Fred Emory Smith
Music Designer

Fred was trained at Berklee College of Music ‘08, where he received the Doug Timm Award for Outstanding Musicianship in Film Scoring.

Fred’s drum corps experience included performing with the Arizona Academy in 2001, Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets in 2002, and the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2003-2005 as a snare drummer.

Fred currently arranges the percussion and sound design for The Academy and Vessel drum corps, and synth design for the Blue Devils. He also arranged percussion and sound design for The Vanguard Cadets from ’13 to ’22 where they won 5 Open Class Championships. He has extensive experience composing and arranging for various high school marching bands, indoor drumlines, and wind ensembles.

Outside of the marching arts, Fred is an award-winning composer working in various media genres. Fred’s work includes Transformers 3, Need for Speed: The Run, Disney’s Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero, Star Wars: Forces of Destiny, Marvel’s Agents of Shield, and CW’s Supergirl.

Another big accomplishment was to work as a music arranger for the 87th Academy Awards and more recently, he won Best Film Music at the 2019 Burbank Film Festival for his feature film, Rock ‘n’ Roll Eddie.

His current projects include working on a Netflix animated series (Go! Go! Cory Carson), a new action feature film (Bad Blood).

Fred resides in Huntington Beach, CA with his wife and 3 children.

Jim Ragsdale
Percussion Supervisor

Jim Ragsdale began his DCI marching career at The Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, where he was a member of the snare section in 1997 and 1998. In 1999 and 2000, he was a member of The Santa Clara Vanguard snare section, serving as section leader in 2000. Jim’s DCI instructional career includes The Santa Clara Vanguard (2001-2005, 2009-2010) and The Cavaliers (2006-2008). From 2005 – 2015 he was a Texas high school band/percussion director at Winston Churchill HS, Alamo Heights HS, and Douglas MacArthur HS in San Antonio. Currently, he works as a real estate consultant in San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

In his free time, Jim enjoys spending time with his wife, Kelly, their two children, Avery and Kaylynn, and their two schnauzers, Charlie and Layla. Additionally, he enjoys being outdoors, exercising, golfing, reading, and watching college and professional football.

Jim is excited about the opportunity to serve The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, and to continue to learn. He hopes to provide a great educational experience that the students will appreciate, remember, and enjoy.

Jeff Crowell
Front Ensemble Supervisor

Dr. Jeffery Crowell is an Emmy Award winning percussionist and Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he teaches applied percussion and percussion techniques, conducts the UW-Eau Claire Percussion Ensembles, instructs the Blugold Marching Band Drumline, and leads Jazz Ensemble III, part of the outstanding UW-Eau Claire award-winning jazz area.  Before joining the faculty at UW-Eau Claire, Dr. Crowell taught on the faculties of several colleges, including Purdue University.

Dr. Crowell received his DMA in percussion performance (classical/contemporary) with minor fields in jazz performance and electro-acoustic media from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. He is active throughout the United States as a performer, clinician, adjudicator, and educator with performances internationally and nationally including South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.

A versatile artist and a champion of diverse music of many genres, Dr. Crowell’s performance and recording credits include such artists as Bobby Shew, Louie Bellson, David Samuels, Henry Mancini, Joan Rivers, Lou Harrison, Kent Nagano, David Garibaldi, Buddy Baker, Glen Velez, and John Bergamo. He has performed at the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella Series, presented and performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention several times, and is in the motion picture “The Majestic” starring Jim Carrey.  Dr. Crowell has over 32 years of experience in the marching arts, having taught numerous award winning high school programs, marched with the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, and has taught on the staffs of other groups including the Tournament of Roses Marching Honor Band.  He has also been a consultant for the Open Class Drum and Bugle Corps River City Rhythm.  He is currently the Front Ensemble Supervisor for the World Class Drum and Bugle Corps The Academy from Tempe, AZ.

He has been active member of the Percussive Arts Society, having served on many PAS Committees including the University Pedagogy Committee, Education Committee, and the Technology Committee.  Dr. Crowell has also served as a member of the Wisconsin PAS Chapter Advisory Committee in addition to having been the Wisconsin Chapter President for several years.

Dr. Crowell is also active in the publishing realm. He has an arrangement, Nanafushi for percussion trio, published through Tapspace Publications, LLC and has had many articles in School Band and Orchestra magazine and Percussive Notes, the journal of the Percussive Arts Society.  The most recent issues has his newest contribution.

