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).  She is an active educator in the Southeastern US having worked with various programs including the 2023 SC 4A State Champion TL Hanna High School, Kell High School, and Kennesaw Mountain High School. She previously worked with Civitas Independent helping guide them to the organization’s historic second place finish in 2022.

When she is not performing or teaching, Taylor works as the manager of media strategy at an advertising agency working directly with higher education clientele. Outside of work, you can find her taking a yoga class, gardening, or hanging out with her pet snail, Hoover.

She is an Innovative Percussion Artist and excited to continue working with The Academy this season!

Jeff Crowell
Percussion Consultant

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 a percussion consultant 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.

Dakota McConnell
Battery Coordinator

Dakota McConnell is a percussionist and educator from Casa Grande, Arizona. 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 & 2023, 2024, and Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps 2019-2022.  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, Stevie Hagel, and John Sutton.

Matt Egeler
Front Ensemble Co-Coordinator

Matthew Egeler is a percussionist, educator, and composer from Detroit, Michigan. He discovered his passion for the marching arts in high school, 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). Matthew is in his first year as Front Ensemble Caption Head at Redline Percussion, and is excited to return for his second year at Academy!

Brendan Walter
Front Ensemble Co-Coordinator

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 Oakland University 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 Jim Ancona, 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 The DCI 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 such as Divergent percussion, North Coast Academy, Redline Percussion, Carolina Crown, and The Cadets.

Brendan is currently a band and choir director at Southgate Anderson High School in Southgate, Michigan and is also a private lesson teacher. This is his second season with The Academy.

Austin Ballard
Snare Technician

This will be Austin’s first year on staff with The Academy. He has been involved with various percussion programs in the Central Valley of California for the past eleven years, since graduating from Tulare Western High School in 2014. Most recently he worked with Buchanan High School as a snare tech, and currently works as the percussion caption head at Hanford West High School. Austin  performed with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps (2014-2017) and POW Percussion (2018-2019) where he served as the section leader for the 2019 season.

Austin graduated from California State University, Fresno with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Mathematics. Outside of music, Austin currently teaches 7th and 8th grade mathematics in Tulare, CA

Luke Sesker
Snare Technician

Luke Sesker is entering his first year on the instructional staff with The Academy. He is an Alumni of Iowa State University where he completed his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology / Health and Human Performance; he then attended Palmer College for his doctorate level education. He is currently in private practice, and resides in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Luke has served as the Ensemble Director for Crossroads Percussion (WGI PIO) since the group’s founding in 2017, and has been the Battery Arranger since 2023. He also serves as Drumline Coordinator for Iowa State University; 2025 will be his 9th season working with the ensemble. Prior to working with The Academy he worked as a battery instructor with The Jersey Surf (’19, ’22) and The Colt Cadets (’21-’24). He has worked with many groups throughout his home state of Iowa including Marshalltown High School, Davenport Central High School, and is currently the Battery Arranger for Valley High School and Roosevelt Indoor Percussion.

His marching experience includes four seasons with Iowa State University, two seasons with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, and two seasons with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps — aging out as Battery Captain in 2012. He also marched four seasons with Gateway Indoor Percussion (WGI PIW) — aging out as the snare section leader for the 2013 season.

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 and will be joining again for his third year!

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 ASU Sun Devil 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.

Jacob Morris
Tenor Technician

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.

Jadon Gomez
Bass Technician

Jadon Gomez is an Arizona educator and bass drum specialist. Spending many years as a performer in the Arizona community. Most of his career was geared toward gathering the most information to master his craft. Now he spends his time spreading bass drum education and culture across the state. His marching career involves time with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps and many indoor ensembles. He helped lead The Academy Battery in 2022, also earning the most outstanding percussion member award. His education highlights the importance of consistency and growth. His approach is the perfect mix of relaxation and aggressive attention to detail. In Jadon’s life, he spends most of his time with his wife and dog. He is currently the sole bass tech for Flux indoor percussion the premier Arizona world class indoor organization.

Bailey Persson
Bass Technician

Andrew Szypula
Bass Technician

Andrew K Szypula has been involved in the pageantry arts since 2006 and is excited to return for his third year with The Academy! A native of the Philadelphia region, Andrew completed undergraduate studies at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and earned a Masters Degree in Percussion Performance from Temple University under the tutelage of Alan Abel.

Andrew currently serves as Assistant Director of Bands at Tulane University where he oversees “The Sound of Uptown” Marching Band, the Green Wave Brass Band, and other ensembles that perform for the Greater New Orleans community over 180 times a year. Show design and arranging credits also include Temple University, Kutztown Univeristy, Villanova University, Blue Devils Performing Arts, and St. Martin Independent Indoor Percussion. In New Orleans, Andrew keeps a regular schedule as a performer and producer, working with names like Trombone Shorty, George Porter, Jr., Tank and the Bangas, Bob Weir, Jon Cleary, and more. He is also a regular percussionist with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

Andrew is proud to be a member of the Vic Firth, Zildjian, and Remo Educational Artist Teams, Percussive Arts Society, College Band Directors National Association, and the Beetle Percussion Artist Family.

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 an educator for Civitas Independent, an Open Class WGI group. He has just finished his fourth season with the group. Now embarking on a new venture, Nathan is thrilled to join The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.

Orion Choy
Cymbal Technician

Based in Gilbert, AZ, Orion is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Computer Science. With a performance background that includes esteemed ensembles such as Vision Percussion, Vanguard Cadets, and Santa Clara Vanguard (2016–2019), Orion has since transitioned into a dedicated educator. They continue to contribute to programs across Arizona, including the Academy (2023–present) and Vision Percussion (2020–present), striving to give back to the community through music education in order to help the next generation of performers grow.

Mondo Olivares
Cymbal Technician

 Armando has been involved with the marching arts since the late 90s. Marching at Pasadena City College and The Santa Clara Vanguard. He played cymbals for The Vanguard from 96 – 97 when he aged out. From that point to today Armando has had the opportunity to return and instruct various groups in Southern California. Including the PCC Marching Band, Tournament of Roses Marching Band, The Santa Clara Vanguard and Elan Youth Arts Percussion. Armando’s passion to pass down the knowledge to those who want to begin their musical journey in the Marching Arts like he did so many years ago, is one of things that brings him joy. He is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a great community of family, friends and performers. 

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.

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 again for the 2025 season.

Nathan Huxtable
Front Ensemble Technician

Nathan Huxtable (he/him) is a front ensemble instructor based in Riverside, CA. Originally from Illinois, Nathan moved to California in 2021 to pursue graduate studies in Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Riverside.   

Nathan’s performance experience includes stints with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, Cavaliers Indoor Percussion, and Green Thunder Percussion.  

He has instructed middle, high school, and college age marching arts programs since 2015, and is currently the percussion caption head at Citrus Hill HS (Perris, CA), as well as the front ensemble coordinator at Martin Luther King HS (Riverside, CA) and Frank Augustus Miller MS (Riverside, CA).  

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 midwest
including Pi Percussion, 202 Indoor Percussion, and The Colt Cadets
Drum and Bugle Corps. Currently, Alex serves on the marching
percussion staff at Prospect HS in Mount Prospect, Illinois. As a
performer in the marching arts, Alex started with Green Thunder
Percussion (Cavaliers Indoor) 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
designing medical devices.This will be Alex’s third year with The
Academy. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, video production,
playing marimba, and spending time with his cat, Mango.

Thomas Wharton
Front Ensemble Technician

Kyle Angiletta
Percussion Intern