ATX Winterguard 2009-2010 Staff Announcement

[ATXguard]

ATX Winterguard is proud to announce our 2009-2010 Design Team!

Michael J. Vazquez – Director, Administration

Michael Vazquez has 19 years instructional, managerial and administrative experience with colorguards, marching bands, and drum corps-including Pleasant Valley High School, Emmaus High School, Barbara Goleman High School, Lehigh Valley Knights Drum Corps, Frontier Drum and Bugle Corps, and Austin Stars Drum Corps. He is currently a visual judge for marching band and an equipment and ensemble analysis judge for winter guard and the director for Austin Stars Drum Corps. Michael is an associate project manager at an international publishing company.

Judith Easton – Director, Design

Judy Easton is originally from Maryland. She has performed with Frontier, New York Skyliners, Reading Buccaneers, and CLASSICS winterguard. Judy has taught many successful colorguard programs in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Florida. She is a co-founder of Tectonics Indoor Percussion and sits on the board of directors for Renaissance Drum and Bugle Corps from York, PA. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in psychology at University of Texas.

Lou Crognale – Visual Designer

Lou Crognale returns to ATX for his second year as visual designer. Lou began his drum corps career performing with Crossmen at the age of 15. He went on to perform with Southern Knights (and later worked on colorguard staff with the group), and Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps. He has instructed numerous award winning high school guards in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, and Florida. Lou also taught Art 101 and Collage winterguards for several years. Lou primarily works as a managed care pharmacist but also assists with local high school color guard programs.

Jen Gilliland – Movement Designer

Jennifer returns for her 2nd year with ATX. She has performed with a BOA finalist high school, Collage and Art 101 Winterguards, and Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corp. She instructed for Fred J. Miller Inc. for 3 years and has instructed several award winning color guards in Ohio and Florida. She has a law degree and Biology degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She enjoys a career working with animals at the Baltimore Zoo and is currently researching animals in the wild in New Zealand.

Moses Ramos – Movement Instruction

ATX welcomes back Moses Ramos. A Texas native, Moses has been involved with and teaching colorguard and dance since 1997. He has performed with the Cavaliers and taught with Revolution Independent Winterguard and Revolution Drum and Bugle corps. Moses has consulted for several school districts in south Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma.

Sergio Ortiz – Flag Instruction, Movement tech

Sergio also returns to ATX for the second year, this time focusing on flag instruction. Sergio is originally from Uvalde, TX, where he performed with Uvalde high school. He has also performed as a member of Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps and Revolution Independent Winterguard. Sergio has instructed at Leander HS, Lake Travis HS and is currently the colorguard instructor at Wimberly HS and Lehman HS.

Troy Zappata – Sabre tech

Troy is originally from Utah. He was a member of Nolan Independent Winterguard (Independent A) in 2006, and he's currently the colorguard instructor for Shoemaker High School. He was originally a trumpet, french horn, tuba player but always loved winterguard season. He recently completed his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at University of Texas and plans to go back for pharmacy.

Michael James – Consultant

As a color guard designer and choreographer, Michael James is currently designing and choreographing for Cypress Creek HS, Freedom HS, Timber Creek HS, The University of South Florida Fall and Winter Color Guard, and Americus HS, as well as The Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. His has also worked with The Company Colour Guard, Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Pope HS. Michael was also the director of The Knights Winter Guard.

Nhu Trinh – Consultant

Nhu Trinh attended completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Music at TAMU-C for flute in 2001. She was a member of her high school and college guards which led to marching the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps in 2000. Nhu's has also performed with Nolan (Independent World) in 2002, 2004, and Code Black (Independent World) in 2008.

Nhu's teaching experience ranges from cadet winterguard to drum corps and independent winter guards, including Revolution Drum & Bugle Corps, Revolution Independent Open Winterguard, Lewisville HS Colorguard, Mansfield HS, United, and Cedar Park HS. She continues to consult various programs throughout Texas. Nhu currently lives in the Dallas area teaching the Desoto HS Band and Color Guard.

Delia Tovar Botbol – Consultant

A color guard instructor since 1989, Delia Tovar Botbol is in her 10th year as the Instructor for the University of Texas Longhorn Band Color Guard. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Delia graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. She has been a color guard instructor for Lone Star Drum and Bugle Corps, 1996-1997, Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps from 2001-2003, consulted with Revolution Independent Winter Guard and has taught several color guards in the Austin area. She also served as one of the coordinators for the Longhorn Music Camps from 2001-2007. Delia currently works in a Social Behavioral Skills Program class at Austin High School and is the color guard instructor at Austin High School.

Edited July 9, 2009 by ATXguard