Design Coordinator

Chad began his marching career with the 15-time Atlantic Coast Champion Middle Township High School Marching Band. In 1993, Chad marched snare with the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps. During his span with MTHS, they won 15 Atlantic Coast Championship titles including 7 straight seasons, 4 percussion titles and 8 top three percussion placements. MTHS also won 3 TIA indoor titles during that span, including 2 undefeated seasons. In 2001, Chad joined the two time WGI PIO finalist Riptide Indoor Percussion Ensemble as the battery instructor. From 2002-2003, Chad served as the percussion caption head and arranger for the 2002 WGI Mid-Atlantic Regional finalist and 2003 TIA PSO bronze medalist Archbishop Ryan. Chad has been with United since its inception. In that span, United has won 3 World Championship medals, including the 2007 Independent Open World Championship. United was promoted to world class in 2008 and has been a world class finalist 17 times and finished top 8, 8 times. Chad has been a member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board since 2003 and is a current member of the Vic Firth Education team. Chad's educational background includes a B.A. and J.D. from Rutgers University. He practices civil law in New Jersey and is the managing partner for the law firm Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas.

United Percussion World Program Director & Battery Arranger

Alex Beltran is an active writer, teacher, performer, and clinician from New England, now based in Southwest Ohio. He holds a Masters Degree in Music History from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he also received an Undergraduate Degree in Percussion Performance studying under Ayano Kataoka and Thom Hannum. 

While at UMass, Alex was a member of the UMass Minuteman Marching Band Battery from 2010 through 2013. He was also a member of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2011 through 2014, where he won the DCI World Championship in 2011 and the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award while serving as battery section leader for the 2013 season. Following his age out from The Cadets, he transitioned to the battery staff as the main quad technician for the 2015 and 2016 seasons before joining the percussion staff at the Boston Crusaders in 2017. 

During his graduate studies, Alex served as Teaching Assistant to Thom Hannum from 2014 to 2016 where he worked primarily with the front ensemble. From 2016 through 2019, Alex worked as the primary instructor for the UMass Drumline, where he arranged for the battery alongside Thom Hannum and Colin McNutt, and facilitated daily rehearsals for the entire percussion section. 

Outside of United Percussion, Alex is the Battery Caption Manager for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, where he handles the daily teaching, equipment, and logistical needs of the battery and coordinates the teaching staff. He is also the interim Associate Director of the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands program, where he oversees the writing, growth, and development of the percussion program of the Bearcat Bands. 

Alex proudly endorses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, and Pearl Adams Instruments

Zach Schlicher began performing in the marching arts in 1997. As a member of his high school marching band, Zach was exposed to Drum Corps International. In 2001, he earned a position in the snare line with The Cadets and continued to perform there for the next four seasons. Upon aging out, he began teaching the Madison Scouts. After two seasons with the Scouts, he spent the next ten seasons on the faculty of Carolina Crown. Currently, he is on the faculty of the Boston Crusaders. Away from the drum corps field, Zach works with several scholastic and independent programs within Winter Guard International, Bands of America, as well as international ensembles. During the fall and winter months, he occasionally adjudicates marching bands and indoor percussion ensembles around the United States.

Zach studied percussion at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Along with his design/instruction commitments, Zach occasionally performs on cast with Aerial Experience Productions, JQProductions and has performed with Blue Devils Entertainment. For quick educational features, he can be found on VicFirth.com in the video lesson series, “Hybrid Rudiments.” Over the course of twenty years, he has been able to develop a unique set of skills which allow him to take on multiple responsibilities and roles with any ensemble.

2025 will be Iain Moyer’s second season as Front Ensemble Orchestrator for United Percussion. He looks forward to collaborating with Alex Beltran, Ian Hale, and Tony Lymon on this year’s music design. 

He served as the Front Ensemble Arranger for The Boston Crusaders since 2017 and previously served as the arranger for The Cadets from 2009-2016.

Moyer is the Director of Athletic Bands at Widener University, where he oversees the Marching Band and Basketball Pep Band. Moyer also directs the Widener Percussion Ensemble and teaches private lessons. 

Iain Moyer is a signature artist with Vic Firth and is endorsed by Remo, Pearl/Adams, and Zildjian. Item description

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 and Professor Emeritus at UMass, Thom Hannum. He has studied marimba with Leigh Howard Stevens, Gordon Stout, and She-e Wu. He was a member of the music faculty at UMass from 2007-2008 and is currently the Associate Director of the Minuteman Marching Band. He was the Assistant Director of Bands for the Calgary Stampede Showband from 2009-2011 and has served as Percussion Director for Spirit Winter Percussion from Orleans, Massachusetts since 2012.

