Fusion debuts new website and announces 2015 Design Team

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Fusion Core debuts our new website and announces our 2015 Design Team.

While Fusion’s website may be new, we are very pleased to announce that our entire team will be returning to continue where we left off for 2015.

Fusion’s team is dedicated to providing our members and drum corps community another unforgettable season. You too can be part of this up and coming “Core”. Sign up at www.fusioncorenj.com.

Fusion Core 2015 Design Team

Robert Watson will be returning as our Production Coordinator, Guard Designer and Caption Head. Team members also include Chris Bernotas, Brass Arranger/Composer, Scott Brown, Brass Caption Head, Mike Durburow, Visual Caption Head, Mike Schmitt, Battery Arranger and Ensemble Coordinator, Mike Wyatt, Front Ensemble Arranger, Ralph Marino, Design team member, Al Chez, Design Consultant , Ian Flint, Drill Designer. New to our Design team is Tim McLaughlin and Joe White. Both returning staff members.

The following is background on each design team member:

Rob Watson, Production Coordinator, Guard Designer/Caption Head

Throughout his 16-year career, Rob has remained active in the marching arts and education. Many are familiar with his work with Emanon Winter Guards: 2013 Caption Head of Emanon A Guard and a show designer of Emanon Open Guard’s 2010 "Seated Perspective" show (WGI IO 6th Place) - and currently, he resides on the executive administrative team.

Rob is proud to return as Production Coordinator and Color Guard Caption Head for the 2015 summer season. He has assembled a instructional team of some of the best color guard designers and technicians in the industry — culminating last year’s production of “Dreamscapes” with a World Champion Color Guard trophy at the DCA World Championship in Rochester, NY.
Rob has taught and consulted with numerous high school, college, drum corps, marching band and winter guard ensembles all around the country, receiving numerous accolades, with units including Southern Regional HS (NJ) 2003-2008, Middle Township HS, Toms River East HS (NJ) 2009-2012, West Orange HS (NJ) 2011, Washington HS (MO) 2011.

Rob also serves as a national color guard and visual performance adjudicator for several marching arts and winter guard associations around the country. In 1999, Rob was named among the "Top 10 Performers in the World" by Field & Floor Magazine. Rob resides in Mount Olive, New Jersey and is the Vice President of User Experience for the Advertising Specialty Institute, a leading agency in promotional marketing and advertising.

Chris Bernotas, Brass Arranger/Composer

Chris is an active composer and arranger of concert band music. Mr. Bernotas is published with Alfred Music Publishing, Daehn Publications, TRN Music Publishing, Northeastern Music Publications and Bandworks Publications. His music has been performed at the Midwest Clinic and has appeared on J.W.Pepper's Editor's Choice list and numerous state lists. Mr. Bernotas is co-author of the third book in Alfred's revolutionary method Sound Innovations series, called Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development, along with Peter Boonshaft.

Mr. Bernotas holds a BM from William Paterson University and an MAT from Marygrove College. As an instrumental music teacher at Mountain Lakes High School in New Jersey, he conducts the wind ensemble, concert band, pep band, jazz band, and pit orchestra. Mr. Bernotas has served the North Jersey Area Band as President, and Symphonic Band conductor. He has also served on the executive board for the New Jersey School Music Association, Region I, and has worked with the NJ All-State Band as a manager. His accomplishments include writing and arranging music for many drum corps and marching bands throughout the United States. He also adjudicates for marching band competitions and festivals nationwide. His professional affiliations include MENC, ASCAP, NBA, and NJMEA. Mr. Bernotas resides in New Jersey with his wife Cristina and three children. Specifically for drum corps, Chris has written for the Caballeros, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Sunrisers, Carolina Gold, Pheonix, and Magic of Orlando.
Fusion brass members have loved playing Chris’ charts over the last few years and we are very excited to have Chris return to The Core for a fourth season.

Scott Brown, Brass Caption Head

Scott Brown, returns to Fusion for a third season and second as Caption head. Scott was quoted as saying, "I love having the opportunity to work with such a fine organization and with such quality and talented people." Scott brings a strong knowledge of brass pedagogy to our group having studied Trombone with Tyrone Breuninger of the Philadelphia Orchestra, jazz trombonist Urbie Green and conducting with Claude Pichareau of the Paris Conservatory. Prior to working with Fusion, Scott worked with the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps (2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011), winning DCA's coveted High Brass award in 2006.
When Scott isn't teaching the Core, he is working as a music teacher with Northwestern Lehigh Area High School. Scott is an active freelance brass musician performing though out Pennsylvania, New Jersey, NYC, Delaware and Connecticut. He is often found performing with such groups as The Anthracite Brassworks, The Mixolydian Brass, Endless Mountain Brass, Soul, Souled Out, Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax, The Wyoming Valley Civic Orchestra, and others.
Scott holds degrees in Music Education from Wilkes University and The American Band College, and has done post graduate work at The University of the Arts and Villanova University.

