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Sunrisers Announce Design and Visual Teams


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Good evening Drum Corps Planet!

The Sunrisers are gearing up for the 2016 season and are pleased to announce our design and visual teams to you!

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Sunrisers 2016 Design Team

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Bobby Jones Continues with the Long Island Sunrisers as Visual Designer and Co-Program Coordinator.

Bobby is a freelance Visual Designer and Program Consultant for many high school and collegiate marching bands, winter guards, indoor percussion ensembles and drum and bugle corps throughout the country.

He has been the Visual Designer, Caption Head and as the Program Coordinator for the DCA World Champion Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps (Reading, PA as well as the Visual Designer and Caption Head for the 2006 Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps (Allentown, PA) and the 2007 Hawthorne Caballeros (Hawthorne, NJ). For the past four years he has been the Visual Designer for the DCI World Class Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps (Mount Holly, NJ).

As well as designing, Bobby also serves as a freelance adjudicator and judge for several indoor and outdoor circuits across the country throughout the year.

Bobby lives in New York with his wife, Amy and his dachshund puppy, Myron.

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Eugene O’Brien continues with the Sunrisers as co- Program Coordinator.

Gene has taught numerous award winning drum and bugle corps including the Spartans of Nashua NH, the Boston Crusaders, Connecticut Hurricanes, Rochester Crusaders, Syracuse Brigadiers, Carolina Gold, and Fusion Corps from Morristown New Jersey. Mr. O’Brien has worked on the Drum Corps International (DCI) Event Staff since 2004. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Drum Corps/ Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2012. Gene was marching member of the Rhode Island Matadors, Fitchburg Kingsmen, Boston Crusader Senior Corps, and Connecticut Hurricanes.

Gene attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received his BS Degree in Environmental Design/Transportation Planning and minored in Music Education in 1987. He performed in the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, University Chorale, and Choral Union. He studied marching band technique with George Parks and Thomas Hannum, Instrumental conducting with Ronald Steele, Choral Conducting from Dr. Richard DuBois. Mr. O’Brien then attended the University of Massachusetts at Lowell to further study Music Education with Dr. Rosita Sands and performed with the University Concert Band under the Baton of Dan Lutz.

Performances include two Presidential Inaugurations, Statue of Liberty Dedication, Macy’s Parade, and a Montreal Canada performance. Gene has consulted numerous award winning marching bands along the East Coast. He has brought a vision to the Everett Public Schools in building one of the finest music programs in the state of Massachusetts.

Gene firmly believes in a team approach to music education with superb teachers that will inspire young students to achieve to their highest potential. Mr. O’Brien resides in Waltham Massachusetts with his wife Carol.

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The Sunrisers are pleased to announce that J.D. Shaw has agreed to continue as our 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.

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Kevin Murphy continues the Sunrisers as Percussion Arranger.

Kevin is an active percussion arranger and instructor for high school, college and drum and bugle corps across the United States. As a marching member, he has had an exciting and diverse drum corps career culminating as a section leader with the DCI World Champion Concord Blue Devils. Additionally, Kevin studied music education at Lebanon Valley College as an undergraduate.

As an arranger and instructor, Kevin’s creative writing style is the result of studying under well- known percussionists such as Tom Float, Paul Rennick, Tom Aungst, Dan Delong and John Oddo. Kevin has enjoyed success in the DCA arena with three consecutive high drum trophies as well as many writing, arranging, and designing credits with groups such as the Connecticut Hurricanes, Empire Statesmen, Hawthorne Caballeros and the Reading Buccaneers. In the DCI arena, he has written for, instructed, and consulted groups including the Capital Regiment, Blue Coats and Orlando Magic.

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The Sunrisers are pleased to welcome Jason Nealy to the Corps as our new Color Guard Designer/Caption Head .

Jason is originally from Stratford, CT and is currently residing in Lowell, MA. He has been involved with the color guard world for 18 years, having started his color guard career with Bunnell High School in 1996. This year marks his second year working with the Les Eclipses Independent Open colorguard. He is also working with Blessed Sacrament World and Open Class Winterguards.

His marching career includes two world championships, one with Fantasia Winterguard from Riverside, CA in 2006 and the other with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, IL in 2002. Jason has DCA experience as a member of the Bushwackers (2000-2001), the Caballeros (1999, 2014), and the Hurricanes (1998).

