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2024 Percussion Staff
Travis Peterman
Caption Head/Battery Arranger
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. He 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. He served as the Battery Arranger and Director of Percussion for the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2016 through the 2019 season. From 2015 to 2022 Travis held various roles at Carolina Crown, including Percussion Caption Supervisor and Battery Co-Arranger.
Currently, Travis is the Program Director of the George Mason University Indoor Drumline (where he also holds the position of Battery/Visual Designer), as well as the Percussion Caption Supervisor at the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and the Percussion Caption Head and Battery Arranger for the Reading Buccaneers. Peterman is an accomplished adjudicator with circuits such as SCPA, KIDA, and NYSPC. As of 2022, Travis serves as the Percussion Coordinator for the Atlantic Indoor Association’s North region. 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 a M.Ed. in School Counseling (also from
WilmU).
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Mark Eichenberger
Front Ensemble Arranger
Mark received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and both his Masters of Music 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. Before moving to New Jersey, he worked at the University of Texas-Brownsville as a lecturer of percussion. Prior to that appointment, he was a freelance performer and teacher in Chicago. 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. Currently Mark works with The Cadets as a Front Ensemble consultant. As an educator, Mark currently works at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, N.J. He serves as director for both the indoor and marching band percussion programs. In the district, he also teaches lessons for grades 5-8. He also works as a percussion arranger for Hylton Music Design. Mark lives in Lawrence, N.J., with his wife, Juri, and little rescue mutt, Roman. Juri is a composer and on faculty at PrincetonUniversity. Mark enjoys performing her works for percussion and being the test subject from time to time for new pieces she is working on.
Reed Kimmel
Audio Manager
Meet Reed Kimmel. With a lifelong passion for drumming that ignited at the age of 5 and an
impressive decade-long career as an audio engineer in the marching arts, he looks to continue his passion with the Reading Buccaneers. Reed lent his talents to renowned ensembles such as The Cadets, Spirit of Atlanta, United Percussion and Towson University, showcasing their productions in the marching arts community. Now in his second year with the Reading Buccaneers, Reed will act as Audio Manager.
Beyond the realm of drums and audio engineering, Reed shares a unique tradition - watching every Marvel movie on release day with the same five friends.
With sticks in hand and a passion for perfecting sound, Reed is ready to return to the big stage
in Indy.
Johnny Trujillo
Percussion Consultant
Johnny Trujillo's experience in drum corps started in 2001: marching 3 years in the Phoenix Drum and Bugle Corps (NJ), then 1 year (2004) in The Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps (NJ), and his last 2 years (2005 and
2006) with the Cadets, where he aged out. He taught the Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps percussion section from 2007 2010, joined the Cadets instructional team for 2011, and then returned to the Bucs as the caption supervisor and battery arranger from 2012-2019.
Johnny graduated from West Chester University with a degree in music education in 2006 and began his tenure at Norristown Area High School (PA), where he conducted the concert band and taught piano classes for 10 years.
In the spring of 2014, he earned his masters degree in education from Cabrini College (PA). In 2016 he became the Band and Orchestra Director at East Norriton Middle School where he currently teaches each day. Johnny is also an
active adjudicator (2010-present) for Cavalcade of Bands. He resides happily with his fiancé in Phoenixville, PA.
Brian Selman
Visual Coordinator/Cymbal Technician
Anthony Rubano
Audio Engineer
Hi, I’ll be one of the audio engineers this year. I recently got an audio engineering degree from Rowan of Burlington County. In High School, I ran sound for our musicals and our TV Broadcasting program. I worked at a recording studio for about a year as an intern and last year I was brought on as the audio intern with Bucs! This will be my second year doing anything marching arts-related. Most of my musical background is from choir and theater so I’m a singer.
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Tyler Wales
Assistant Caption Head/ Front Ensemble Manager
Dr. Tyler Wales is a performer and educator of percussion currently based out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He has completed his B.A. degree in Music from Kutztown University, M.M. in Music Performance in Percussion from West Chester University, and D.M.A degree in
Percussion Performance from Arizona State University. Tyler has most recently worked for 2 years with some of the best high school bands in the country in Fort Worth, Texas. He has marched with Cadets2 in 2015, and the Reading Buccaneers in 2016, both on snare. He is now the Assistant Director of Bands at Shippensburg University, and is ecstatic to be back in the area, giving back to a program that meant so much to him.
