City Sound Announces Loney As 2015 Program Coordinator

City Sound is pleased to announce Darren Loney as Program Coordinator and Brass Caption Head and the return of other valuable brass staff members.

City Sound is glad to welcome Mr. Darren Loney as City Sound’s new Brass Caption Head and Program Coordinator. Darren is currently the director of Instrumental Music at Gahr High School in Cerritos, CA. Prior to teaching at Gahr, Darren spent four years as the Director of Instrumental Music at La Quinta High School, in La Quinta, CA. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach, where he studied trombone performance with James Miller, principal trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; in 2008, he received the Bob Cole Conservatory Music Education award. He completed Level II Kodlày Certification Studying Kodlày methodology, solfege, conducting, and folk song analysis. Darren was a member of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, as well as a marching member and instructor at Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps. Darren holds membership in the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association, California Music Educators Association, the Golden Key International Honor Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the International Thespian Society.

Returning to the corps staff is Shane Reider. Shane stepped in and helped spear head City Sound’s visual program last year. This year he will be a key member of the brass staff. Shane holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Bob Cole conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach. There he studied with Jeffrey Reynolds and Steve Trapani, trombonists of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Most recently, Shane earned a Masters of Arts, Music from the University of North Texas; there he studied trombone with Vern Kagarice. Shane’s master’s thesis: The Natural Learning Process and its Implications on Trombone Pedagogy, has been published by the Toulouse Graduate School at the University of North Texas. Shane is a member of the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association, Pi Kappa Lambda Honors Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Shane is also an alumnus of the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.

Returning to the brass staff for a second season is Robert “Bob” Briggs. Bob will be wearing two hats this season acting as brass staff member and Staff Coordinator. Bob studied French horn at Bob Cole conservatory of Music at

California State University Long Beach. He has been teaching high school bands in the Southern California area since 1984. He has also been on the staffs of high school and independent winter guards that have won multiple medals in WGASC and WGI competition. In addition to instructing and working as a freelance clinician, he is also a show designer and arranger. His design experience includes high school band, winter guard and percussion shows, as well as college bands and drum corps. Bob is also a lifetime member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Music Fraternity.

“This is a great opportunity for prospective members to come and see what Drum Corps is all about”, said City Sound Director, Nathaniel Lewis. “We have assembled an awesome brass staff with the goal of giving our kids the very best instruction available.”

City Sound along with the Los Angeles Youth Arts Organization is bringing the disciplines of performing arts back to the City of Los Angeles.