Introducing The United Percussion World 2024 Front Ensemble Staff
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United Percussion and Arts, Inc. is excited to introduce the 2024 United Percussion World Front Ensemble Staff.
Dave Osworth
Front Ensemble Caption Head
Dave is excited to be returning as the Front Ensemble Caption Head. Dave has served various staff roles with United since the 2015 season. Dave’s marching experience includes United Percussion 2007-2010 and the Boston Crusaders 2009 and 2011. While with Boston in 2009, Dave was a member of the DCI I&E gold medalist Percussion Ensemble, playing “Affirmation” composed by Andrew Beall. During his time in the marching activity, Dave had the great fortune to study under: Andrew Beall, Omar Carmenates, Jerry Carpenter, Steve Ballard, Brian Nozny, Mike Nevin, and Tyler Sammons.
Dave has his B.S. and M.Ed. from Rutgers University. Dave currently lives in South Carolina where he is finishing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy. Dave is active in the marching activity and currently works with the Phantom Regiment Front Ensemble. Dave is a proud member of the Vic Firth Education Team.
Jay Rodriguez
Front Ensemble Manager
Jay is thrilled to be returning to United Percussion for the 2024 season. Jay has been on the United Percussion World front ensemble staff since the 2022 season. As a performer, Jay was a member of the Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps (2013), United Percussion (2014-2018), and Carolina Crown (2016-2019). Throughout his time in the activity, Jay has had the honor of learning from many influential educators including Steve Ballard, Ian Hale, Jim Ancona, Thom Hannum, Iain Moyer, Annie Chernow, Alex Kluttz, Marcus Neudigate, and Dave Osworth.
Jay has worked with various high school programs in the greater New Jersey area and is currently a Front Ensemble Technician at United Percussion, the Boston Crusaders, the University of Delaware, and the Hawthorne Caballeros. Jay is also a proud member of the Vic Firth Education Team.
Outside of the marching arts. Jay has his bachelor's degree in marketing from Suffolk University and currently works as a Project Manager/Digital Marketing Specialist for a Philadelphia based digital marketing agency.
Garrett Davis
Front Ensemble Technician
Garrett Davis is a teacher and performing musician based out of the South Jersey area. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Rowan University and recently completed his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Temple University. During his academic internship at Temple University, Garrett facilitated percussion ensemble rehearsals and taught private lessons to young musicians in Philadelphia. Also over the course of his career at Temple University, Garrett received the Steve Weiss Scholarship and the Dean Emeritus Helen Laird Tribute Award.
During the fall and winter seasons, Garrett arranges for multiple marching ensembles in the local area. Then during the summer, he either partakes in orchestral music festivals around the country like Texas Music Festival (TMF) and Ted Atkatz Percussion Seminar (TAPS) or educates members of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Currently, he is the Front Ensemble Caption Head for Rowan University’s Marching Band inaugural season. As a local and previous member, Garrett is excited to start the 2024 indoor season off strong with energy and positivity.
Nina Brian-Smith
Front Ensemble Technician
Nina Brian-Smith is a percussionist and educator who recently relocated to Philadelphia. This past Spring, Nina graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where they completed Bachelor’s degrees in music and a Master’s degree in music education. While at UMass, Nina worked as a graduate teaching assistant for the UMass drum line and front ensemble under the direction of Thom Hannum and Ian Hale. Nina’s career in the marching arts as both a performer and student leader includes the Boston Crusaders Front Ensemble (2016-2021) and the UMass Front Ensemble (2017-2020). Currently, Nina works as a front ensemble technician at the Boston Crusaders and Widener University under the direction of Dr. Iain Moyer. Although Nina is new to WGI, she is incredibly excited to be joining the team at United!
Nate Gittelman
Front Ensemble Technician
Nate Gittelman is honored and excited to be invited back to United Percussion as a Front Ensemble Technician for the 2023-24 season. Nate is a drummer, percussionist and educator from southeastern Pennsylvania. His marching experience includes playing drum set for United Percussion (2018, 2021) and marching snare with the West Chester University Golden Rams Marching Band (2017, 2018). Nate earned his Bachelor’s degree in percussion performance from West Chester University. While there, he performed as a section percussionist in the university’s top symphonic ensemble; was a featured soloist in the WCU Percussion Ensemble; and held the drum set chair in the Criterions Jazz Ensemble – the nation’s oldest accredited college jazz band – for three years.
Nate has accompanied the Philadelphia Chorus and the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and was invited to the live audition round for the United States Air Force Academy Premiere Band. Currently, Nate teaches drums and percussion privately through Earth Song Creative Arts in Spring City, PA, and serves as Front Ensemble Caption Head at Marple Newtown High School. He is also actively recording and performing with his Philadelphia-based bands: Chasing Straights, Birds? and Dear Season.
Mike O’Leary
Front Ensemble Technician
Mike is a New Jersey based educator, musician, and arranger. He is currently a 4th and 5th grade instrumental music teacher in the Edison Public Schools district in Edison, New Jersey.
Mike has worked with a numerous amount of marching bands located in New Jersey. Some of which include Sayreville War Memorial High School, J.P. Stevens High School, Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Old Bridge High School, and is currently the Percussion Caption Head at Edison High School. He also worked with a few local all aged drum corps such as the Bushwackers DBC and the Hawthorne Caballeros DBC.
Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in percussion from Rutgers University, where he studied with Joe Tompkins, Javier Diaz, Mike Truesdell, Ian Sullivan, and Kyle Zerna. Mike was also performer with the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2015-2019, Imperial Dynasty in 2018, United Percussion in 2018 & 2021, and Carolina Crown in 2018.
Andy Pham
Front Ensemble Technician
Andy Pham is a Front Ensemble Educator based in New Jersey, and a Computer Science Major at Rowan University. He started his marching career at Upper Darby High School in Upper Darby, PA from 2015-2019. He also went on to perform with Cadets2 in 2017 and 2018, United Percussion in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and lastly The Cadets in 2022.
Andy has taught for 3 years at Deptford High School, going onto his 3 year at Highland Regional High School, and has taught at the Caballeros over the summer. Andy is excited to come back as an educator and as a United Alumni!
Joe Tremper
Front Ensemble Technician
Joe is a performer, educator, and composer based out of Newark, DE. Originally from Tampa, FL, Joe earned his undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Music Studies from the University of South Florida. This fall, Joe began working on his Masters in Percussion Performance at the University of Delaware. As a part of his teaching assistantship, Joe works under the direct supervision of Jim Ancona to teach the University of Delaware marching percussion section. In the spring, he assists in coordinating and running the athletic pep bands.
As a world-class performer, Joe spent two competitive seasons over three years with the Boston Crusaders, as well as four seasons with Infinity Percussion. As a solo and chamber musician, he has received several awards and been featured on chamber tours, concerto competitions, and more. Joe is very much looking forward to joining the United Percussion team!
Registration and packet downloads for 2024 are live! Get the packet here. Stay tuned for more announcements coming soon!