Staff

Music Staff

Ron Ellis
Program Coordinator/Brass Arranger/Brass Caption Head – Caption Head

Ron Ellis currently serves as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Central Florida where he is deeply involved in all aspects of the UCF band program. In addition to writing drill and music for the 250 member Marching Knights, he serves as the coordinator/director for the the Jammin’ Knights Pep Bands, Assistant Conductor of the UCF Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, and Instructor of the Marching Band Techniques Courses. He is also currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Wind and Orchestral Conducting at the University of South Florida where he is a student of Dr. William Wiedrich. He also has served as a conductor, clinician, show designer, music composer/arranger and adjudicator throughout the United States.

As a professional musician and conductor, Ron currently holds the position of Music Director for the Walt Disney Company where his duties include rehearsing, producing, and performing with outstanding college musicians from universities all across the nation and national recording artists/clinicians. In addition, he serves as a show coordinator for the Disney Student Musician Program at the Magic Kingdom where he coordinates and rehearses all student parade bands and street performances of The Fanfares of Christmas, The Christmas Brass, the Riverboat Band, Clown Band, and the Toy Soldiers and Glock Girls. He was asked to be the Assistant Director of the “All American College Band” under Ron McCurdy in 1993, the choreographer/show designer for the Orlando and Paris bands in 1999 and served as the director for the summer 2000, 2004 and 2005 Disney Collegiate All-Star Bands. Ellis also serves as one of the conductors of the Disney Candle Light processional orchestra for the Pre and Post shows. He is also the director of the Orlando Magic Basketball team's pep-band 'Momentum' and their drumline 'Rhythm and Blue.'

As a professional composer and arranger, he presently serves as orchestrator for Dr. David Brunner’s choral pieces and has had works premiered and performed at Carnegie Hall in 2 separate concerts. Other opportunities have allowed him to serve as orchestrator for “Parable,” an original musical, live ensembles at the Walt Disney Resort, and film scoring for the UCF Department of Film and Digital Media. In the marching world, Ellis served as the music arranger and drill designer many outstanding high school music programs across the country and is presently the music arranger and drill designer for 8 high schools in Florida.. He has also arranged and designed shows for Northwestern University, The University of Minnesota, the University of Southern Illinois, Samford University, University of Alabama Birmingham, the University of South Florida and the Florida International University marching bands. He has served as the brass arranger for the Yokohama Inspires Drum and Bugle Corps since 2004 and served on the brass staff for the Magic of Orlando from 1996 through 1999. In his marching years, Ron was lead baritone for Suncoast Sound in 1982, 1983, and 1985 and taught marching in 1987 and 1988.

Brass Staff

Mike Steiner Brass Tech	Ryan Whalen Brass Tech

Frank Williams
Music Consultant

Frank Williams received his B.S. degree in music education from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, and his Master of Music degree from State University of New York in Fredonia, New York. An educator for nearly three decades, he has taught at the junior high, high school, and college levels. Currently, Mr. Williams is the Director of Bands at Boca Ciega High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where his jazz ensembles have consistently received superior ratings throughout his tenure. Recently, the ensemble won the First Place Gold Status Award at JazzFest USA, sponsored by Downbeat Magazine.

Mr. Williams has also been involved in the drum corps and marching band arena for over 20 years. He is the former Brass Caption Head for the world champion The Cadets drum and bugle corps; Suncoast Sound drum and bugle corps; and Magic drum and bugle corps; and is presently a brass consultant for the Glassmen drum and bugle corps.

Mr. Williams is a member of MENC, FBA, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Omega Psi Phi, and has served as Vice President for the IAJE Florida chapter. He maintains an active schedule as a freelance composer, arranger, consultant, and clinician throughout the United States.

Terrell Smith
Batterie Arranger & Percussion Caption Head

Terrell is returning for his second season with the Teal Sound as caption head and batterie arranger of percussion. Terrell has many years of experience as an instructor, arranger, and clinician for world class drum and bugle corps, indoor percussion ensembles and marching bands primarily in the New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania region. The following list represents the highlights of Mr. Smith’s instructional career: The Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard, Capital Regiment, Reading Buccaneers, Sunrisers, Bushwackers, Skyliners, Rutgers University and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

Terrell was the marching percussion arranger and instructor while attending Kutztown University and is currently the graduate assistant with The University of Central Florida Marching Knights. Mr. Smith has had a wide variety of instructional and performance experiences. As a drum corps performer, he played snare drum with the Bayonne Bridgemen, Sunrisers, Skyliners, Westshoremen and is now studying percussion pedagogy and music education at KU. Recently as an instructor, Terrell was on staff with the Buccaneers (2000 – 2006) which include two DCA world championships (2005, 2006) and three DCA percussion titles (2000, 2005, 2006). He was the percussion caption head and snare tech at Capital Regiment (2002, 2003). He was also on the percussion staff with The Cadets in 2001 when the corps captured the DCI high percussion title.

Some of his current and former teachers include: Mr. Kirk Gay, Mr. Jeff Moore, Dr. Will Rapp, Dr. Frank Kumor, Thom Hannum, Tom Aungst, Neil Larrivee, Eric Ward, Dave Franceschina, Lee Rudnicki and Ed Teleky.

Terrell has been an active marching band and indoor percussion adjudicator for the USSBA, Cavalcade of Bands, Keystone Indoor Drill Association and the Mid Atlantic Percussion Society since 1999.

Terrell is a resident of the Orlando, FL area.

