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We have a large number of used G Bugles available. Most are in great condition but they are used and could use some polishing. Once again they are all G Bugles... Baritone: 5 - Dynasty 3 valve, silver plate, w/ case, excellent condition $480/each 3 - Kanstul 3 valve silver plate w/ case excellent condition $510/each Melophone: 2 - Dynasty 3 valve, silver plate, w/ case, excellent condition $400/each 1 - Dynasty 2 valve, chrome finish, w/ case, fair condition $230/each Soprano: 1 - Dynasty 3 valve, silver plate, w/ case, *crease in bell* $275/each 4 - Dynasty 3 valve, silver plate, w/ case, excellent condition $325/each 1 - Dynasty 2 valve, chrome finish, w/ case, fair condition $225/each 2 - Dynasty 2 valve no case fair condition $175/each Contra: 2 - Contra 2 valve, no case, fair condition $575/each 2 - Contra piston rotary, no case, good condition $375/each 1 - Kanstul Grande 3 valve, silver plated, no case, good condition $1775/each 1 - Kanstul Grande 3 valve, silver plated, no case, fair condition $1575/each 3 - Dynasty Magnum 3 valve, silver plated, no case, good condition $1175/each Can be sold singularly and in bulk. Price does not include shipping. Email me at Nick@MarchingUSA.com for more information as well as photographs.

Hello drum corps family! My name is Kayla Cavano and I'm a Junior Music Education/French horn performance major at Miami University in OH. I have recently been contracted to march with The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps and am looking for sponsors. With paying for school, rent, and many other expenses a typical college student has to pay, an additional $3,400 plus about $1,000 in flights to CA is too great an expense to bear alone. Marching with The Blue Devils has been my dream ever since I saw my first drum corps show in 2008. However, I can't do it by myself so I'm asking for your help. After just completing our February camp, it's safe to say that this summer is going to be incredible. Being a music education major, there is nothing more valuable than marching drum corps and working with some of the best staff not only in DCI, but in the instrumental music activity. I can't wait to learn from this staff and become a better musician, athlete and educator. Marching with The Blue Devils will give me the tools to change my future students' lives. We all remember the first drum corps show we saw. For me, it was 2008 Phantom Regiment that made me fall in love with the activity. I fell even deeper in love when I saw 2009 Blue Devils. I can't wait to have that effect on someone this year. If you are willing and able, please consider making a donation to help me march this summer. My GoFundMe page is attached below, but if you would like a letter sent in the mail, send me your address and I will send one out. Thank you so much for your consideration and for helping me make my dreams become reality! https://www.gofundme.com/dmk3u9y4

Does anyone have any tuba exercises that would help me increase my technique on tuba?

I thought this video was pretty cool and different so i want to share it with ya'll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwTqC1ZWPY

Reading and listening to podcast now. 9 Proposals here---> http://www.dci.org/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210617288&DB_OEM_ID=33500 1 - Clarifying Use of Electronic Equipment and Amplification 2 - Allow Use of Metronome and Speaker in Warm-up 3 - Perc 1 Sheet Modification 4 - Perc 2 Modification 5 - Convert Perc 2 to Music Analysis 2 6 - Relocate Perc 2 to Front Sideline 7 - Relocate all Field Judges to Front Sideline 8 - Allow half tenths (.5) for judges 9 - Two Caption-Oriented Music Ensemble judges

I'm not one to be blown away by trailer music, but the last Star Wars TFA Trailer has been blowing my mind. With BD doing a Star Wars Duel of the Fates back 1999, why not this one. Perhaps Crown or BD could play an arrangement in the lot. I think I might arrange this myself, anyways Could you see these or other corps playing an arrangement of the this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCN9K_a-MpE

I'm lookong for Slightly used Setof G Bugles, Anyone in here who can help me please. Thanks -Suprano -Mellophone -Baritone -Euphonium -Grande Contrabass/ Magnum Bore Contrabass here's my email: baskiballares@gmail.com or you can chat me thru facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julsballares

So... I have finally come out of the wilderness and decided to march again... I've only taken a 23 year break, so not too long away from the game. I am marching 2016 with Kidsgrove Scouts. I played bari in Jr corps but these days I am playing tuba... which brings me to my point.... That ###### horn is the spawn of a demon. Any advice for a relative newbie to marching contra (tuba) with regards to particular excercises and also how to find the sweet spot on my shoulder for that bad boy to sit?

