Location: Murfreesboro, TN

Mr. England currently teaches the Blackman Middle School Band in Murfreesboro, TN where he was selected as Teacher of the Year in 2008 and 2017. He has been teaching middle school band since 1994. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1994 where he studied with Lalo Davila.

From 1993-2023 Mr. England was the percussion arranger, designer and an instructor at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, TN. Father Ryan won three WGI World Championships and was a perennial WGI Finalist, medalist and a fan favorite. Father Ryan is also a three-time winner of the PASIC indoor marching percussion standstill competition as well as several local and state awards.

Mr. England is a composer for Row-Loff Productions and an artist with Innovative Percussion and Mapex/Majestic. He is an active clinician having presented at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic, NAfME National Conference, ASBDA Regional conference, TnMEA Conference, TN PAS, and many others. He is currently the vice-president of TN PAS. Mr. England is also a very active adjudicator for marching bands and indoor percussion/winds traveling to various states and circuits. He marched with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from Hackensack, New Jersey. He also served as an instructor for the Dutch Boy Drum and Bugle Corps and was the percussion supervisor and percussion arranger for the Music City Drum and Bugle Corps from Nashville, TN for 2017 and 2018.

Mr. England and his wife Jennifer have four children, Breanna, Aaron, Angel and Damien, and three grandchildren, Aliza Dimple, John David, Elizabeth Daisy.

Location: Eagle, ID

Rob Sullens is currently the Drumline Specialist for the Boise State University Blue Thunder Marching Band, Percussion Director at Eagle High School, and serves on the Board of Directors for Monarch Independent percussion ensemble in Houston, TX. Recently, Rob created Bandology LLC based in Boise, Idaho to help foster the growth of percussion, leadership, and music education in the Pacific Northwest through summer camps and other educational outreach programs.

Before moving to the Treasure Valley he was the Assistant Band Director and Director of Percussion for the Tomball High School feeder pattern in Tomball, Texas from 2013 – 2020. Tomball’s Winter Percussion Ensemble was the 2017 WGI World Championships Percussion Scholastic Concert Open Champions and a 2019 WGI World Championships Percussion Scholastic Concert World Finalist. Under his direction, the Tomball Marching Band attended the UIL 5A State Marching Contest for the 3 consecutive years it was eligible. Rob was the Ensemble Director for the Monarch Independent Percussion Ensemble 2015 (7th in PIO WGI World Championships) and 2016 (4th in PIO PIO WGI World Championships).

Some of Mr. Sullens’ past experiences include serving as on the WGI Percussion Advisory Board 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021, held the position of Texas Color Guard Circuit (TCGC) Vice President of Percussion from 2019 – 2020, the Assistant Band Director and Percussion Director at Westside High School and West Briar Middle School from 2010 – 2012, the Assistant Band Director at Sprague High School, 5th Grade Beginning Band Educator, the General Music Director at Salem Heights Elementary School, and the Director of Percussion for the Sunset High School Band program from 2005 – 2008. Mr. Sullens was also the President of the Northwest Association for Performing Arts (NWAPA) in Beaverton, Oregon.

Mr. Sullens holds a Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia, South Carolina. While attending the university, he was the Percussion Coordinator for the USC Marching Band and the Percussion Director for Lexington High School Bands in Lexington, South Carolina.

Rob is an Innovative Percussion Artist, a member of NAfME, PAS, and is a sought-after marching band and winter percussion arranger, music ensemble consultant, leadership clinician, offers private percussion lessons, and adjudicates for various band and percussion circuits around the country and the world.

Location: Ray Township, MI

Dave Pickett holds two undergraduate degrees, which he earned simultaneously, from Western Michigan University with majors in Music Education and Business Administration. His Master’s degree is from Michigan State University in the field of Percussion Pedagogy.

He is the Former Assistant Director of Bands at Stevenson High School Sterling Heights, MI, Utica School District.

Dave currently assists as the staff Percussion Specialist for the Romeo School District, Romeo, MI, the Chippewa Valley Schools in Clinton Twp, MI; the New Haven School District in New Haven, MI .

Dave has judged visual and music programs for DCA, DCI, WGI, USBands, MAPS, SCPA, RMPA, IPA, KIDA, TMEA, IHSMA, MCGC and MCBA. He has judged for over 25 years.

