N.Y. Skyliners Announce 2006 Visual Staff

[NY Skyliners PR]

The New York Skyliners are pleased to announce their 2006 Visual Staff:

Patrick Dougherty joins the N. Y. Skyliners as Visual Manager. Pat began his drum corps career as a soprano player with the West Sayville Golden Eagles from Sayville, NY. He has remained a member of the Eagles and performs with them whenever able, as a member of their world champion mini corps. There he developed a love of the activity and its quest for excellence. Pursuing these ideas led him to march as a lead soprano with The Crossmen and the Blue Devils. After aging out of the drum corps he performed as a cast member of the award winning Blast! At the end of his time with Blast!, he completed his studies at Potsdam University, earning a BS in Business Administration while performing with the jazz and Latin ensembles at the renowned Crane school of music and playing with several local acts. He continued his drum corps experience as brass staff with the Crossmen and two years spent teaching visual at Carolina Crown. Patrick spent last season with the Bushwackers as a member of both brass and visual staffs, and as a performer. Patrick lives on Long Island as a musician and educator, teaching privately and at numerous high schools as well as the Rage winter drum line. He looks forward to a rewarding and successful season with the Skyliners.

George Nelson, Assistant Visual Manager, is a native Long Islander and his past drum corps experience includes being a member of the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from 1992-1995 and then as an administrative staff member in 1996. He has worked with many Marching Band programs on Long Island as a drill designer and marching instructor including Walt Whitman HS, Hicksville HS, and Sachem HS. He also serves as the Visual Designer for the Rage Indoor Percussion Ensemble. Professionally, George is currently employed with State Bank of Long Island as a Senior Web Producer.

Jim Dyckman, Visual Instructor. Jim lives in Long Island, NY and works as an Air Traffic Controller. He grew up in Hicksville where he marched in the New Image Drum and Bugle Corps and with the Sound of LI Senior Drum and Bugle corps. Since 1988, Jim has been a percussion and visual instructor for several marching bands on LI and in Maine, including: Hicksville, Copiague, Walt Whitman, Division Ave., and Edward Little High Schools. In 2004, Jim was the Assistant Band Director at Walt Whitman High School. He also served as a visual instructor for the Rage Indoor Percussion Ensemble. Jim served in the Navy from 1990-1995.

Frank Rogers, Visual tech. Frank Rogers began his drum corps career as a member of the Blue Angels drum and bugle corps from Brooklyn, New York (1967 though 1975). The Blue Angles were two-time Long Island Circuit Champions - 1973 (undefeated) and 1974.

From 1976 through 1993, Frank was a member of Skyliners’ baritone line. During this time, the Skyliners won the 1982 and 1987 World Champion Horn Line titles. He was an in-line visual tech and member of the business administration for many of those years.

Next, Frank was the lead visual tech for Cadets of Brooklyn from 1996 through 1999. The Cadets were 1998 Garden State Division III Champions. He was also a visual tech for Spirit of Newark in 1999.

Frank returned to the Skyliners in 1999 as visual tech, where he continues today. In addition to working on the visual staff, Frank was also Assistant Drum Major for the 2002 through 2004 seasons. Since his return to the corps, the Skyliners have won the 1999 and 2002 DCA Class A Championships. Frank is a Lifetime Member of the Skyliners, one of the proudest honors that can be bestowed upon a Skyliner. In addition to his contributions to the Skyliner field corps, he also plays euphonium for the Skyliners Alumni drum corps.

Raymond “Konga” Richardson, Visual tech. Ray “Konga” Richardson is a long-time Skyliner and Lifetime Member of the N. Y. Skyliners. He began his career with Sky in 1972 and since then has worn many hats. One of the best-known Contra players in drum corps, Konga went on to become Assistant Drum Major of the Skyliners, and in 1993, after 21 years with the corps, assumed Head Drum Major duties. Konga retired as Drum Major at the end of the 2005 season, and audiences and fans everywhere will miss his warmth, charm, talent, and passion – not to mention his well known “It’s time to make the Donuts!” phrase. He will continue to work with the corps as a Visual Tech, a position he has held for many years. Ray is also an alumnus of St. Rita’s Brassmen. During his drum corps career, Ray has worked with many junior corps in the New York and New Jersey areas.

Eric Sabach will be the drill designer and visual consultant. Eric Sabach has been involved in the movement arts for over 30 years, performing with, teaching, judging, and consulting some of the best groups in the country. He marched with the DCI World Champion Garfield Cadets and the Royal Brigade from the Meadowlands, N. J., was the visual caption head of the Star of Indiana, and currently is a member of the visual staff of the Phantom Regiment from Rockford, IL. He has also worked with The New York Skyliners and numerous WGI caliber winter guards including The New York Royal Guardsmen. Eric's judging experience includes: ISSMA, BOA, DCI, DCA Visual Caption Chairperson 2003, USSBA, North Texas Colorguard Association, and TriState Judges Association to name a few.

Having worked with numerous successful bands on the state and national level such as Ben Davis HS in Indiana and Northwestern Lehigh HS in Allentown, PA (both have proven themselves on the BOA Grand National stage) he has also worked with groups on the local level consult their programs to be more innovative, entertaining, and visually sound. Professionally, Eric is a sales and marketing consultant in the NJ/NYC area. His hobbies include boating, Harley Davidson motorcycles, The NY Jets and Yankees, Cirque Du Soleil and Blue Man Group, and spending quality time with his Golden Retriever , Bailey Jo!

Meet our Visual Staff at the Skyliners' Open House - November 20th at 11:00 a.m. at the Dover American Legion Post in Dover, N.J.

Go to our website for updated information, directions, and information: http://www.newyorkskyliners.org, or contact Holly Marino, Assistant director at exiggy1@yahoo.com.