Dr. Crowell is a performing artist/clinician for Tama/Bergerault Concert and Marching Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets, Tycoon World Percussion, and REMO Drumheads.  He is also an Ensemble Artist and Educator Network member for Black Swamp Percussion.

Taylor Poole
Percussion Caption Head

Taylor Poole is a graduate from Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) earning her Master’s degree in Orchestral Percussion Performance under the guidance of Dr. Stuart Gerber and Charles Settle.  Beginning her undergraduate career at the University of South Carolina with Dr. Scott Herring, she ultimately finished her degree at Georgia State University in Music Management with an emphasis in Marketing.  

As a performer, she was an active member of the marching percussion world, performing in both Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International.  Taylor was a member of the tenor lines of both Spirit of Atlanta (2011-2013) and Gateway Indoor (2013-2014) under the instruction of Chris Hestin, Ben Pyles, and Michael McIntosh respectively.  She is an active educator working in the Southeast US with various programs, most recently working with TL Hanna High School (Anderson, SC) and formerly with Civitas Independent (PIO) helping guide the ensemble to their first medal position of second place at WGI for their 2022 season.

When she is not teaching band, you can find her spending time outside with her many plants or hanging out with her pet snail, Hoover.

Having worked with The Academy as Battery Coordinator for the 2023 season, she is excited to step into her new role for the 2024 season! 

Dakota McConnell
Battery Coordinator

Dakota McConnell is a percussionist and educator from Casa Grande, Arizona now living in Tempe. Dakota is an alumni of The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps where he marched from 2014-2017, leading the section in ‘15 and ‘17. Dakota also marched with Pulse Percussion in the 2017 and in 2018 led the group to a 4th place finish. Dakota has a Bachelor of Arts from ASU in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in business and economics. Dakota has taught Casa Grande Percussion Ensemble since fall 2016, taught with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018 and 2023, and Blue Stars from 2019-2022. Dakota founded Flux Indoor Percussion in December 2018 and had been the Director, Ensemble Coordinator, and part of the design team since its inauguration.

Dakota has learned from, but not limited to, Glen Crosby, Ike Jackson, John Mapes, Cisco Hance, Rick Barclay, Ryan Anderson, Ezekiel Lanser, Connor Yasuda, Drew Guy, Will Edmonds, Roberto Paz, John McClean, Stevie Hagel, and John Sutton.

Matt Egeler
Front Ensemble Coordinator

Matthew Egeler is a percussionist, educator,  and composer from Detroit, Michigan. He discovered his passion for the marching arts in highschool, and soon went on to participate in WGI with Farmington United Percussion (2010) and Eastside Fury (2011-2014). Matthew also performed in the front ensemble with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2012 & 2014) receiving a DCI bronze medal.

He is an active marching educator in Southeast Michigan, working with multiple high schools and WGI ensembles including Milford High School (2011-2020), Hazel Park High School (2014 & 2015), Southgate High School (2022-present), and Novi High School (2021-present) where he was a part of winning the Outstanding Percussion Award in MCBA in 2022.

In WGI, Matthew has taught several ensembles, including  Ferndale Independent Percussion, (2014-2017), Dakota High School (2014-2015), Eclipse Percussion (2018), and was a founding member of Divergent Performing Arts, as the Front Ensemble Caption Head (2019-2020). He has also worked with Southgate Winter Percussion (2022 – 2023), and is the Co-Director and Arranger for Novi Winter Percussion (2021-present).

In his spare time, Matthew can be found improving his arranging and composing skills, and hopes to one day become a full time composer for film and game music.

Jake Taylor
Snare Technician

Jake Taylor, originally from Olathe KS, Now based out Tampa FL, started his independent marching career in with Gateway Indoor in 2016 and went on march with groups such as Crossmen (2019) and Cap City (2019-2022). As an Instructor, Jake has worked with various groups in the Kansas City area as well as the Tampa area including Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory For The Arts. Jake began working with The Academy in 2023, enjoying his second season with the corps. 

Ryan Arrowood
Snare Technician

Ryan is a music educator and percussionist from Atlanta, Georgia, graduating from Georgia State University with a degree in music education and specializing in percussion education. As an active instructor, he works with Civitas Independent, GSU’s Atheltic Bands, and several schools in the metro Atlanta area. In the past, he performed with Equinox Percussion as a snare drummer. Off-campus, you’ll find him outdoors or in his kitchen, along with his cat, Stick!