As we welcome Jason, we would like to thank Nick Ashley for his dedicated service to the Sunrisers as caption head. We wish him all the best.

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Tom Lizotte continues as 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.

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The Sunrisers welcome back to the team, Frank Mauriello. Frank continues his position as Staff Coordinator and is a member of the design team.

Frank Mauriello received his B.M. in Music Education at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and has performed in many ensembles such as, the C.W. Post Percussion Ensemble, the C.W. Post Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and the C.W. Post Orchestra. Frank’s achievements include the Coordinator of Music Scholarship Award.

Frank was the assistant director and the front ensemble arranger for “Rage”, L.I.’s first Independent Indoor Marching Percussion Ensemble. In addition, he has arranged and instructed several competitive marching bands, such as Garden City High School, Roslyn High School, Eastport-South Manor High School, Seaford High School, Division Avenue High School, and the 2009 New York State Champions – Mineola High School.

Frank is the director of the Mineola High School Mustang Marching Band whose achievements have been noted throughout New York State, including performances at the Syracuse Carrier Dome in the NYSFBC Circuit and the Newsday Marching Band Festival. The Mineola Mustangs performed at Rose Hall in Lincoln Center (Jazz at Lincoln Center) for a special event presented by Turner Broadcasting (TBS) for over 500 television executives, honoring the 20th Anniversary of the Cartoon Network.

Frank’s great aspiration is to combine his range of experience with his ability to be a kind hearted, enthusiastic and intelligent teacher, who will make a positive contribution both musically and educationally.

Frank’s dedication to the advancement of the Sunrisers should be noted. He has had a steady hand in the development of this corps.

2016 Visual Team Announcement

The Sunrisers are pleased to announce our 2016 Visual Team.

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Mike Durborow joins the Sunrisers this year as our Visual Caption Head. Mike started his marching career with the Hawthorne Muchachos (1967-1977) and held the position of Drum Major in 1977. Mike was a visual instructor for the Garfield Cadets (1979-1980).

Mike then marched with the Hawthorne Caballeros as their Drum Major (1983-1984). He was a Visual Instructor (1985-1993), Visual Caption Head (1994-2005) He was also Staff Coordinator and design team member (2002-2004).

Mike’s recent years had him with Fusion Core as Visual Caption Head and design team member (2011-2015).

Mike has written and taught many high school bands since 1975. A few are Westfield, Bernardsville, Hawthorne, Jackson Memorial, and Southern Regional to name a few.

The Sunrisers Organization welcomes Mike on board!

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Joseph White, Visual Instructor,Studied Music Comp and Film at Brooklyn College and earned a degree in Media Communications from New York Institute of Technology. Joe has written music for a few films and commercials. Now doing sound mixing for movies and T.V. shows including Friends with Benefits, The Bounty Hunter, and Men in Black 3 as well as TV shows including Pan Am, The Big C and Girls. In addition to being an Emmy Nominee (Sound) for his work on Sex And The City, he is now a voting member of the Television Academy for the Emmy awards. Joe played French Horn for many years, when marching drum corps he played mellophone. He continued on to perform in the pit playing Timpani and Marimba as well. He has Marched with Bayonne Bridgemen, NY Skyliners, Crossmen, Sunrisers and Bushwackers Joe aged out of the Velvet Knights of Anaheim, CA in 1992 which was one of his favorite seasons on the field. Joe returned to Velvet Knights the following year as Visual Instructor which began his teaching career.

Joes background includes Drill Designer and Visual Instructor for many drum corps, marching bands, winter guards and drum lines including Fusion Core, NY Skyliners, Bushwackers, and the Sunrisers. He also worked with Brentwood HS Marching Band (NY), Monroe HS (NJ), Hicksville HS (NY), St. Frances Prepatory (Queens NY), Winsor Central HS (NY) and Malverne HS (NY) and Consulted with many other groups. Joe has also performed and instructed Pegasus Winter Guard as well as Saturday Matinee and Consulted with Light Brigade color guard.

Welcome to the 2016 Sunrisers, Joe!

