Designers
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JEFF FACKLER
Jeff Fackler is the president and founder of Creative Solutions, Inc. Since 1994, Jeff has had the privilege of designing for hundreds of groups in all mediums of pageantry arts, represented at all levels of state and regional competition including the BOA, WGI, DCI, Drum Corps Japan, Drum Corps Europe and World Association of Marching Band championships. Jeff is an active adjudicator throughout the United States. He resides in Carmel, Indiana with his family.
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SERGE WALSH
Serge Walsh holds a Masters degree in visual arts from Laval University. In addition to being a professional drill designer, he runs his own graphic design studio and teach graphic software at the collegiate level. Serge began as a performer at the age of nine, and aged-out with Santa Clara Vanguard in 1988. He has continued to participate in various pageantry activities as a designer or instructor throughout Canada and USA ever since. Recently, he has designed for Dripping Springs HS, Barbers Hill HS, Bamberg-Erhardt HS, Clarkston HS, Vallivue HS and Wilson HS to name a few. Serge is also an active adjudicator in Canada for winter guard. He resides in Lévis, Québec, with his wife Julie and his two sons William and Nathan.
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BECCA SULLENS
Becca's marching experience includes Tarpon Springs High School, Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps in 1996, The Company in 1998, and again out with the 2000 DCI World Champions, The Cadets. She taught color guard at Tarpon Springs High School for six years whose accolades included 4 national Championship titles at Bands of America Grand National Championships in the AA class, making finals at the WGI World Championships five times, as well as taking home the Scholastic A silver medal in 2001 and the Scholastic A bronze medal in 2006. From 2005 through 2008, she was the director of color guards at Evergreen high school in Vancouver, WA. Becca is a choreographer for over 14 schools and independent organizations each year throughout the country, including the Oregon Crusaders and Cascades drum and bugle corps. In 2008, Becca served as the director for the inaugural year of Cascades Independent, who was undefeated for the 2008 season as well as crowned the Independent A world champions. Becca is currently the director of dance and color guards at Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and is the principal color guard choreographer for Creative Solutions.
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MITCH ROGERS
Mitch works full-time as a drill designer, marching instructor and show design clinician. Mitch is the drill designer for the uniquely powerful Stephen F. Austin High School Band and Angels Dance Team from Sugar land, Texas. From 1992 to 2003, Mitch was the drill designer for the trend-setting Plymouth-Canton (Michigan) Educational Park Marching Band, a perennial BOA Grand National finalist and Michigan state champion. In 1999, Plymouth-Canton was the BOA Grand Champion. He also instructed the 1992 BOA Grand National Champion Spring H.S. Marching Band from Spring, Texas. As an instructor and designer, Mitch has been associated with high school bands throughout the United States including Westfield H.S. (Spring, TX,) Langham Creek H.S. (Cypress TX,) Reeths-Puffer H.S. (Muskegon MI,) and many others.
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MYRON ROSANDER
From 1987 through 2005, Myron was Principal Visual Designer for the Vanguard. Myron's other DCI credits include designing for the 2 time DCI World Champion Phantom Regiment and Madison Scouts, Mandarins, and the 2002 DCI World Finalist, Seattle Cascades from Seattle, Washington. In 2005 and 2006, Rosander was Visual Designer for the L.D. Bell HS Marching Band from Hurst, Texas. During those 2 years, L.D. Bell finished with the bronze and silver medals respectively at the BOA Grand Nationals Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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TIM FAIRBANKS
Tim Fairbanks has taught at Centerville HS (OH) since 1997, serving as the Marching Percussion Director until 2011 and is currently the Drill Designer for the marching band and indoor drumline, where his groups are consistent National Finalists at BOA Grand National Championships and Scholastic World Finalists at the WGI World Championships. Centerville is the 1999 Scholastic Open Champion and 2004 WGI Scholastic World Champion. Tim is the Program Coordinator and Visual Designer for Rhythm X, WGI Independent World Class Champion in 2008, 2009, 2013 and is currently the Drill Designer for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from Lacrosse, WI. He proudly endorses the products of Pearl/Adams, Evans/ D'addario, Sabian Inc., and is a Signature Artist with Innovative Percussion. Tim is the Vice President of Percussion for WGI Sport of the Arts, serving on the WGI Board of Director's Executive Committee, in addition to membership on the WGI Percussion Advisory Board and Steering Committee. Tim is an internationally in- demand clinician, designer, arranger and adjudicator.
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JACK CHAMBERS
Bio coming soon...
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MATTHEW JAMES
Matt James is the Director of Performing Arts at Lawrence Central High School and has taught band there since 1993. In addition to his duties at Lawrence Central, Mr. James serves as drill designer for many prominent high school marching bands throughout the United States. His drills have received numerous honors including two Bands of America Grand National Championships, two Fiesta Bowl championships and over a dozen state championships.