2016 Sunrisers Brass Team Announcement Visit: http://lisunrisers.org/2016-sunrisers-brass-team-announcement/ The Sunrisers announce the 2016 Brass Team! The Sunrisers are pleased to announce that Joseph Sitler continues as Brass Caption Head for the 2016 season. Joe is no stranger to the Sunrisers. He served as a Visual Staff Member for the Sunrisers (1994-1996) and as a Brass Technician from 1997-1998. In 2007, he was part of the brass staff that helped the Sunrisers win the DCA Class A Championship. Joe was the Program and Staff Coordinator for the Sunrisers from 2009-2012. He has been the Brass Caption Head for the Sunrisers since 2009. He was also inducted into the Sunrisers Hall of Fame in 2012. Joe is the Band Director of the Brentwood High School “Green Machine” Marching Band. He is currently in his 20th year of teaching in the Brentwood School District. Joe was the Band Director at West Middle School from 1995-2010, and has been the Band Director of the High School Symphonic Band since 2010. Joe has been an instructor in many areas of the marching arts. He was a Drill and Music Technician for the Brentwood High School “Green Machine” Marching Band (1989-1998), Associate Band Director (1999-2008), and has been the Director since 2009. He was also a Band Camp Instructor for the Arlington (NY) High School Marching Band (1997-2005). Joe graduated from Long Island University C.W. Post with Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education (1995). He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Music Education from the Aaron Copland School of Music at CUNY Queens College (2000). Mr. Sitler also received a Master of Arts in Wind Conducting from Hofstra University (2011). John Meyer joins us this year as a brass instructor. John is beginning his third year with the Sunrisers. In his many years in the marching arts John has been involved both as a tech and a marching member of several drum corps throughout New York State, including Long Island Jr. Blue Jays, West Sayville Golden Eagles, DCA champion Syracuse Brigadiers, and the Rochester Crusaders. While attending Syracuse University,John was a member of the Pride of the Orange Syracuse University Marching Band and the Sour Sitrus Society. He prides himself as being a student of some the greatest brass instructors and musicians in DCA/DCI, including Peter Blake, Donny Allen, Mike Dimeo, Dave Hamilton, Frank Ponzo, Tom Martin and Wayne Downey. John has also worked with several marching bands in the area including, Copiague, Huntington, Northern Highlands (NJ), Oswego, West Moreland, New Hartford, and Mineola. Alyssa Rizzuto returns as brass instructor. Alyssa is excited to be returning to the brass staff for the 2016 season a a brass instructor. She has been with the Sunrisers since 2009. From 2011-2013, she was an In-Line Brass Technician for the corps in 2014. She also held the position of Personnel Manager for the corps that year. Alyssa is currently the 7th and 8th Grade Band Director at Howard T. Herber Middle School in the Malverne School District on Long Island. She is also the Assistant Director of the three time state champion “Pride of Malverne” Marching Band. Prior to her current position, she was the Band Director at Catherine and Count Basie Middle School in Jamaica, NY. Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Hofstra University. She is currently enrolled in the Masters Degree program at the Aaron Copland School of Music at CUNY Queens College. She also maintains a private French horn studio and performs as a freelance musician in the New York City metropolitan area. We welcome her back! Tim Doran returns as brass instructor. Tim Doran graduated with Bachelors of Arts in Music from Western Connecticut State University in 2005. While at Western, he was a member of the Symphonic Band and Concert Choir. He was a featured solist during Mozart’s Regina Coeli with the Concert Choir and also appeared on stage