Ian has worked with many national and international ensembles including the Calgary Stampede Showband, Spirit of America, Thomas Jefferson High School, Dartmouth Indoor Percussion, United Percussion where he has served as front ensemble arranger since 2017, Boston University, the Brazilian Vanguard, and the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. He was a member of the percussion staff for the Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, and the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently on the percussion staff for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps where he has served since 2017.

Ian is endorsed by Pearl/Adams musical instruments, Vic Firth Inc., Zildjian Corporation, and Remo Inc.

Tony is a distinguished Artistic Director, recognized for his expertise in show design within the marching arts. Currently serving as the Artistic Director for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and Artistic Design/Sound Design for United Percussion (PIW), Tony also holds the role of creative designer for feniX Independent Winterguard (IW), ViP Percussion (PIW), UP2 Open (PIO), Vision Percussion (PIO), and Boswell HS (PSW).

With extensive experience, Tony has made a lasting impression on the marching band and percussion community. Recently concluding a twenty-four-year tenure as founder and show designer for Petal Indoor Percussion Theatre (PSW), a WGI Percussion Scholastic World Class Finalist, he has also contributed significantly as the co-music arranger/show designer for the Petal High School marching band, guiding them to success on both regional and national platforms.

Tony's achievements include twice being honored as the Outstanding Junior High Director of the Southeast Mississippi Band Directors Association and receiving the prestigious 2008 Mississippi Bandmasters Association AE McClain Outstanding Young Band Director Award. Beyond local programs, he established and led the Eminence Indoor Percussion Ensemble, a WGI Open Class finalist and championship ensemble.

Graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, Tony showcased his talent as a principal percussionist in esteemed ensembles. His drum corps journey began as a member of the front ensemble of the World Champion Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps from 1991 to 1993. Tony's creativity transcended conventional paths, leading him to a successful professional performance career with the pop/rock band King Konga. The band's international tours and chart-topping success solidified Tony's versatility and skill.

In recent years, Tony's influence expanded to renowned drum corps such as Carolina Crown, The Madison Scouts, and Pacific Crest, where he contributed to design and creative teams, shaping memorable performances. Alongside his artistic endeavors, he owns Eidetic Creative, a multimedia design business. Residing in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Tony cherishes family life with his wife Emily and daughter Colette. His commitment to the art of show design continues to inspire and elevate performers and audiences alike, leaving a lasting impact on the marching arts community.

Jaime Holly has been involved in the marching arts for over three decades. He began his marching career with the Concord Blue Devils in 1989 and aged out in 1993. He returned to teach the Blue Devils in 1997, where he currently serves as the Visual Caption Head and Designer there.

Jaime started his career with a BS in Mathematics from Fresno State. He earned a teaching credential from Cal State Hayward and was a math teacher at James Logan High School before he decided to give it up for the fame and fortune of drill writing. Since then, he’s had the opportunity to work with several award-winning high schools in BOA and WBA across the country such as Blue Springs High School and LD Bell High School. During the winter season he’s currently working with groups in DCI and WGI such as RCC and United Percussion. Jaime has also had the pleasure of working with the Soka Renaissance Vanguard from Tokyo, Japan for the past decade. Jaime currently resides in Long Beach with his wife Rebekah and their daughter Parker. In their free time they enjoy their city and traveling to explore new ones.

Tony has been drumming for 20 years. In the marching arts specifically, he has over a decade of experience, including roles as a performer and instructor with some of the most competitive groups in DCI and WGI. He first joined the battery staff at United Percussion in 2023 as Co-Battery Coordinator, and was part of the 2023 season Carolina Crown battery staff, which helped lead the ensemble to a DCI Bronze medal. He has also been part of the Spirit of Atlanta battery staff since Fall 2019.  Tony has also taught, designed, and arranged award-winning shows at the high school level, including with the 2018 Atlantic Coast Champion Huntington High School band. He has worked with high schools and marching programs across the country, including Petal HS, Alchemy Independent, Cary HS, Green Hope HS, and the Matt Savage Marching Percussion Camp. Tony also offers private lessons and mentorship to individual students, both in-person and virtually.

