January 24th, 2003

CrownBEAT

The Official Newsletter of Carolina Crown, Inc.

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Pictures from Camp

 

 

What’s YOUR excuse?

It’s always the same.  Everyone gets cleaned up, puts their hair down, straightens their tie, splashes on some cologne and prepares themselves for a night of fun—a night of sharing memories of the previous summer and of visiting with long lost friends.  We give each other hugs, make small talk about how school is going, take pictures, eat good food, and laugh and cry as we watch videos from the previous summer’s tour.  

And that’s when it gets interesting.  

At some point in between making small talk and grabbing seconds, those of us who are returning for another summer of memories ask those who are not, “Why are you not coming back?”  And the answers never cease to amaze: money, school, family, girlfriend/boyfriend, fear of a poor competitive placement, fear of a summer of hard work, and countless others.  It seems that this year, for every person returning, three others have excuses as to why they’re not. 

So, okay.  Stay home this summer.  Take your classes, make your money, stick with that significant other you might or might not still be with this time next year, run to that other corps you say you’ve “always wanted to march.”  I can’t argue with you any more.  But what I can say is that, at Carolina Crown, we’re gonna have some fun.  We’re gonna put together a product that is amazing, and we’re gonna spend the summer travelling the country showing off that product to thousands of people.  We’re gonna make some great memories, and sometime next December we’re gonna get cleaned up, put our hair down, straighten our ties, splash on some cologne, and get together for a night of fun.  And we’re gonna be glad we came back for one more summer.  

Remember: “…This feeling lasts for a lifetime. /  It’s something that I have come to find / I’ll never leave behind…” 

If you want to come to Carolina, now’s the time.

David Roth

2003 Carolina Crown

Drum Major

 

Meet the 2003 Carolina Crown Percussion Faculty

 

Jeff Queen has marched in the snare lines of the Canton Bluecoats (89), Velvet Knights (90, 91), Santa Clara Vanguard (92), Blue Knights (93, 94, 95) and the University of North Texas (93, 94, 95).  He was section leader for the Velvet Knights (91), Blue Knights (93, 94, 95) and the University of North Texas (94, 95).  Jeff was the Drum Corps International Individual and Ensemble Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995 as well as the Percussive Arts Society Individual Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995.  He was also a member of the Crown percussion faculty in 1998 and 1999.

Jeff recently ended a two-year tour with the Broadway Show “Blast” where he was an original cast member, solo performer and battery instructor.  Jeff has performed on stages across the country and in Europe in addition to appearing on numerous television shows including: The Late Show with David Letterman, The Kennedy Center Honors 2000, NBA All-Star Game 2001, Making of Blast on PBS, The Today Show, FOX Morning News, and Good Morning New York.

Currently Jeff is traveling the country performing clinics and teaching Master Classes to High Schools and Colleges.  He is also back for a couple of months with the traveling cast of Blast!

Eric Willie is currently a teaching assistant at the University of North Texas where he arranges for, and instructs the UNT Marching Band Drum Line while also involved as a faculty member for the University of North Texas competition line.  He holds a bachelors degree in Music Education from Austin Peay State University and earned his Masters degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Kentucky.  Prior to UNT he was the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  Eric has also been on staff for the Bands of America Percussion Symposium and has written articles having appeared in Percussive Notes and The Instrumentalist.

Drum corps teaching experience includes Carolina Crown (2001) and the Madison Scouts (2002) with additional involvement in marching percussion being, faculty member of such Winter Guard International drum lines as the former WGI Champions Music City Mystique (World Class) and the University of Kentucky Drum Line (College Class).

Allen Joanis has performed as a member of the 1993 DCI World Champions the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps and the 1995 Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also performed as a member of the 1998 Percussive Arts Society College Drum line Champion the University of North Texas. He was the 1998 Percussive Arts Society's College Snare Drum Individuals Contest Runner-up. Allen served as the visual caption head for the 1998 Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and as the percussion caption head for the 1999 Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Allen has designed drill and written percussion arrangements for bands all across the United States. He is currently in his 11th season as an arranger, drill designer, adjudicator and clinician. He has served  as percussion coordinator and designer for the Dobyns-Bennett High School percussion section. Under Allen's direction, Dobyns-Bennett finished as the 1999 Percussive Arts Society's High School Drum line Competition Runner-Up and as a WGI Scholastic World Finalist. Allen has served as a member of the Carolina Crown percussion staff from 2000 to present and is currently the Band director at Lord Botetourt High School in VA.