He has judged WGI Indoor Percussion World Championships for 15 years as a Visual and Effect Visual Percussion judge.

In 2013 , he judged Percussion on the field at the Preliminary competition of the Drum Corps Associates, World Championships.

In 2014 & 2018, Dave judged Overall Effect at the USBands National Championships, for A-Class marching bands.

Dave has instructed and played in several orchestras, symphonic wind ensembles around Michigan.

He has directed and instructed Utica HS Concert Percussion ensemble; World Class Champion at WGI Troy Regional as well as the Sterling Heights HS Concert Percussion ensemble (S.H.A.P.E.), Open Class silver medalist at WGI Troy Regional.

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Location: San Jose, CA

JJ Pipitone received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Morehead State University and his Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas.

He worked in the public schools as a band and percussion director in Texas for over 20 years at Grapevine High School, Lewisville High School and as an adjunct percussion professor at Texas A&M University Commerce. Over the years, he taught 6th through 12th grade percussion activities of all kinds, in addition to the symphonic band, Music Theory, Music History, Jazz Band and Musical Theater.

JJ has extensive drum corp experience, having marched in numerous drum corps in the up-state New York area: the Dutch Boy, the Phantom Regiment and the Concord Blue Devils. As an instructor, JJ taught the World Champion Phantom Regiment, the Glassmen and the Crossmen.

His extensive judging experience has made him one of the most in demand Music judges in the United States, serving as a judge for BOA, WGI, DCI and numerous high school marching band circuits around the country.

JJ is currently living in San Jose, CA enjoying retirement and a second career as a day trader and a real estate investor, while continuing to judge music and percussion all over the world.

Location: Danvers, MA

Location: Raleigh, NC

Austin Greene is a professional visual designer and educator from Raleigh, NC. He is in regular demand as adjudicator throughout America for Bands of America, Winter Guard International, and numerous local circuits. Austin joined the instructional staff for The Cavaliers after serving as education director for Blue Knights and visual judge for DCI. Austin previously instructed The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2012-2015 and served as Visual Caption Head from 2014-2015.

Previously, Austin was Director of Bands at Concord High School in Concord, NC, and Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department Chair at Durham School of the Arts. In 2010, he was hired as an adjunct instructor at the Dublin Institute of Technology’s National Conservatory of Music in Dublin, Ireland. He has served for 10 years as a program consultant and clinician for the Bands of America Grand National Finalist Kennesaw Mountain High School Marching Band. Austin attended Western Carolina University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education in 2003. He went on to earn his Master of Music in Conducting Degree from the University of Connecticut in 2006. He is in regular demand as a designer, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and abroad.

Location: Newport Beach, CA

Don resides in the City of Newport Beach, Ca and has been a Visual Designer and Instructor for many high school Marching Bands, Drum Corps, Winter Guards, and Indoor Drum lines for the last 34 Years. After he graduated from Chapman University with B.A. in Marketing in 1991, he began DMG Design, which provides Custom Show Design and instruction for groups throughout the United States. After many years of producing award winning groups and programs, Don was honored in 2009 by becoming a “Hall of Fame” member of the Winter Guard Association of Southern California. Don currently serves as an Ensemble Visual & Visual Effect judge for the follow organization: Western Band Association (WBA), California State Band Championships (CSBC). Northwest Association for Performing Arts (NWAPA), Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC), Winter Guard Arizona (WGAZ), Northern California Percussion Alliance (NCPA) and Carolina Winter Ensemble Association (CWEA).

Location: Leechburg, PA

Chad Heiny is a multifaceted freelance musician and educator residing in the Greater Pittsburgh Area (PA). A versatile and regularly commissioned composer, Chad has created music for ensembles and performers across the globe. His works, including world premieres at the 2018 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) and 2022 Midwest Clinic, are published by both Tapspace Publications and C. Alan Publications. In 2021, Hamiruge – The LSU Percussion Group released an album of Chad’s music entitled Beacons of Light – Percussion Music of Chad Heiny. He is a member of the percussion quartet Dead Resonance, an instrumental band of percussionists comprised of LSU alumni, who performed at the 2018 Percussive Arts Society International Convention and in 2020 released their debut album Silence is Not a Transition. Chad is also an acclaimed percussion and wind arranger for high school marching bands across the country. His work throughout the fall has won the hearts and minds of students, staffs, fans, and adjudicators. Accolades here include a 1st Place finish in Class AA (and the award for High Music) with the Norwin High School Marching Band at the 2021 Bands of America Grand National Championships, and a 3rd Place finish overall (and the award for High Music) with the Hebron High School Marching Band at the 2019 Bands of America Grand National Championships. He is also a proud adjudicator for Winter Guard International. Chad holds degrees from Louisiana State University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of both the Percussive Arts Society and ASCAP, and is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion, Majestic Percussion, and Remo Drumheads.

