Fusion Core Announces 2016 Visual Team

[CalebDeGroote]

FUSION would like to announce the Visual Team for their 2016 season. The 2016 staff will have both familiar and new faces. Fusion is excited about the talents and experiences that the new visual team will bring to the table, and we are confident that the Core will continue to provide quality education to our members and entertaining shows for our fans.

The 2016 visual staff has been involved with a variety of DCI, DCA, indoor percussion, and high school marching band ensembles. Pulling on these diverse experiences, Fusion Core is looking forward to establishing a visual program that will continue to elevate our members’ achievement and create memorable moments on the field.

Steve Rinda | Visual Designer and Coordinator

Steve Rinda began his drum corps career as a hornline member for the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps and began teaching on the visual staff in 2004. While at the Bushwackers, he also served as drill designer and visual caption head for a number of years. In 2010 he spent the summer on the visual staff of the Connecticut Hurricanes. From 2012 through 2014 Steve was on the visual staff of the Reading Buccaneers. Steve is also the drill designer for a number of high school programs in the area and around the country. When he is not involved in the activity he is a social studies teacher in suburban Philadelphia and spends time with his fiancé and two boys coaching various sports.

When asked about his thoughts on the upcoming 2016 season, Steve stated “I am excited to join Fusion as Visual Designer and Coordinator and take the lessons I have learned from my drum corps mentors to take the Core to new levels. Fusion has been really successful in the last couple years and I look forward to building on the success in 2016. I think we have assembled a tremendous design and educational team that will put our members in a great place and put out an entertaining show for DCA.”

Justin Wilson | Visual Caption Head

Justin Wilson began marching Drum Corps with the Reading Buccaneers in 2007. In 2008, Justin marched with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and then returned to Reading for their 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 seasons. He was a soloist his last three years at the Buccaneers, and the Horn Sergeant for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Justin taught at Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 as a Visual Tech.

He studied Music Education at both West Chester University and Rowan University, and currently holds a position as a paraprofessional at Cherokee High School.

Justin is currently teaching his eighth season with Pennsauken High School Marching Band, and the his second season with Pennsauken Indoor Percussion Ensemble. He has written drill for Pennsauken High School and Bensalem High school. He also currently holds a AAAI/ISMA personal trainer certification.

Jeff Leager | Visual Tech

Jeff is currently a senior attending the University of Delaware, where he is working towards a degree in Music Education with a focus in instrumental education on his primary instrument, tuba. Jeff was a member of the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens Marching band serving as drill coordinator for the band his last year. At the University, he is involved in many performing and academic ensembles. Previously, Jeff has served as Vice-President of the University of Delaware Collegiate Chapter of the National Association for Music Education.

He began his marching career with the Reading Buccaneers, where he marched from 2010 through 2012. He was the visual instructor for Windsor Regiment in 2014.This will be Jeff's second year on staff with Fusion Core. Since 2012, he has been working with the Avon Grove High School marching band serving as a music and visual technician. The ensemble was the 2012 Cavalcade of Bands Champions. The ensemble has since been a top qualifier in both Cavalcade of Bands and Tournament of Bands. In the winter and spring, he serves as the Director and Visual Designer for the Avon Grove Indoor Percussion Ensemble.

Jeff has worked with numerous other marching bands in the tri-state area as a designer and a consultant. In 2013, he was a judge for the Maryland All-State Senior and Junior Bands. He served as the assistant director for the Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens (DFRC) All-Star Blue-Gold Marching Band in 2012. He has also performed in independent groups such as the Chesapeake Brass Band where, in 2013, the group won the division II championships at the North American Brass Bands Association championships held in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Katrina Williams | Visual Tech

Katrina Williams returns to Fusion Core for her third season as a staff member. She spent the first two seasons as the tuba music tech and has now transitioned to the visual team for the 2016 season.

In 2008 Katrina graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin where she earned her Bachelors Degree in Music Education, majoring on Saxophone and minoring on Bassoon and Tuba.

She is the Visual Caption Head and drill writer for Louis E. Dieruff High School in Allentown, PA where the band competes in the USBands circuit. Katrina has also previously worked for Northwestern Lehigh High School as a visual consultant and tech.

Katrina spent 2004, 2006 through 2010, 2012 and 2013 with the Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps where she played tuba all eight seasons.

Currently, Katrina resides in Allentown, Pennsylvania and is working for a clinical trial pharmaceutical company providing assistance to medical sites.

Carla Giorno | Visual Tech

Carla Giorno began marching drum corps with the Reading Buccaneers in 2010 as a rookie trumpet soloist. Carla marched with the Hawthorne Caballeros in 2011, and then rejoined the Buccaneers from 2013 to 2015. She was the trumpet section leader in 2014. Carla graduated ### Laude from West Chester University and holds two Bachelor Degrees, one in Music Performance (Trumpet) and one in Communication Studies. Carla’s marching experience includes the West Chester University “Incomparable” Golden Rams Marching Band, where she was a member from 2006 through 2010. She is an alumnus of the Eta Rho Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and holds a Level 1 CrossFit Certification. Carla currently works in Manhattan for Pfizer World Headquarters as a Promotions Manager in the Marketing department. She resides in Wanaque, NJ.

Ernesto Lara | Visual Tech

Ernesto marched with the Bushwackers for five years, from 2005 through 2008 (horn sergeant his final year) and again in 2010. In 2011 and 2012, he was the horn sergeant with Windsor Regiment. Since then, he has become a United States Marine. He currently resides in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

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Caleb DeGroote

Fusion Core, Public Relations Director

www.fusioncorenj.com

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