Frontier Announces 2009 Caption Heads
Joining the corps this year as brass caption head is Mike Rossi. Currently Mike is an active member of the Allen (TX) Philharmonic, and an active substitute trumpet player for the Fort Worth Symphony, Irving, Plano, and Richardson Symphonies, all in the Greater Dallas Area.
Mike was the director of Music for two years at Southwestern Oregon Community College where he taught music theory I, and II, and music history. He conducted the orchestra, concert band, community choir, jazz band, and chamber choir,
Mike marched in the Velvet Knights in 1987-88, Santa Clara Vanguard in 1989, and “The Commandants Own”, the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps 1990-93. He was a performing member and featured soloist with Blast II Shockwave in 2003, and in 2004 was the Visual Caption Head for the Blue Stars.
Mike holds degrees in music performance on trumpet from the University of Kentucky, Akron University and is presently finishing his doctorate in Music performance on trumpet from the University of North Texas. He has taught master classes in Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, Nevada, Arkansas, and Oregon at the College and at the High School level. Mike is also an active marching band judge for USSBA in Allentown, PA, a judge for solo & ensemble competitions in several states, and has been successfully teaching private lessons for over 15 years.
Leading and designing the color guard is Jenn Vaught. Jenn has previous experience within the color guard community in North Texas as well as nationwide. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and works within the DFW area for a healthcare provider in travel, housing and payroll. Jenn marched with Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps for three years. She placed in the top ten for DCI Division 1 I&E Auxiliary twice. She also performed with the open class Ars Nova Winter guard at shows involved with the North Texas Color Guard Association and qualifying for finals at WGI in Dayton.
Her teaching experience spans several programs within the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She taught at Sherman High School in Sherman, Texas, Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, as well as Lewisville High School and Hebron High School.
The percussion section will be lead by Johnnie Young. Johnnie previously worked with Frontier in its first two seasons. He was on visual staff, but now returns to head the percussion program. Johnnie brings 20 years experience teaching percussion in Louisiana working with instructors Marty Hurley, and Troy Breaux. He moved to Texas 5 years ago, and is currently teaching in Highland Park, TX. His percussion line recently finished second in the class A Plano Drum Line Contest, and first in the 4A classification and second overall at the Mesquite Contest in 2008.
Staff Coordinator Steve Severance said that “Johnnie brings a commitment to Frontier that we find valuable. He wants to be with us as we work to build this drum corps to the level we want to accomplish.”
The visual caption head and designer is Jason Hodges. Jason is from Arlington, Texas where he is studying music education at The University of Texas at Arlington. While at the university, Jason studied design under David Carbone, Todd Zimbleman, and Dr. Mathew Luttrell. Jason is currently principle Horn of The University of Texas at Arlington Wind Symphony under the baton of Dr. Douglas Stotter
Mr. Hodges taught and designed for many State finalist and BOA bands in the North Texas region including Aledo (4A State Finalist, BOA San Antonio Class A Champions), Mansfield High School, and Everman High School. He also served on administrative staff with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps of Allentown, Pennsylvania and the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps of Lacrosse, Wisconsin.
For more information about the corps please visit the corps website at http://www.frontiercorps.org.
