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Percussion Staff
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Taha Ahmed
Taha Ahmed received his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology from the University of Texas at Austin. Currently, he resides in the Houston area where he works with Cy-Fair High School and Clear Brook High School. He is also an active instructor, consultant, arranger, designer, and rudimental private lesson teacher at numerous other high schools in the area.
When Taha is not teaching, he works as an Licensed Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and applies to further programs in the medical field. Taha has multiple years of experience beyond the scholastic level. His drum corps experience includes being a snare drummer at Bluecoats 2012, Academy 2011, Santa Clara Vanguard 2010, and the Troopers in 2009 and 2008. Taha was a snare tech at The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2016 through 2019. Prior to that, he was the snare tech at The Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2015 season.
During his drum corps career, Taha was privileged to learn from instructors such as Mike Jackson, Murray Gusseck, Ralph Hardimon, Glen Crosby, Roger Carter, Eric Shriver, Matt Ramey, Jim Ragsdale, Brian Stevens, Rick Barclay, Derrick Fields, and Kevin Welborn. In the indoor scene, Taha has also experienced multiple seasons of success as an instructor. He was the Battery Coordinator and Movement Specialist for the 2014 WGI Independent A Gold Medalist, Lone Star Independent. Taha has been working with Monarch Independent since its inaugural season in 2015. Monarch Independent was the Texas Color Guard Circuit Independent Open Gold Medalist and WGI Independent Open Finalist in both 2015 and 2016. In 2017, Monarch made its World Class debut and since then has been the Texas Color Guard Circuit Independent World Champion, as well as WGI Championships PIW Finalist. Taha was also the battery specialist for the 2016 PSO Bronze Medalist, Cy-Fair High school and 2019 PSO Silver Medalist, Clear Brook High School.
Taha proudly endorses Pearl / Adams, Vic Firth, and Zildjian.
TAHA AHMED
Percussion Caption Head
Emily Magee
Emily Magee is a current resident of Forth Worth, Texas where she is currently working towards her Master’s Degree from Texas Christian University in Percussion Performance. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Instrumental Music Education.
Emily has proudly studied under Lalo Davila, Dr. Brian Mueller, Julie Davila, Matt Jordan, Dr. Brian A West, andJ oey Carter. Emily has taught several high school percussion programs throughout Tennessee, North Carolina, and Fort Worth, Texas. Currently, she works as a private lesson instructor for Brewer Schools, and a front ensemble and audio technician for Lone Star High School. She also co-owns and operates a marching percussion arrangement/composition company, EMDS Percussion.
Emily marched four seasons of DCI and two seasons in WGI: Colts (2015), Blue Knights (2016/2017 – center marimba/section leader in ’17), and Colts (2019 – center marimba/co-section leader), Atlanta Quest (2016), and Music City Mystique (2017).
Emily is involved with the Percussive Arts Society and has been a member since 2015. She won the 2016 Chamber Percussion Competition and currently serves as the committee chair for the University Student Committee.
EMILY MAGEE
Front Ensemble Coordinator
Ben Pyles
Benjamin Pyles is currently the Director of Athletic Percussion at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Previously, Ben majored in music education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Lamar University, with a primary focus in Percussion. His most intensive studies came under the direction of Chris Hestin, Mike Macintosh, Travis Fife, and Michael Kingan.
Ben has several years of World Class performing, design, and instructional experience, including the Glassmen from Toledo, OH; Bluecoats from Canton, OH; The Crossmen from San Antonio, TX; Spirit of Atlanta from Atlanta, GA; Colts from Dubuque, IA; and Monarch Independent from Houston, TX.
Ben is endorsed by Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion Inc. and Pearl and Adams Percussion.
BEN PYLES
Battery Arranger
Andy Filipiak
Andy Filipiak is an active percussion educator, arranger, clinician, and adjudicator.
He has had the opportunities to perform, teach, and give clinics in both Europe
and Asia. He is currently the front ensemble arranger for multiple high schools in
the U.S. as well as Monarch Independent; a PIW group based out of Houston, TX.
Andy has had the privilege of teaching at the Boston Crusaders (2012-2019) as
well as Monarch Independent (2016 – Present) as the Front Ensemble Coordinator
for both groups.