Miles Kenobbie
Tenor Technician

Miles marched at The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps for two years back in 2014 & 2015. His other marching experience consists of three years with Breakthrough Indoor Percussion (2013-2015), two years with the Sun Devil College Marching Band (2014 & 2015), four years with Riverside City College (2016-2019), and two years with The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2016 & 2017). He graduated from ASU with a Digital Culture (Music Concentration) Major in 2018. He has taught at DCI groups such at The Academy and The Cavaliers, is currently teaching at Arizona State University, and is also the Percussion Caption Head at Gilbert High School. Besides playing and teaching drums, Miles enjoys creating electronic music, DJing, and creating YouTube content on the side.

Alessandro Piombi
Tenor Technician

Alessandro is an energetic and passionate educator in the Arizona marching arts community. He has performed with organizations such as Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps, The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, RCC Indoor Percussion, and Flux Indoor Percussion. Alessandro also has a B.S. in psychology from ASU and currently uses his degree in the field of social work. Outside of drumming, Alessandro also likes to go to concerts and spend time with his friends/family.

Jason McIntyre
Tenor Technician

Andrew Szypula
Bass Technician

Andrew Szypula is a percussionist, arranger, producer, and educator in New Orleans and serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at Tulane University. Andrew received dual Bachelor’s degrees in music education and percussion performance from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Temple University. At Temple, Andrew studied with Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Percussionist Chris Deviney and the late orchestral legend, Alan Abel.

Andrew is a regular performer with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and can be found on drums and percussion around many New Orleans live music venues. He can be heard on the 2020 LP, Outta Ya Mind from The New Orleans Johnnys and singles from Simple Sound Retreat and The Songwriter Collective. In the studio, Andrew has recorded with artists including George Porter, Jr., Khris Royal, Caren Green, Jon Cleary, and Jay Weigel. He has performed across the United States with Blue Devils Performing Arts, Windish Music and Productions, and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.

Marching arts design and instructional credits include Tulane University, Temple University, Medellín Gran Banda, Blue Devils Performing Arts, World Expo 2020 Dubai, Jersey Surf World Class Drum and Bugle Corps, St Martin Independent Indoor Percussion, and Old Bridge High School. Most recently, Andrew was signed to Extreme Music as a composer on the record Bang to Rights, a high-energy collection of Drumline tracks designed for film and television.

Andrew is proud to be a member of the Vic Firth and Zildjian Education Team, Percussive Arts Society, and the Beetle Percussion Artist Family.  www.andrewszypula.com

Ted Hoeller
Bass Technician

Originally from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Ted Hoeller is a dedicated educator, musician and engineer who resides in Durham, North Carolina. His musical and educational journey reflect a strong passion for drumming and the marching arts.

While earning his degree in Mathematics at Tulane University, Ted served as a battery instructor at Mandeville High School in 2017, and later on helped as a bass drum instructor for ELITE Independent in 2018. After moving to Durham, Ted works as an assistant drumline instructor at NC State University starting in 2022, where he directs one of NC State’s two drumlines. Starting in 2024, Ted works with Civitas Independent in Rock Hill, South Carolina, serving as a bass drum instructor.

Ted’s marching experience began as a bass drummer at 7th Regiment in 2016. This led him to march with The Cavaliers in 2017 and 2018, serving as the section leader of the bassline in his last year. Ted was also a member of the Tulane University Marching Band from 2016 to 2020 as a bass drummer and snare drummer. At Tulane, Ted was a member of the honorary band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.

Nathan Trent
Bass Technician

Nathan Trent is a native of Western NC where he attended his undergraduate program at Western Carolina University. He has been involved in the Pride of the Mountains percussion program in performance, leadership, and education since 2016. Nathan obtained a degree in Secondary Science Education from WCU. As a battery technician, he teaches at universities and high schools in Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. 

Independent experience, marching 2 seasons in World Class WGI. Their involvement extends further as a bass drum technician for Civitas Independent, an Open Class WGI group. He has just finished his third season with the group. Now embarking on a new venture, Nathan is thrilled to join The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. 

Alicia Turner
Cymbal Technician

Alicia Turner is a California native who has relocated to Texas. She comes from a diverse marching background with extensive experience as an educator. She marched with Vanguard Cadets from 1999-2002 (front ensemble and low brass), Blue Knights 2004 (euphonium), and Santa Clara Vanguard 2005 in the cymbal line.

She marched cymbals for 4 seasons in WGI PIW with RCC (2002 & 2006), and Black Knights (2003-2004). Alicia also performed with the RCC Marching Tigers band while studying music in college. In 2017 she was a member of cymbal line in the historic 50th Anniversary Santa Clara Vanguard Alumni Corps.