in numerous WCSU Opera productions including featured roles in The Magic Flute, Street Scene, HMS Pinafore and Amahl and the Night Visitors. In addition to his musical accomplishments at Western, he also received the Vice President of Student Affairs award for leadership and was a member of the Connecticut State University System Board of Trustees. He was also a member of Who’s Who Among America’s College and University Students from 2002-2005. Tim’s professional experience includes working as the Administrator of Special Events and Stewardship in the Development Office at Western Connecticut State University and as the Manager of Operations and Student Life at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, MA. Currently, Tim is a brass instructor for the Mineola High School Marching Band in Mineola, NY and has also coached a trombone quartet at the high school. He is also an active member of the Music Ministry for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Lindenhurst, NY. David Abrams returns as brass instructor. David has been working with the Long Island Sunrisers since 2008. He held positions as an In-line brass tech from 2008-2012 playing soprano and contra. In 2013, he held the Executive Director position and was happy to lead the corps back to a performance on Sunday night at DCA Championships. David received his Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Connecticut in 2004 and his Master of Science in Music Education from Hofstra University in 2006. Currently, David maintains a private studio of low brass students ranging in age from 8-18 years old. David has taught bands on Long Island since 2004 including the Huntington HS Blue Devil Marching Band (2004-2006), Division Avenue HS Marching Band (Director, 2007-2010), Copiague HS Marching Band (Asst. Director, 2010-2012), and most recently – the Mineola Marching Band. Tom Lizotte continues as brass consultant. He adds this to his role of program and performance consultant for the 2016 season. Tom has had a long and varied career in the marching arts, serving at various times as design team member, brass caption head, brass technician and consultant for Boston Crusaders, Glassmen, Colts, 27th Lancers, Cadets, North Star, Syracuse Brigadiers, Connecticut Hurricanes and Rochester Crusaders. He is director of bands at Cape Elizabeth High School in Cape Elizabeth, ME., where he directs a program of two concert bands, three jazz ensembles and five jazz combos. He is an adjudicator for marching band and jazz and has appeared as an all-state and district conductor for festival groups in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. Tom is a member of the Maine Music Educators Association Hall of Fame as well as the halls of fame of the Massachusetts Drum Corps and Music Educators and Boston Crusaders. The Sunrisers are pleased to announce that J.D. Shaw has agreed to consult with the 2016 brass instructional staff. He also continues as brass arranger/composer for the corps. Drum corps membership first began for Shaw at the Sky Ryders and later, he aged out at Phantom Regiment. He joined the Regiment’s brass staff in 1993 and in 2002 began his tenure as a brass arranger/composer for the corps, through the 2011 season. In 2012, he moved to his current position of brass arranger/composer for the Santa Clara Vanguard. He has written for several other DCI corps, including the Boston Crusaders and The Academy. J.D. Shaw is Associate Professor of Horn at University of South Carolina and was formerly the French hornist with the internationally acclaimed Boston Brass where he was creative director, music arranger and co-owner of the ensemble. J.D. is an active solo artist and travels extensively throughout the United States as well as many countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. In addition, J.D. has also been a featured performer on National Public Radio’s Performance Today and the CBS Morning Show.