Andyʼs performing career includes The Glassmen (2008-2009), Matrix
(2009-2011), The Cavaliers (2010-2011), and Rhythm X (2012). Andy helped the
Cavaliers win the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award in 2011 and also performed
at PASIC with Rhythm X in 2011.
Andy currently resides in Tomball, TX where he is a percussion specialist in the
Tomball ISD. He has a private lesson studio of over 30 students and serves as a
percussion specialist with the Marching Band as well as the Scholastic Concert
World Indoor Percussion Ensemble (2019 PSCW 4th Place).
Andy is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion and Zildjian Cymbals.
Andy Filipiak
Front Ensemble Arranger
Zack Watson
Zackary R. Watson, is a Percussion Arranger/Caption Manager for marching band programs around the United States. He currently serves as the Battery Arranger/Coordinator for the Milton High School drumline – a PSW WGI organization, as well as a member of the instructional team at Atlanta Quest.
After gathering performance experience from many competitive ensembles around the country, Zackary has settled home in Atlanta, GA with a goal to represent clear progress and modernization in the south-eastern region of the Marching Arts.
Zack Watson
Snare Technician
Daniel Recoder
Daniel Recoder is a motivational fitness coach dedicated to serving the marching arts community. In 2020, he founded Forte Athletics, a brand committed to empowering musicians to get in shape by providing fitness guidance, motivation, and education.
Daniel has been actively involved in the drum corps activity for over a decade. As a quad player, he began his marching career at Blue Devils B 2009-2011 and aged out with the Bluecoats in 2012. He then served as a battery instructor for SCVC 2013 and Bluecoats 2014-2019.
As a licensed PTA, Daniel worked in an outpatient rehabilitation facility from 2019-2021, where he helped thousands of patients achieve their goals while improving their quality of life. Now he works full-time with Forte Athletics to establish and nurture a culture of athleticism within the marching arts community.
Daniel currently serves as a fitness coach and percussion instructor for several Bay Area percussion ensembles.
Outside of work, Daniel enjoys spending time with Mother Nature and scrambling to the top of the highest boulders he can find!
Daniel Recoder
Tenor Technician
Sean Kuth
Sean Knuth is an active performer and educator in the greater Los Angeles area. Along with an extensive list of high school programs, he has also taught at the Blue Stars, Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights, and Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently teaching at Pulse Percussion based in Westminster, CA.
Sean started his drum corps career in 2008 marching tenors with the Vanguard Cadets. After a successful season, he marched tenors with the Santa Clara Vanguard A Corps in 2009 and aged out with them in 2010. Sean graduated California State University, Northridge with a degree in Music Industry Studies. He is currently working as a music rights Production Analyst in Woodland Hills, CA.
Sean Knuth
Tenor Technician
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Ryan Zeutzius
Ryan Zeutzius
Tenor Technician
Aundray Edwards
Aundray Edwards received his Bachelors in Music Education from the University of
Houston. Aundray has been a percussion specialist/technician for several high
school marching programs in Houston and the surrounding areas, including
Cypress Creek High School (winning PAS call for tapes) as well as Cy-Fair High
School. Currently, Aundray resides in Lake Jackson, Tx where he is the Assistant
Director of Percussion at Brazoswood High School and all feeder programs
including Brazoswood High School, Clute Intermediate, and Rasco Middle School
in Brazosport ISD.
Aundray has extensive percussion performance experience ranging from DCI to
the Collegiate world. While attending UH he was a part of all the performing
ensembles, including the wind ensemble and symphony orchestra, which both
were invited to perform at the Midwest Band clinic in Chicago, Illinois, as well as
the Texas Music Educator Association clinic. His further percussion performance
experience includes the Moores School Percussion Ensemble winning PAS call for
tapes, and marching snare drum with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps.
Aundray currently serves as one of the bass drum technicians for Monarch
Independent since 2016. Aundray has also served as the bass drum technician for
the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps as well as the Guardians Drum & Bugle Corps
Aundray Edwards
Bass Technician
Elliott Duran
Elliott is a percussion instructor and graphic designer hailing from Covina, CA. His
marching experience includes two years with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps
in 2011 and 2012, Elan Percussion in 2015, POW Percussion in 2016, and
Pulse Percussion in 2017.
As an instructor, Elliott has been involved with several ensembles throughout the
Southern California area since 2015. He currently teaches at Ayala High School,
Etiwanda High School, and Sunny Hills High School. He’s also spent some time on
staff with Pacific Crest in 2017-2018 and with POW Percussion in 2018. He proudly
uses Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.