Batterie Staff

Mark Perrett Snare Drum Tech	Jason Schrippa Tenor Tech	Aaron Byrd Bass Drum Tech

Kirk Gay
Front Ensemble Arranger

Mr. Gay obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University. He later went on to study with Paul Yancich and Richard Weiner at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he received his Master's Degree in Timpani Performance.

Mr. Gay marched in Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps from 1986 - 1989 where he was 1989 DCI Timpani Individuals Champion and two time DCM Timpani Individuals Champion. He has taught and written for many drum and bugle corps including The Crossmen, Phantom Regiment, Magic of Orlando and The Yokohama Inspires from Japan. Mr. Gay was head arranger and caption head with Phantom Regiment in 1996 when they were DCI Champions. He has also written for many bands across the country including Cypress Creek H.S. (FL), Churchill H.S. (TX) and Northrop H.S. (IN).

In 1998, Mr. Gay toured Europe with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He has performed with the Walt Disney World Orchestra, The Fort Wayne Philharmonic, The Orlando Philharmonic and currently is the Principal Percussionist with The Brevard Symphony Orchestra.

At UCF, Mr. Gay teaches student lessons and is the director of "Black Steel", the UCF steel drum ensemble. He is an endorser and clinician for Pro-Mark sticks and Sabian Cymbals.

Front Ensemble Staff

Charlie Dolan Percussion Tech	Mike Brodowski Front Ensemble Tech	Zach Owen Front Ensemble Tech

Visual Staff

Marcos Martinez
Visual Caption Head

Marcos Martinez was a member of the Florida Wave from 1987 – 89. In 1990 he joined the Blue Devils and performed with them through 1991. Marcos also marched with the University of Miami band from 1987 – 91 and in 1989 ventured into the color guard world when he was a member of the Alliance of Miami winter guard from 1989 – 93. He has taught both color guard and bands in south Florida and California and is currently the Visual Caption Head with the West Boca HS Band in Florida. Marcos was the designer/caption head of the Division III Champion Americanos Drum & Bugle Corps in 1994. He later became the visual caption head of the Spirit of Atlanta in 1997. Marcos is in his 3rd season with the Teal Sound and has brought a very unique and energetic style to the corps in his teaching of the visual program.

Marcos currently resides in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Visual Staff

Lainey Drummond Visual Tech	Carlos Prieto Visual Tech	Ashley Wright Visual Tech

Budd Williams
Color Guard Caption Head/Designer

Budd comes to Teal Sound for the 2008 season as the new Color Guard caption head. He originally hails from Connecticut and has grown up in the Drum Corps and Winterguard activity.

His drum corps marching experience include the Connecticut Valley Crusaders, Connecticut Hurricanes, the Bushwackers and the Sunrisers of Long Island, NY. He has also been involved with Aurora, Silver Falcons, Conquest and St. Ann’s World as a marching member.

Budd has served as either an instructor or caption head for the following corps and winter guard programs. The Sunrisers, Boston Crusaders, Cadets of Bergen County, Pride of Soka, the Crossmen and most recently with the Capital Regiment. He has taught the likes of Aurora, Zenith, St. Ann’sWorld, Braddock World, Lassiter HS and is currently the guard caption head at Hiram HS and South Paulding HS in Georgia. Budd also serves as an active judge with the USSBA.

He brings a fresh approach and philosophy to the Teal Sound guard program that will add a great deal to the overall visual and effect side of this year’s show. All of us here at Teal are glad that we have the experience and knowledge that Budd brings to the table.

Color Guard Staff

Shane Cheatle Colorguard Tech	Amy Metzlar Colorguard Tech	Samson Tuliao Guard Mvmt. Tech

Mike Higbe
Visual Program Consultant

April Gilligan
Visual Color Guard Consultant/Designer

Staff Coordinators

Cliff Lipscomb, Ph.D.
Staff Coordinator

Dr. Clifford A. Lipscomb is one of the Staff Coordinator's for the 2008 Teal Sound. His previous music experiences include being a marching member of the Magic of Orlando (1995), a visual designer and cymbal instructor for the indoor percussion programs at the Georgia Institute of Technology (1999-2001), and a percussion instructor/arranger for several high school programs in Georgia and Virginia. Dr. Lipscomb also serves as a judge for the United States Scholastic Band Association, the Florida Federation of Color Guards, and the Atlantic Indoor Association.

Dr. Lipscomb is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. At VSU, he also coordinates the marching percussion activities for the VSU Blazin’ Brigade marching band.

Dr. Lipscomb has an undergraduate degree in economics and sociology from Berry College (1998) and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2003). Most recently, Dr. Lipscomb worked as a Research Economist for the Regional Economic Analysis Division, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, in Washington, DC.

Ralph Venezia
Staff Coordinator

Ralph Venezia is Staff Coordinator of the Teal Sound Drum Corps. A graduate of Oklahoma City University he has served as a designer, arranger, instructor, adjudicator and clinician for corps and bands since 1971. He was a member of the Fair Lawn Cadets and Hawthorne Muchahcos. As a performer and brass instructor for the Hawthorne Caballeros they won five American Legion National titles and four DCA World titles including an undefeated season.

As a trumpet player and percussionist he has performed with the Oklahoma City Junior Symphony, Ridgewood Concert Band and Orchestra, the Metropolitan Brass and ESAD Brass Quartette. Recently he was on the staff of the Cypress Creek High School Band and the Magic of Orlando Drum Corps. He is employed by the Youth Programs division of the Walt Disney Company in Orlando. He resides with his wife The Rev. Deborah Venezia and their two Basset Hounds Queen Elizabeth 111 and Princess Margaret, Countess of Kissimmee.