In 2019, the Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band from San Antonio, TX won the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional for the third time with a record score of 97.30 winning outstanding visual performance and outstanding general effect with their show, ‘Secret World.’ After bursting onto the scene in 2000, the Reagan Rattler Band has won countless contests & Bands of America Regionals and placed in finals 5 times at the BOA Grand Nationals Championships in Indianapolis, IN., including two second-place finishes and one class AAA championship. The Reagan marching band has also been a consistent UIL State Marching Band finalist since 2004 and was selected to march in the 2018 rose parade in Pasadena, CA, and the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. In 2005 the Reagan Band was the recipient of the prestigious International Sudler Shield. The wind ensemble has also been a consistent TMEA state honor band finalist and was invited to perform at the 2018 Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. In 1999 Ronald Reagan High School opened, splitting from the nationally-known Winston Churchill High School in the North East Independent School District, and the Ronald Reagan marching band began competing in the year 2000. Their 2000 production featured Smetana Fanfare by Karel Husa, Molto Ritmico & Lento for Brass, from Dance Movements by Philip Sparke, & original music by Mark Higginbotham. On October 7th in San Antonio’s Alamodome, the band placed 3rd in prelims and 3rd in finals at their very first BOA regional. And on November 4th at Alief Stadium in Houston, TX, the Reagan band placed 2nd in prelims winning their first caption in school history, outstanding general effect, and finished in 5th place in finals. Joining me today is Mark Chambers who was the director of bands for Ronald Reagan HS from 1999-2006, where he and his team became arguably the single largest driving force in spearheading a change in sound, visual, aesthetic, flow, design, and theatrics within TX marching band. On this episode of Storybook, we discuss The Ronald Reagan High School's 2000 production, “Perpetual Motion.”

William Pitts (b. 1986) is a composer, conductor, and arranger from Atlanta. Growing up in Carrollton, Georgia, Pitts graduated summa cum laude from Emory University, where he studied saxophone, conducting, and composition. He has completed graduate study in Music at North Georgia University and the University of Michigan. Pitts most recently served as the Brass Arranger for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Illinois. As a member of the corps, Pitts served as a Conductor for three years (2005, 2007-2008). He was a finalist for DCI's Jim Jones Leadership Award all three years. In 2008, the Regiment took first place honors as World Champions at the Drum Corps International Finals. Will was also honored as Regiment's 2008 Mark Glasscoe Member of the Year. In addition to his role as arranger, he has also served on Regiment's management staff, and as the Brass Arranger and Composer for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. Pitts is active as a music designer, adjudicator, and instructor for high school band programs throughout the country. Marching ensembles performing his arrangements have been recognized as State Marching Band Finalists and Champions, along with Bands of America Regional Finalists, Regional Champions, and Grand National Finalists. His concert compositions and arrangements have been commissioned and performed across the world. He has written works for and been commissioned by the Boston Pops, the University of North Texas, the Canadian Staff Band of the Salvation Army, Wake Forest University, the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, the Atlanta Trumpet Ensemble, the Vega String Quartet, the Atlanta Saxophone Quartet, the Northwinds Symphonic Band, french hornist J.D. Shaw, tubist Christian Carichner, and numerous other high school and collegiate wind and chamber ensembles. He has also served as a production consultant and talent for Tom Blair, Inc., Drum Corps International, and MTV. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony Foundation. As a music educator, Pitts has served on the faculties of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas, and Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in instrumental music, conducting, and music theory.

