7th Regiment Announces 2012 Brass Staff
The 7th Regiment is pleased to announce the reappointment of Raymond Fallon, Jr. to the position of Brass Caption Head. Ray has been a valued member of the organization for four years and will return to lead the brass section for his third year as Caption Head. He is excited to resume working with returning brass instructor, Matthew Lagarde, who continues to offer his expertise, motivation, and haunting recorder melodies to the corps.
Sadly, Ali Quirk and Kevin Lam have chosen to part ways with the brass staff to pursue exciting career opportunities. Hopefully, they will not be strangers to the 2012 edition of the corps!
With respect to the fantastic job their parting instructors have done in previous seasons, exciting opportunities are in store for the 7th Regiment 2012 Brass musicians as the corps is pleased to hire two excellent musicians and educators to supplement the staff: Julio Cruz and Kristen Richard.
New York native Julio Cruz currently serves as the newest member of the Nautilus Brass Quintet from Boston, Massachusetts. After spending three years in South Florida receiving his Master of Music degree from the Lynn University Conservatory of Music, Julio has begun work with NBQ on a chamber music Performer’s Certificate at the University of Connecticut in the Fall of 2011 under the guidance of Dr. Louis Hanzlik (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra & Atlantic Brass Quintet). Julio completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music and has also done undergraduate work at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. Julio has performed throughout the East Coast, playing concerts at venues such as the John C. Borden Auditorium in Manhattan, Long Island’s Tilles Center, Friedberg Hall in Baltimore, and the Bank Atlantic Center in South Florida. Mr. Cruz has had the opportunity to perform under the batons of Maestros Michael Tilson Thomas, Marin Alsop, and Alasdair Neale. Ensembles with which Julio has performed have included the New World Symphony, the Manhattan School of Music Symphony, the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, the Chesapeake Orchestra, the West Islip Symphony, the Long Island Youth Orchestra, and the Chesapeake Youth Orchestra. As an educator, Julio maintains a private brass studio and serves as a marching and music instructor with Mineola and Lindenhurst High Schools on Long Island. A 2001 member of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Julio looks forward to re-entering the world of Drum Corps as a member of the 7th Regiment Brass Staff.
Texas native Kristen Richard is currently a student of Eric Ruske and is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Horn Performance at Boston University. While at BU she serves as a Graduate Assistant to the Marching Band and Pep Bands. In May of 2011, Kristen graduated Magna Cum Laude from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance. Other private instructors include Dr. Mary Burroughs, Rachel Niketopoulos, Chris Caudill, and Michael Thornton. Kristen played mellophone as a member of Revolution 2003, Crossmen 2004-2008, and Cadets 2009. After aging out, she was on visual staff with the 2010 Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps. In 2008, Kristen toured Japan as a cast member in the Music Motion Theater show “Odyssey.” During this tour she had the opportunity to work closely with WGI Hall of Famers Scott Chandler and Karl Lowe, Blue Devils Brass Arranger Wayne Downey, and other marching music industry leaders. Kristen has performed in venues including JCB Hall in Tokyo, Carnegie Hall, and Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Kristen is affiliated with Every Nation Ministries, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, and Omicron Delta Kappa.
As the “off-season” becomes shorter and shorter, please stay tuned to the website for exciting announcements regarding the 2012 7th Regiment Percussion Staff!