Bill Bachman has studied percussion performance at the University of North Texas and is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. He has played quads in the University of North Texas' indoor drumline, and in the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps. Bill's awards include Drum Corps International's 1st place percussion with the Cadets at the world finals in 1994, Drum Corps International's over all runner-up in 1994 and 1995, the Percussive Arts Society's 1994 tenor individual competition runner-up, and 1st place at the Percussive Arts Society's 1996 Indoor Drumline Competition with the University of North Texas. Bill has instructed with many award winning groups including the Bluecoats, Blue Knights, and is now with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. He's the author of Row-Loff's Quad Logic, Rudimental Logic, and Bass Logic, and co-founder of HeavyHitterPads.com.  He still loves to drum!

Teddy Holcomb joins Carolina Crown from Botetourt, VA, where he attended and graduated from Lord Botetourt High School in 1996. After graduating, he met up with Allen Joanis and moved to Lynchburg, VA to teach at E.C. Glass High School ('96-'97). That summer (1997) Teddy marched in the Bass Line for The Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.  He then moved to Kingsport, TN to begin working with Dobyns-Bennett High School ('97-'01) and other area groups including Sullivan North High School ('00-'01) and the East Tennessee State University Bass Line ('99). Taking a year off from Drum Corps, Teddy went back to march and age-out in 1999 with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, marching in the Bass Line. He also marched with the WGI indoor percussion ensemble Music City Mystique out of Nashville, TN, ('99-'00). Teddy is now back in Botetourt, VA where he is helping out at Lord Botetourt High School and Bassett High School.

Mark Teal, has a music education degree from the University of North Texas after transferring from East Carolina University.  Mark has studied percussion from Paul Rennick, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Ed Smith, and Jon Metzger.  At the University of North Texas he has participated in the Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensembles, and the UNT Indoor Drum line.  He has also performed in master classes, concerts and clinics with Robert Van Sice, Bob Becker, Paul Wertico, Evelyn Glennie, and Janis Potter. Mark was a member of the Carolina Crown front ensemble for four years (96, 98, 99, 00) where he served as section leader for the last three of those years.

Mike Littlejohn, joins Carolina Crown from Arlington, Texas.  He is currently studying music education at the University of Texas Arlington and has studied percussion performance at Texas Christian University and Tarrant County College.  Mr. Littlejohn has been involved with Drum Corps for the past eight years and has taught with the Division III World Champions, Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps in 2000, 2001, and 2002.  He is currently on staff with the WGI marching ensemble Surround Sound Percussion where he has marched and taught for the last five years.  He has served as Percussion Coordinator for the Burleson Independent School District for the last four years and won numerous awards on local and national levels since his time.  The Burleson High School Percussionists placed third in the 2000 PASIC standstill competition.  Mike has designed drill and written percussion arrangements in the state of Texas and has worked with numerous percussion programs.  He is a current member of the Texas Music Educators Association and a member of the Percussive Arts Society.  He is an active clinician and judge throughout the state of Texas.  Mr. Littlejohn is honored to serve as a member of the Carolina Crown percussion staff for the 2003 season.

 

Volunteer Profile - Susan Yow

 

Susan Yow has volunteered with Carolina Crown for the past two years working in the food truck and traveling with the corps for the entire summer. As a guidance secretary for four counselors at Southwestern

Randolph High School in Randolph County, NC she has been able to use her summer vacation from school to be with her son Aaron as he fulfilled his dream of marching with Carolina Crown.

"Susan Yow is the right hand of Support Services Coordinator Teri Brinson when it comes to the running the food truck," says fellow volunteer Randy Bunner. "She is like 'Radar O'Reilly' from the old M.A.S.H. television series, reading Teri's mind and doing things before Teri even needs to say it. Susan is the hardest worker on board and serves as a great example to new and old volunteers alike!"

"I don't think Susan really had any idea what she was getting herself into that first summer when she agreed to tour all summer and help in the food truck, but I'm so glad she did!", says Teri. "Her energy and spirit has not only made the operation of the food truck more efficient, but fun! She loves the shows, the traveling, the meeting different people, but most of all, she loves the kids and is willing to do what is necessary to see that they are taken care of and have a memorable experience no matter how tired or homesick she herself becomes."

When asked why she tours Susan says, "the traveling and working with such a great group of people is what makes Carolina Crown such a great corps to work with! There is nothing like the feeling you get watching all the sweat, drive, hard work and dedication that each and every one of them put into the program to become such outstanding young men and women as they conquer their goals to exceed their limits. It's the experience of a lifetime, and for me time well spent!"

Randy summarizes by saying "Susan is always the first one up and at it, regardless of how little sleep she may have gotten! No one cares more for the well-being of those kids. The result is they love her as much as she loves them. She is what makes volunteering fun for others!"

Susan is from Aberdeen, NC but resides in Seagrove, NC with her husband and fellow Crown volunteer, Lem. She is truly a jewel in our Crown!