In 2019, the Vandegrift High School Marching Band from Austin, TX won the Bands of America Grand National Class 4A Championship sweeping all captions and was named Grand National Champion with a score of 97.18 winning the award for Outstanding General Effect with their show, ‘Aria: Queen of the Night.’ After bursting onto the scene in 2010, the Vandegrift Viper Band has won countless contests & Bands of America Regionals and has also been a consistent UIL State Marching Band finalist winning bronze in 2018, silver in 2015, and gold in 2013. In 2019 the Vandegrift Band was the recipient of the prestigious International Sudler Shield. The wind ensemble has also been a consistent TMEA state honor band finalist culminating in being named the 2018 TMEA 6A Honor Band. The Vandegrift wind ensemble was also invited to perform at the 2020 Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. In 2009 Vandegrift High School opened, splitting from the nationally-known Cedar Park High School in the Leander Independent School District, and the Vandegrift marching band began competing in their first year as a school. Their 2009 production featured "Finale, The Promise of Living from The Tender Land," and "Third Symphony" by Aaron Copland. On October 24th at Hays High School, the band placed 5th in prelims and 5th in finals, earning State Alternate, at their very first Area D Marching Contest. Joining me today is Jeremy Spicer who was the director of bands for Vandegrift HS from 2009-2014 and prior to his appointment at Vandegrift, he spent eight years as a member of the staff at Cedar Park High School. On this episode of Storybook, we discuss the Vandegrift High School's 2009 production, “Remembered.”

After winning their 2nd DCI world championship in 1995 with their show ‘The Planets,’ The Cavaliers drum & bugle corps fell to 4th in 1996 and dropped to 7th place with their 1997 production, “The Firebird.” The lowest the corps had finished since finishing 8th in 1984. The Cavies then moved back up to 4th place in 1998 and then received the bronze medal in 1999 with their show, “Classical Innovations.” That 1999 show also saw The Chicago Cavaliers taking home their fourth High Percussion Award in the history of the corps, all in the 1990s. In the year 2000… a design team came together that would come to dominate DCI for the better part of the next decade. Led by program coordinator Scott Koter, Michael Gaines designed the drill, Richard Saucedo composed & arranged the brass book, and Bret Kuhn & Erik Johnson composed & arranged the battery & front-ensemble books. The 2000 production, “Niagara Falls,” featured music from and inspired by Niagara Falls by Michael Daugherty, and Waves, from Soundings by Cindy McTee as well as original music by Saucedo, Kuhn, & Johnson. The 2000 season ended with The Cavaliers of Rosemount, IL winning their 3rd DCI world championship, in a tie with The Cadets, as well as winning the John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award, the George Zingali Best Color Guard Performance Award, and the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award. Joining me today are future DCI Hall of Famers Bret Kuhn and Erik Johnson. Bret served as Caption Head and Percussion Arranger for the Cavaliers who won 6 World Championships and 5 High Percussion Awards during his tenure. From 1995 to 2005 and 2008 to 2010, Erik Johnson was on the instructional staff serving on the design team as the front ensemble arranger and coordinator. On this episode of Musicbook, we discuss The Cavaliers’ 2000 production, “Niagara Falls.”