Sean Moran
Battery Manager
The 2024 season will mark Sean's first season on the percussion staff for The Reading Buccaneers where he will be taking on the role of Battery Manager.
Sean began his drumming career at Norristown High School where he played snare drum for the duration of his high school years. In 2008 he started his drum corps career with the Reading Buccaneers as a member of the snare line. He continued to march with the Reading Buccaneers in 2010, and 2011 prior to being offered a position with The Cadets in the 2012 snare line. During his time with The Cadets, Sean was a part of an all rookie snare line that went on to receive the collective "Rookie of the Year" award. After aging out with The Cadets in 2012, Sean continued his drum corps career when he returned to the Reading Buccaneers as the percussion section leader in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Sean was also a member of the snare line for the West Chester University Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Sean has previously served as a Snare Technician and Battery Coordinator for The Cadets 2 Drum and Bugle Corps from 2016-2018 where he was a part of the drum corps' first DCA World Championship and High Percussion Award in 2016.
Sean has also taught high school percussion in the Downingtown Area School District and has helped to build and sustain a highly competitive percussion program throughout his time there. From 2013-2017, Sean was a part of the percussion staff for the Downingtown West High School Marching Band and Indoor Percussion Ensembles. From there, Sean went on to serve as the Indoor Percussion Ensemble Director in 2019 and 2020 and now works as a design consultant for the Downingtown East Indoor Percussion Ensemble.
Throughout his marching career, Sean has been educated and mentored by numerous world class percussion educators such as Colin McNutt, Johnny Trujillo, Dave Dumont, Rich Hammond, Darren Hazlett, Jacob Gall and many more.
Outside of drum corps, Sean currently works for Signant Health as an Operational Readiness Manager and resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Andrew Monteiro
Design Consultant
Andrew Monteiro is a Music Educator and Percussion Arranger based in Central New Jersey. He has worked with high school marching bands and indoor drumlines in the Mid-Atlantic region including South Brunswick Marching Band, Old Bridge High school Marching Band and it’s respective Indoor Drumline and Norwalk High School Indoor Drumline.
He has been the Front Ensemble Caption Supervisor for Cadets2 since the corps' establishment in 2012 and Arranger and Sound designer from 2016 - 2018. He was on staff with The Cadets Front Ensemble from 2014 - 2017. Andrew was the Front Ensemble Arranger and Sound designer for the Bushwackers from 2016 through 2021, and on the Front Ensemble and Sound Design Team Staff for Carolina Crown from 2019 to 2022. He was the Front Ensemble Arranger, Coordinator and Sound Designer for Cadets Winter Percussion PIW from 2014 - 2016 where they placed 1st in Independent Open their inaugural year. Andrew was also the Sound Designer for United Percussion PIW in 2017 and 2018. He has studied under many accomplished instructors including Iain Moyer, Jason Inhat, Mike Zellers, Jim Ancona and Tom Aungst. In addition, Andrew studied at New York University under Jonathan Haas, Simon Boyar and Josh Quillen. Since 2022, Andrew has been involved with the Reading Buccaneers, who won the DCA Championship both years that he served as Front Ensemble and Sound Designer. 2023 will be Andrew's fifth year with the GMU Indoor Drumline.
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Sofia Soares
Front Ensemble Coordinator
Sofia Soares is a clinical laboratory manager at an OB/GYN clinic. Though her career is in
healthcare, music has always been a priority in her life. She has performed as a flautist for over a decade with her alma mater, Wilkes University, in the flute choir, civic band, and chamber orchestra. She has taught at numerous high school outdoor and indoor programs alongside many talented educators including most recently, Spring-Ford Area High School. Sofia began her drum corps career performing with the Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps in WilkesBarre, PA. It was there that she fell in love with the design and performance of the Reading Buccaneers after watching them perform for the first time. Sofia joined the Buccaneers during their 60th anniversary to perform on synthesizer and has been with the drum corps ever since performing as a featured vocalist in 2018, on marimba, and most recently as part of the instructional staff.
She has a deep love for the organization and all the members, volunteers, and staff within it. Sofia is ecstatic to return in her role and to be part of such a talented team of educators.
Joe DeLosa
Battery Specialist
Joe DeLosa began drumming before he could walk, performing for the first 17 years of his life in his family's parade band "The Blue Crew."
From 2009-2014, he played snare in the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens Marching Band. Joe has also marched snare with the Reading Buccaneers (2010, 2011, 2016, 2017) and the Cadets (2012, 2013) where he was fortunate to win a DCI high percussion title.