Location: Spartanburg, SC

Location: Round Rock, TX

Rick Rodriguez is from McAllen, TX and grew up in the Rio Grande Valley nine miles north of Mexico. He became interested in percussion in 1971 at the age of six when his father Henry Rodriguez started him on percussion. Many years later, Rick is in the Blue Devils snare line under Tom Float and Scott Johnson and eventually earns a degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas under Dr. Schietroma. Some of his college colleague’s and blessings include Mike McIntosh, Paul Rennick, Ben Maughmer, Jeff Prosperie, Jim Reilly, Kevin Murray, Dr Brian West, Jason Sutter and Jeff Ausdemore. Mr Rodriguez now has well over 30 years of percussion and band teaching / masterclass experience. Mr. Rick Rodriguez is currently the percussion director and Associate band director at Cedar Ridge High School, Round Rock TX. Rick has been the director of the Cedar Ridge Symphonic Band and is currently assisting all of the Cedar Ridge Concert Bands and the Cedar Ridge Wind Ensemble. He is also the primary director of the Cedar Ridge Jazz Ensemble and the Cedar Ridge percussion program. Since the early 90’s, Mr. Rodriguez and his percussion ensembles have been fortunate to have several appearances at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic held annually in Chicago IL. During his work at Spring High School, the Spring Percussion Ensemble was scouted by John Paynter in 1994 and was invited to perform with John Paynter and the North Shore Concert Band of Chicago at Northwestern University. Rick’s latest Cedar Ridge Percussion Ensemble had also performed at the Midwest Clinic and TMEA San Antonio alongside with the Cedar Ridge Low Brass Choir. Mr. Rod is also a busy and active percussion arranger and versatile clinician. In his younger days, Rick was the “center snare” of the infamous University of North TX PASIC Drum Line and was attending the University of North TX under Dr. Robert Schietroma. Rick was also a snare drummer for the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps as well as the Concord Blue Devils. He has also been on the working staff of the Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights under Ralph Hardimon, and is currently on percussion staff of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also been on the adjudicating staff of Drum Corps International (DCI), is currently on the Bands of America BOA adjudicating staff, and WGI percussion judging panel still to date. Mr. Rodriguez is currently endorsed by the Zildjian Cym Co., Innovative Percussion, Marimba One, Evans Drum Heads

Location: Houston, TX

Jason Harvey is currently the Director of Bands for Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena, TX. Jason’s responsibilities include conducting the Wind Symphony, assisting with the other wind bands, and coordinating and administering the curriculum for the marching and concert band programs. Jason is a visual judge for Winter Guard International (WGI) Percussion Division. In addition to his adjudication role with WGI, Jason has judged nationally for many regional circuits including, MAPS, SCGC, SAPA, GCGPC, CWEA, IPA, MIA, FFCC, TCGC, NTCA, MEPA, OPIA, SCPA, NCPA, and RMPA. Jason’s involvement in the marching activity spans more than 20 years. Jason performed with the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps (1990-1992), and the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (1993-1996) where he was a member of the 1995 DCI World Championship corps. Upon aging out of the Cavaliers, Jason taught on the visual staff of the Cavaliers. From 2002 to 2005, Jason was the director and visual caption head of Velocity Indoor drumline, an independent open (PIO) ensemble from Chattanooga, TN. Velocity was a consistent finalist at WGI World Championships and the silver medalist in (PIA) 2002 and bronze medalist in (PIO) 2004. Jason’s education includes completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and post graduate work at the University of South Carolina as a graduate assistant. He holds memberships with the Texas Bandmasters Association and Texas Music Educators Association.