Elliott’s design studio, Penrose Creative, has serviced multiple drum corps,
independent indoor percussion ensembles, live bands, and various high school
and collegiate level programs across the nation, providing a wide range of work
including, but not limited to: merchandising, show props and floor design, social
media content, and customized rehearsal and performance apparel.
2023 will mark Elliott’s fifth year on staff with the Mandarins Drum & Bugle
Corps.
Elliott Duran
Bass Technician
Benjy Braude
Benjamin, known by most as “Benjy,” originally hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, and
currently lives in Bloomington, Indiana where he works as a high school biology
and chemistry teacher.
Benjy graduated from Indiana University with a bachelorʼs degree in biology as
well as a masterʼs degree in secondary education. In his time in college, Benjy
performed with the Indiana University Drumline for five years, and proudly works
with the group once again as the IU Drumlineʼs current assistant director.
In his marching career, Benjy is proud to have performed with the Blue Stars Drum
& Bugle Corps, Legacy Indoor, and Rhythm X. Since aging out, Benjy has worked
as a bass technician with high schools across the Cincinnati and Indianapolis
areas, most recently teaching Center Grove High School, Legacy, Legacy Open,
Veritas, and the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps.
Benjy is proud is to be endorsed by Innovative Percussion, and is incredibly
excited to be starting his journey with the Mandarins.
Benjy Braude
Bass Technician
Dominique Lousteau
Dominique Lousteau is a percussionist, arranger/composer, and educator from Luling, Louisiana, who has been involved in the marching arts since 2014. He began as a front ensemble member for Elite Independent, and also marched with the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. He then went on to perform with Monarch Independent, acting as front ensemble section leader in 2020 and ensemble captain in 2021. He also marched three years with the Boston Crusaders front ensemble, a year with the Virtual Drum and Bugle Corps battery, and has been the tenor drum section leader of the Fat City Drum Corps (New Orleans Saints) for the past two years.
A proficient mallet percussionist, Dominique has studied under Dr. Iain Moyer, Dr. Brett Landry, Andy Filipiak, and Troy Breaux throughout his time in college and drum corps.
Dominique is active as a percussion educator for programs in Louisiana and Mississippi such as Lafayette High School where he was front ensemble caption head, Central Lafourche High School where he is a front ensemble technician, the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps where he was a front ensemble technician, and St. Martin Independent where he is a battery and front technician. He is currently on the front ensemble staff at the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps.
Dominique is well versed in all forms of percussion design, able to create exciting and groovy drumline warmups/cadences, competitive battery and front ensemble literature, and can also assist in the production of sound design.
Dominique Lousteau
Front Ensemble Technician
Chandler Long
Chandler Long is a band director, clinician, and technician in Houston, Texas, and
has had the pleasure of working with a wide variety of programs across the state.
He is currently a member of the front ensemble instructional staff at Monarch
Independent, a world-class indoor percussion ensemble based in Houston.
Chandler has had the privilege of performing with Monarch for two consecutive
seasons (2017-2018) and has performed with various collegiate groups at
conventions all over the country including PASIC, TMEA, TBA and ABA. Chandler is
Sam Houston State Universityʼs 4th annual concerto competition grand champion.
Chandler currently resides in Rosenberg, Texas, where he is an assistant band
director for Lamar Consolidated High School as well as a percussion specialist for the Lamar Consolidated ISD.
Chandler is honored to serve The Mandarins as a member of the instructional staff
for the front ensemble for the 2020 season.
Chandler Long
Front Ensemble Technician
Charlotte Daugherty
Charlie Daugherty is a percussionist and music educator from Ohio where she earned her Bachelor’s in Music Education from Kent State University. She is currently a second year graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University serving as a graduate teaching assistant to the Band of Blue drumline, percussion ensemble, and private lessons.
As a performer, Charlie has participated in WGI with Matrix Performing Arts (2018-2020) and in DCI with The Phantom Regiment (2018, 2019). Today, her time as a performer has shifted into the concert setting as a soloist and chamber musician. At MTSU she performs with the Wind Ensemble, Salsa Band, Percussion Ensembles, and Steel Bands.