Since the beginning of high school, Tony has performed with a variety of DCI and WGI groups, including Broken City Percussion, The Cadets, George Mason University Indoor, Imperial Dynasty, Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets2. With Broken City, he earned WGI PIW Silver and Bronze medals in the 2017 and 2018 seasons respectively, and with The Cadets, Tony earned a DCI World Class Bronze Medal and a Distinguished Service Award as the snare/battery section leader.

Tony earned masters and bachelors degrees from Duke University, where he focused on mechanical engineering, material science, and engineering management. He continues research and development of percussion products, including the Tony Teleky Signature Bus Pad, which he developed in partnership with Beetle Percussion. Tony is also a drum set artist, and has performed with jazz bands and musical theater groups at colleges, high schools, and community theater programs. He is part of the Blue Devils Entertainment family and performs in the New York Giants Drumline. Tony is a Product Manager for AdImpact, an advertising analytics company.

Tony is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team, the Beetle Percussion Artist Team, and the National Eagle Scout Association.

Zach is very excited to be returning for the 2025 season! After performing as a member of the United Percussion World ensemble from 2019-2022, Zach joined the UPW battery staff in 2023 as a quad technician, later transitioning to the role of battery co-coordinator. He has also been a member of The Cadets2 for the 2017 season, a member of The Cadets for their 2018, 2019 and 2020-2021 seasons, and a quad technician for the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons.

In addition to teaching with independent ensembles, Zach has taught various high school programs throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Hillsborough High School. Outside of the marching arts, he received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Rutgers University, and he currently works as a software engineer with J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc.

David Bailer is coming to us from Baltimore, Maryland where he recently finished studying his degree in Chemistry Secondary Education at Towson University. He currently is teaching high school chemistry in Baltimore County Public Schools at Franklin High School. David has performed in various organizations outside of his high school marching band and indoor program. Throughout his marching career he has marched at the Towson University Marching Band, 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, United Percussion, and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.

David has taught at various high school programs across the Maryland area, Towson University Marching Band, The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps the last two summers, and now, United Percussion. David is extremely excited and humbled to be on the bass staff here at United!

Ryan's marching journey began in 2012 with The Cadets2 Drum and Bugle Corps, where he participated in their inaugural season and continued through 2014. During this period, Ryan also performed with Cadets Winter Percussion in the 2014 and 2015 WGI seasons. He spent three seasons with The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps (2015-2017), and in his final year, he was recognized as the 'Cadet of the Year' as part of the 2017 Cadets Drumline.Ryan also spent three years in the Rutgers University Drumline, serving as bass drum section leader for his last two years.

Since aging out, Ryan has stayed involved in the marching arts by teaching and arranging for multiple high school music programs in New Jersey, as well as working on staff with DCA and DCI corps, the Hawthorne Caballeros and The Cadets. For the 2024 season, he is part of the percussion staff at the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights.

Since 2019, Ryan has been part of the United Percussion family, starting with UP2 and moving to UP World in 2022. He is very excited to be back for his 6th year with his UP family.

Outside of the marching arts, Ryan works as an IT Systems Engineer based in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

Stephen is excited to enter another year with United Percussion! His WGI career began in 2013 at Upper Darby High School. After graduating in 2016, Stephen marched United Percussion from 2017 to 2019. In 2020 and 2022, Stephen marched Rhythm X and produced two independent bass drum licks, “Where’s My Chair” and “Condado”. Stephen was proud to return to United as a bass drum technician in 2024, and looks forward to continuing to work with UPBass in 2025.

Stephen also marched the Cadets2 Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016 and 2017, as well as Carolina Crown in 2018 and 2019. Outside of drum corps, Stephen performed in Penn State’s Blue Band and currently performs as a member of the Eagles Drumline. Locally, Stephen also teaches the drumlines at Rowan University and Cherokee High School. In addition to his roles as a teacher and performer, Stephen helps host the On A Water Break podcast and manages the Yeah Bass! page on Instagram, where he aspires to advance the Art of Bass Drumming throughout the world.

Lauren is thrilled to be returning to the United Percussion World staff for another season! She started her career in the marching arts in 2012 at Freehold High School in New Jersey. In 2014, she joined the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps cymbal line, and she has been a part of the corps every year since. Starting as a member, she later transitioned to staff where she continues to teach cymbals and battery visual. Besides the Bushwackers, she has also marched at Red Wave Indoor (2019), West Chester University (2019), and United Percussion World (2020, 2022). For the 2023 and 2024 seasons, she was welcomed to the cymbal staff for the World team.