Her teaching experience includes drill design, visual/marching, front ensemble, battery, and cymbal instruction for many different high schools and independent groups in Southern California and Texas.

She was a cymbal technician with Pulse Percussion for 2011-2013 (PIW), and also worked with the POW Percussion group in 2012 (PIW). She toured on staff with the Sacramento Mandarins for the 2017 summer season.

Alicia has been on staff with Monarch Independent since their charter season in 2015 and is currently teaching battery, designing, and writing drill and choreography for several competing programs in the greater Houston area.

She is looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Academy cymbal line for the 2023 season.

Orion Choy
Cymbal Technician

Based in Gilbert, AZ, Orion currently attends Arizona State University pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Orion has performed with esteemed ensembles such as Vision Percussion, Vanguard Cadets, and Santa Clara Vanguard from 2016 to 2019. Leveraging this extensive experience, Orion has transitioned into a respected educator, contributing to programs across the valley including the recent Academy 2023. Orion’s commitment to excellence in both academic and extracurricular pursuits illustrates a profound dedication to personal and professional development.

Davis Ong
Cymbal Technician

Davis Ong is a Tucson based cymbal and visual instructed originally for San Diego, California. His experience includes the Pride of Arizona Cymbal Line from 2018-2022, Flux Indoor Percussion from 2021-2022, aging out with Pulse Percussion in 2023. 

He has taught for several programs in Southern Arizona, including Sahuarita High School and Rincon University High School.

Graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s of Sociology, he currently spends his time teaching visual and cymbals for high school groups and teching cymbals for Flux.

Cody Renouf
Cymbal Technician

Cody Renouf is a cymbal educator based in Sherwood, Oregon.  With world class experience spanning back over a decade, his performance experience started with the Seattle Cascades in 2011 and 2012, continuing on to march with the Academy in 2013 and aging out in 2014.  Since then Cody has worked with the Seattle Cascades from 2016 – 2019, the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps 2021, Impact Percussion 2022-2024 and Sherwood HS 2019 – 2024 including their gold medal in open class at WGI World Championships in 2022. This will be Cody’s second year on staff working with the Academy cymbals.

Albert Avelar
Cymbal Technician

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Alex Salinas
Front Ensemble Technician

Alex is a marching percussion educator based in his hometown of Chicago, IL. He has taught at numerous programs in the Chicagoland and mid-Missouri areas including Rock Bridge HS, Kaneland HS, and Huntley HS. Currently, Alex serves on the marching percussion staff at Prospect HS in Mount Prospect, Illinois. In the WGI space, Alex has been a part of the education staff at Pi Percussion, a designer and director at Kaneland Winter Percussion, and was most recently the front ensemble coordinator at 202 Indoor Percussion. Alex spent last summer teaching at The Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. This will be Alex’s second year with The Academy.

As a performer in the marching arts, Alex started with Green Thunder Percussion in the winters of 2010 and 2011. He then went on to march The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in the summer of 2012 and was a member of Gateway Indoor Percussion in the winters of 2013, 2015, and 2016. Alex graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in biomedical engineering and currently resides in the Chicago suburbs where he works as a research and development engineer. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, video production, playing marimba, and spending time with his cat, Mango.

Thomas Wharton
Front Ensemble Technician

Brendan Walter
Front Ensemble Technician

Living in Metro Detroit, Brendan Walter has flourished in the world of music as a performer and an educator. Brendan received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from OaklandUniversity in Rochester, Michigan where he studied with Dan Maslanka and Mark Stone.

Throughout his career he has studied with a number of acclaimed percussionists including JimAncona, Iain Moyer, Jason Ihnat, Liam Teague, Haruna Walusumbi, and Bernard Woma.

Brendan is an active performer in the community and across the country, and has performed in Ensembles such as the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, Oakland Steel Band, Oakland Wind Symphony, Oakland Brass Band, and Motor City Brass Band. Brendan marched in The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2011, 2013, 2014). During his time at The Cadets, the corps won TheDCI world championships and the percussion section won the Fred Sanford award for the best percussion section.

In addition to performing, Brendan is a well rounded educator that has taught at numerous schools across the state of Michigan and many independent percussion groups, and Drum Corps such as Divergent, North Coast Academy, Redline Percussion, Carolina Crown, and Cadets.

Brendan is currently a band and choir director at Southgate Anderson High School in Southgate, Michigan and is also a private lesson teacher.