussion. Mike has been teaching in the Philadelphia area spanning over ten years starting in 2003 at Norristown High School. He has also taught and written front ensembles for North Penn High School, Upper Darby High School, and Timber Creek High School, helping all three programs become WGI finalists. Mike graduated from West Chester University in 2006 with a degree in percussion. While at West Chester University he was a guest marimba artist in concerts around the Philadelphia area and was also the primary timpanist for NFL films. FRANK FRANKO (Front Ensemble, Sound) has been involved in marching percussion as an educator for over twenty years. He has worked with numerous high school programs throughout eastern Pennsylvania, including Central Bucks West, Quakertown and North Penn, having success with both marching band and indoor percussion in USSBA, BOA, Tournament of Bands, Cavalcade of Bands, Mid Atlantic Percussion Society and WGI. Frank was on the instructional team with WGI Independent Open class finalist Aftermath Percussion as the front ensemble coordinator in 2002 and 2003. In 2008 he was a part of the front ensemble staff for the WGI Independent Open class silver medalist Penn State Indoor Drumline. Frank was also on staff at Penn State in 2009, where he served as one of the ensemble coordinators. In 2003 Frank started his tenure with the Reading Buccaneers as the Front Ensemble Coordinator, continuing in that position until 2007. In 2009 he returned to the Bucs as a front ensemble technician. Beginning in 2010 Frank stepped back from the rigorous rehearsal schedules to focus on his career and family. Still wanting to contribute to the activity, he began offering consulting for amplification, sampling and electronic sound production to various high schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey on a part-time basis. Since 2001, Frank has been a member of the National Judges Association as a percussion judge for the Tournament of Bands and Tournament Indoor Association. For the past several years, he has mentored and trained new judges to become certified NJA percussion adjudicators for the fall marching band season and on the indoor music caption. MATT BRACCIANTE (Front Ensemble) has been involved in the drum corps activity for the past seven years. Originally from West Chester, PA, he began teaching at the Buccaneers in 2012 as a tenor instructor, after completing a marching career with the Buccaneers (2008-09) and the Cavaliers (2010-11), whom he assisted in winning DCI’s Fred Sanford Award for High Percussion in 2011. While working on his B.A. in Percussion Performance at Millersville University, Matt began performing professionally with Portal Percussion, a chamber percussion trio comprised of fellow Millersville grads. Together they have performed a broad variety of keyboard and orchestral percussion works all across the mid-Atlantic region, including the Pennsylvania and New York Percussive Arts Society chapters’ ‘Day of Percussion.’ Since completing his degree in 2013, Matt has been based out of Lancaster, PA, enjoying increased performance opportunities with Portal. He has previously served as an instructor and arranger for the indoor and outdoor percussion programs at Coatesville Area Senior High School, and is currently the Battery Coordinator and Arranger for the Millersville University Marauder Marching Band. Matt is looking forward to bringing his expertise to the Buccaneers front ensemble in 2015. PATRICIA JEFFERS (Cymbals) is returning to Buccaneers percussion staff for her second year. She started her drum corps career with the Buccaneers as a member of the cymbal line from 2008 to 2010, winning three world championships. In 2010-2011 Patricia joined the world class percussion ensemble United Percussion for the indoor season. She participated in various circuits such as WGI, MAPS, and U.S Bands. In 2011, she was given the opportunity to travel to New York City to record with Madonna for her 2012 Super Bowl halftime show. Patricia has been an instructor for high school marching bands and indoor percussion units. In 2008, she began teaching at Timber Creek High School in New Jersey and later moved on to teach at North Penn High School in Lansdale, PA as a cymbal and visual instructor. Patricia is a recent graduate of Temple University with a degree in Psychology. She is currently employed with The Pathway School working in its Emotional Support program. The Emotional Support (ES) Program is designed to provide academic, emotional, and behavioral support to students ages six to fourteen who are unable to participate in regular educational programs because of moderate-to-severe behavioral and social skill impairments. RYAN TRUMAN (Tenors), an alum of North Penn High School, was a member of the Buccaneers from 2009 to 2012. During his time as a