WORLD CLASS PERCUSSION MUSIC EDUCATORS RETURN TO FUSION FOR THE 2014 S

[Fusion Core Administration]

Fusion is pleased to announce the return of Mike Schmitt and Omi Batan as Co-Caption Head/Lead Snare Technician for the 2014 season. Joining the team will be Mike Wyatt, Front Ensemble Coordinator/Arranger, Bryan Crawford, Bass Drum Instructor, Tom Morris, Tenor Instructor, Kristen Morgan, Front Ensemble Instructor, Sarah Warnock, Cymbal Instructor, and Ariana Tullai, Battery Visual Instructor. Fusion’s percussion took a huge step in 2013 under the direction of Mike Schmitt assisted by Omi Batan and we are very excited to have them returning to expand upon the standards, excellence and personal growth established in 2013.

Please join us in welcoming our new and returning percussion music educators:

Mike Schmitt, Ensemble Coordinator, Percussion Co-Caption Head and Battery Arranger, began his drum corps career serving in 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, the 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.

Omi Batan, Percussion Co-Caption Head/Lead Snare Technician, is very excited to return to Fusion where he will continue to provide the membership with quality music education that will inspire personal excellence and growth. Omi began his marching career with the University of Connecticut's drumline and the Connecticut Hurricanes in 2009. In 2010, Omi marched DCI with Jersey Surf before marching with the Cadets snare line in 2011. In addition he marched WGI with United Percussion in 2012.

Omi has taught the University of Connecticut drumline and was the Bass Technician for the Connecticut Hurricanes in 2012. He is currently the Assistant Band Director/Percussion Caption Head at Stamford High School in Stamford, CT and is the Percussion Caption Head of the University of New Haven Marching Band. Omi looks forward to continue with the corps' fast moving progress and is excited to see what the 2014 season brings.

Mike Wyatt, Front Ensemble Arranger/Coordinator, 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.

Fusion is very pleased to welcome Bryan Crawford to the Fusion family as our Bass Instructor. Bryan has spent the last 10 years of his percussive career marching and teaching several successful Drum Corps, Marching Band and Winter Ensembles. Bryan was a member of the World Champion Hawthorne Caballeros in 2003 in the front ensemble and then marched Bass Drum from 2005-2007. He has also worked with a multitude of fall programs including Parsippany Hills from 2004-2008 winning Best Percussion in 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2008, West Essex from 2005-2007, Pequannock Township from 2007-2011 with Best Percussion in 2008 State Finals and Best Percussion for State and National Championships in 2011.

Bryan got involved with Indoor Percussion in 2005 with Stamford HS in CT and then progressed to work with Westhill HS in 2006, 2009, 2010 and WGI Marching A Class Finalists in 2012. He also worked with Trumbull High School’s Indoor program from 2007-2009 with the accolades of WGI Open Class Finalist in 2007 and WGI Open Class Silver Medalists in 2008 & 2009. He took his knowledge of the strong Connecticut Indoor Ensembles and with the assistance of Band Director James Riley, began an Indoor Program with Pequannock Township in 2010 in the USBands circuit and then placed first in the Marching AA Class in 2012.

Bryan has recently focused on the adjudication aspect of the marching arts and judges percussion for the Musical Arts Conference in Connecticut, Cavalcade of Bands in Pennsylvania and USBands across the Northeast. He is looking forward to helping out our quickly growing Drum Core and can’t wait for the 2014 Fusion Season to start!

Tom Morris is looking forward to returning to Fusion Core as the Battery's Tenor Instructor for a second straight year. Previously a WGI finalist with Stamford Independent in 2011, Tom's outdoor experience began in 2012 as a member of the Connecticut Hurricanes' tenor line. His teaching career began in 2011 with the Danbury High School Marching Hatters, and he has served as the Percussion Caption Head/Arranger there since 2012. He also has experience as a battery technician at Shelton High School, and will be serving as the Battery Coordinator for WGI finalist Westhill High School's indoor percussion program in 2014. Tom currently attends Western Connecticut State University, and is pursuing a degree in Music/Audio Production with a concentration on classical percussion.

Kristen Morgan returns to Fusion for her second year as Front Ensemble Instructor. Kristen has marched with the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps from the years 2007-2012. For the 2007/08 seasons she marched baritone, then for the remainder of her years there, 2009-2012, she played vibraphone and marimba in the front ensemble. During the winter seasons of 2012 and 2013 she marched indoor on vibe with United Percussion. Kristen has taught the fall and winter seasons at Westhill High School from 2010 through 2012. She started teaching the front ensemble for Stamford High School in 2012 through the present and is also currently teaching at the University of New Haven.

Sarah Warnock joins Fusion as Cymbal Instructor for the 2014 season. Sarah started playing cymbals in high school competing in WGI. She played in the cymbal line of the Hawthorn Caballeros 2010 and 2011 seasons, as well as the 2012 Connecticut Hurricanes. This past marching band season Sarah was on the visual staff of the Camp Hill High School marching band working with the drumline. Sarah is looking forward to working with the Fusion membership and leading a great cymbal line.

After a season in the bass line and another on the podium, Ariana Tullai is excited to return to Fusion as a Battery Visual Instructor. Ariana is an elementary band Director in the Upper Darby School District in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and also serves as the Assistant Band Director of the Upper Darby High School Marching Royals. Previously, she taught in the Chichester, Oley Valley, and Norristown Area school districts and the Diocese of Wilmington. Ariana attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania and was an active member of the marching band, where she served as the battery captain and band parliamentarian, as well as the symphonic band and wind ensemble. She was graduated in 2008 with a degree in music education. Ariana was raised in southeastern Connecticut, and currently resides in Delaware.

Additional staff and 2014 Production announcement coming soon!

