2020 Design Team Announced

The Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps are pleased to announce their 2020 design team.

Kristy Jackson Corps Director Chris Carrasco Program Coordinator/Drill Designer John Meehan Music Coordinator/Brass Arranger Paul Rennick Percussion Director/Arranger Sandi Rennick Percussion Arranger Anthony Cruddas Director of Education/Staff Coordinator

"Each of these individuals bring top level experience to the table, along with a passion to see the Troopers organization succeed. Under the creative leadership of Chris Carrasco, and DCI Hall of Fame members John Meehan, and Paul Rennick, we are already seeing the progress needed to take the Troopers design to the next level in 2020." -Kristy Jackson, Corps Director

Kristy Jackson Corps Director Kristy Jackson is a Wyoming native with a deep-rooted passion for youth education and community development. Upon graduating from Kelly Walsh High School in 1987, Kristy channeled her energies in the field of nursing, spending many years working with disabled adults & children. Her work within the field allowed her to gain a key understanding of specialized needs assessment, scheduling and project management, and afforded her the opportunity to develop essential community relationships. Always a Troopers fan from the sidelines, Kristy’s direct involvement with the Troopers began during the 2011 season when she became a volunteer in the Bingo Hall. Soon after, she realized that her passion for the Troopers, and the youth it served, had created a new purpose in her life. She was hired as an administrator in 2012 and worked her way through the ranks. In the fall of 2017 she was named Assistant Director and spent a considerable amount of time leading the drum corps through the 2018 season. In the fall of 2018, Kristy was appointed as the new Corps Director. Kristy enjoys traveling in her off time and spending quality time with her three children and seven grandchildren, all whom reside in Casper and have already become the next generation of Troopers fans! Chris Carrasco Program Coordinator/Drill Designer

Chris Carrasco is a full time designer, choreographer, and teacher, that has been working in the marching arts for over 15 years. He is currently the Associate Director of Bands at James Logan High School in Union City, California, where he oversees the design and teaching of the percussion programs, the top of which is a 6 time WGI scholastic world finalist. In addition to his school responsibilities, Chris works as a visual technician for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (Concord, CA), and the Program Coordinator and drill designer for the Blue Devils B Corps. He started these jobs after leaving a three year tenure with the Santa Clara Vanguard, where he worked as the movement specialist and choreographer for the Drum Corps and the Visual Designer for the Winter Percussion. Chris has also worked as a Choreographer for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (Madison, WI), and is currently the choreographer for the DCJ Champion Yokohama Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (Yokohama, Japan). Chris Carrasco grew up in Concord, CA, where he was a member of his school's Winterguard program. During his summers he performed with the Blue Devils B Corps on Baritone, and then later in the Front Ensemble. In 2010 he was the drumset player for the Sacramento Freelancers Indoor Percussion Ensemble, before he moved into a DCI teaching position with Blue Devils B in 2011. In 2013 Chris graduated from San Jose State University with a BM in percussion performance, and a minor in dance, and in 2018 added to his education with a master’s degree in education. Chris's unique situation of having been a performer in every section of the marching arts gives him a very holistic approach to design. This experience makes him a highly sought after designer, both in drill design, choreography, and show programing. John Meehan Music Coordinator/Brass Arranger

A native of Casper, Wyoming, John is looking forward to his continued involvement on the 2020 design team of the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps. John has been composing and arranging for marching bands and drum corps since 1992. Current clients include Lowndes High School (GA), Allen High School (TX), American Fork High School (UT), Clements High School (TX), Eden Prairie High School (MN), Homestead High School (CA), the Kidsgrove Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps (England), and the Yokohama Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps (Japan). Past clients include Ayala High School (CA), James Logan High School (CA), McQueen High School (NV), and Ooltewah High School (TN). Through the years, John’s clients have won numerous State marching band titles, as well as Bands of America Regionals, and have been finalists at the Bands of American Grand National Championships. Beginning in 2019, John is the Sports Band Director for Saint Marys College in Moraga, California. John was a marching member (Soprano) of the 19-time Drum Corps International Champion Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps throughout the 1980’s. Within the Blue Devils organization, John currently serves as the Brass Arranger and Caption Manager for the ‘A’ Corps, as well as the Music Director and Arranger for the ‘B’ and ‘C’ Corps programs. First joining the brass staff of The Blue Devils in 1994, John has helped the ‘A’ Corps win 13 D.C.I. Championships and 12 Jim Ott High Brass Awards. John was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame in 2019. Some of John’s “non-pageantry” writing includes composing music for the album “The Music of WYLAND”, scoring the film “Mind Games”, scoring a scene for the short film “Fleur”, writing two spots for Kaiser Permanente, and being commissioned to compose several wind ensemble pieces. Notable career achievements include lead designer for both the System Blue and King marching brass instrument series, development and production for the Sample Logic and System Blue sound libraries (including Fanfare and V.E.T.), and performing on the movie soundtrack “Monsters University” as a percussionist. John exclusively uses Sibelius. Paul Rennick Percussion Director/Arranger

