Meet the 2017 #UPFront Ensemble Staff
As we solidify our plans for 2017, and prepare for our auditions in September, we'd like to announce our additions to the Front Ensemble staff. The #UPFront staff looks forward to continuing a tradition of excellence.
DAVE OSWORTH
FRONT ENSEMBLE CAPTION HEAD/STAFF COORDINATOR
Dave is excited to be moving into the role of Front Ensemble Caption Head and Staff Coordinator for United Percussion. Dave’s marching career began in high school with the Hunterdon Central Regional High School Marching Band. While in high school, Dave became a member of United Percussion’s front ensemble. Dave marched with the ensemble in 2007-2010, winning the WGI PIO Championship in 2007. Dave went on to march with the Boston Crusaders in 2009 and 2011, serving as the center marimba and section leader of the front ensemble. While with Boston in 2009, Dave was a member of the DCI I&E gold medalist Percussion Ensemble, playing “Affirmation” composed by Andrew Beall. You can read more about Dave here.
IAN HALE
FRONT ENSEMBLE ARRANGER
Ian Hale received degrees in percussion performance from the University of Calgary and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where his teachers included Dr. Glenn Price, Eduardo Leandro and DCI Hall of Fame member Thom Hannum. He was a member of the music faculty at UMass from 2007-2008 and served as the Assistant Director of Bands for the Calgary Stampede Showband from 2009-2011. He is currently the Percussion Director and Arranger for Spirit of America from Orleans, Massachusetts along with being on tour with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. We're excited to expand Ian's role at United to arranging, and you can read more about him here.
AUDREY GRIFFIN
FRONT ENSEMBLE TECHNICIAN
Audrey is no stranger to United Percussion, as she has been a part of the Front Ensemble since her sophomore year of high school. She started in 2009, rejoined in 2011 and continued through her ageout in 2016. Audrey began her percussion training in 2007 at Rancocas Valley Regional High School. Under the direction of David Britton, her school took home the national championship title in USBands group 3 open, in 2010 and 2011. She also has marched with the Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps in 2011 through 2013. You can read more about Audrey here.
ANDREW MONTEIRO
FRONT ENSEMBLE TECHNICIAN
Andrew Monteiro began his marching career in 2009 when he joined the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps Front Ensemble. He went on to become a member of The Cadets in 2010 and stayed with the corps through his age-out in 2011, winning the corps' tenth DCI World Championship. Andrew has taught and arranged for several high school marching bands and indoor drumlines in the Mid-Atlantic region including the award-winning South Brunswick Marching Band and more recently Old Bridge High school Marching Band and Indoor Drumline. He has been the Front Ensemble Caption Supervisor for Cadets2 since the corps' establishment in 2012. He has also been the Front Ensemble Arranger, Coordinator and Sound Designer for Cadets Winter Percussion since 2014, where they won the Independent Open World Championship in their inaugural year. He has also been on staff with The Cadets Front Ensemble since 2014. You can read more about Andrew here.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Dave and Ian into their new roles with United, along with Audrey and Andrew to the United staff. Our front ensemble has been lucky to see tremendous gains along with significant member retention year over year. Dave and his team will help us continue that into the forseeable future.”
United Percussion would also like to thank Alex Kluttz for his years of leadership and service to the United Percussion Front Ensemble and family.
2017 AUDITION INFORMATION
Our 2017 first audition day is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, September 18th. Exact location (Philadelphia area) and times will be announced at a later date. Our comprehensive audition page and materials will be available for download on this website shortly after DCI World Championships.
In the meantime, if you're interested in being a part of #UP17, join our Facebook Interest group here. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements leading into auditions.