Location: Stoneham, MA

Location: Ray Township, MI

Dave Pickett holds two undergraduate degrees, which he earned simultaneously, from Western Michigan University with majors in Music Education and Business Administration. His Master’s degree is from Michigan State University in the field of Percussion Pedagogy.

He is the Former Assistant Director of Bands at Stevenson High School Sterling Heights, MI, Utica School District.

Dave currently assists as the staff Percussion Specialist for the Romeo School District, Romeo, MI, the Chippewa Valley Schools in Clinton Twp, MI; the New Haven School District in New Haven, MI .

Dave has judged visual and music programs for DCA, DCI, WGI, USBands, MAPS, SCPA, RMPA, IPA, KIDA, TMEA, IHSMA, MCGC and MCBA. He has judged for over 25 years.

He has judged WGI Indoor Percussion World Championships for 15 years as a Visual and Effect Visual Percussion judge.

In 2013 , he judged Percussion on the field at the Preliminary competition of the Drum Corps Associates, World Championships.

In 2014 & 2018, Dave judged Overall Effect at the USBands National Championships, for A-Class marching bands.

Dave has instructed and played in several orchestras, symphonic wind ensembles around Michigan.

He has directed and instructed Utica HS Concert Percussion ensemble; World Class Champion at WGI Troy Regional as well as the Sterling Heights HS Concert Percussion ensemble (S.H.A.P.E.), Open Class silver medalist at WGI Troy Regional.

Location: Ft. Worth, Texas

Location: Madison, MS

Location: Clearwater, FL

Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Ed. from William Paterson University.

Masters of Arts Degree, Music Performance, from Montclair State University.

Teacher of secondary school in New Jersey for 34 years. Director of Bands and Orchestra, Jazz Bands,

A.P. Music ands I.B. Music at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway, NJ from 1986 – 2014.

Over those years, served as the North Jersey Area Honors Band President and Conductor as well as the New Jersey Allstate Percussion coordinator. During these years he was also the Music composition/theory Middle College teacher for Fairleigh Dickinson University. Before moving to Florida 2014, I served as the student performance coordinator for the NFL Super Bowl Half Time Show featuring Bruno Mars and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Fine Arts Department Chairperson & Director of Bands and Orchestras at Clearwater High School from 2014 – 2016.

Presently, the percussion director at Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a member of the music administration team for FFCC.

In 1997, I began composing for Rowloff Music Publishers from Nashville, TN. Presently, I have over 25 compositions published with Rowloff, as well as Alfred Music Publications that are performed throughout the world.

Educational Artist for Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drum Company, REMO Percussion, Conn-Selmer and Musser/Ludwig Drums.

Since 1987 I have been extremely involved as a music/percussion clinician and music adjudicator and has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Thailand and Japan.

Served as the Drum Corps International Percussion Caption administrator from 1997 -1999 and the Drum Corps Association Percussion administrator 2001-2003.

Presently, Music judge for Winter Guard International and Bands of America

Past member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Steering Committee

Location: Landsale, PA

Location: Bedford, TX

Jeff Ausdemore currently serves as President and Co-Founder of Stryvemind.com, a revolutionary online music education platform that impacts students and music educators around the world. This venture serves students, music educators and administrators in many capacities, including educational consulting, professional development opportunities, as well as the Stryve Academy.

In addition, Jeff serves as the President of Ausdemore Music, a proprietary composition and arranging house for Mr. Ausdemore’s music catalog, published through Tapspace Publications.

Mr. Ausdemore's performance background includes section and solo performances with several orchestras, wind ensembles, and percussion ensembles throughout the midwest and southwest United States, including the principal percussionist with the Texas Wind Symphony, and principal percussionist/assistant principal timpanist with the Las Cruces Symphony.

As a clinician, Mr. Ausdemore has given performances, clinics and workshops throughout the U.S. at several Percussive Arts Society’s “Days of Percussion”, including Arizona, Tennessee, New Mexico, California, Arkansas, Utah, Colorado, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (Columbus, Ohio 2002, Indianapolis Indiana 2009, 2011) and the International Horn Society Convention (Beijing, China 2000). Ausdemore has served as a featured clinician at the 2009 and 2011 Texas Music Educator’s Association Conference as well.

In addition to teaching/performing, Mr. Ausdemore has composed/arranged, instructed and consulted with numerous Drum Corps International drum and bugle corps, college marching bands, and high school marching bands throughout the United States, including the Blue Knights, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Limited Edition, Northern Aurora, and Southwind.

