Bickford Joins 7th Regiment Percussion Team
7th Regiment is pleased to make its final staff announcement before commencing the 2012 season. Michael Blancaflor will be returning for his third season as Percussion Caption Head and is looking forward to beginning work with Jeff Bickford, who will join 7th’s instructional staff as Battery Coordinator/Arranger. Michael and Jeff will represent the percussion caption together in the corps’ design team, with Michael writing the front ensemble charts and Jeff arranging for the battery.
Jeff Bickford is excited to return to his roots in open class, having marched 3 years with the Spirit of Newark Drum and Bugle Corps (2003-2005) and marching the 2006 season with the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2007, Jeff found his home at the Boston Crusaders, marching there until his age-out in 2009. In the summer of 2008 and 2009, he was the section leader of the tenor line and received the Jim Cronin award for outstanding leadership in 2009. During his drum corps career, he performed numerous times in the DCI individual multi-tenor competition placing as high as third in 2006 and 2007. After aging out, Jeff was the tenor technician for the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps from 2010 to 2011.
In addition to being involved in drum corps, Jeff marched in WGI with United Percussion from 2005 to 2008, winning the PIO World Championship in 2007 and moving to World Class in 2008. He currently serves as the tenor tech for United Percussion. Jeff has worked with various high schools in the New Jersey area such as Franklin High School and Hunterdon Central Regional High School. He currently arranges for the Hillsborough High School Marching Band. Jeff completed his B.S. in Physics and Computer Science and is currently completing his M.S. of Computer Science at Rutgers University. Outside of the marching activity, Jeff spends his day working on mobile security research at AT&T. He is excited to be working with 7th Regiment this season.
Returning staff members Colin Mason and Tom Sulzicki, front ensemble instructors; and Brendan Mason, battery instructor; will once again offer their expertise and dedication to the 7th Regiment. Chris Horvat will round out the 2012 edition of 7th’s percussion staff, joining as Percussion Consultant. Chris marched in The Cadets tenor line from 2000-2002 and currently serves as Drumline Instructor and Arranger for the University of Connecticut Marching Band. His prior teaching experience includes Waterford High School (CT) and the Connecticut Hurricanes.
Visit our Staff Page for up-to-date listings of the 7th Regiment Instructional Staff, and stay tuned to the website for a preview of the 2012 7th Regiment Program.
