Many of you know that Mr. Ron Ellis has been the Brass Arranger and Caption Head with Teal Sound over the past 4 seasons. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ron for all the efforts and time he has given to the building of Teal Sound over that time. He has played a very integral part in the rise and success of the program as a whole and we could not have achieved this goal of World Class without his strong involvement. Ron has recently accepted a position as the new Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Texas San Antonio. All of us here at Teal are so very proud of Ron's accomplishments both here and in the music world and wish him continued success and the most heartfelt wishes of good luck as he begins a new part of his life in Texas.
Thank You Ron!!!
Teal Sound Announces Design Team and new Positions for the 2011 Season
After a successful first season in World Class, Teal Sound is pleased to announce the following in regards to the 2011 season.
Brass Arranger - Chuck Naffier
Percussion Administrator - John Campese
Guard Administrator - Tim Lee
Drill Design - Ralph Stewart
Brass Administrator/Caption Head - Evan Rogovin
Staff Coordinator/Visual Caption Head - Tom Slaughter
"I am very excited and pleased about the design team we have been able to assemble here at Teal Sound for the 2011 season", stated new Program Director Jeff Bridges. " We look forward to building on our first year of World Class success and the entire team is ready to get started on this year's program".
Please continue to watch for more announcements of designers and staff as the entire Educational Instructional team is currently being assembled for what is sure to be the most exciting year ever at Teal Sound.
Teal Sound Welcomes Jeff Bridges as new Program Director
Teal Sound would like to welcome Jeff Bridges back in his new role for the 2011 season as Program Director. After having Jeff work with the Admin and Staff as a consultant during the 2010 season we are excited to have him in a more inclusive role for this year. Jeff brings with him many years of experience as a Program Coordinator and former Director that will help with moving Teal Sound into the future. " I can think of no one better to be involved with our program at this level" states Randy Blackburn, Director. "His years of involvement within DCI and WGI as well as the band world will strengthen our program as we move into the future here at Teal".
To all Teal Sound Family, Friend, Alumni and Fans,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for helping to make this first season in DCI's World Class Competition a most memorable one. Words can not even describe the feelings that I had watching the corps perform in Quarterfinals at Indy. It has been a remarkable and amazing accomplishment to take this program into the highest level of competition in DCI and to all of you I say thanks. The past 5 years of my involvement with Teal have been truly some of the most wonderful memories a person in this activity could ever ask for and gain in a lifetime. I have watched this program grow as an organization and as a family during the time here. Special thanks go out to Mr. Michael Butler and Mr. Danny Clark for having the vision to start a corps in Florida and keep it alive for us to be able to build upon. To the many Alumni that have marched here, thank you for all the blood, sweat and tears that you put into developing a program that is now on the verge of it's 13th season. To all the parents that have worked so hard to help make the member's adventures and journey a special one that they will never forget. To you the fans, for appreciating the fact that it is ok to be different and have our own identity and for supporting the corps through the years. To our vendors, thanks for taking the chance on us and being so supportive through the changes we have been making over the past few seasons to become stronger within the activity. Thanks to the staff of Teal Sound for giving of your time to work with these amazing students. Finally, to you the members of Teal, for learning what it is to be a family through commitment, character, hard work, perseverance, dedication and the love of doing something so few ever get to experience. It truly has been a pleasure watching each of you grow throughout this season and past seasons.
As we embark on the next chapter of Teal Sound, I challenge each of you to never let what you have started here go away. You have truly become a World Class Organization that is now set up for years to come. It is because of you that we are where we are today and have once again brought a strength in the activity back to the state of Florida.
You are the future of Teal Sound!!
My best wishes and continued success to all of you in this off season. I look forward to seeing everyone in November for an even better 2011 season!!
NEM!!!!
Randy W. Blackburn
Director - Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps
Attention all prospective Teal Sound Members for 2011
Pre-Registration is ready to begin at this time for the 2010-2011 season. Don't wait, the excitement is building for next season as the corps is traveling throughout the country in it's inaugural first season of World Class.