Ausdemore has served as music director/composer for the Insignia Independent Percussion Ensemble. The Insignia Independent Percussion Ensemble participated in the Winter Guard International circuit locally and regionally, winning the 2004 NTCA gold medal in their inaugural season.

Jeff Ausdemore is proud to endorse and serve as a clinician for Dynasty/Bergerault Musical Instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Pro Mark sticks and mallets. The D’Addario/Pro Mark corporation released the Jeff Ausdemore “signature series” snare drum sticks in early fall of 2009.

Mr. Ausdemore's professional affiliations include adjudication roles for Drum Corps International, Winter Guard International, Bands of America, a percussion committee member for the Percussive Arts Society, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, and currently serves as the current Vice President of Percussion and Winds on the executive board of the North Texas Color Guard Association.

Mr. Ausdemore holds a Master of Music degree with distinction from New Mexico State University (2002), as well as Bachelor of Music degree with high honors from Belmont University (1999).

Jeff was recently inducted into the North Texas Colorguard Association’s Hall of Fame in 2017 for his role as VP of Percussion and Winds, and his work and contributions to the circuit at large.

Jeff Ausdemore lives in Bedford, TX with his wife, Pam Davis Ausdemore. In addition to Pam's pageantry background with the Bluecoats, Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights, Glassmen, and Southwind drum and bugle corps, she has also performed with the Pride of Cincinnati and instructed many performing groups, including Cypress Independent winterguard, Beechwood, Dixie Heights, Seguin, Colleyville Heritage, Keller, William Mason and Prosper High School. Pam is a gifted artist and teacher at Sendera Ranch Elementary School in Northwest ISD.

Location: Collegeville, PA

A class will receive 11 total minutes (up from 9)


Open Class will receive 12 total minutes (up from 10)


World Class will receive 13 total minutes (up from 11)

At the conclusion of your show, feel free to reset to a particular moment of your show and run it again. Use the opportunity to get additional reps on challenging parts of the show, exciting parts of the show, things you just learned, or whatever you feel would best benefit your program.


This is not a rehearsal - no metronomes, staff on the floor, etc. - keep it in the spirit of the performance


You should decide ahead of time how you are planning to use your time, and communicate this to your kids, so that it is as seamless and organized as possible


Judges will stop judging at the conclusion of your initial performance; anything you do afterwards is purely in the spirit of providing your kids additional time on the floor


While not factoring into their numbers, Judges will continue to provide constructive commentary on anything you do during post-performance

To ensure you feel comfortable leveraging your full time, we will not penalize you for going a bit over


You will still receive a written record of your original performance time for future planning


A NCPA representative will alert you when there are 2 minutes remaining in your interval time

The best feedback you can receive early in the season is about how your show is coming together, so you can make good decisions on show design while there is still time to make adjustments. Thus we are eliminating the Performance-Music and Performance-Visual captions for this show only, to put more focus on “the big picture”


The Effect-Music and Effect-Visual judges will be encouraged where appropriate to speak outside their captions to help craft the best feedback they believe they can provide for you


Scores will be weighted 60% Effect-Music, 40% Effect-Visual

You will receive 4 minutes with each judge, as opposed to the normal 3 minutes

Location: San Jose, CA

JJ Pipitone received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Morehead State University and his Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas.

He worked in the public schools as a band and percussion director in Texas for over 20 years at Grapevine High School, Lewisville High School and as an adjunct percussion professor at Texas A&M University Commerce. Over the years, he taught 6th through 12th grade percussion activities of all kinds, in addition to the symphonic band, Music Theory, Music History, Jazz Band and Musical Theater.

JJ has extensive drum corp experience, having marched in numerous drum corps in the up-state New York area: the Dutch Boy, the Phantom Regiment and the Concord Blue Devils. As an instructor, JJ taught the World Champion Phantom Regiment, the Glassmen and the Crossmen.

His extensive judging experience has made him one of the most in demand Music judges in the United States, serving as a judge for BOA, WGI, DCI and numerous high school marching band circuits around the country.

JJ is currently living in San Jose, CA enjoying retirement and a second career as a day trader and a real estate investor, while continuing to judge music and percussion all over the world.

Location: Hawthorne, NJ