Paul Rennick is Assistant Professor in Percussion at the University of North Texas where he has served on the faculty since 1991. A leading figure in the world of marching percussion and percussion education, Paul has a long history of successful students and renowned performing ensembles, and has been a featured clinician and guest artist worldwide. Since 1989 Paul has written and designed the competitive shows for the 20-time Percussive Arts Society International Champion University of North Texas Indoor Drumline. He is also the percussion coordinator for the nationally recognized UNT Green Brigade Marching Band. Paul is currently the music coordinator, percussion director and arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, recently winning the DCI Fred Sanford Award for Percussion Performance four times in the last five years (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018). He is also currently the percussion director and arranger for the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps. Paul served as the director of percussion for the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from 2003-2010, winning the Drum Corps International Fred Sanford Award for Percussion Performance three times (2006, 2008, 2010), and the DCI Championship in 2008, achieving the rare feat of winning the DCI drum trophy multiple times with two different organizations. Paul recently received the honor of being elected to DCI Hall of Fame class of 2017. Paul was a design team member, music composer/arranger, instructor, and percussion manager for the Tony & Emmy Award-winning Broadway production “Blast!” Paul is also an active performer, appearing as a featured soloist with the UNT Wind Symphony on the DVD recording “Percussive Palooza,” and related showcase concert at PASIC 2006. He is also a featured soloist on the University of North Texas Percussion Ensemble recording “Vespertine Formations” (2009). Paul is an artist and product consultant with Dynasty USA, and helped design the new “Custom Elite” series of marching drums. He is also a signature artist with Innovative Percussion, Inc. and designed three signature sticks, FS-PR, FS-PR2, and TS-PR. Paul is also an artist and clinician for Remo Inc. and the Avedis Zildjian Co. Sandi Rennick Percussion Arranger

Sandi Rennick is a percussionist and marimba soloist with extensive performing and teaching experience in the DFW area and throughout the United States. She was an original cast member of the Tony and Emmy Award-winning production "Blast", performing in London, England, as well as a featured marimba soloist on tour throughout the United States. Sandi is currently a percussion arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (2011- present), and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-present). She has teaching and arranging experience with a variety of groups at all levels, including the UNT Green Brigade Marching Band, Drum Corps Japan Champions Yokohama Scouts, and Drum Corps International champions Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (2003-2010) and Carolina Crown (1998-2004). Sandi has participated as a clinician, performer, or adjudicator at the Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (PASIC) virtually every year since 1995, and served on the PAS Marching Committee for over 13 years. Sandi is currently on the faculty for the UNT Keyboard Percussion Symposium held each summer in Denton, TX, and taught as an Adjunct Professor of percussion at Texas A&M University-Commerce for the spring semester of 2017. She can be heard on the PBS special “Blast!”, and Mark Ford’s recording “Motion Beyond.” Sandi is a Signature Artist for Innovative Percussion, Inc., and a clinician/artist for Dynasty USA/Bergerault. Anthony Cruddas Director of Education/Staff Coordinator

Anthony Cruddas is a Texas-based Designer, Arranger, Instructor, Adjudicator & Clinician of high school, college, and world class marching bands, drum corps, and indoor percussion ensembles. Anthony currently holds the position of Educational Director and Staff Coordinator for the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps from Casper, Wyoming. He started with the Troopers in 2016 as a low brass instructor and served as Brass Caption Head for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. From 2014 – 2015, Anthony held the position of Brass Caption Head for the 25-time DCI World Class Finalist Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas. While on the Crossmen faculty, the corps returned to DCI Finals competition for two consecutive years, earning the highest 12th place score in DCI history in 2014 and an 11th place finish in brass performance in 2015. From 2011 – 2013, Anthony served as Lead Technician and Low Brass Instructor on the Brass Staff of the 15-time DCI Finalist Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps from Boston, Massachusetts. In 2013, the Boston Crusaders were selected to perform at both the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, DC and the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Additionally, Anthony taught the brass section of the DCI Open Class Finalist Revolution Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas in 2010, and has been on the Instructional Staff of Imperial Percussion Theater, a WGI Independent World indoor percussion ensemble from Houston, Texas. As an adjudicator, Anthony has served as an Ensemble and Individual music judge for marching bands in all classifications throughout the United States. Since 2014, Anthony has been named to the adjudication panels for the US Bands National Championship events. Anthony resides in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area where he works as a Project Manager and also maintains an active designing and teaching schedule. He holds an Associate of Arts in Music from Blinn College, has completed additional studies at Stephen F. Austin State University and is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, the Texas Music Educators Association, the International Tuba-Euphonium Association and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.