Teal Sound Featured on South Georgia Television News Report
For WALB News by reporter Leilani Golden
Teal Sound Signs with Warburton USA
Teal Sound has signed on to perform with Warburton Custom designed Mouthpieces. These new mouthpieces are matched with the Quantum Brass to help with projection and quality of sound. Many thanks go out to Terry Warburton & brass staff members Michael Steiner and Steve Knob for putting this deal together. Along with the mouthpieces, the brass will be using two innovative tools also designed by Warburton, the P.E.T.E. and the BuzzMaster. These embouchure tools will help to build muscle strength in the brass line and are used widely by many professional and amateur artists in the music industry today. For more information and to learn more about these products, go to www.warburton-usa.com.
All-DCI Color Guard Experience
Article written by Rachel Foster, Teal Sound Color Guard 2009 member
My experience with the U.S. Army All-American Band was amazing! I didn't realize just how big of a deal the event was until I got to San Antonio. There were so many staff and family members there to help and support us. If you needed anything, a staff member was right there to help. The weather was unusually cold for San Antonio, so the staff tried their best to keep us comfortable and warm. They gave us hand warmers, hot chocolate, and tried to keep rehearsal inside as much as possible. Unlike the band who already knew all of their music for the show upon arrival, the color guard came in knowing only about one third of the show. Our biggest challenge was having to learn the rest of our show in four days, and make it seem to the audience like we'd known it for months. Was the show perfect? By no means, but I had a blast performing it!! I met so many amazing people while I was there. All of the color guard members and staff were fabulous. We had so much fun sharing drum corps stories! My experience as a member of the 2010 All-DCI Color Guard is definitely something I will never forget :)
Interview with Randy Blackburn - February 2010
Randy Blackburn, the Director of DCI's newest World Class corps, Teal Sound, took time at the February camp to give some insight on where the corps has been, what it's doing and where it will go.
Teal Sound Director Randy Blackburn Interviewed by Drum Corps Planet
DCP Managing News Editor Kevin Gamin interviews Randy Blackburn, director of Teal Sound. Teal Sound has received access to the 2010 World Class schedule from DCI and has selected a very ambitious program for their inaugural season in World Class with the music of Coheed & Cambria, Dream Theater, and Jordan Rudess. Randy talks about what the promotion and the program have in store for Teal and what fans can look forward to in 2010.
Local Student Joins Teal Sound Marching Drum and Bugle Corps By Maryanne Lopez
Relocating is often difficult, especially for teenagers. Mike Lopez is originally from Brentwood, NY and moved with his family to Palm Coast at the end of September 2008. He will be entering his senior year at Matanzas High School this August. The one thing that helped him through this difficult transition was his talent and passion for music. Mike's music teacher, Mr. Steve Knob, was asked by Teal Sound (a marching drum and bugle corps based in Jacksonville, Florida) if he could recommend a student to audition for an opening in their brass section, specifically a trumpet player. Without hesitation, he told them he had a student in mind and that no audition would be necessary. Mike was immediately accepted, on the recomendation of Mr. Knob.
Magical Enterprises, LLC announces multi-year agreement with Teal Sound
Magical Enterprises, LLC d.b.a. Magical Charters Motor Coach Services is pleased to announce a multi-year agreement with Teal Sound, Inc. Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps has worked with Magical Charters during the 2007 DCI tour and is currently providing the 2009 summer tour transportation. This new agreement will have Teal Sound and Magical Charters working together until 2012!
Randy Blackburn, Executive Director for Teal Sound states, “ I have had a relationship with Jim Newman Chief Operating Officer for Magical Enterprises since 1994. Jim has been involved in the drum corps activity for many years and is a solid supporter of the activity. “We knew that having a firm that has first hand drum corps experience would be the start of a long-term relationship for all involved”.
It is our goal to provide safe and quality ground transportation for all of our clients said Charles Smith, Director of Fleet Services for Magical Enterprises, LLC. “Magical Charters has made great strides since its early days when it was created by a few investors back in 2003. Since Magical Enterprises, LLC took over in 2006 our firm has increased its fleet size to 14 motor coach, 4 vans and 6 limousines. A huge difference in a few short years allowing us to give our clients the best service available while helping to support many non-profit organizations with discounted rates.