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MIKE ANDERSON
Mike has been involved in pageantry for over 30 years as a performer, instructor, designer and adjudicator. He was a drum major and tuba player for the World-Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps and has designed for nationally recognized high schools such as Oak Grove, Sunset, Evergreen, Walton, Lexington, Pomona, to name a few. He currently is in demand as a judge for band, drum corps, and colorguard competitions all over the world and is the program coordinator for Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, In.
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BARRY CANAN
Barry Canan has been involved within the pageantry arts for over 15 years, most recently involved as the visual coordinator of Marching Show Concepts. He has designed drill for marching bands and color guards throughout the Mid West and South as well as being and active adjudicator for fall and winter pageantry. Barry received his Bachelors of Education in Music from Bowling Green State University and marched with the World Class Finalist Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from Canton Ohio.
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ERIC BERGER
Eric Berger has extensive experience in designing for marching bands, having been represented in the ISSMA State Marching Championships every year since 1991. His designs include a BOA Grand National Class A Champion, several BOA Regional Champions, five ISSMA State Champions, a Fiesta Bowl Champion, and many other achievements and titles. Having written for all sizes and levels of programs throughout the United States, Eric has gained an understanding of what works for kids and programs and how to go about designing a successful product. His shows are known for their effect while having a common sense approach to teaching and cleaning in a way to positively impact students.
Eric Berger is currently the Music Department Chair at North Lawrence Community Schools. He holds degrees from Indiana State University (B.S. Music Education) and Indiana Wesleyan (M.Ed.). Before coming to North Lawrence Community Schools he was the Director of Bands at Owen Valley HS and Jasper HS in Indiana. -
J.R. TRIMPE
J.R. Trimpe is a visual designer, adjudicator, and ASCAP award winning composer for band and orchestra. A former public school band and orchestra teacher, he holds degrees in music education from Michigan State and the University of Illinois. He now lives with his wife Jen and cats Oreck and Dyson in Farmington Hills, MI where he avoids mowing the lawn, armchair coaches the Red Wings from the safety of his couch, and tries to make sure dinner is on the table for his wife when she gets home. As of December of 2017, he and his wife welcomed their daughter Allie to their family. She's adorable. Just ask us. We'll tell you.
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ANDY CLASSEN
Mr. Classen is has been a drill designer and instructor for numerous drum corps, including the Dubuque Colts and Minnesota Brass, and marching bands from all around the country. He is also very active in the field of computers in music. He received a Bachelor in Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire and a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from the University of Tennessee
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ERIC KITCHENMAN
Eric's first U.S. drum corps design effort was in returning to his alumnus the Crossmen and designing programs in 1987 through 1991, 1996 and 1997, staff coordinator in 1998 and finally the program coordinator and assistant director for the Crossmen in 2004. In addition he was the drill designer for the Velvet Knights in 1992 and 1993, the Skyliners in 1994 and 1995, the Spirit of Atlanta in 1999 and visual coordinator for the Bluecoats in 2001 and then designer in 2002. In 2000 he was hired to design the Buccaneers senior corps program where he remained until 2004. In 2006 and 2007 he returned to be the visual coordinator and designer for the Reading Buccaneers in which they achieved two undefeated seasons. Currently, Eric is working with the Cadets as Assistant Staff and Program Coordinator for the 2009-2010 season.
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ANDY TYE
Andy Tye was Brass Caption Head of The Blue Stars in 2006 and 2007. He was a member of the Star Of Indiana for 3 years, and since then has been heavily involved in the marching arts as a teacher and designer/arranger. He lives currently in Carmel, Indiana with his beautiful wife Kathleen and their kids, and works with the Carmel band as an instructor.