Aside from the Bushwackers and United Percussion, Lauren has also taught at various high schools in California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, including Fred C. Beyer HS, Amador Valley HS, Upper Darby HS, Phoenixville Area HS, and Highland Regional HS.

Lauren received her Associate's in Music Education with a focus in percussion at Las Positas College in Livermore, CA, then continued her education in music at West Chester University. While her current job does not involve music, she's very happy to continue her passions being able to teach on the weekends accompanied by wonderful staff and members.

Shannon is excited to be back on staff for another iteration of United Percussion World! Shannon began working with United in 2019 teaching cymbals for United Percussion 2 in their inaugural year. She has been teaching with the World Class Ensemble since the 2020 season!

Shannon began her marching career at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey.  She attended Rutgers University where she was first introduced to Drum Corps. She marched cymbals with the Rutgers Drumline from 2014-2016. Shannon also marched cymbals with Cadets Winter Percussion (2015-2016) and the Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps (2016).

Shannon has been an educator for various programs in New Jersey including her high school alma mater, Ramsey High School, Old Bridge High School, Hopewell Valley Regional High School, the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights, and the Hawthorne Caballeros. In addition to United Percussion, she currently works with Immaculata High School as their Visual Caption Head.

Shannon is a graduate of Rutgers University with a BA in Criminal Justice and Sociology with a minor in Psychology.

Talen is a corporate accountant in New York City and is currently attending the CUNY School of Law. Since leaving Columbia, SC, where he attended the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, he has marched and taught at a number of organizations. 

His marching career began as a charter member with Civitas Independent where he marched cymbals for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In 2016, he spent his age-out year with Atlanta Quest on their cymbal line. He also performed with the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2015 season in the trumpet section.

Since aging out, Talen has worked with multiple programs across South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky area as a visual and cymbal instructor with his main ensembles being Audio Theater (2017 – 2021) and McGavock High School (2018 – 2020) and was on staff to see both groups be promoted to the next class in WGI. He also started and taught the cymbal line at Music City Drum and Bugle Corps (2022 – 2023). He has been teaching cymbals at United Percussion since 2022 and is excited to be returning for his 4th season with the ensemble!

United Percussion is excited to introduce a new addition to the UPW Battery Staff!

Jacob is a marching arts educator from New Jersey. Jacob began teaching when he was 18,  and has since worked with High School ensembles at Immaculata High School and Monroe Township High School, as well as independent groups like UP2, The Caballeros, and now United Percussion World. Jacob has his Bachelor's degree of Music: Percussion Performance, which he obtained at Rutgers University: Mason Gross School of the Arts. 

Jacob began his Independent marching career with the Hawthorne Caballeros, and then went on to age out with The Cadets, and United Percussion World. Jacob is thrilled to share his expertise, from which he developed through some of the most renowned educators in the activity, such as: Tom Aungst, Jake Gall, Alex Beltran, Mark Monaghan, Paul Nalesnik, Mike Galetta and Dan Bonham. 

Drew is very excited to be returning for another season as a Snare Technician! After performing as a member of the United Percussion World ensemble in 2022, Drew  joined the UPW battery staff in mid season 2023 as a snare technician. He has also been a member of the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2019, 2021, and 2024 season and marched indoor previously at Imperial Dynasty in 2019. 

In addition to teaching at United Percussion, Drew has also been a snare technician at the University of Delaware Marching Band since 2023 and a snare technician at Unionville High School since 2019. Outside of the marching arts, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science at the University of Delaware, and he currently works as a product support specialist with Computer Aid, Inc.

Alessandro Sestito is a percussion educator and designer based in Old Bridge, New Jersey. His performance experience includes playing snare drum with the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013 and 2014, Cadets Winter Percussion in 2015 and 2016, and the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from 2015 to 2017. From 2017 to 2023, Alessandro performed with Blue Devils Entertainment, primarily playing snare drum for the NY Giants Drumline.

Since 2015, Alessandro has been a battery technician for Old Bridge High School and is currently the Percussion Ensemble Coordinator, Battery Arranger, and Visual Designer. He served as a snare technician for the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018 through 2020 and was the Battery Manager in 2021. 