In the 2022 WGI season, Charlie served as the Front Ensemble Coordinator for Audio Theater. She looks forward to working with Audio Theater 2023 in a new role, as the Ensemble Coordinator. During the Summer of 2022 she instructed the front ensemble at Music City Drum Corps. This will be her first season as a staff member with Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps. Today, she is currently on the percussion staff at Franklin High School as well as Oakland High School and serves as a member on the Percussive Arts Society University Committee. She enjoys splitting her time as an educator and as a performer, and aims to continue that career path in her future.
Charlie has had many diverse mentors and educators, including but not limited to: Dr. Matt Holm, Dr. Brian Mueller, Cory Doran, Lalo Davila, Julie Davila, Rob Ferguson, Cameron Leach, and Russell Wharton.
Charlotte Daugherty
Front Ensemble Technician
Mackenzie Steinberg
Mackenzie (Mack) Steinberg resides in Saint Paul, MN. He is the current Front Ensemble Coordinator for Eden Prairie High School and a Front Ensemble Consultant for MBI Indoor Percussion. Mack’s previous teaching experiences include Irondale HS, Los Alamitos HS, and Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mack has performed with numerous world class organizations since high school, including MBI Indoor Percussion, Boston Crusaders, RCC Indoor Percussion, and the Blue Devils. He also served as the front ensemble section leader for both RCC and the Blue Devils.
Mack graduated from Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN with a degree in Sociology and currently works as a Program Associate for World Savvy, a global competence education nonprofit.
Mackenzie Steinberg
Front Ensemble Technician
TJ Choquette
TJ Choquette is a Percussion Instructor from the Atlanta area. Most all of his teaching experience comes from the world of WGI, where’s he spent 10 years with Atlanta Quest as Snare Tech, Battery Coordinator and currently Ensemble & Staff Coordinator. As a performer, he spent two years playing snare drum at the University of Georgia, as well as Georgia-based WGI groups, Pariah and Terminus, before marching with Music City Mystique and the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.
He lives in Smyrna, GA, graduated from UGA’s Terry College of Business and works professionally as an Executive Senior Partner with Korn Ferry. In his free time, he watches sports, plays golf, fantasy football and spends time with his wife, Chelsea, and #1 dog, Donut.
TJ Choquette
Percussion Consultant
Glen Crosby
Glen Crosby has been in the marching arts since 1980. Over that time, he has held various roles from a tenor instructor to program coordinator with numerous DCI, WGI and BOA groups. He has been extremely fortunate to work with some of the most influential cast of characters involved in the activity, (time to name drop) including Ralph Hardimon, Thom Hannum, Murray Gusseck, Jim Casella, Tom Aungst, Scott Johnson, and Tom Float to name a few. He spent 4 years (1981-84) as a member of the Blue Devils, then moved on to instructing The Cadets in 1985. Next stop was the Santa Clara Vanguard, where his largest growth as a teacher occurred under the tutelage of Ralph Hardimon. In addition to his work in drum corps, Glen has also been involved with the indoor percussion activity, having spent 10 years with Pulse Percussion from 2009 to 2019; working with Ian Grom and John Mapes.
Currently Glen’s schedule includes teaching at Elan Percussion, Cerritos High School, and the UCLA Marching Band, as well as maintaining a private lesson studio. After decades in the activity he still finds great joy in teaching students of all ages and experience levels.
Glen’s teaching philosophy is guided by his belief that music offers the opportunity to impart life lessons through ignition, deep practice, and master coaching. Whether it is students with special needs, professional musicians, or any student, Glen’s approach to teaching is based on process, patience, and persistence. Glen endorses Mapex drums, Remo drum heads, Zildjian cymbals, and Vic Firth sticks.
Glen Crosby
Percussion Consultant
Jim Casella
Jim Casella is well known for the music he’s created for percussion ensembles and the world-class drum corps Santa Clara Vanguard (1996-2004), and The Cavaliers (2006-09). Together with Murray Gusseck, he co-founded the company Tapspace, one of the world’s leading publishers of percussion music. He also programmed and produced the software sample library, Virtual Drumline.
Jim’s signature series of drumsticks and keyboard mallets are manufactured by Innovative Percussion and are popular worldwide. He has served on the board of advisors for the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and is a member of ASCAP.
In addition to his work in the percussion industry, Jim has composed music for film and commercials. He has been a longtime endorser of Pearl/Adams drums and percussion, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