Mike Durborow, Visual Caption Head

Mike Durborow, returns for a fourth season with Fusion Core, having a long history in the drum corps activity including DCA and DCI. Mike is a great motivator with his “can do attitude”. Mike began his drum corps career marching with the world acclaimed Muchachos Drum & Bugle Corps in 1967 – 1977, performing as Drum Major in 1977 and in winter guard from 1968 – 1973. He continued on to teach Garfield Cadets in 1979-80. In 1983 Mike joined the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum & Bugle Corps and was Drum Major for the 1983 and 1984 seasons. He continued with the corps as part of the visual Staff from 1985 – 1993. Mike served as visual caption head from 1994 – 2005 and Staff Coordinator 2002 – 2005.

Ian Flint, Drill Designer

Ian Flint returns to Fusion for his second season. Ian currently lives in Dartmouth, MA. He works full time for the Dartmouth Public Schools as the district wide brass specialist where he teaches 5th-12th grade group lessons. He also serves as a show designer and visual coordinator for the marching band and indoor percussion ensembles. In the past 8 years the marching band has won 5 USSBA National Championships and the indoor percussion has won 3 WGI World Class Championships.

Ian also works as a drill designer and program coordinator for marching bands and indoor percussion ensembles. He designs for numerous bands across the country every season and many of these bands have found success by winning both their state and circuit championships. In the indoor percussion activity Ian has designed for such groups as King Philip Regional HS, Penn State University, OC Indoor, Boston University, Westhill HS and Norwalk HS, and all have been WGI Finalist ensembles.
Ian holds a Bachelors in Music Performance (Tuba) from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and completed a music education certification through the State of Massachusetts. He was a member of The Cadets from 1998-2000 and worked on visual staff with The Cadets from 2004-2007 teaching both the hornline and percussion sections. This will be Ian’s second year with the Oregon Crusaders organization where he serves as the Visual Caption Supervisor and will be moving in a new role as Program Coordinator for the Drum Corps.

Mike Schmitt, Music Ensemble Coordinator and Battery Arranger

Mike Schmitt, Music/Ensemble Coordinator and Battery Arranger, began his drum corps career serving the roles of marching member, technician, Caption Head, and Arranger at the Hawthorne Caballeros from 1999-2010, earning a world championship in 2003. In 2011, Mike joined the Connecticut Hurricanes as Caption Head and Arranger through 2012.
Mike is heavily involved teaching both marching bands and indoor drum lines. His teaching career began as Caption Head and Arranger for the Parsippany Hills High School (NJ) from 2001-2008. While in this position, his drumline won 4 state drum titles, 4 national drum titles, and 4 overall band championships.

Mike taught for seven years at Westhill High School in Stamford, CT, as Arranger and Ensemble Director. During this time, Westhill's percussion ensemble won state championships three times, became a WGI finalist in 2012, and won the US Bands Indoor Championships in Group AA in 2012.

During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Mike was Caption Head and Arranger for Pequannock Township High School in Pompton Plains, NJ. This ensemble won the Best Percussion award at both the US Bands States and National Championships in 2011 and were the US Bands Indoor Champions in Group A in 2012.

In addition to Parsippany, Westhill, and Pequannock, Mike has been involved with a large number of high schools, including Stamford High School, Roxbury High School, Ramapo High School, Morristown High School, Pompton Lakes High School, West Essex Regional High School, Wayne Valley High School and Ramsey High School. Fusion’s percussion took huge steps in the last 2 years. I look forward to my 3rd season with the core.

Mike Wyatt, Front Ensemble Arranger

Mike Wyatt, has been active in the marching community for over fifteen years. As a performer, he was a member of the WGI World Class finalist United Percussion, and was also the Front Ensemble Captain for the nine-time world champion Hawthorne Caballeros from 2005 through 2009. As a teacher and arranger, he has worked with the Hawthorne Caballeros, DCI's Raiders, United Percussion, and most recently was Assistant Caption Head and Arranger for the Connecticut Hurricanes. Mike holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies: Percussion Performance from the University of the Arts. Fusion is very excited to have Mike Wyatt return to Fusion for a second season. Drum Corps crowds were often “wowed” by Fusion’s front Ensemble and members excitedly performed Mike’s challenging writing. Mike is also the Band Director at Westhill High School in Stamford, CT.

Ralph Marino, Design Team Member

Ralph Marino, is excited to return as part of Fusion’s design team. Ralph is a founding father of Fusion. He started his drum corps career in Los Federales from Brooklyn New York so he could spend time with his father. Ralph has had a long career as a baritone soloist with many corps over the years. He has always been intrigued by the design process, often bringing ideas or musical selections to Fusion’s design team.