 

2002 Awards Banquet Honors Outstanding Members and Volunteers

 

(award winners are denoted by bold print and *)

 

Marching

(Nick Smith Presenting)

 

Outstanding First Year Member Nominees:  Kevin Doty, Rachel Heim*, Barry Janicula, Tracy Shandor

 

Most Improved Member Nominees:  Raul Barcenes, Nick Guffey*, Mike Gillespie, Karuba Hilliard, Mark Kusckowitcz

 

Outstanding Member Nominees:  Brian Booth*, Ashley Davis, Charlie Fisher, Reginald Richardson, Minh Thieu

 

Guard

(Brian Turner Presenting)

 

Outstanding First Year Member Nominees: Natalie Ashton, Mandy Bumgardner, Stevenson Lumpas, Traci Peter*

 

Most Improved Member Nominees:  Cara Hollon, April Pablo, Amanda Kachurak*, Jen Threlkeld, Alex Perez, Grace Beredo

 

Outstanding Member Nominees:  Sean cooney, Peter Eichler*, Jen Threlkeld, Holly Wilson

 

 

Percussion

(Jeff Queen Presenting)

 

Outstanding First Year Member Nominees:  Masaichi Imagawa, Heather Harrison, Tommy Quinn*, Nick Werth

 

Most Improved Member Nominees:  Tommy Quinn, Rich Salazar*, Nate Stein, Kelly Wright

 

Outstanding Member Nominees:  Jason Blohm, David Reyes, Butch Smith, Nick Werth*

 

 

Brass

(David Roth Presenting)

 

Outstanding First Year Member Nominees:  Kevin Doty, Daniel Gray, Rachael Heim, Tracy Shandor*, Mark Kuschkowitz

 

Most Improved Member Nominees:  Bryan Anderson*, Mih Thieu, Katherine Burdick, Victor Wesley, Aaron Yow

 

Outstanding Member Nominees:  John Alexander*, Ashley Davis, Charlie Fisher, Daniel Gray , Keith Lee, Reginald Richardson

 

 

Five-Year Member Award

(Marcus Jones Presenting)

 

 

Sean Cooney*, Michael Ptacin*, David Tobin*

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteer of the Year

(Martin Dickey, Michael Ptacin, Doug Madar, Carol Srdar Presenting)

 

 

Nominees:  DeAnn Ellisor*, Larry Gibson*, Doug Madar, Rena Morton, Kim Rosenfeld, Steve Tant*

 

 

 

 

 

Support Staff of the Year

(Kevin Smith, Teri Brinson Presenting)

 

 

Nominees:  Teri Brinson, Mary McCrary, Joe Nedley, Debbie Pike*, Susan Yow.

 

 

 

 

Member of the Year

(Kevin Smith Presenting)

 

 

Nominees:  Charlie Fisher, Keith Lee, David Roth*, Nick Werth, Laura Young

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to all award nominees and winners - and thanks to everyone who helped make the banquet such a success!
 

Eye Spy

Lorenzo Bacon (B 01) is a Private First Class for the United States Marine Corps.  He has played in the Marine Corps marching band and is taking lessons from a Marine Sergeant in hopes of marching the 2004 season. 

Fred Peacos (B 99) another United States Marine Corps Boot Camp graduate. After graduating boot camp in November of 2001 Fred went through Marine Combat training and then was stationed at Marine Barracks in Washington, DC to play with the Commandant’s Own. They rehearsed in Yuma AZ for a month, from there they went on a  California tour and did some shows in Texas.  The group also played at the Paralympics in Salt Lake City.  This past summer the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps went to France t0 play for The President of France and President Bush. Sounds like Fred is having a great time!

Ebea McCrary(Hobgood) ( G 91-94) an Archaeologist by profession, is now teaching  the Color Guard for the “UNC Marching Tarheels”, at Chapel Hill.  

Courtney Mills (G 96-99) returned from her 3 month adventure DOWN UNDAAAAHHH the end of October.  She states:” that the 3 months went by faster than Steve Erwin (Crocodile Hunter) can “wrassle” a Croc!

Chris Brown (B 00) is currently the Assistant Band Director at Northside High School in GA.  He has recently graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music Ed from the University of Georgia and marched with the UGA Redcoat Band for four years.  He is also currently the visual designer and marching caption head for the middle Georgia College indoor drumline. 

Jessica Smith (Elliot) (G97-98) has married to Chris Elliott on June 29th of 2002 and living in Raleigh.  She has just had her 4 year anniversary at IBM in Raleigh. 

Darrell Pearman (B 93) is living in Woodbridge, VA and is the Director of Bands at Woodbridge Sr. High School. 

Byron Valentine (G98-99) is on staff at Fred J Miller Inc out of Dayton, OH as a Cesario Representative. 

Alumni we spied out at band shows this fall: 

Ryan Keebaugh (B98) an instructor with Waddell High School marching band

Tim Reed (B 96) Director of the Ironmen Marching Band at Cherryville High School

Shawn Bethay (S 90) Assistant director at Hopewell High School Marching Band