Open House – Saturday, November 30^th, Metuchen High School

[Jerseyboy]

Fusion is pleased to announce the return of Mike Schmitt and Omi Batan as Co-Caption Head/Lead Snare Technician for the 2014 season. Joining the team will be Mike Wyatt, Front Ensemble Coordinator/Arranger, Bryan Crawford, Bass Drum Instructor, Tom Morris, Tenor Instructor, Kristen Morgan, Front Ensemble Instructor, Sarah Warnock, Cymbal Instructor, and Ariana Tullai, Battery Visual Instructor. Fusion’s percussion took a huge step in 2013 under the direction of Mike Schmitt assisted by Omi Batan and we are very excited to have them returning to expand upon the standards, excellence and personal growth established in 2013.

Please join us in welcoming our new and returning percussion music educators:

Mike Schmitt, Ensemble Coordinator, Percussion Co-Caption Head and Battery Arranger, began his drum corps career serving in 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, the 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.

Omi Batan, Percussion Co-Caption Head/Lead Snare Technician, is very excited to return to Fusion where he will continue to provide the membership with quality music education that will inspire personal excellence and growth. Omi began his marching career with the University of Connecticut's drumline and the Connecticut Hurricanes in 2009. In 2010, Omi marched DCI with Jersey Surf before marching with the Cadets snare line in 2011. In addition he marched WGI with United Percussion in 2012.

Omi has taught the University of Connecticut drumline and was the Bass Technician for the Connecticut Hurricanes in 2012. He is currently the Assistant Band Director/Percussion Caption Head at Stamford High School in Stamford, CT and is the Percussion Caption Head of the University of New Haven Marching Band. Omi looks forward to continue with the corps' fast moving progress and is excited to see what the 2014 season brings.

Mike Wyatt, Front Ensemble Arranger/Coordinator, 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.

Fusion is very pleased to welcome Bryan Crawford to the Fusion family as our Bass Instructor. Bryan has spent the last 10 years of his percussive career marching and teaching several successful Drum Corps, Marching Band and Winter Ensembles. Bryan was a member of the World Champion Hawthorne Caballeros in 2003 in the front ensemble and then marched Bass Drum from 2005-2007. He has also worked with a multitude of fall programs including Parsippany Hills from 2004-2008 winning Best Percussion in 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2008, West Essex from 2005-2007, Pequannock Township from 2007-2011 with Best Percussion in 2008 State Finals and Best Percussion for State and National Championships in 2011.

Bryan got involved with Indoor Percussion in 2005 with Stamford HS in CT and then progressed to work with Westhill HS in 2006, 2009, 2010 and WGI Marching A Class Finalists in 2012. He also worked with Trumbull High School’s Indoor program from 2007-2009 with the accolades of WGI Open Class Finalist in 2007 and WGI Open Class Silver Medalists in 2008 & 2009. He took his knowledge of the strong Connecticut Indoor Ensembles and with the assistance of Band Director James Riley, began an Indoor Program with Pequannock Township in 2010 in the USBands circuit and then placed first in the Marching AA Class in 2012.

Bryan has recently focused on the adjudication aspect of the marching arts and judges percussion for the Musical Arts Conference in Connecticut, Cavalcade of Bands in Pennsylvania and USBands across the Northeast. He is looking forward to helping out our quickly growing Drum Core and can’t wait for the 2014 Fusion Season to start!

Tom Morris is looking forward to returning to Fusion Core as the Battery's Tenor Instructor for a second straight year. Previously a WGI finalist with Stamford Independent in 2011, Tom's outdoor experience began in 2012 as a member of the Connecticut Hurricanes' tenor line. His teaching career began in 2011 with the Danbury High School Marching Hatters, and he has served as the Percussion Caption Head/Arranger there since 2012. He also has experience as a battery technician at Shelton High School, and will be serving as the Battery Coordinator for WGI finalist Westhill High School's indoor percussion program in 2014. Tom currently attends Western Connecticut State University, and is pursuing a degree in Music/Audio Production with a concentration on classical percussion.

Kristen Morgan returns to Fusion for her second year as Front Ensemble Instructor. Kristen has marched with the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps from the years 2007-2012. For the 2007/08 seasons she marched baritone, then for the remainder of her years there, 2009-2012, she played vibraphone and marimba in the front ensemble. During the winter seasons of 2012 and 2013 she marched indoor on vibe with United Percussion. Kristen has taught the fall and winter seasons at Westhill High School from 2010 through 2012. She started teaching the front ensemble for Stamford High School in 2012 through the present and is also currently teaching at the University of New Haven.

Sarah Warnock joins Fusion as Cymbal Instructor for the 2014 season. Sarah started playing cymbals in high school competing in WGI. She played in the cymbal line of the Hawthorn Caballeros 2010 and 2011 seasons, as well as the 2012 Connecticut Hurricanes. This past marching band season Sarah was on the visual staff of the Camp Hill High School marching band working with the drumline. Sarah is looking forward to working with the Fusion membership and leading a great cymbal line.

After a season in the bass line and another on the podium, Ariana Tullai is excited to return to Fusion as a Battery Visual Instructor. Ariana is an elementary band Director in the Upper Darby School District in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and also serves as the Assistant Band Director of the Upper Darby High School Marching Royals. Previously, she taught in the Chichester, Oley Valley, and Norristown Area school districts and the Diocese of Wilmington. Ariana attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania and was an active member of the marching band, where she served as the battery captain and band parliamentarian, as well as the symphonic band and wind ensemble. She was graduated in 2008 with a degree in music education. Ariana was raised in southeastern Connecticut, and currently resides in Delaware.

Additional staff and 2014 Production announcement coming soon!

Open House – Saturday, November 30^th, Metuchen High School