Indoors, Joe has performed at each level of independent WGI competition, marching snare in A Class (Imperial Dynasty 2013), in Open Class (Cadets Winter Percussion 2014), and in World Class (United Percussion 2011).
Joe returned to the University of Delaware (2015-2018) and Imperial Dynasty (17-18/18-19) to serve as a snare tech. He also was as a snare tech for Carolina Crown (2020-2022). Currently,
he serves as a snare tech with George Mason University (2020 -).
Peyton Leggett
Audio Engineer
Payton Leggett is 21 years old and lives in Harrisburg. Payton has been teaching at Central Dauphin East for 3 years as their audio tech. In high school, Payton played marimba and vibes. A fun fact about Payton is that she can’t tell her lefts from her rights.
Ben Kern
FE Technician
Ben is super excited to be returning on staff for the 2024 season. He played timpani in the
Buccaneers Front Ensemble in 2015, 2016, and 2017. This will be his second season on staff
and he is very excited to be part of the team ushering the drum corps into the new all-age DCI division.
Drew Denneny
FE Technician
Drew Denneny currently attends Delaware Technical & Community College, where he majors in Secondary Math Education, and also holds a degree in Elementary Education. He has taught private music lessons at a local music studio for six years.
Drew traces his initial love of music to the hit video game, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy. John Williams’s score in the game inspired him to learn piano and eventually join
marching band at Appoquinimink High School in Middletown, Delaware. After graduating, he
went on to play marimba with Imperial Dynasty and the Bushwackers. He has since held various front ensemble technician, coordinator, and arranger positions at several high schools, including Middletown High School, William Penn High School, Appoquinimink High School, and Odessa High School.
In 2019, Drew joined the Reading Buccaneers as a featured soloist, and has been with the
organization since. In 2023, he returned as a front ensemble instructor. He is excited to
continue working with the front ensemble as they embark on a new voyage.
Tim Scott
Quad Technician
Tim has been raised in the marching arts, with both of his parents being alumni of various drum corps and indoor groups.
From 2007- 2008, he began his drum corps career with the Bushwackers. He also marched with the Sunrisers (2009). After picking up quads he marched Fusion Core (2010, 2011), the Reading Buccaneers (2013), and with Carolina Crown (2014).
Tim was also fortunate to spend several years marching quads in World Class WGI groups, beginning with United Percussion (2013), and Rhythm X (2015, 2016).
Tim spent time as a quad technician teaching Stony Brook University (2011), William Mason High School (2015), and Bellbrook High Scool (2015). He also spent the summer of 2016 teaching quads for the Colts Drum and Bugle
Corps. He is extremely humbled and excited to be serving as a quad technician in 2024 with both George Mason University and the Reading Buccaneers.
Dan Zell
FE Technician
Dan began a passion for playing percussion while attending Kent Island High School under Tim Beall. While attending the University of Maryland Baltimore County, he joined the UMBC Percussion Ensemble under Tom Goldstein and earned a minor in percussion performance in 2008.
His marching experience includes the Reading Buccaneers (2007, 2011, 2012) and Penn State Indoor Drumline (2008); learning from Frank Franko, Tollie Contento, Jim Ancona, Greg Tsalikas, and Wayne Gibson. Dan has taught at the Reading Buccaneers (2013, 2014, 2023), Towson University (2013), and Imperial Dynasty (2018, 2019) as a front ensemble technician. He has consulted with various high school marching programs in the DMV, most notably at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School 2011 2016.
He currently lives in Annapolis, MD with his wonderfully supportive fiance Christie.
Tom Hildebrand
Quad Technician
Tom Hildebrand is happy to be returning as quad tech for the 2024 Reading Buccaneers. He
started his marching career at Cadets2 in 2013 where he marched cymbals, and later quads in
the 14 and 15 seasons. Then he became a part of the Reading Buccaneers quad line in 2018,
2019, and 2021. In addition to is drum corps experience he was also a member of the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens Marching Band, and he’s been the director of Urbana High School’s Indoor Percussion Program since 2022. He’s very excited to see all the new and returning faces at membership day!
Kennedy Zimnik
Bass Technician
Kennedy Zimnik, 26: From Frederick MD, Kennedy has been a percussion instructor for 5 drum corps seasons. Jersey Surf 2018, 7th Regiment 2019, and Reading Buccaneers 2022, 2023, and 2024. He enjoys disc golf and EDM music.
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