Tim McLaughlin, Design Team Member

Tim is excited to join Fusion as part of the Design team and to return to The Core's Guard Staff for his second year as the primary rifle designer and technician. With 10 consistent years of performing and teaching behind him, Tim offers a fresh take on choreography while capitalizing on weapon technique with his programs. He has taught extremely successful programs to date: Fusion Core (2014), Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps (2013), Sachem High School (2012), Cadets2 Drum and Bugle Corps (2012), Northern Highlands Regional High School (2009-2011), and Lindenhurst High School (2009).

Tim is no stranger when it comes to performance either, completing the most successful season with the Emanon Independent World winter guard (2010, 2013-2014) and has a marching history that holds his stake in the ground with Alter Ego Independent World (2011-2012), The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2010), Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps (2009, 2013), Regime (2008-2009), and the Sachem Flaming Arrows Marching Band (2003-2007).

Outside of the activity, Tim is a Packaging and Brand Designer in New York City and lends his graphic talents to winter guard set design, notably Trumbull High School (2011-2012), Alter Ego (2011-2012), and Redlands HS (2013). He currently lives in New Jersey.

Tim fit right in with Fusion last year, often confirming what it means to be part of a “family”. We are extremely excited to have Tim return to the Fusion family.

Joe White, Design Team Member

Joe White, Visual Instructor, studied Music Composition and Film at Brooklyn College and earned a degree in Media Communications from New York Institute of Technology. Joe has written music for a few films and commercials, and did production and sound mixing for movies including Friends with Benefits, The Bounty Hunter, and Men in Black 3 as well as TV shows including Pan Am, The Big C and Girls. Joe was an Emmy Nominee (Sound) for his work on Sex And The City. Joe’s passion is French horn, which he has mastered over the past 25 years influencing him to join drum corps playing mellophone and trumpet. Once he got the “bug” he continued on to play timpani, marimba and xylophone. Joe has marched with Bayonne Bridgemen, NY Skyliners, Crossmen, Sunrisers and Bushwackers. Previously he aged out of the Velvet Knights of Anaheim, CA in 1992 which was one of his favorite seasons on the field. Joe returned to Velvet Knights the following year as a Visual Instructor which began his teaching career.

Joe’s background includes Drill Designer and Visual Instructor for many drum corps, marching bands, winter guards and drum lines including the NY Skyliners, Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps, Sunrisers Drum & Bugle Corps, Brentwood HS Marching Band (NJ), Monroe HS (NJ), Hicksville HS (NY), St. Frances Preparatory (Queens NY), Winsor Central HS (NY) and Malverne HS (NY). Joe has also performed and instructed Pegasus Winter Guard as well as Saturday Matinee. Joe is married to Maria White and they enjoy life with their 4 kids -Tim, David, Elijah and Cecilia and their Great Dane, Charlie on Long Island.

Joe has giving back to Fusion in more than just teaching. He’s always displayed the real meaning of being a “Team player”. We are so fortunate to have Joe and this entire team as part of the Fusion Family.

Al Chez, Design Consultant

Al Chez is currently touring with “Al Chez & The Brothers of Funk Big Band”, which is his “personal expression in the world of music – all set through the big band style”. Al has been seen and heard every night on "The Late Show With David Letterman” in a 15 year run as the featured trumpet player appearing on both CBS and NBC. Al previously toured or played with Bonjovi, Robert Cray, Tower of Power, Arturo Sandoval, The Young Rascals, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Maynard Ferguson, Eric Clapton and The Dave Edmunds Band, to name a few.

When asked why drum corps work is so important to him, Al said “I told you I had the secret! I HAVE FOUND THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AND IT’S WORKING WITH KIDS!!!” Mr. Chez has been involved with many drum corps over the years beginning in 1969 with The Saints from New Jersey. In the late 70's early 80's Al became a marching member and soloist of The Garfield Cadets. Al has also performed with The Bushwackers and Reading Buccaneers.

After his marching days were over, Chez became a Brass and Visual Instructor. He was part of the team that was instrumental in winning numerous Drum Corps International Championships. Al has also worked with the Brass lines and design teams of The Oakland Crusaders, Reading Buccaneers, The Cadets, The Crossmen, The Bushwackers, Kingston Grenadiers, Empire Statesmen, and returns to Fusion Core for a fourth season.

Mr. Chez also worked for numerous high school bands and colleges across the country. Al holds an honorary Masters Degree in music performance. He is an active Yamaha clinician Artist and speaker throughout the country. In addition, Al is a member of The Crossmen Hall of fame , New Jersey Drum Corps Hall of fame , The John P. Stevens Hall of Honors, Drum Corps Buglers Hall of Fame and The Cadets Hall of Fame.