Riptide Staff & Contact Information

Vic Kulinski - Director/Battery Arranger

The ensemble will be led by Director, Vic Kulinski. Mr. Kulinski’s background includes the Connecticut Hurricanes, Heatwave of Florida and most recently Corpsvets, not to mention all of the other marching and percussion activities he has been involved with over the past 30 years.

The staff consists of those that have been successful educators and performers in their respected percussion & marching fields throughout Florida and the East Coast, and will also include some of the 2009 Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps staff as consultants to the program. Stay tuned over the next few weeks for staff announcements.

Vic Kulinski vicriptide@tealsound.org
General information: inforiptide@tealsound.org

Randy Metz - Ensemble Coordinator - Snare Technician

Originally from Pennsylvania, Randy has written and arranged for marching percussion ensembles in PA including the Williamsport Millionaires and the Shikellamy Marching Braves. He has had the privilege of performing in several drum and bugles corps which have won numerous awards including a DCA High Percussion award with the 2000 Reading Buccaneers, as well as a DCA Championship with the 2003 Hawthorne Caballeros.

Randy holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. His teachers include Patsy Vankirk, Michael Ferlazzo, Kevin Murphy, Terrell Smith, Gary Gill, Jamie Ryan, Dr. Adam F Brennan, and Conrad Alexander.

Mike Palau - Bass Drum & Visual Technician/Logistics Coordinator

Mike is a graduate of Gateway HS, in Kissimmee, FL and is currently also on staff with Fahrenheit Winter Guard from St. Cloud Fl., and Stratford HS guard in South Carolina. Mikemarched with Gateway HS Band andHeat Wave of Orlando Drum & Bugle Corps. He has performed with JamBaLaya at Universal Studios, Tapestry of Nations at Epcot and with specialty acts at conventions around Central Florida. He has been on staff for CorpsVets Drum & Bugle Corps from Atlanta GA, Gateway High School Marching Band from Kissimmee, FL, Citrus High School Marching Band from Inverness, FL, Paradigm Winter Guard from Lake City FL and Sapphire Winter Guard from Belleview, Fl. Mike has also been an adjudicator for both color guards and drumlines with the FFCC.

Mike lives in Daytona Beach with his wife Chris and works for a Sports & Custom Car Shop.

Eric Plewinski - Front Ensemble Technician

Eric Plewinski is in his junior at the University of South Florida pursuing a Bachelors of Music in Percussion Performance. He graduated in 2005 from Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida. In the summer of 2005, Eric was a member of the DCA Class A Top Percussion, Heat Wave Drum and Bugle Corps from Orlando, Florida. Eric was a member of the 2006 WGI PIO champions 1st Degree from Orlando, Florida. Eric currently performs with the Imperial Symphony Orchestra in Lakeland, Florida. Eric is currently the director of percussion at Richard C. Spoto High School in Riverview, Florida. Eric's teachers have included Robert McCormick (USF), Nancy Zeltsman (The Boston Conservatory), and Chris Deviney (The Philadelphia Orchestra). Eric is an active performer and teacher in the Tampa Bayarea.

Trevor Cox - Visual Technician

Trevor has taught at various high schools in Florida, most recently as the Visual Caption Head for the 2007 Class 4A State Champion Cypress Creek High School, winning the visual performance caption. He has been the caption head at Boone High School and Hagerty High School. During the 2007 indoor season, Trevor was a visual tech and designer for the Cypress Creek High School Indoor Drum line.

His Drum Corps experience includes marching Carolina Crown 2000-2002 and teaching Teal Sound in 2003, Seattle Cascades 2004-2006, and most recently as the Visual Caption Head for the Spokane Thunder Drum and Bugle Corps.
Outside of the marching musical activities, Trevor is a Language Arts teacher at Cypress Creek High School, where he also is the Director of the color guard.

Trevor is also the Assistant Director for The Knights Winter Guard, a two time WGI World Class Finalist, finishing 9th in 2008. And for 2009, is FFCC Local A and AA Color Guard Representative.

Alan Mundy - Visual Technician

Alan formed a love for the marching arts and teaching at a young age that has driven him to make excellence in the marching music field a lifelong pursuit. His drum corps experience includes three years with Heat Wave of Orlando. During his time with Heat Wave he distinguished himself on the field and off, serving as section leader and soloist and receiving the outstanding brass member and  Director's Awards. His teaching credits include University High School, as well as Heat Wave. He currently serves as brass and visual caption head for Poinciana High School, and as a visual technician and assistant drum major for the Sun Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. 

Alan resides in Lake Mary, Florida where he is currently pursuing a BS in political science.
 
Alan looks forward to a rewarding and succesful inaugural season with the Riptide in 2009.