Clif Walker
Clif Walker holds a Masters of Music Education from the University of Central Florida where he was also adjunct faculty and instructor from 1997 to 1999, and a B.S.E. from Missouri Western State College. Clif has worked with many high schools and college programs across the US and Japan as well as the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps (percussion caption head/arranger 1999-2002). He was the 1993 Percussive Arts Society International Tenor Drum Champion, 1996 PAS Timpani Champion, a former member and instructor of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (1992, 1994, and 1998). He was recently asked to the Vice President/President Elect of the Florida Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.
Clif was the Associate Director of Bands/Director of Percussion at Timber Creek High School for 7 years, where he started and directed the percussion program. Under his direction, the Timber Creek High School Percussion Ensemble has performed at the 2003 FMEA State Music Convention, 2004 SDMENC/FMEA Music Convention and the 2005 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) as the winners of the high school percussion ensemble “call for tapes” and participants of the Marching Percussion Festival where they were awarded – Best Frontline. In 2006 and 2007 the indoor marching percussion ensemble enjoyed two extremely successful seasons in the Scholastic Marching Division. In 2008, the concert percussion ensemble returned to FMEA for an unprecedented third time.
His students have marched: Cavaliers, Cadets, Blue Devils, Carolina Crown, Santa Clara Vanguard, Boston Crusaders, Southwind, Glassmen, Magic of Orlando, Spirit, Nite Express, Railmen, Pioneer and the Madison Scouts. His former students have taught: Spirit, Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders, Southwind and Music City Mystique.
His work for percussion ensemble, Promise Music, was recently performed by the Florida State University percussion ensemble under the direction of Dr. John Parks IV as winners of the 2007 PASIC collegiate ensemble competition in Columbus, Ohio and is currently being programmed at universities across the US including Northwestern University and the University of North Texas.
Clif is excited to return to UCF as Percussion Coordinator and Arranger of the 2008 Marching Knights where he instructs the award winning drumline. He is proud to endorse Yamaha Musical Instruments, Remo Drumheads and ProMark Sticks and Mallets. Clif, his wife Christie and children Joe and Tes live in Orlando where he is an active clinician, arranger and composer.
Contact: walker@timbercreekindependent.com
Matt Verburg
Matt Verburg marched with Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps from 1999 to 2000, and 2002 to 2003. He served as percussion section leader in 2003. Matt performed with the University of Central Florida Marching Knights from 2000 to 2002, where he was a student staff member.
Matt has taught in the visual and percussion captions while part of the instructional staffs of the Madison Scouts and Southwind drum corps. He has taught at various high schools in Central Florida since 2000, and is beginning his sixth year of instruction with Timber Creek.
Matt is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. He holds a degree in Entrepreneurship/Management from the University of Central Florida. He is a ProMark Drumsticks Educator/Endorser.
Contact: verburg@timbercreekindependent.com
Brian Baldauff
Brian Baldauff holds a Masters of Music degree in percussion performance from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Central Florida. In 2003 and 2004, Brian competed in the PAS collegiate keyboard individuals and was awarded first place both years. In 2005, he returned to the PAS convention as the featured marimba soloist with the Timber Creek High School percussion ensemble.
Brian is an alumnus of both the Suncoast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps (1993) and the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps (95, 96). He has served on staff for both the Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps from Jacksonville, FL and the Boston Crusaders.
Brian is featured on recordings of Michael Daugherty and Michael Udow’s works on both the BlockM and Equilibrium Labels. His primary percussion teachers include Jeff Moore (UCF), Michael Udow, Brian Jones and Ian Ding (both of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Joe Gramley, and Cary Kocher.
Currently, Brian is attending the Florida State University where he will be instructing the Marching Chiefs “Big 8” drumline. He is studying with Professor John Parks IV and pursuing his Doctorate of Music degree.