“Proud, Loud, and Pleasing the Crowd.” This is the mantra of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle corps. And it’s safe to say that since 1938, the Scouts have consistently brought audiences to their feet with their entertainment-focused programs. And while the corps had won two DCI world championships, in 1975 & 1988, for some, it was the shows of the 1990s that really solidified the Madison Explorer Scouts as one of, if not the favorite corps in all of DCI. Whether you were an alum of the corps, had a friend or family member that marched the corps, or just a normal fan with or without ties to other drum corps, the Scouts of Madison, Wisconsin was the corps you were always excited to see. Fans didn’t leave their seats to get a hot dog or go to the restroom when the Green & White took the field. After winning their 2nd DCI world championship in 1988 with Latin music by Paul Hart & Ernesto Lecuona, the corps spent the next few years exploring music from musicals, big band, jazz, & jazz fusion before finding their way back to Latin and Latin jazz music in 1994. This untitled production featured Santos by Louie Bellson, Cuban Overture by George Gershwin, & Malaga by Bill Holman. The corps had slowly been creeping up the finalist rankings since their 9th place finish in 1990 and finished the 1994 season in 6th place. For the 1995 season, the Scouts once again turned to Latin music by Joaquín Rodrigo, Bill Holman, and original music by Scott Boerma, brass composer & arranger, Jeff Moore, battery composer & arranger, and Taras Nihirniak, front ensemble composer & arranger. The Madison Scouts have had many crowd-pleasing shows throughout their history; we could fill an entire season of episodes focusing on each and every one of these shows. But perhaps no Scouts’ production is more loved than the 1995 production. This show has widely been considered one of the most entertaining drum corps shows of all time and for some, is the hands-down favorite. This opinion was in fact proven scientifically accurate with fans and alums voting the 1995 show as the winner of the 2020 Virtual Drums Along the Parade, with the 1988 championship show coming in 2nd. The 1995 DCI season ended with the Madison Scouts finishing in 4th place with a score of 95.40, and winning High Brass in a three-way tie. Joining me today is composer and arranger Scott Boerma, who was the brass composer & arranger for 20+ shows over a span of 4 decades! And who without a doubt I consider to be one of the "Four Horseman of DCI Arrangers.” If there was a Mount Rushmore for DCI Music Arrangers, his face would be one of the first 3 carved. On this episode of Musicbook, we discuss the Madison Scouts’ 1995 production, “A Drum Corps Fan’s Dream: A Day in the Life of a Bullfighter.”

From 2000 to 2009, no drum corps was more dominant than The Cavaliers from Rosemount, IL. During that span, they won 2 bronze medals, 2 silver medals, and 5 world championships. They also took home awards for Best Color Guard Performance in 2000, 2002, 2004, & 2007, Best General Effect in 2001, 2002, 2004, & 2006, Best Visual Performance in 2000, 2002, 2004, & 2006, Best Brass Performance in 2002 & 2006, and the Best Percussion Award in 2000. After winning three straight championships in 2000, 2001, & 2002, a feat that had only been accomplished by the Garfield Cadets in 1983, 1984, & 1985, The Cavies placed 2nd in 2003 with their show ’Spin Cycle,’ featuring original music once again by Richard Saucedo, Erik Johnson, & Bret Kuhn. For their 2004 production, The Chicago Cavaliers were inspired by the cool demeanor of Ian Fleming’s fictional MI6 special agent, the suave and debonair James Bond. The music marked a departure of three years of all-original music by Saucedo, Johnson, and Kuhn. The 2004 DCI season ended with The Green Machine winning their 6th DCI title, edging the Blue Devils by just .175 points and winning Best Color Guard, Best General Effect, and Best Visual Performance. Joining me today is DCI Hall of Famer Scott Koter who was the program coordinator of The Cavaliers from 1999-2015, where he spearheaded the visual and musical design process among staff members and provided the leadership and direction for how the corps’ productions were put together and taught to young corps members every year. On this, the first episode of Storybook, we discuss The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps 2004 production, “007."

In the fall of 2001, The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps had just won their second consecutive world championship and 4th to date with their show, ‘Four Corners.’ After winning in 2000 with their show “Niagara Falls” which included music from and inspired by the piece of the same name by composer Michael Daugherty, the Cavies turned to original music from their composer & arranger, Richard Saucedo for their 2001 championship show. When it came time to design their 2002 show and chase after the hallowed “three-peat,’ a feat that had only been accomplished by the Garfield Cadets in 1983, 1984, & 1985, The Cavaliers of Rosemount, IL once again turned to original music. While "Niagara Falls" had existing source material to build and work with, and "Four Corners" seemed to have some subtle and not-so-subtle musical influences, "Frameworks," the 2002 production, seemed to be all from the mind of Richard Saucedo. Well… except for two very obvious rhythmic influences! The 2002 DCI season ended with a record high score of 99.15 with The Cavaliers going undefeated for the season and winning their third DCI title in a row, and fifth overall. Joining me today is world-renowned and award-winning composer & arranger Richard Saucedo. Who not only won 5 DCI world championships with The Cavaliers, but won three straight titles out of the gate, and never placed lower than 3rd during his tenure with the Cavies. On the first episode of Musicbook we discuss The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps 2002 production, “Frameworks: The Elements of Music & Design"