FUSION would like to announce a new Brass Team to lead the Core Brass in 2016. The 2016 Educational Team will be a mix of returning and new staff, all under the direction of our new caption head Brian Wilkie. Fusion has put together a team that will facilitate growth and development in each individual player. The staff is dedicated to focusing on refining member skills while nurturing the Fusion philosophy of entertainment and achievement. The 2016 brass staff has various backgrounds consisting of DCA, DCI, scholastic band programs, and formal education. We are confident that these will all culminate in one amazing summer of instruction, education and growth for our members and our Core. Please join us in welcoming returning staff as well as some new music educators to the team! Chris Bernotas | Brass Arranger & Composer, Design Team Member 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, in addition to Fusion Core, Chris has written for the Caballeros, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Sunrisers, Carolina Gold, Phoenix, 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 fifth season. Brian Wilkie | Brass Caption Head, Design Team Member Brian has been involved in the marching arts for over 35 years. His marching career began in 1976 as asoprano player with the C.W. Townsmen of Wood-Ridge, NJ. Afterwards, he became a soprano soloist with the newly formed DCI corps Royal Brigade from the Meadowlands, NJ. Following four increasingly successful seasons, Brian marched with the Garfield Cadets from 1981 to 1984 as a soprano player and soloist. He enjoyed being part of the corps’ ground-breaking and influential climb to ultimately winning ten DCI World Championships, winning back-to-back titles in 1983 and 1984. After aging-out, Brian was brought aboard the brass staff of the Cadets and served under the mentorship of James Prime, Jr. and Don Van Doren as the corps completed DCI’s first-ever “three-peat.” In 1991, Brian joined the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps as the organization’s first Brass Caption Head and served in that capacity through 1993, helping the corps gain a solid footing in DCI Open Class competition. Brian has also designed and taught both brass and visual programs for numerous award-winning marching bands, indoor color guards and percussion ensembles including Northern Highlands Regional HS (NJ), Pennsauken HS (NJ), Westwood HS (NJ), Rutherford HS (NJ), Lacey HS (NJ), and Parkland HS (PA). From 2000-2006 Brian was Music Caption Head and Assistant Band Director at Southern Regional HS (NJ), where the band rose from finalist in Tournament of Bands (TOB) competition in 1999 to winning 3 consecutive Group IV TOB Atlantic Coast Championships from 2003-2005, achieving Best Music and High Brass awards each time. Brian served as the senior brass technician for the World Champion Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps from 2004-2008. In 2009, Brian returned to the Jersey Surf as Brass Caption Head for the corps’ highly successful inaugural season in DCI World Class competition. From 2010-2011, while completing post-graduate studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Brian worked with Dr. Daniel Neuwenschwander as brass and visual instructor for the Kutztown Marching Band. As a performer, Brian has been both a guest soloist and principal trumpet with the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble and was a co-founder, musical director, soloist and conductor for the nationally known Brass Tacks Big Band from 1990-2000. He has continued to perform with The Bluez Brothers, various community bands in NJ and PA, the Whitehouse Wind Symphony, the Cadets and Friends Big Band, the Ocean Pops of Ocean County, NJ, and many groups in the NYC metropolitan and tri-state area. While pursuing his Bachelors of Music Education degree at New Jersey City University, Brian studied classical performance and music pedagogy with John Eckert of the NY Philharmonic and The Eastman School of Music and jazz performance and theory with Dick Lowenthal of Julliard and The Manhattan School of Music. Brian continued his educational pursuits at Kutztown University of PA from 2009-2011,completing a post-baccalaureate music education program and graduating Summa ### Laude. After relocating to the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania in 2008, Brian expanded his private teaching practice through his company, The Brass Studio, to maintain a full complement of students ranging from new elementary school students through advanced adults, each of which consistently perform in lead roles in their respective groups. Brian also continues to serve the marching arts community as a brass and music clinician and adjudicator for USBands. Among many others, Brian has been fortunate to have been influenced throughout his career by the following exceptional teachers: Brass: Dr. Kevin Kjos (University of Indiana, Bloomington), Dr. John Murphy, John Eckert, Richard Lowenthal, Don Van Doren, Jim Prime, Jr., John Simpson, Lloyd Pesola, Michael Klesch, Tim Bartholomew, Larry Kerchner, Frank Pisillo, and Al DiCroce. Visual: George Zingali, Marc Sylvester, Michael Cesario, John DiLeo, John Oppedisano, and Tony Hall. Brian