Contact: baldauff@timbercreekindependent.com
Jeff Wright
Jeff Wright has performed with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005, and Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps from 2002 to 2003. He was also a marching member of 1st Degree indoor drumline in 2005 and the WGI Independent Open Gold Medalist line of 2006. He has studied with drumset artists Danny Gottlieb (Pat Metheny, Sting, Blues Brothers) and Jamey Tate (David Benoit, Al Jarreau).
Jeff has taught various camps and high schools in the Central Florida area, including Timber Creek High School since 2004. Currently, Jeff teaches private lessons and is a drumset performer for the Blue Man Group show in Orlando, Fl. Jeff also claims that we was the inspiration for, and co-wrote the classic drumline cadence “Spider”.
Contact: wright@timbercreekindependent.com
Mike McIntee
Mike McIntee finished his drum corps career in 2005 on snare with the Blue Devils of Concord California. He marched with Heat Wave Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002, and made his way to Wisconsin in 2003 to march with the Madison Scouts. Mike won a gold medal in his second year performing with the Orlando indoor drumline 1st Degree in 2006.
Mike has taught many high school drumlines in the Central Florida area and is currently entering his second fall season with Timber Creek High School.
Contact: mcintee@timbercreekindependent.com
Jeremy Vest
Jeremy Vest is currently the Percussion Director at Newsome HS in Lithia, Florida. In his first season at Newsome, the band placed 3rd in Class 5A at the Florida Marching Band Championships in 2007. Prior to being at Newsome, Jeremy was the Percussion Director at Chamberlain HS in Tampa from 1998-2007. During his tenure at Chamberlain, the percussion section won the class 2A percussion title at the Florida Marching Band Championships in 2006 and 2007.
Jeremy has worked and arranged for numerous high school programs across Florida, and is an active adjudicator for the Florida Federation of Judges Association and the US Scholastic Band Association. Jeremy is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, FMEA, MENC, and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team. Jeremy resides in Tampa where he works as a Circulation Analyst for Time, Inc.
Contact: vest@timbercreekindependent.com
Todd Leighton
Todd Leighton has been a music educator in the state of Florida since 1989. During this time, he has been a clinician, arranger, and composer for many successful high school band programs. For the past 8 years, Todd has been the Director of Bands at Lake Howell High School, where the band program continues to consistently receive superior ratings and many awards. In addition, Todd served as a director of Gotha Middle School for one year.
His students have marched: Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, Boston Crusaders, Magic of Orlando, Santa Clara Vanguard, Southwind, Teal Sound and the Madison Scouts. His former students have taught: Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders, Southwind and the Carolina Crown.
As a clinician, Todd has taught and arranged percussion music for such schools as Buchholz, Lake Gibson, Port St. Lucie, Lake Howell, and Haines City High Schools. As a performer, Todd has marched with the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as performing in many ensembles at the University of Central Florida. Todd also performed as a student musician for the Walt Disney World Company and later performed professionally in the “Founders of Freedom” Fife and Drum Corps at the Magic Kingdom.
Todd holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Central Florida and an Associate in Arts degree from Polk Community College. Todd has been awarded the Silver Scholar Award at Lake Howell High School and the Principal’s Award. Todd has also been awarded the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and has been teacher of the week for the Orlando Sentinel. In addition, Todd was a guest conductor for the 2003 Tangerine Bowl Halftime Presentation. Todd is currently a member of FBA, MENC, PAS, and FOA.
Contact: leighton@timbercreekindependent.com
Kirk Gay
Mr. Gay is currently the Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies and an Instructor of Music at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. He teaches student lessons for the percussion studio, directs “Black Steel” the UCF steel drum ensemble and coordinates the Marching Knights Drumline. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician and an endorser and clinician for Pro-Mark sticks, Sabian Cymbals, Sticktape.com and has works published by Tapspace Publications.
Mr. Gay obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University. He later went on to study with Paul Yancich and Richard Weiner at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he received his Master’s Degree in Timpani Performance.