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GREG BIMM
Greg Bimm (Chicago Heights, Illinois) served as Director of Bands at Marian Catholic High School from 1977 through 2023. Under Bimm’s direction, the Marian Band grew from 70 to over 280 members and built a reputation as one of the premier high school band programs in the U.S. Honors include 7 BOA Grand National championships, 21 BOA National class championships, and 34 consecutive BOA National Finalist appearances. Marian has won 42 successive Illinois State marching class championships. The concert bands at Marian performed at the first BOA National Concert Festival and at numerous other state and national conventions. They have been undefeated in Catholic school concert contests for 41 years. They’ve appeared in the Macy’s, Presidential Inaugural, and Rose parades and are among the few to receive both the Sudler Flag for concert band excellence and the Sudler Shield for marching band by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Bimm has received numerous NBA Citations of Excellence, the national ASBDA Stanbury Award for young band directors (1983), and twice the Sudler Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. In 1995, Bimm was the first high school band director to conduct the Illinois All-State band. Bimm received the Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence from IMEA and received career recognition from the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education. He was named a Lowell Mason Fellow by the NAfME received the Distinguished Service Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago. Bimm was inducted into the inaugural class of the ISU College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame, the Distinguished Alumni at LaSalle-Peru Township High School, and the MFA-BOA Hall of Fame. Bimm received an honorary doctorate in music education from the Vandercook College of Music and the Chicagoland Music Educator John Paynter Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, Bimm was honored by the Midwest Clinic as a Clinic Legend and has been a member of the ABA since 1994. -
CHRISTOPER CRESWELL
Chris Creswell is an accomplished trombonist, composer, visual designer and educator currently living in his hometown of Jacksonville, FL. Chris has enjoyed the privilege of performing and recording with many of today’s top pop and jazz artist including Mariah Carey, John Pizzarelli, Maceo Parker, Tom Kubis, Will Smith, Arturo Sandoval, and many more.
As well as writing and performing, Chris has spent the past 17 years directing bands at The Orange County High School of the Arts in Santa Ana, CA (2000 - 2005), his Alma Mater Orange Park High School in Orange Park, FL (2005 - 2008) and Fleming Island High School in Fleming Island, FL (2009 - 2012). Since 2012 Chris has been serving as Artist in Residence and Director of Athletic Bands at Jacksonville University.
Chris is a graduate of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and The Manhattan School of Music in New York City where he received his BM and MM degrees respectively in trombone performance and jazz studies. Chris is an alumni of the Disney All American College Band, The Epcot Grammy Collegiate Jazz Ensemble, and The Henry Mancini Institute. Chris is a member of the American Society of Composers, Arrangers, and Publishers (ASCAP) -
DAVID RICKELS
Dr. Rickels has an extensive and varied background in the marching arts as a performer, instructor, designer, and adjudicator. He has contributed in many areas, including high school and college marching bands, drum & bugle corps, winter guards, and winter drumlines. As a visual designer for marching bands, Dr. Rickels is in yearly demand for creating drill designs and teaching clinics across the United States. He previously taught on the staff of the Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band, and he regularly adjudicates marching band, winter guard, and winter drumline competitions. As a conductor, Dr. Rickels has performed with the Boise State University Symphonic Winds, the Mesa Community College Day Band, and the Arizona State University Concert Band, in addition to his high school ensembles. His performance experience on woodwind and brass instruments includes the Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Arizona Wind Symphony, and the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps of Denver, Colorado.
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DAVE SINGLETARY
Mr. Singletary was the Associate Band Director at Cypress Falls High School prior to coming to Tompkins. He has also taught in the Galena Park and Santa Fe ISDs. Before relocating with his wife, Claire, and daughter, Elise, to the Houston area, he taught in South Carolina where he was instrumental in opening Blythewood High School. His undergraduate degree is from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, where he studied conducting with William Moody, James Copenhaver, and William Malambri. His primary horn teachers have been Robert Pruzin and Robert Rydel. As a drill designer, he has 20 years of experience creating successful marching band programs for high schools throughout the United States. In addition to his design work, he has been a member of the instructional staff of the Carolina Crown and the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps.
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FRED MEYER
Fred Meyer is in his 23rd year as a band director in the state of Texas. He is currently the director of bands at West Brazos Junior High School in Brazoria, Texas. Fred is very understanding of what a band needs in order to be successful with the belief that the sound of the band should come first. His bands have consistently received first divisions and sweepstakes trophies both on the football field and on the concert stage. He is currently a member of the Texas Music Educator’s Association, the Association of Texas Small School Bands, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and has been a judge for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association.
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DAVID COOK
David Cook works with bands nationwide as an accomplished drill designer, consultant, adjudicator, camp instructor, and visual coordinator.
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BOB BUCKNER
Bob has served as an adjudicator, drill designer, guest conductor, and clinician throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has served on the staff of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and in 1993 was the drill designer for the DCI Division II National Champion Carolina Crown. In addition Bob wrote field shows for over twenty years for the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also served as a special consultant to the Walt Disney Company, where he started their popular Future Corps program and served on the Board of Advisors for Magic Music Days. He continues to consult with Pygraphics, the worlds leading drill design software producer. Bob was honored by Western Carolina University in 2003 by being chosen for the prestigious Paul A. Reid Distinguished Service Award for faculty. In 2005, Bob was honored by the Music Educators National Conference as a Lowell Mason Fellow. Bobs professional affiliations include the NCMENC, NAfME, CBDNA, the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Bob and his wife Donna reside in Waynesville, NC and are the parents of five adult children.