is excited to be working with Fusion Core as the Brass Caption Head, and looks forward to helping the horn line continue to impress crowds and judges as the corps celebrates its 10th anniversary. Jeremy Gaddy | Assistant Brass Caption Head Jeremy started playing trombone at the age of nine. Originally from Reston, VA, he is currently completing his Music Degree at the University of Delaware. Through the years, Jeremy has studied with Dr. Hal Reynolds, Dr. Bruce Tychinski and more recently with Nitzan Haroz. He is the principal trombonist with both the Chesapeake Brass Band and the Atlantic Brass Band. He is also currently the Principal Trombonist with the Philadelphia Wind Symphony, a member of Al Chez and The Brothers of Funk Big Band and has his own brass quintet, “Brass Act of Delmarva.” As a freelance musician on the east coast, Jeremy has played at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia as well as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Jeremy’s drum corps career includes marching three years with DCA’s Empire Statesmen. Jeremy’s scholastic experience includes serving as the Assistant Band Director of the Cab Calloway High School Marching Band. Most recently, Cab Calloway won the 2014 TOB Chapter IX Group 4 Open Championship and placed 2nd in 2014 TOB Group 4 Open Class Atlantic Coast Championships. He has also been the Assistant Band Director with the Lake Forest High School Band for a number of years and serves as a consultant with several other marching bands along the East Coast. Moving into the 2016, Jeremy is eager to share his passions and experience with the Fusion Core Horn Line, and help the ensemble continue to reach new levels of achievement. Bo Park | Euphonium Technician Bo Park will return to the Fusion Core Brass Staff as the Baritone and Euphonium Technician for the 2016 season. Bo is currently the Brass and Visual Caption Head for Fort Lee High School Marching Band and is a popular guest clinician for neighboring scholastic music programs. Bo currently operates a martial arts school as the co-owner and lead instructor, and also maintains a full low brass private lesson studio. Bo graduated from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in 2011, earning a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. While at Rutgers, Bo studied with Michael Powell and Nitzan Haroz, and has played in various ensembles. Before college, Bo had the privilege of attending the Juilliard Pre-College program, where he studied trombone with James Markey and chamber music with Kevin Cobb. Bo has also studied conducting with Julien Benichou, Darryl J. Bott, and David Gilbert. David Durham | Mellophone Technician David’s drum corps career began in 2011 marching in the mellophone section of the Empire Statesmen. He marched there for three seasons, from 2011 through 2013. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, David marched mellophone with Fusion Core, and is making the transition to staff for the 2016 season. As an instructor, David has taught both brass and visual with several high school marching bands in the Chesapeake Bay region. He is currently working with Queen Anne’s High School in Maryland. With his assistance, Queen Anne’s won back-to-back TOB Chapter IX Group I Championships in 2011 and 2012. David was also the Band Director of Lake Forest High School from 2012-2015. In his time in that role, the program went from a non-competitive group to winning the 2012 TOB Chapter IX Group II Championship and placing in the Top 5 at the 2013 TOB Atlantic Coast Championships. David is a graduate of Frostburg State University where he majored in Music Education and Horn Performance, under the instruction of Dr. Philip Klickman. Outside of drum corps, David is an elementary music teacher in the Lake Forest School District and performs solo tenor horn with the Chesapeake Brass Band. He is looking forward to working with the Fusion Core’s 2016 mellophone line and helping to make this season a memorable one for the membership and fans alike. Lara Miller | Tuba Technician Lara Miller started her drum corps career marching with the Hawthorne Caballeros from 2008 through 2010. After spending several successful years in DCA, she became a member of The Cadets where she marched from 2011 through 2013. In 2012, she was featured as a tuba soloist and in 2013 was appointed the tuba section leader. She has also taught several highly successful high school programs throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, most notably Bridgewater-Raritan High School and Rustin High School, for which she is presently both the Visual Coordinator and Low Brass Instructor. Lara has also taught at the DCA level with Cadets2. She is a graduate of West Chester University in Pennsylvania with a degree in Music Education, where she also resides. The 2016 season will be her first at Fusion Core, and she is excited to contribute her experiences and enthusiasm as part of the educational team. Fusion’s Design Team has been hard at work designing a show that will not only entertain our fans but one that our members will enjoy playing. We are dedicated to constantly challenging our members and providing them with a top notch education year after year. ###