Alessandro received his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and is currently a licensed Professional Engineer working as an engineer for the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority. He is also a freelance drummer for various music entertainment companies in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Steve is a marching arts performer and educator from Manahawkin, NJ. After marching 4 seasons of marching band and indoor drumline at Southern Regional High School, Steve began his independent marching career at United Percussion 2 in 2019. From there, he went on to march with the Hawthorne Caballeros in 2019, United Percussion in 2021-2023, and The Cadets for 2020* and 2021.

Steve graduated from Stockton University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and is currently working as an accountant in his hometown, while studying for his CPA license. He is also a percussion instructor at Southern Regional High School and the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps. 

Steve feels honored to have been mentored and taught by some of the most highly

regarded educators in the activity throughout his marching career. He has been taught by

the likes of: Paul Nalesnik, Jake Gall, Tom Aungst, Mark Monaghan, Mike Galletta, Dan Richardson, Alex Beltran, Pat McHale and many others. 

Fun fact about Steve: he has a sock collection of well over 300 pairs!

Charlie Gorham is a percussion performer and educator from Northern Virginia, currently pursuing an M.M. in Music Education from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education from George Mason University. Charlie serves on the percussion staff at Phantom Regiment and is excited to return for his second year on staff at United Percussion. He has previously been a performing member with the Reading Buccaneers (2017-2019), Carolina Crown (2020, 2022), and George Mason University Indoor Drumline (2020-2023). 

In his third semester of graduate studies at UMass, Charlie studies Jazz Drum set under Prof. Thomas Giampietro and works as a graduate teaching assistant with the UMass Minuteman Marching Band under the mentorship of Ian Hale. 

Charlie proudly endorses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets.

Jarod Sullivan is a musician and educator based in Massachusetts. He holds a Masters degree in Music Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from UMass Amherst. In his time at UMass, he has worked with Thom Hannum, Ian Hale, and Colin McNutt. His marching career started in high school and continued onto the Sunrisers and Carolina Crown. He also marched in the UMass Drumline from 2018-2021. He has taught at various high schools in the Northeast, was on staff at Carolina Crown (2022), and has been on staff at the Boston Crusaders and United Percussion since 2023. He also teaches and writes for the UMass Drumline and serves as the front ensemble director/arranger at the University of New Haven. Jarod writes for a number of high school and college level marching percussion programs as well.

Jay has been on the United Percussion World front ensemble staff since the 2022 season and is thrilled to take on the role of Front Ensemble Caption Head in 2025! 

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 privilege of learning from many influential educators including Jim Ancona, Ian Hale, Iain Moyer, Steve Ballard, Thom Hannum, Marcus Neudigate, Annie Chernow, Alex Kluttz, and Dave Osworth.

Jay is also a Front Ensemble Technician at the Boston Crusaders and 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 & Operations Manager for a Philadelphia based digital marketing agency.

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 world class drum corps.  Some drum corps he has worked with are The Cadets, from 2020 through 2022, and Carolina Crown, from 2023 through 2024.  Currently, Garrett is in his 2nd year as Front Ensemble Caption Head for Rowan University’s Marching Band from Glassboro, New Jersey.  As a local and previous member of United, Garrett is excited to start the 2025 indoor season off strong with energy and positivity.

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. In the Fall of 2023, 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.

Professionally, Joe has started his world-class teaching career as a Front Ensemble technician with United Percussion and the Boston Crusaders. Before moving to Delaware, he spent his time teaching and consulting at several high schools across the Tampa Bay Area, and maintains his relationship with his hometown by writing, designing, and consulting for local schools, as well as returning home for the annual USF Summer Drumline Camp. As a 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 proudly endorses Vic Firth sticks and mallets and Zildjian cymbals.

Nate is excited to be returning for his second year on staff with the United Percussion World front ensemble! His role will continue to primarily focus on non-pitched percussion in the front ensemble, especially in regard to our drum set position.

Nate’s marching experience began at Perkiomen Valley High School in 2013, marching snare for 8 seasons before attending West Chester University. There, he not only marched two seasons (2017-2018) on snare with the WCU Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band, but also marched drum set at United Percussion for two seasons (2018, 2021). 

Upon graduating WCU with a bachelor’s degree in percussion performace, Nate went on to teach marching percussion at several high schools in southeastern Pennsylvania including Central Bucks High School South, Perkiomen Valley High School, and Marple Newtown High School. Nate continues to teach private drum set and percussion lessons through Earth Song Creative Arts.