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Joe Taylor joins the Sunrisers as visual consultant/instructor. Joe has been involved with the marching arts either as a trumpet / mellophone player or instructing since 1979. During this time he has spent many years working in both the DCI and DCA arenas. He has had the opportunity to work with some great designers and instructors including: Rick Morey, Chris Calhoun, Jim Allen, Jim Steele, Jamie Thompson, Rich Templin and Wayne Downey.

No matter what group Joe was working with Brigadiers, Empire Statesmen, Fusion or Spirit of Atlanta, his passion for the activity and his strive for perfection is infectious.

Joe has been working with Victor High School’s Marching Band and Winter Percussion group for the past 11 years and has enjoyed championship seasons in NY State and recent success in the WGI, US Bands and BOA arenas.

Joe is a graduate of Nazareth College in Rochester, NY where he lives with his wife Josette and 9yr old daughter Juliana. He is employed as a Sr. Corporate Trainer and travels throughout the US and South America on the development and presentation of training material for such companies as Mercedes Benz, VW, State Farm Insurance and Microsoft.

Welcome to the Sunrisers, Joe!

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Molly Tittler joins us as a visual instructor. Molly has been involved in the marching arts for the last 17 years. After graduating from Garden City High School as a 5 year member of the marching band, she went on to march with the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps (’03), Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps (’04 – ’05), and the Silver Medalist Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (’06) where she played lead mellophone. She also served as a mellophone soloist for the University of Connecticut Marching Band in 2004. More recently, Ms. Tittler performed with the Fusion Drum and Bugle corps for two seasons. has taught high school marching band across Long Island and Westchester in places including Garden City, Port Chester, Levittown, Hicksville, Franklin Square, Farmingdale, and Sachem. She has also consulted for the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps and the Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps.

Molly was a high school band director at Hicksville High School from 2007 – 2012. At Hicksville, she ran the award winning high school Marching Band and Winterguard programs (USSBA NYS Champions 2007 – 2011, USSBA Northern States Champions 2007) as well as taught the Level V NYSSMA Majors Gold Rated Symphonic Band.

Molly is currently a band director at East Meadow High School where she conducts the ninth grade band and concert band, teaches brass sectionals, directs the colorguard, and runs the extracurricular brass ensemble, Winterguard, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and Pit orchestra.

She is a graduate of Hofstra University. Molly received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education with a concentration in horn performance, graduating with honors. Ms. Tittler also holds a Master of Arts degree in Wind Conducting. During her graduate studies at Hofstra, she served as the Graduate Conducting Associate to Dr. Peter Loel Boonshaft from 2010-2012, for which she conducted both the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band.

Molly maintains a private brass studio; many of her students have received county and state honors. She is an active member of the Nassau Music Educators Association where she has served as an All County chairperson several times, and currently serves as the Corresponding Secretary on the executive board. She is also a member of the New York State School Music Association, for which she is a certified brass adjudicator.

We look forward to having Molly on board!

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Bill Woodruff is excited to be returning to the Sunrisers as a visual instructor. Bill marched at Sacred Heart University as a Tuba Player (1998-2002) and 3 years with the Bushwackers (2005-2007) before joining the Sunrisers visual staff as a tech in 2009. Since then he has marched with the Bridgemen Alumni (2010) and for the last 2 years worked with Fusion Core (2014-2015) as a member of their visual Team. Welcome back to the Sunrisers, Bill !

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Krissy McMullen joins the Sunrisers as a visual instructor. Krissy marched with the Reading Buccaneers as a french horn player (1983-1986). She returned to the Buccaneers again (2007-2012) as a member marching Mellophone.

Krissy’s teaching includes groups such as Lower Dauphin High School, Lancaster Catholic High School, and Fusion Core as a mid season visual tech. Krissy has been a field visual judge for six years with Cavalcade of Bands. Welcome to the team, Krissy!

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Paul Williams returns to the Sunrisers as a visual instructor. Paul started his drum corps career as a baritone in the Enfield Centurions (1965-1974). After aging out, he marched with the Sunrisers (1974-1979). Paul worked with the Woonsocket, RI winter guard (1980-1982).

Paul then took time to raise his family before returning to the Sunrisers as a visual instructor (2013-2015). We welcome Paul back to the staff for 2016!

Edited by Sunrisers Publicity
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Great News to see 99% of the team returning .

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Congratulations and all the best Mike.

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