RYAN GEORGE currently resides in Austin, Texas where he is active as an arranger and composer. His work, ranging from music for the concert stage to music for marching ensembles is performed regularly throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Ryan completed his first work for concert band in 2007 and since then his works have received performances at the American Bandmasters Association Convention, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, W.A.S.B.E., the Music For All (Bands of America) Concert Band Festival, PASIC, Carnegie Hall, the National CBDNA Conference, the CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference, and the MidEurope Festival in Schladming Austria. Many of his works, which are aimed at developing performers, have frequented the repertoires of All-State, Region, Inter-Collegiate, and Honor's ensembles throughout the U.S. and Canada. Recent notable performances of Ryan's music have included The "Presidents Own" United States Marine Band (National Tour), the Hiroshima Wind Orchestra (Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic), The Texas Christian University Percussion Orchestra (PASIC National Convention), The United States Air Force Band (A.B.A. Convention), The Lone Star Wind Orchestra (WASBE), and the Finnish Navy Band. He has received commissions for various ensembles including works for the T.C.U. Percussion Orchestra, The Consortium for the Advancement of Wind Band Literature, The Lone Star Wind Orchestra, and the Wan Quan School in Beijing China. As a specialist in music design for marching ensembles, Ryan's work has been performed by some of the nation's elite programs at the state, region, and national venues. His roster of clients includes perennial Bands of America (Music for All) regional champions, regional finalist, and Grand National finalist. Some of his clients include Leander HS (Leander TX), Cedar Ridge HS (Round Rock TX), and the 2018 UIL 6A State Champion Vista Ridge HS (Cedar Park TX).  Within the realm of drum corps, Ryan is returning for his 8th year as the brass arranger/composer of the Boston Crusaders from Boston MA. He also was for the Academy Drum & Bugle Corps from Tempe AZ. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. He is an ASCAP artist, a member of TMEA, and the American Composer's Forum.  His wife Sarah is a producer and talent buyer for internationally recognized music festivals and they are the proud parents of Sophia, Nyla, and Teller. (b. 1978)

http://www.mikebishopmusic.com/ Do you remember Sledgehammer, by Peter Gabriel, Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins, or Nasty (Nasty Boy) by Janet Jackson? What about three of my favorite movies of all time; The Transformers: The Movie, One Crazy Summer, or Flight of the Navigator? Can you recall who won the 73rd Tour de France that year? It was Greg LeMond. The most popular male name of 1986 was Michael and it just so happens on a beautiful 74-degree day in San Diego, California, Michael Edward Bishop came screaming into the world like an eagle attacking its prey. Go Birds! You might know Mike from his work with The Blue Stars… Rhythm X… Carolina Crown… The Crossmen…Cedar Park HS, just to name a few. Mike also creates soundtracks for podcasts, commercials, dance teams, color guards, as well as sound design for the marching arts, or “Pageantry.” And stay tuned because Mike will be appearing with United Percussion and The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps! He is a big fan of Yamaha, Vic Firth, Zildjian, & Remo. And he is a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America.