“It is our pleasure to establish this long-term relationship with Teal Sound Inc and all additional programs under their umbrella” says Chief Operating Officer, James Newman of Magical Enterprises, LLC. Randy and his team have made great progress in the past few years and we are proud to be a part of the success.”
Magical Enterprises, LLC; d.b.a. Magical Charters is a certified vendor for 19 Florida counties, a member of the United Motor Coach Association and a Homeland Security/FEMA approved motor coach operator.
Our Headquarters is in Odessa, Florida offering motor coach charters coast to coast, used motor coach sales and motor coach repairs in our service department.
For additional information about Magical Charters please visit us at www.magicalcharters.com Or call 1-800-890-1004
Teal Sound corps members featured in hometown newspapers
- Garrett Fuerst, a 16-year-old rising junior at Gibbs High School (Knoxville, TN) is part of the Jacksonville, Florida-based Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps. Read story here.
- For two Colquitt County (GA) teenagers preparing for an 8,500-mile odyssey, the lazy days of summer will be few and far between. Read story online here...
SUNCOAST SOUND SPIDER SCHOLARSHIP
All percussionists are invited to fill out the Scholarship Form (see link below) in honor of one of the activities greatest drum cadences of all time. Since the days of Suncoast Sound, Spider has become one of the most copied and used drum cadences by high schools, colleges and other drum corps. Since it's conception, this cadence has been the most sampled cadence world wide! Spider has a distinctive bass drum theme that is easy to recognize and easily adapted to many types of grooves.
JW3 has created the Suncoast Sound Spider Scholarship to be awarded each year at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention beginning in 2007 in Columbus, OH. All profits from the sales of the original cadence will be awarded to the Spider Scholarship Fund.
her 3rd season with the corps as the VolunTeal Coordinator. Her role is to assist and provide all information and scheduling of the parents organization to the corps for both winter and summer programs. She is the heart of the volunteers and adds much needed guidance and direction to the movement of the corps behind the scenes.
The Teal Sound, Inc. and Pageantry Arts Concepts, Inc. Merger
The Teal Sound, Inc. and Pageantry Arts Concepts, Inc. are pleased to announce an agreement in principle to merge these two great organizations! This has come from many months of conversation and hard work on behalf of Scott Hughes, Donna Aman, Tom Hurst, John Campese, Randy Blackburn and Brian Fisher. "Young adults in the state of Florida who wish to participate in either idiom of DCI and/or WGI will benefit from this union in many ways," stated Scott Hughes, President of PAC, Inc. Under this new conglomerate, Pageantry Arts Concepts will become a division of The Teal Sound, Inc. and continue to operate as the chief management company of the corporation’s winter programs that will include the indoor percussion units of INFINITY Percussion Ensemble (PIW), STRYKE Percussion Ensemble (PIO), AQUARIUS Percussion Ensemble (PIA), OSCEOLA Percussion Theater (PIA), RIPETIDE Winter Percussion Ensemble (PIA) and the winterguard, MEDEA (IA). By and through the formation of this merger, all programs, including the Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps will have a stronger alliance of asset sharing, utilization and talents of integrated staffing, centralized auditions for all programs, performance opportunities outside the realm of the competition arena and a stronger business operation within the state of Florida and on the national level.
“It was our goal from the beginning to bring groups like these together as an opportunity for the musical and visual art students within Florida. This will allow us to offer more quality opportunities for Florida’s youth to perform within their own state rather than having to go elsewhere. These programs will benefit any level of student, guaranteed,” stated Blackburn, Director of Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps. "We are all looking forward to building a better and stronger organization from within so that these and other ensembles that join us will thrive well into the future,” said Brian Fisher, President of The Teal Sound, Inc. Mr. Blackburn also stated, “There are plenty of talented and great students throughout the state of Florida that we can now provide an almost one stop shopping atmosphere with this merger. If a student wants to participate in any phase of the marching arts, they will only have to go a short distance within the to be a part of any one of a handful of activities and during these times of economic hardship, we feel that with the quality of all these programs, one will only have to decide in which art or arts do they want to become a member of.”
Over the next year, the corporation will look towards the addition of several more winterguard teams to allow even more opportunities for Florida’s youth to participate in the exciting world of the musical and visual marching pageantry arts within Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International.
