Cary Cochenour is excited to join the visual staff with The Mandarins this season!
Cary is an active visual and brass instructor, drill designer, and choreographer, based in Houston, Texas. He currently serves as the assistant visual caption manager at Rhythmic Force Indoor Percussion (PIW), and previously as a visual instructor with Santa Clara Vanguard and Crossmen. Cary fulfills various roles with several notable high school marching band and indoor programs across the country, including Norwin HS, Seven Lakes HS, and Jordan HS.
Cary’s instruction and drill design programs are consistently recognized for outstanding achievement within the Bands of America, Winter Guard International, and US Bands circuits, as well as competitive success in multiple state marching band and indoor circuits. In his first season as the drill designer at Norwin HS, the band was named the 2025 Bands of America Newark Regional Champion, also receiving the finals awards for outstanding music, visual, and general effect. In 2024, Cary was recognized with the director team at Seven Lakes HS as a recipient of the prestigious Sudler Shield for his contributions to the marching ensembles over the past decade.
Cary is a proud alumni of Norwin HS, Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. He holds a BS degree in mathematics education from Saint Vincent College, and currently serves as a math and science teacher at Randolph Elementary in Katy ISD. Cary currently resides in Fulshear, Texas, with his wife, Devyn, and their puppy, Eko.