On Monday, November 27, 1989, George H. W. Bush was president.  In that special week of November people in the US were listening to Blame It On The Rain by Milli Vanilli. In the UK You Got It (The Right Stuff) by New Kids On The Block was in the top 5 hits. Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase was one of the most viewed movies and Alien Nation was one of the most popular TV series of the year. And in Southfield, Michigan, home of the “mixing bowl,” Geoffrey Aron Sperling was born. Geoffrey Sperling graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington with a Bachelor of the Arts. Geoffrey has been a performing member, and currently is an alumnus of Interplay, Zydeco, and The Pride of Cincinnati Winterguards. In 2011, Geoffrey ended his 8 year DCI career as a performing member with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps where he was a part of the George Zingali "Best Color guard" award-winning cast. Prior to that, Geoffrey was a marching member with the Cadets, Bluecoats, Hawthorne Caballeros, Capital Regiment, Racine Kilties, and The Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps. Geoffrey was an integral part of the design staff at Cedar Ridge High School. During his time at Cedar Ridge, the marching band made its inaugural appearance in the Bands of America Grand National Finals. The Winterguard received a Scholastic A bronze medal in the Texas Colorguard Circuit (TCGC), and made finals at all WGI regional appearances. He served as the Director of Colorguard at New Braunfels High School and in 2015, the winter guard was named the WGI San Antonio Regional A Class Champion and were Regional A class silver medalists within the Texas Educational Colorguard Association (TECA). Outside of his involvement with scholastic programs, Geoffrey has served as choreographer for The Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps, The Louisiana Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, and Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps. Geoffrey has also choreographed for White Gold, Industry Independent, and Spirit Independent Winterguard. Geoffrey has been a U.S. Bands Adjudicator since 2013 in the caption of Colorguard. Presently, Geoffrey serves as a co-director for Origins Colorguard, an Independent Open Class winter guard based out of Austin, Tx. and leads SperlingDesigns, a one-stop show for custom marching band, color guard, and winter guard design.

It was Thursday, under the sign of Leo. The US president was Ronald Reagan, the actor! And no, the Vice President wasn’t Jerry Lewis. In that special week of August people were listening to Endless Love by Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie and watching The Cannonball Run at the local picture house. And in the sleepy little town of Indianapolis, IN (the Crossroad of America), Jennifer Nicole Barton was born into this world on August 20, 1981. Jen Barton is currently the color guard director at Rouse HS in Leander, TX. Previously she was the color guard director at James F. Byrnes HS in South Carolina managing a consistent program of 80+ students both logistically and creatively. While under her direction, the Byrnes Guard program was a 5-time WGI World Championships Finalist and multiple WGI Regional Finalist and Regional Champion. She has worked with numerous programs throughout her career, including multiple scholastic guard programs, The Cast and Etude Independent winter guards, Pacific Crest (2011-2013, 2016-present), and Spirit of Atlanta (2014-2015). As a performer, Jen has appeared with the Santa Clara Vanguard and Northeast Independent Winter Guard (Florida). She has also performed with the Florida State University Marching Chiefs, ad astra per ASPERA Winter Guard (GA), and CrownGUARD (GA). Jen attended Center Grove HS in Greenwood, IN where she was a part of the Bands of America Grand National Champion marching band in 1995, and she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music Education from The Florida State University in 2004.

On July 20, 1976, the Viking 1 lander touched down on Mars and set back the first close-up photographs of the rust-colored Martian surface. Hank Aaron hits his last big league home run, his 755th and establishes the all-time major league record for career home runs. And in the town of Pittston, PA, The Quality Tomato Capital of the World,  Jude Joseph Boughton burst into this world with all the splendor and majesty worthy of a debut. Attending Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a focus in Theater & Dance and additional studies in Movement for Non-Dancers & Dance in the Musical Theater Boughton has long been a student of dance and musical theater history in America and movement education to non-dancers. Jude’s previous drum corps experience includes Phantom Regiment (Visual Coord. 2014; Color Guard Instructor & Caption Head 03-04), Spirit of Atlanta (Color Guard Coordinator 10-13), The Colts (Program Coordinator 05-09), The Glassmen (Movement Instructor 05), & The Reading Buccaneers (Color Guard Designer 98-99). Boughton has taught extensively around the country as a designer, choreographer, dance educator, and program consultant working with many groups including WGI medalists Mechanicsburg High School, and most notably with 12-time WGI Independent World Class finalist The Black Watch Color Guard (03-12). Jude moved to Austin, TX in 2010 and has instructed and designed for such nationally known programs as Round Rock HS, Vandegrift HS, & Leander HS.