For further information about this merger, or how you can participate, please contact Mr. Brian Fisher at brian@tealsound.org.
Riptide Winter Percussion Ensemble
The Teal Sound, Inc. is proud to announce the formation of its’ first winter ensemble –
Riptide Winter Percussion Ensemble
The ensemble will participate in the Independent Marching A Percussion Class for local Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit shows and the WGI Orlando Regional and will be led by Director, Vic Kulinski.
... Riptide will also look to continue as a year round ensemble, to help promote the Teal Sound organization at parades, standstills, conventions and other events. It can also be used by those that want to continue to grow as a percussionist and performer over the summer, get their chops ready for marching band, or can’t do the summer corps gig due to financial or family circumstances, but want to stay involved, Read More
Many of you know that Mr. Ron Ellis has been the Brass Arranger and Caption Head with Teal Sound over the past 4 seasons. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ron for all the efforts and time he has given to the building of Teal Sound over that time. He has played a very integral part in the rise and success of the program as a whole and we could not have achieved this goal of World Class without his strong involvement. Ron has recently accepted a position as the new Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Texas San Antonio. All of us here at Teal are so very proud of Ron's accomplishments both here and in the music world and wish him continued success and the most heartfelt wishes of good luck as he begins a new part of his life in Texas. 
Teal Sound would like to welcome Jeff Bridges back in his new role for the 2011 season as Program Director. After having Jeff work with the Admin and Staff as a consultant during the 2010 season we are excited to have him in a more inclusive role for this year. Jeff brings with him many years of experience as a Program Coordinator and former Director that will help with moving Teal Sound into the future. " I can think of no one better to be involved with our program at this level" states Randy Blackburn, Director. "His years of involvement within DCI and WGI as well as the band world will strengthen our program as we move into the future here at Teal". 
Teal Sound has signed on to perform with Warburton Custom designed Mouthpieces. These new mouthpieces are matched with the Quantum Brass to help with projection and quality of sound. Many thanks go out to Terry Warburton & brass staff members Michael Steiner and Steve Knob for putting this deal together. Along with the mouthpieces, the brass will be using two innovative tools also designed by Warburton, the P.E.T.E. and the BuzzMaster. These embouchure tools will help to build muscle strength in the brass line and are used widely by many professional and amateur artists in the music industry today. For more information and to learn more about these products, go to 
My experience with the U.S. Army All-American Band was amazing! I didn't realize just how big of a deal the event was until I got to San Antonio. There were so many staff and family members there to help and support us. If you needed anything, a staff member was right there to help. The weather was unusually cold for San Antonio, so the staff tried their best to keep us comfortable and warm. They gave us hand warmers, hot chocolate, and tried to keep rehearsal inside as much as possible. Unlike the band who already knew all of their music for the show upon arrival, the color guard came in knowing only about one third of the show. Our biggest challenge was having to learn the rest of our show in four days, and make it seem to the audience like we'd known it for months. Was the show perfect? By no means, but I had a blast performing it!! I met so many amazing people while I was there. All of the color guard members and staff were fabulous. We had so much fun sharing drum corps stories! My experience as a member of the 2010 All-DCI Color Guard is definitely something I will never forget :)
Listen to it Now!
Relocating is often difficult, especially for teenagers. Mike Lopez is originally from Brentwood, NY and moved with his family to Palm Coast at the end of September 2008. He will be entering his senior year at Matanzas High School this August. The one thing that helped him through this difficult transition was his talent and passion for music. Mike's music teacher, Mr. Steve Knob, was asked by Teal Sound (a marching drum and bugle corps based in Jacksonville, Florida) if he could recommend a student to audition for an opening in their brass section, specifically a trumpet player. Without hesitation, he told them he had a student in mind and that no audition would be necessary. Mike was immediately accepted, on the recomendation of Mr. Knob.
Magical Enterprises, LLC d.b.a. Magical Charters Motor Coach Services is pleased to announce a multi-year agreement with Teal Sound, Inc. Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps has worked with Magical Charters during the 2007 DCI tour and is currently providing the 2009 summer tour transportation. This new agreement will have Teal Sound and Magical Charters working together until 2012!
The Teal Sound, Inc. is proud to announce the formation of its’ first winter ensemble –
