Design Team
2027
Paul Cullen
staff & music coordinator
Entering his 14th year with the Buccaneers, Paul previously served the corps as Mellophone Music Instructor (2011 & 2018-2020), Brass Caption Head (2012-2015), and Ensemble Coordinator (2022-2024).
Paul received his Bachelor's of Music in Film Scoring from The Berklee College of Music and, since 1999, has served in many roles in the marching arts, including: performer, drum major, music technician, caption head, coordinator, composer, arranger, editor, consultant, and adjudicator. He has been actively involved with drum corps, marching bands, concert bands, wind ensembles, and percussion ensembles, as well as serving as music designer and editor for numerous independent and scholastic winter guard programs throughout the United States.
Having been in the activity for the past 26 years, Paul's experience includes work with The Syracuse Brigadiers (2001-2009), The Boston Crusaders (2008), The Reading Buccaneers (2011-2015 & 2018-Present), The Cadets (2011), Jersey Surf (2014), Fusion Core (2016), and Cadets2 (2017). In the fall, Paul has been actively involved with several Marching Band Programs in the Northeast and is also an active adjudicator with Tournament of Bands, Cavalcade of Bands, US Bands, New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association, and has adjudicated several independent shows throughout the East Coast. He has also performed with the Princeton Brass Band from 2016 to 2019.
Paul is a 2023 Reading Buccaneers Hall of Fame Inductee and resides in North Wales, PA, with his wife, Lisa, and their children Madison (RBCG aluma '19 & '22) and Riley (RBCG alumus '26). He is extremely excited to continue serving the wonderful people of the Reading Buccaneers!
NICHOLAS TAVARES
artistic coordinator
Nicholas resides in Wilmington, Delaware, and is a deeply committed member of the Mid-Atlantic marching arts community. The 2027 season marks his 17th year of involvement with the Reading Buccaneers, his 6th as the Artistic Coordinator.
With over 25 years of experience across numerous prestigious programs, Nicholas has contributed to the success of several award-winning ensembles as a designer, coordinator, and educator. He currently serves as the Artistic Coordinator and Visual Designer for the Imperial Dynasty Winter Drum Line (Wilmington, DE) as well as a member of the Design Team for the Field of View Winter Guard (West Chester, PA). His previous design and instructional credits include Middletown High School, Cab Calloway School of the Arts, William Penn High School, and other programs throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
In 2023, Nicholas was inducted into the Reading Buccaneers Hall of Fame, honoring more than 15 years of contributions as a performer, designer, caption head, and program coordinator. His performance background includes marching with the Reading Buccaneers (2009–2011), Black Watch Color Guard (2009–2010), Apex Winter Guard (1999–2003, 2005–2008), and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2000).
Nicholas is also an active adjudicator with the National Judges Association (NJA), where he serves as the Design Analysis and Ensemble Analysis Facilitator during the fall and winter seasons. His adjudication reflects a deep understanding of both design and performance excellence across all levels.
Outside the marching arts, Nicholas holds dual degrees in Early Childhood Education and Development and works as a Licensing Specialist with the Office of Child Care Licensing within the Delaware Department of Education.
STEVE RINDA
visual designer & coordinator
Steve is very excited to return to the Reading Buccaneers for the 2027 season.
Steve has been involved with DCA since 1997 as a member of the Bushwackers. He spent ten years with Bush as a member, visual caption head, and visual designer. In the last fifteen years, he has also been on staff with the Connecticut Hurricanes and the visual designer for the Carolina Gold and Fusion Core.
He spent three years on the visual staff of the Reading Buccaneers from 2012 to 2014. He has also designed numerous shows for high school bands in the region and around the country.
rich hammond
Returning for 2027, Rich Hammond will once again serve the drum corps as Ensemble Coordinator.
He has previously worked with the Crossmen, Glassmen, Jersey Surf, and the Buccaneers, and has provided consultation for several other drum corps along the way. Rich has also dedicated many seasons to the North Penn Marching Knights as a designer and program coordinator, and his work has been recognized by ensembles across the United States and Europe.
In addition to his design and judging roles, he also freelances as a music editor and orchestrator and serves as a percussion judge for WGI and various regional circuits. Outside of his professional commitments, Rich enjoys playing golf. He is thrilled to continue working with all the performers of the Buccaneers!
ensemble coordinator
dr. mark lortz
brass composer/arranger
Mark Lortz is the Director of Music at Stevenson University, overseeing the music department and directing the university’s bands. An accomplished composer, arranger, and educator, he also serves as a music editor for RWS Music Company and brass arranger for the multi–world champion Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps.
His music has been performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Ravens Marching Band, and the U.S. Army Field Band, featured at The Midwest Clinic and the Bands of America National Percussion Festival, and recognized with multiple ASCAP Awards and listings in Gramophone, The Instrumentalist, Bandworld’s Top 100, and J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s Choice.