https://vandoren-music.com/ Evan Christopher VanDoren is a freelance arranger, composer, designer, and educational consultant living in the greater Austin, Texas area. After graduating with honors from Butler University in Indianapolis, Evan joined the band staff at Cedar Park High School. During his tenure, Cedar Park’s marching band was named a UIL Texas State Marching Champion three times, as well as a BOA Grand National Finalist twice. Evan has been involved in the drum corps community since 2001, marching in the Lehigh Valley Knights from 2001-2003, and the Carolina Crown from 2004-2008, concluding his DCI experience as drum major in 2008. Since then, he has served on the faculties of the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. This year, 2019, he was named the brass arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. Additionally, Evan enjoys working as a leadership facilitator for SASI Leadership, based out of Leander, Texas. Currently, he lives in Cedar Park, Texas, with his wife, Katherine, and their dog, Cooper.

Wesley Sullivan currently serves as the Director of Legal Operations for FloSports. His focus is on change management, cross-departmental efficiencies, and legal support in music licensing, mergers and acquisitions, rights contracts, and customer-facing portions of the business. His time at the company has seen him in several roles, mostly in the legal department, but Wesley began his time at FloSports as the Senior Manager of Rights Acquisition for FloMarching.  Wesley has been active in the marching community his entire life. Prior to moving to Texas, he served as an assistant band director and director of percussion. He served as the percussion representative of the Eboard of NESBA, a WGI circuit partner, for a number of years. His groups have been WGI finalists, DCI champions, and USBands national champions. He marched and taught for a number of years, studying under Tom Aungst, Eric Ward, Thom Hannum, Nick Angelis, Colin McNutt, and Chris Dufault.  Wesley has a JD from Charleston School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Babson College. Wesley has launched a consulting company for start-ups and early-stage businesses and is actively looking for other ways to help serve the marching arts community such as board membership. 

Chelsea Levine is an entrepreneur and cymbal technician based out of Nashville, TN. She’s dedicating her post-marching career to the advancement of marching cymbals through teaching, building her company Seavine, & co-founding The Cymbal Scholarship. Chelsea has marched and taught in various groups around the world. She was fortunate enough to perform with Rhythm X, Crossmen, Jersey Surf, United Percussion & Gateway Indoor. Upon aging out, Chelsea has been a cymbal technician for Rhythm X since 2014, the Colts, Spirit of Atlanta, Centerville High School, Western Carolina University, & DrumSpirit. She has also promoted the art of cymbal playing in Europe and Asia with clinics in Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, China, and Thailand. In 2010 Chelsea founded Seavine, a company that offers high-quality cymbal and hornline performance products such as The Cymbal Gloves. She founded The Cymbal Scholarship- assisting WGI & DCI cymbal players with their membership fees. Since 2012, they have given away over $26,000 to marching cymbalists fully funded by Seavine profits. Building her company, she discovered the power of social media. She’s become an online marketing specialist and manages accounts for Seavine, Virtual DBC, and Rhythm X. She currently resides in Nashville, TN with her super cool quad tech husband Thomas and their energetic dog Rachel.

Chris Komnick assumed the role of Executive Director in the fall of 2008 after previously serving on the Madison Scouts’ board of directors. He was a board member of Drum Corps International from 2012-2020 and served as the Vice-Chairman. At the conclusion of the 2012 season, he was selected as the DCI “Director of the Year”. Before taking the role of Executive Director, Chris was a serial entrepreneur with a primary focus on technology startups. He was responsible for developing product and branding strategies and has over 20 years of experience working with various organizations, from startups to public companies. Chris has taught many MBA classes and has been a guest instructor and mentor at Miami University’s school of business. Chris is an alumnus of the Scouts having marched mellophone in 1984, 1985 and in the 2006 Alumni Reunion Project. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree in business administration from Miami University.