In addition to pursuing music education, Nate also records and performs with his three Philadelphia-based rock bands, Dear Season, Birds?, and Chasing Straights, as well as freelancing for other notable ensembles including The Philadelphia Chorus.

Sean McWilliams is a percussionist and educator currently studying percussion performance and literature at the Eastman School of Music. Sean’s principal teachers include Michael Burritt, Chip Ross, Rich Thompson, Dr. Ralph Sorrentino, and David Nelson. Sean has spent time in multiple musical idioms – timpanist with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016 and 2017 and United Percussion in 2017 and 2018, attending the Cloyd Duff Timpani Masterclass in 2018, a percussionist in the Sewanee Summer Music Festival in 2019 and 2021. He has also played in the National Music Festival held in Chestertown, MD and the Shippensburg Summer Music Festival.  Sean has enjoyed notable performances at PASIC as a member of the PASIC 2019 All-Star Collegiate Percussion Ensemble led by James Campbell, the International Marimba Orchestra led by Gordon Stout in 2021, and the Eastman School of Music’s International Percussion Ensemble Competition’s Winner’s concert in 2022. He will be playing at PASIC 2024 in composer Austin Keck’s New Music clinic.

Sean has also played with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the Eastman Philharmonia, Musica Nova, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, West Chester University Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble and currently plays with the Philadelphia Wind Symphony.

As a continuously active educator, he has taught percussion at the Symphony in C Summer Music Camps as a teaching artist, privately at the Eastman Community Music School, New Horizons Symphonic Band, the Reading Buccaneers Front Ensemble, the Bushwackers Front Ensemble, and is currently the Director of Bands at Chichester HS in Boothwyn, PA.

Sean also serves as the chair of the PAS University Student Committee’s Publishing Subcommittee. Upon graduating from ESM, Sean was conferred the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement.

Brad has been an active educator and visual designer of the marching arts for over 20 years.

His performance experience includes The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and the Santa Clara Vanguard. He has been involved with many independent groups over the years, including the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, Lehigh Valley Knights, Teal Sound, Crossmen, 7th Regiment, Boston Crusaders, and Q Winter Guard, (WGI IO Finalist 2016, 2017). Currently, Brad is the visual designer for the Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps, and on the visual team at the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, (2017-Present).

In addition to working with independent groups, Brad has worked with many scholastic ensembles, most recently with visual instruction at King Philip H.S. from Wrentham, MA. & Homestead H.S, (BOA Grand National Finalist 2018), from Ft. Wayne, IN Currently, he is the visual designer for Pecos H.S. from Pecos, TX, (BOA San Antonio Regional Class A Champion 2022).Brad was involved with United Percussion in 2004 & from 2017-Present. He is also the artistic director & visual designer for United Percussion 2.

Kirby Kistler is thrilled to be back for her 6th year on the visual staff with United Percussion. She began her independent marching career with 3 seasons in the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps colorguard, and then as a member of Carolina Crown, Field of View World, and Cadets Winter Percussion. She also did a few late-season stints on the field with the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps.

Since aging out, Kirby’s passion has been educating in the marching arts. She has been a colorguard technician or caption head at several high schools, including Abington Senior High School, Hatboro-Horsham High School, and Upper Moreland High School. She also contributed choreography and movement instruction for Hatboro-Horsham Indoor Percussion and Imperial Dynasty Indoor Percussion.

Kirby is also still active as a colorguard technician, most recently with the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps, the Black Watch winterguard, and Main Line Independent. Outside of band, Kirby is a Strategist at a healthcare marketing agency and makes time for disc golf, several book clubs, and environmental conservation.

Tyler currently resides in West Chester, PA where he is an elementary music educator. He is also a designer, choreographer, instructor, and drill writer in the mid-Atlantic.

Tyler’s marching career began with the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps from 2006 to 2015 and served as horn sergeant in 2015. Tyler spent 2013 and 2014 with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps.

Tyler has been a part of the United organization since 2019. He is also currently an assistant visual caption head with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, is the program coordinator and drill designer for Downingtown East Winter Percussion, and the visual caption head for the Downingtown East High School Marching Band. He has previously served as visual co-caption head for the Jersey Surf in 2016 & 17, served on the Cadets2 staff in 2018, as well as the Academy visual staff from 2019 to 2023. He has also had roles as caption head, choreographer, designer, and program coordinator for multiple marching bands and indoor ensembles throughout southeastern PA.

Tyler attended West Chester University where he received a dual degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance as a baritone.