An active clinician, Mr. Gay has presented many clinics and master classes at universities and high schools in the U.S and abroad. He has performed clinics at the Florida PAS Day of Percussion and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Mr. Gay has also published numerous articles for Percussive Notes magazine, the Texas Bandmasters Association, School Band and Orchestra Magazine and is the editor of the Florida PAS newsletter.
In 1998 Mr. Gay toured Europe with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He has performed with the Walt Disney World Orchestra, The Fort Wayne Philharmonic, The Orlando Philharmonic and currently is the Principal Percussionist with The Brevard Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Gay marched in Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps from 1986 – 1989 where he was 1989 DCI Timpani Individuals Champion and two time DCM Timpani Individuals Champion. He has taught and written for many drum and bugle corps including The Crossmen, Phantom Regiment, Magic of Orlando and The Yokohama Inspires from Japan. Mr. Gay was head arranger and percussion coordinator with the Phantom Regiment in 1996 when they won the DCI Championship. He has also written for many bands across the country including Cypress Creek H.S. (FL), Churchill H.S. (TX) and Northrop H.S. (IN).
Contact: kgay@mail.ucf.edu
Patrick Seidling
Patrick Seidling is currently Stanbury Uniform Company’s Regional Manager for the California and Las Vegas territory and manager of artist relations for all drum and bugle corps partnerships.
Most recently the director of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from 2001 through 2006, Seidling was an integral part of the corps’ return to the competitive elite. In 2003 he received the Drum Corps International’s coveted Dr. Bernard Bagg’s Award for Outstanding Leadership.
Prior to his work with Phantom Regiment, Seidling was an assistant director in the Madison Scouts organization and served as director of Kentucky’s Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. Pat has also worked with the Pioneer and Velvet Knights drum and bugle corps.
Seidling has extensive experience in the marching band and education world. A student leader in his high school music program and a 3-year member of the Louisiana State University Golden Band from Tigerland, he was also a member of the famed Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. A former classroom teacher, Pat earned the “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award from the Victorville (California) school district in 1992.
Pat’s involvement in the indoor drum line activity includes serving on the management team of 5-time WGI World Class champion Music City Mystique from 2000 to 2003, and as an active clinician and adjudicator for indoor drum circuits across the nation.
Pat continues his involvement in the marching activity by serving on staff of Pasadena City College Rose Bowl All-Star Marching Band, and teaches percussion at Damien High School of La Verne, California. He is actively involved with the 11-time DCI Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps and serves on the Participation Review Committee for Drum Corps International. Pat also continues to adjudicates at marching band competitions throughout the country and is an advisor for several music programs in Brazil, where he travels frequently.
Pat holds a degree in Education from Louisiana State University and lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Tamee.
Contact: seidling@timbercreekindependent.com
Michael James
Michael James was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, and graduated from the University of South Florida where he received a BA for Modern Dance Performance. After college, he performed in the American Stage Company’s “Shakespeare in the Park” Series for five seasons, as well as dance and choreography for the Children’s Theater Tour.
Michael was a scholarship student at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Beckett, Massachusetts, where he studied under Linda Kent and Carolyn Adams. He also danced with The Men Dancers of Jacob’s Pillow International Touring Company, which allowed him to dance and teach in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was also a member of The Repertory Dance Theatre of Utah.
As a color guard designer and choreographer, Michael has worked with Cypress Creek HS, Seminole HS, Tarpon Springs HS, The Company Winter Colour Guard, Kennesaw Mountain HS (GA), Miamisburg HS (OH), Pope HS (GA), Center Grove HS (IN), and Northmont HS (OH). He’s also been on staff with The Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, Carolina Crown, The Magic of Orlando, and Timber Creek HS for the last four years.
Michael’s choreography has also been viewed at Pleasure Island with the Pleasure Island Explosion Dancers, University of Central Florida’s Starlet Knights Danceline, University of South Florida’s Herd of Thunder and winter guard, 1999’s Orlando Fringe Festival, and numerous other high schools and colleges around the country.
Contact: james@timbercreekindependent.com