The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps have announced their 2016 Production, “Corner of the Sky”. Skyliners’ Opening Statement is “Corner of the Sky” as performed by the Jackson 5 on their 1973 album, Skywriter. The song was written by Stephen Schwartz as part of the musical, Pippin. When Pippin first hit Broadway in the 1970s, everyone was humming this iconic song, including Michael Jackson. The 1970’s pop style engaged audience, while the meaningful lyrics, such as the words, “Every man has his daydreams; Every man has his goal”, featured Pippin singing about how he wants to find where he belongs. Certainly, the Skyliners will lead the audience on a journey throughout the show. The Skyliners’ Opener, "Mr. Blue Sky", is by British rock group, Electric Light Orchestra. From their 1977 album, Out of the Blue, the song was played as a wake-up call to astronaut Christopher Ferguson on Day 3 of acSTS-135, the final mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis. It was performed live as part of the 2013 Children in Need Rocks and Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2014 concerts. The song's arrangement has been called "Beatlesque", due to its similarity to certain Beatles songs. ELO itself was formed due to the desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. Anyone who knows their scores and keyboard parts, can appreciate that they achieved these goals. The ballad, "Goodbye Blue Skies", is from Pink Floyd’s 1977 album, The Wall. Stressed out by power struggles and creative differences, Pink Floyd were near the breaking point when they created this, the greatest album of their career. The dark themes throughout this piece include betrayal, breakdown and collapse. Out of the emotional wreckage came one of rock’s greatest milestones, although Pink Floyd suffered as a result. A journey would not be complete without challenge and struggle. "Lean On" by Major Lazer and "Storm", part of Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”, will come together as this year’s Percussion feature. Released in the 2015 Peace Is the Mission studio album, “Lean On” features DJ Snake and MØ. The genre is noted as Moombahton, which is a fusion genre of house music and reggaeton that was created by American DJ and producer Dave Nadaanother in 1997. Characteristics of moombahton include a thick and spread-out bass line, dramatic builds, a two-step pulse, and quick drum fills. In September 2015, 'Lean On' was named by Spotify as the most globally streamed song of the summer. Natalie Cole’s "Orange Colored Sky" takes us in another direction. Also recorded by her father, Nat King Cole with Stan Kenton's orchestra, it is a popular song written by Milton DeLugg and Willie Stein and published in 1950. Its popularity is clear, based on the number of stars who recorded this piece and the decades it has remained popular - Danny Kay, Doris Day, Burt Ward with Frank Zappa, Michael Bublé, and Lady Gaga, to name a few. In 2013, a modified version of this melody was part of a Weight Watchers commercial. Its upbeat jazz style with quick rhythmic flurries and lines captures the listeners no matter who performs it. While the Skyliners’ Closer reprises "Corner of the Sky" by Jackson 5, do not expect a simple repeat of the Opening Statement. The Skyliners will stay somewhat true to the individual songs’ styles, but they will be instilling our own Skyliners style to each song too. As Larry Carbonell put it, “I can't WAIT to see what our arrangers do with this show!’ Come out to The Skyliners’ Open House will take place: Saturday, November 28, 2015 ~ 10:00 - 6:00 P.M.; Registration 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. More information to come soon. Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.marchsky.org, join the Skyliners 2016 Interest Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/971700419546930. For more information, please contact Adam Burdett at info@skylinersdbc.org