marching member, Ryan studied under several great teachers, including Johnny Trujillo, Andrew Barlow, and Matt Bracciante. For the following season, Ryan capitalized on his accumulated experience and successfully auditioned for The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, where he continued his studies under Mike McIntosh, Brian Tinkel, and Eric Ridenour. In 2014, Ryan rejoined the Buccaneers family as a member of the percussion staff. Ryan has also taught several high schools in the area, including Spring-Ford High School and Daniel Boone High School. Ryan is presently on staff at North Penn High School and Cadets Winter Percussion. In addition to his teaching assignments, Ryan is a full-time student at Drexel University, where he is working to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in international relations, international business, and economics. BRANDON ISHAM (Snares) began his marching career under the instruction of Andrew Hostetler as a student in the First Class Percussion studio. He began his drum corps experience in 2006 playing snare drum for the Jersey Surf under Rich Hammond’s instruction. Brandon continued to march Surf through 2009, serving as the drum captain in 2008 and 2009. From there he went on to join the Cadets under the instruction of Colin McNutt in 2010 and 2011. Brandon has also toured and performed professionally with Windish Music and Productions. As a regular performer for the recycled drumming group “Junk Rock” he has performed up and down the East Coast. Brandon spent two years performing with the award winning Hershey Park production titled “The Cocoa Rhythm Factory.” He has also played drumset with the classic rock cover band “The Screaming Mummies,” which performs during the Halloween season at Hershey Park. Brandon has been on percussion staff for several high schools. He was the front ensemble and battery instructor for West Chester East High School and battery arranger and coordinator for Coatesville Area High School, earning High Percussion awards with both schools. He currently is on staff with East Pennsboro and Mechanicsburg High Schools. Brandon also serves as the Snare Technician for the WGI World Class finalist United Percussion. Brandon holds a degree in Early Grades Preparation from West Chester University. He currently spends his days teaching fourth grade in the Harrisburg School District. SARAH FABIAN (Bass Drums) was a five-year marching member of DCI, aging out with Carolina Crown in 2009. Before Carolina Crown, Sarah marched with the Jersey Surf from 2005-2008. She was also a four-year member of the world-class indoor drumline United Percussion from 2007-2010. In 2010, Sarah served as the bass tech for the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps. The following year, she joined the percussion staff as the bass tech for the Crossmen and became the bass tech and choreography designer for United Percussion for 2011 and 2012. This past year, she taught at Cadets Winter Percussion. Sarah is a graduate of Towson University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education with a concentration in Percussion. She is currently the Assistant Band Director at Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Maryland. She also works with several other Maryland marching ensembles as both their caption head and music arranger and is endorsed by Vic Firth. Outside of the marching world, Sarah teaches private lessons at the Baltimore School for Drumming. We thank FRANK McGUIGAN for his years of excellent service to the Buccaneers and wish him and his wife Alicia well as they prepare to welcome their firstborn child. We are pleased that he will remain involved with the corps as a Battery Consultant. Frank started his drum corps career as a member of the Buccaneers percussion section from 2000 through 2004. In 2006, he joined the percussion staff of the Jersey Surf, serving as snare drum instructor, and continued in that capacity until 2009. Frank has also been an instructor for several high school marching bands and indoor percussion units, most notably: Spring-Ford HS, North Penn HS, Methacton HS, Aftermath Percussion, and the Penn State Indoor Drumline. Frank is also a certified Ensemble Music and Percussion judge for Cavalcade of Bands, and in the winter season, has served as Cavalcade’s Indoor Percussion Supervisor as well. Outside of drum corps, Frank works in the clinical data management department for a global pharmaceutical contract research organization. We are seeking members in all sections to comprise the 2015 edition of the Balance in Blue. It all gets started on Sunday, November 30 with Membership Day 2015 at Twin Valley High School, Elverson, PA. Join us!
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 01:01:43 +0000
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