Chris Komnick assumed the role of Executive Director in the fall of 2008 after previously serving on the Madison Scouts’ board of directors. He was a board member of Drum Corps International from 2012-2020 and served as the Vice-Chairman. At the conclusion of the 2012 season, he was selected as the DCI “Director of the Year”. Before taking the role of Executive Director, Chris was a serial entrepreneur with a primary focus on technology startups. He was responsible for developing product and branding strategies and has over 20 years of experience working with various organizations, from startups to public companies. Chris has taught many MBA classes and has been a guest instructor and mentor at Miami University’s school of business. Chris is an alumnus of the Scouts having marched mellophone in 1984, 1985 and in the 2006 Alumni Reunion Project. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree in business administration from Miami University.

N-BEAM Consortium Every day we hear and experience music that has incorporated music technology, through electronic components and instruments, to positively contribute to the listener's overall musical experience.  Electro-Acoustic (EA) music is now widely accepted in music - in both production and performance - from scores created for screen and stage, to popular music, and even the professional classical orchestra stage. As technology becomes a more important part of the daily life of our students and can create new palates of sound in our music, educators must embrace technology as part of our sound and our curriculum - much the same way as it already has been in most other areas of music.  The New Band Electro-Acoustic Music (N-BEAM) consortium aims to add three new pieces of EA music to the school concert band repertoire. ​In 2018, N-BEAM v1.0 released it's first composition to its members - TECHNO BLADE, by Benjamin Taylor.  This was followed in 2019 with Daniel Montoya Jr.'s composition AXE TO GRIND.  In 2020, the N-BEAM consortium met the goal of introducing three new pieces of EA music to the school concert band repertoire by the addition of Alex Shapiro's OFF THE EDGE. With N-BEAM v2.0, the New Band Electro-Acoustic Music consortium project looks to build on this success with the addition of three more EA pieces to the wind band repertoire. Beginning in early 2021, N-BEAM v2.0 consortium members will receive the first of three new pieces of concert band literature, graded between 2 and 2.5, each including an audio component.  Those components may be live or interactive, using an electronic instrument or computer/tablet to create sounds; or may be fixed, like an accompaniment audio track that is played throughout the composition. Each of these compositions will be created in a way that will allow any school (and their director), the "plug and play" ability to perform each composition easily and effectively, regardless of their experience with technology, their level of access to sound reinforcement equipment or their technology/instrument budget. ​At least 30 schools will have an opportunity to join a consortium that funds the creation of those three pieces.  And each consortium member will receive performance benefits for being part of this project.

Dr. Bradley Kent serves as State Director of Music for the University Interscholastic League, where he oversees a system that provides educational competition for some 750,000 student participants in Texas. Prior to his UIL appointment, he held the position of Director of Fine Arts for the Richardson Independent School District, where he administrated all Band, Choir, Orchestra, Visual Art, and Theatre programs. Dr. Kent began his career as a band director in the Lewisville Independent School District and went on to serve on the faculties of Texas A&M University at Commerce and Lamar University. Ensembles under his direction have performed at the Midwest Clinic, the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention, the College Band Directors National Association Conferences, and the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention. He has presented guest lectures and clinics across Texas and at events such as the International Wind Music History Conference, the Midwest Clinic, the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the College Band Directors National Association Conference, and the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention. Dr. Kent also maintains an active conducting schedule, including serving as Conductor and Music Director of the newly formed Texas Youth Wind Symphony, a group comprised of high school musicians from throughout the greater Austin, TX area. Dr. Kent holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and the Master of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin, as well as the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University. He enjoys serving as both a clinician and evaluator for ensembles of all levels and is active as an advocate for the arts and arts education. Dr. Kent and his wife Laurie, along with daughters Sydney and Marin reside in Cedar Park.