Brigadiers Welcome Back Visual Design And Instructional Staff

The Syracuse Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps are pleased to welcome back their award-winning and highly talented visual design team and instructional staff. With the return of its visual designers and caption heads, the Corps is poised to embark upon yet another successful campaign in 2007.

Returning as the Visual Designer and Program Coordinator is Rick Morey, in roles he has filled with the corps since 1995. He has been the Brigadiers’ visual designer through all of its championship years and has been instrumental in bringing the corps to the highest levels of performance. Rick has adjudicated for DCI for 19 years and judged their championships 16 times. He has adjudicated for WGI, DCA and BOA, as well as numerous marching band festivals around the country. A past President of the New York Federation of Contest Judges, Rick has also been a clinician in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Rick was previously the Program Coordinator for Magic of Orlando in 2002 and 2003, Visual Designer for the Colts in 2004 and both Program Coordinator and Visual Designer for the Colts in 2005.

Returning for his 10th year with the Brigs, and his second year as Visual Caption Head, is Jimmy Allen. Jimmy has designed for and consulted with numerous bands, drum and bugle corps, and color guards over the past 30 years. He served as the judge coordinator for the New York State Field Band Conference from 1998- 2001 and also served as the Northeast Regional Director for Winter Guard International (WGI) from 1998-2001.

Jimmy has been a member of the New York Federation of Contest Judges since its inception in 1975, serving in several capacities including President, Visual Caption Coordinator, and Marching Band Caption coordinator. He has also served as an adjudicator for WGI, DCI, DCA and marching band festivals and championships throughout the United States.

The Brigs are also pleased to welcome back Michael Cesario, who returns as Visual Consultant to the corps for his 9th season. He is a recognized leader in design for performing and pageantry arts and is a former Director of Graduate Studies in Theatre Arts and Film Design/Technology at New York’s Purchase College. Known as a Costume Designer for Broadway, television, and Las Vegas, he is in demand as an instructor and adjudicator of high school bands and drum and bugle corps. His work is published in several texts and he has been honored with membership in the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame.

Also returning to the visual staff for 2007 will be technicians Larry Schmidt and Dawn Marie Mackiewicz. The Brigs are also pleased to welcome back Chris Calhoun, who, after many successful years with the Brigs in many capacities, will continue to lend his talents to the corps as a part of the visual staff.

On the colorguard side, Ryan Bronner will be returning for his second year as Colorguard Caption Head. Ryan has been involved with the Brigs since 1999 as both a performer and instructor. Locally, he has served as the drill writer for the Phoenix High School Marching Band, instructor with the Phoenix Senior Winter Guard, and as the show designer for the Cicero-North Syracuse Varsity Winter Guard for 2007. Ryan marched with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois in 2000-03, serving as the Colorguard Sergeant in 2003 and also taught the Canton Bluecoats colorguard in 2004.

Also returning to the Colorguard staff is Beth Calhoun. Beth has been involved with the Brigs for a number of years, serving the corps in various instructional capacities, including as Colorguard Caption Head, and has been instrumental in guiding the colorguard to numerous titles. Look for additional colorguard staff announcements in the near future on the corps’ website!

For more detailed biographies, please go to Visual Bios and Colorguard Bios .

The Brigs will be hosting their Open House and first rehearsal November 11-12, starting at 1:00 on the 11th. Further details will be posted on the corps’ website soon. Anyone interested in experiencing the Red and Black first hand should make plans to attend!

With roots dating to 1938, the Syracuse Brigadiers Drum & Bugle Corps was reorganized in 1991 after a nineteen-year absence from competition. The Brigadiers are 5-time Drum Corps Associates World Champions, winning titles in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, and are the only drum and bugle corps to ever win four consecutive DCA titles.

For more information, visit the corps’ website at www.brigadiers.com.