John has served as Executive Director for United Percussion since its inception in 2003. He is currently the percussion caption head and arranger for Buena Regional High School. John served as the director for Eagle Percussion from 1999-2002. John's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science-Accounting; Bachelor of Science-Finance; and a Bachelor of Science-Marketing from Drexel University. John also attended Rowan University and received a Post-Bachelor Certification for Secondary Education. John's other teaching experience includes Haddon Heights High School from 1999-2001 and Collingswood High School from 1996-2000.

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. Chad currently teaches and arranges for Middle Township High School. 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 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. 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 of the law firm Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas.

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

Michelle was a 4 year member with United Percussion from 2008-2011 and played Keyboards, Vibraphone and Sampler. In the fall of 2011, she joined the marching band staff at Quakertown High School teaching their Front Ensemble. Her marching career started in 2002 as a member of the Wissahickon High School marching band and indoor percussion ensemble. While there, she was a Drum Major and awarded the John Philip Sousa Band Award and the Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence. She then continued her education at Drexel University, earning her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. After aging out, she continued her journey with United Percussion on staff as the Electronics Coordinator in 2012 and 2013 and had served as Assistant Director from 2014-2018, and Director of United Percussion in 2019. Michelle recently completed her MBA in Strategic Management at Temple University.

Chuck began his marching career in 1972 as a Tenor Drummer in Black Watch Drum and Bugle Corps from Willingboro, NJ. During his performing years at Black Watch, he was instrumental in the success of the corps winning several championships culminating in the DCI Class A championships in 1979. In 1981, Chuck moved into an instructional role with Black Watch until the corps folded in the spring of 1985. In May of 1985, Chuck joined the snare line of the Sunrisers Sr. Drum and Bugle Corps and marched as section leader from 1986 thru 1990, winning DCA World Championships in 1987 and 1988.

Chuck’s teaching and writing career began with Black Watch in 1981. He has worked with several of South Jersey’s finest high school programs including Pennsauken HS, Willingboro HS, Gloucester City HS, Eastern Regional HS and Cherokee HS, where he held roles from Battery Tech to Percussion Caption Head.

Chuck lives in Marlton, NJ with his wife Sue and sons Jarad and Jordan. Chuck works as a Network Administrator for the Philadelphia branch of a multi-office Accounting Firm. Along with his love for marching percussion, Chuck spent several years volunteering as a Youth Bowling Coach for the Big Event (Playdrome Cherry Hill) Travel Teams. Chuck has been a member of the admin team since 2018.

Alex began his marching career in 2007 with the Quakertown Community High School Marching Band. From there he went on to study Percussion at West Chester University under Ralph Sorrentino and Dave Nelson. In 2012,

Alex marched with the Hawthorne Caballeros playing Snare Drum - and from there went on to perform with Matrix Percussion (Based out of Akron, OH) in 2013, placing 4th in WGI World Championships. Alex has taught/arranged for many programs in the Southeast PA Region such as Daniel Boone HS, Neshaminy HS and even spending 4 years with Hempfield High School( Landisville PA) - as the Percussion Director for the Indoor and Outdoor seasons. During his time with Hempfield HS, they went three straight years as champions in the local circuit and were awarded with High Percussion Awards. Alex also spent time teaching and arranging for Millersville University’s Marching Band from 2017-2018. From 2014-2018 Alex served as the Battery Coordinator for the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, along with teaching programs such as Penn State Indoor Drumline, and the Connecticut Hurricanes.

This will be Alex’s Sixth season returning as Program Director for UP2.

Jess started her marching percussion career for Haddon Heights HS on bass drum.  She also marched with the TOB All-Star Band in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade in 2013. Jess performed with the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps Front Ensemble in 2016 and then again in 2019. In 2018, Jess marched with East Coast Percussion and her age-out season with the United Percussion Front Ensemble on Rack and as an honorary member of the UQ. Most recently she volunteered with the Boston Crusaders for the 2024 season. 

Outside of her percussion life, Jess has been an Infant/Toddler teacher since 2017 and got married to her husband Dan in June of 2024. 

Jess is thrilled to continue to be apart of the United Administration Team !

Jacob Gerald Ford is a Freelance Percussionist, Educator, and Composer based out of Hillsborough, New Jersey. 

Ford has been instructed by Percussion Professor William Trigg, Director of Bands Dr. Eric Laprade, Assistant Director of Bands Professor Adam Warshafsky, as well as Education Professors Dr. Nicholas McBride and Dr. Colleen Sears. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The College of New Jersey in 2022.

As a performer, Ford has premiered works by Mr. Steve Danyew, Dr. Rollo Dillworth, Holly Harrison, and Sally Lamb McCune, as well as his own compositions and arrangements.

As an Educator, Ford is committed to providing quality education to middle, high school, and collegiate level ensembles. He has taught lessons about percussion techniques, rehearsal techniques for wind band, marching ensemble techniques, and battery percussion and front ensemble instruction. He also can consult on prop design and administrative tasks for marching or touring ensembles.

Since 2022, Ford has served as the Percussion Caption Head and Arranger for the South Brunswick High School Marching Band. He previously served as the Percussion Caption Head for the Montgomery High School Marching Band (Skillman, NJ), an instructor with Hillsborough High School and a Percussion Consultant for South Plainfield High School and Allentown High School Marching Bands.

As a composer, Ford is dedicated to writing works of different styles that encourage the performers to use expression and interpretations in order to interact with the audience. He has composed works for solo, duet, chamber, and ensemble percussion groups, as well as for Wind Ensemble. He has also arranged music for Marching Bands and Marching Percussion.

Outside of educating, Ford is a Percussion Maintenance and Repair Technician for a variety of school districts and artists. He helps ensure that all instruments are functioning properly and providing the best quality sound for the performers and the audience.

Ford has served in a variety of roles for Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps including Assistant Tour Manager, Operations Manager, and Props Manager. Throughout his various roles, he works with the administration to ensure the corp travels down the road safely and efficiently. He also works with the Design and Educational Teams to manage the movement and repair of the props on and off the field.

He is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) and the New Jersey Music Education Association (NJMEA). Ford is also a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. OAS AAS LLS

Tu is excited to join the United Percussion team in 2025 as their Digital Media Coordinator and Photographer. She has been with the Bushwackers since the 2024 season, serving as their Social Media Coordinator and Photographer. She looks forward to showcasing the talents of the performers and capturing memorable moments throughout the season for all to see on social media.