Dr. Lortz is an active clinician, adjudicator, and conductor with appearances throughout the United States and Europe. He regularly presents at national, state, and regional conferences and has conducted honor bands, orchestras, and community ensembles internationally, including the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra. In 2024, the Maryland Music Educators Association named him an Outstanding Educator, and in 2026, he was inducted into the Maryland Music Educators Hall of Fame.
He holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from Temple University and degrees in Percussion Performance, Music Composition, and Music Education from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. His performance career includes recording and performing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, serving as Associate Music Director and Percussionist for the production of The Phantom of the Opera, and Percussionist with the Dallas Brass.
Dr. Lortz is also a 2018 inductee of the Reading Buccaneers Hall of Fame.
Travis Peterman
battery composer/arranger & ensemble consultant
Born and raised in Newark, Delaware, Travis began his percussion career in the Christina School District, spending five years with the All-State Junior and Senior Bands. Quickly finding a passion for the marching arts, he went on to perform as a snare drummer with the Reading Buccaneers, United Percussion, the Blue Stars, and Rhythm X.
Travis started teaching drum corps with the Cadets2 in 2012 as the Snare Technician and Battery Choreographer, remaining with the corps for three years. Travis previously held the positions of Director, Program Coordinator, and Battery Arranger for Cadets Winter Percussion during its three-year tenure. From 2015 to 2022, Travis held various roles at Carolina Crown, including Percussion Caption Supervisor and Battery Co-Arranger. Peterman spent 2023 with The Cadets percussion section, in what would be their final season. Starting in 2023, Travis has held positions with the Reading Buccaneers, including Percussion Caption Head, Battery Arranger, and Ensemble Coordinator.
Peterman is an accomplished adjudicator with circuits such as SCPA, KIDA, and USBands. From 2022 to 2024, Travis served as the Percussion Coordinator for the Atlantic Indoor Association’s North region.
Currently, Travis is the Program Director of the George Mason University Indoor Drumline, where he also holds the position of Battery/Visual Designer. He also fulfills the roles of Percussion Caption Head and Battery Arranger for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps.
Travis is honored to have studied under educators such as Thom Hannum, Tom Aungst, Tim Jackson, Jim Ancona, Tim Fairbanks, Darick Kelly, Rich Hammond, and Chris Feist. He is a proud member of the Vic Firth, Pearl/Adams, and Remo education teams. Outside of the percussion world, Travis holds an A.A. in Criminal Justice from Delaware Tech, a B.S. in Behavioral Science from Wilmington University, and an M.Ed. in School Counseling (also from WilmU).
dr. mark eichenberger
Dr. Mark Eichenberger received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and both his Master's of Music in Performance and his DMA in Music Performance from the University of Illinois. As a performer, Mark maintains a busy schedule as a freelance percussionist in the Princeton area. He is a frequent performer for the Princeton Sound Kitchen, premiering new works by composers at Princeton University. He also drums with the bands Joy on Fire and Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves. Mark currently works as a percussion arranger for Hylton Music Design.
Before moving to New Jersey, he worked at the University of Texas-Brownsville as a lecturer of percussion. Before that appointment, he was a freelance performer and teacher in Chicago. In the marching arts, Mark was a member of Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from 2000 to 2004. He joined the Capital Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps Staff as a Front Ensemble Instructor in 2006. From 2008 to 2010, Mark served as an Instructor for the Santa Clara Vanguard Front Ensemble, rising to the position of Co-Caption Head for the 2010 season. He then became the Front Ensemble Arranger and Percussion Caption Head for The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps, a position he held from 2013 through 2019. Mark was also a Front Ensemble consultant with The Cadets from 2022 to 2023. He is currently working with the George Mason University Indoor Drumline as a designer
and educator.
Mark lives in Lawrence, N.J., with his wife, Juri, and little rescue mutt, Roman. He is looking forward to continuing to design and arrange the front ensemble for the Reading Buccaneers.
front ensemble composer/arranger
Bryson teel
sound designer
Bryson is a full-time marching arts electronics arranger and sound designer based in New Haven, CT. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Audio and Music Production with a focus in Percussion Performance from Western Connecticut State University.
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Originally a quad player, Bryson performed with 7th Regiment (2011–2013) and the Madison Scouts (2014) before shifting his focus to education and design. In 2019, he joined the Spartans' instructional team for their DCI Open Class Championship season and later served on the design team through 2024. During that time, the corps secured back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.
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In addition to a wide range of clients across the country, Bryson's electronic design work is currently featured with ensembles including Atlanta Quest, The Bentonville Pride Marching Band (AR), Fishers High School (IN), and Mililani High School (HI).
Outside of the marching arts, Bryson is a sci-fi bookworm, an A24 film enthusiast, and a Connecticut pizza connoisseur.
mitch meussner
color guard designer & caption head
Mitch Meussner is excited to return for his fifth season leading the RBCG. Mitch started color guard at Arundel High School, where he was a designer and choreographer for many years, and started marching Drum Corps with the Reading Buccaneers in 1997. From there, he marched Independent World Class finalist Just Class from Baltimore, MD, and the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from 2000 to 2002.
When not teaching color guard, Mitch enjoys spending time with his niece and nephew as well as his puppy, Luna.