September 28, 2015. The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps announce the appointment of the following 2016 Creative Management and Design Staff. CREATIVE DIRECTOR - David Bruni and PROGRAM COORDINATOR - George D Mattis III. BRASS ARRANGER - Joey Pero; BATTERY ARRANGER - Teddy Mascari; PIT ARRANGER - Ryan Reed; and VISUAL DESIGNER - Thomas Sparling. Creative Director David Bruni was Empire Statemen’s Assistant Director, drum major and Show Coordinator from 1983 to 2013. Under David’s leadership, from 1988 through 2013, the Empire Statesmen never finished below 4th (except 6th in 2012). They won the DCA Championship in 1994, 1997, 1998 and 2004. Dave has worked with numerous marching bands and is currently judging indoor percussion and marching bands. The Skyliners are thrilled to welcome David Bruni to our team. George D. Mattis III, Program Coordinator, started his drum corps marching career with the New York Skyliners in 1983. He marched Sky in ‘83, ‘84, and ‘85 (after DCI), and Bush in ‘86 & ‘88. George was fortunate to march in the Spirit of Atlanta’s winning high Color Guard in 1985 and 1987. His drum corps teaching experience began in 1989 and includes the New York Skyliners, Raiders, and Bushwackers. George's winter guard teaching experience includes Winter Sky (the Skyliners’ winter guard), Pegasus (1985 Silver Medalist in WGI and 1986 Open class finalist), and many HS programs around New York. Currently, George designs drill and teaches color guard for Hunterdon Central HS, Elizabeth HS., Chatham HS, and Ridge HS. Joey Pero, Buglers Hall of Fame Member and virtuoso master of the trumpet in the jazz and classical genres, is returning as Brass Arranger. He is currently a featured performer with the world premiere of the musical ‘The Bandstand’. According to a report by the New York Post’s Michael Riedel, “Broadway’s next hit could be ‘Bandstand’.” Joey has also performed with Jersey Boys and at the Composers Showcase in Las Vegas. A student of the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, Maynard Ferguson hired him to play second chair on his Big Bop Nouveau Band Tour. Joey was the DCA Soprano Individual Champion in 2000, 2001 & 2002, and has performed with drum corps such as the Genesee Quest, Ghost Riders, Empire Statesmen and the performance ensemble, The Edge. For the Skyliners, Joey’s focus will continue to be on entertainment and bringing performers’ performances to that next level, while designing an exciting and dynamic brass show. Ted Mascari is joining the Skyliners as Battery Arranger. He has been involved in all aspects of percussion since 1980, and has directed and arranged for marching band and indoor percussion programs in New York for 25 years. Ted is considered one of the top marching percussion minds in Upstate New York. Most recently he served as the Director and Music Designer for Victor High School Percussion, a NYSPC/WGI Scholastic A percussion ensemble finalist, from 2006-2014, winning four State Championships. Ted's drum corps instructional career began in 1993 with the Syracuse Brigadiers, then Rochester Crusaders from 1994-1996. Percussion Coordinator, Arranger and Consultant for the Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 1997-2012, he has also worked as percussion advisor with the Kidsgrove Scouts since 2012, DC United Kingdom and DC European Champions. Ryan Reed is a percussion specialist from the Northeast Ohio area and the Skyliners’ 2016 Front Ensemble Arranger. He is Director of Percussion at New Philadelphia High School (2015 WGI PSCO Silver Medalist) and Carrollton High School. For the fourth year Ryan is on the Matrix World staff; he is joining Matrix Open this year. Ryan was on the Front Ensemble Staff one year each at Empire Statesmen, Glassmen, and Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps; two years with Notre Dame Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and three years with Capital City Percussion. Ryan received a B.M. in Music Education from Kent State University where he studied percussion with Ted Rounds. He was a front ensemble member of Matrix Percussion from 2006-2008, Empire Statesmen in 2007 and 2009, and the Glassmen in 2008. In addition to teaching, Ryan is the front ensemble arranger for OCC Indoor Percussion and serves as a designer/arranger for Downbeat Percussion, a percussion entertainment and design company, both based out of Syracuse, New York. He is extremely excited to join the Skyliners for the upcoming 2016 season. Tom Sparling, Visual Designer, graduated from Miami University in 2009 with degrees in Music Education, Music Performance, Music Composition and a minor in Arts Management. Thomas marched bass drum with the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2006), and Rhythm X (2006-2009). Since graduation he has served as a percussion instructor at William Mason HS, Centerville HS, Bellbrook HS, and Kettering Fairmont HS; and Percussion Director at Northmont HS, and La Salle HS, where he currently teaches. He has taught privately since 2005, and has instructed the Glassmen (2012), Matrix Indoor Percussion (2013-present), and The Madison Scouts (2015-present). In addition to teaching, Thomas spends much of his time as a visual designer for bands and percussion groups in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, and Italy. The Skyliners are excited to be working with these outstanding Creative Managers and Designers to bring the Skyliners to the next level in DCA for 2016. The Skyliners’ Open House will be announced shortly. Stay tuned for more announcements! Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.marchsky.org, join the Skyliners 2016 Interest Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/971700419546930. For more information, please contact Adam Burdett at info@skylinersdbc.org.

I'm a filmmaker. I communicate in video form. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyzctsA0ZoU Thanks to Minnesota Brass for the access and hang time all last week! Let the Madd circus begin! Their closer features some of Queen's "The Show Must Go On" and I thought it the perfect track for a DCA team who spends most of the season all alone in MN. ;)

Lots of DCI fans have really enjoyed the Sacramento Mandarins in 2015. Some see a bright future for the corps, possibly contending for a finalist spot in the next few years. How have you enjoyed the Mandarins this year? Field Pass Podcast: Mandarins have 'The Edge' in 2015 Link to Field Pass: https://soundcloud.com/drum-corps-international/20150731-fieldpass