~Marching Percussion Coordinator~

kk16@txstate.edu

After growing up in Fredericksburg, Texas and finding her interest in percussion, Kari ventured out to Lubbock to pursue a performance degree at Texas Tech and then a master’s degree at the University of Colorado.  During this time, she spent her summers marching drum corps with the Sky Ryders and Santa Clara Vanguard.   After aging out, she returned to drum corps as an instructor with the Glassmen and Blue Knights.  In 1998, she took a job in public education as a percussion specialist for the Judson Independent School District outside of San Antonio.

Kari is grateful to have been able to have so many wonderful experiences in the world of percussion.  She has played with an all female percussion ensemble named “Chix with Stix” in Atlanta, Ga.  and worked with the “Million Dollar Band” at the University of Alabama.  Since returning to Texas, she has been working as a private instructor in the Austin school district, is on staff at Texas State University and performs with Austin, San Antonio and Mid-Texas Symphonies. 

~2008 PASIC Arranger~

Mike Stevens is currently an independent instructor, arranger and composer in the Portland, Oregon area. He holds a Bachelor of Music Theory/Composition/Percussion Degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, where he graduated with Cum Laude honors. Mr. Stevens has been a Principal Percussionist with the UL Wind Ensemble and Orchestra and an Extra Percussionist with the Acadiana Symphony. From 1986 to 1991, Mike was a marching member of the Spartans, Blue Devils and Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. He was on the percussion staff of the Cadets from 92-95, Caption Head at the Blue Knights 98-00, and was the Marching Percussion Coordinator/Arranger at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Mike served as the Percussion director for Winston Churchill High School from 2002-2005.

Mike has taught numerous high school bands throughout the country, including Mt. Carmel HS in San Diego, CA, Morris Knolls, Lakewood, and Allentown in New Jersey, as well as Acadiana and Abeville High Schools in Louisiana. Many of these groups won High Percussion in their divisions during Mr. Stevens' tenure. Mike's indoor percussion group at Winston Churchill made history, capturing the WGI Percussion Scholastic World Division title their first year in existence (and his first year teaching at Churchill!). He has performed and adjudicated at the PASIC International Convention and is an adjudicator for various marching competitions nationwide. He arranges and composes for various groups in the US.  Recently, Mike accepted a position as Seattle Cascades' percussion caption head, percussion arranger and show coordinator. With Dynasty/DEG Corporation, he has an Instructional Video: "The Ultimate Quad Video."

~2008 PASIC Front Ensemble Technician~

Robert A. Lopez currently holds the position of Lecturer at Texas State University-San Marcos. His duties include teaching applied percussion, percussion ensemble and percussion methods.

Mr. Lopez is an active educator, clinician, performer and adjudicator in the central and south Texas areas. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Texas State University. His teachers include Dr. Norman Weinberg, Dr. Paul Bissell, Genaro Gonzalez, Jim Casella, Murray Gusseck, Dave Sankus, Jeff Lee and Scott Johnson. Alumni of the DCI High Percussion recipient 1998 Santa Clara Vanguard and the 1999 DCI World Champion Blue Devils, he was awarded first prize for his composition Two Days in the 1998 DCI multi-percussion solo competition. He has worked with several percussion programs including the Georgetown High School(TX) drumline, Cedar Park High School drumline, Revolution Indoor drumline, and the Texas State University drumline. Aside from his duties at Texas State University-San Marcos and performs as an extra in the Mid-Texas Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Symphony Orchestra. He is published by Tapspace Publications and is an endorser for Encore Mallets.

Mr. Lopez is also very active in the field of mariachi music. Having over 15 years performing as a professional mariachi musician, he has devoted countless research and performance hours to this craft. He has been a student of great performers belonging to pioneering ensembles such as Mariachi Los Camperos, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán, and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. He is an active clinician and adjudicator in the field and performs frequently with his own professional ensemble Mariachi Tamazula accompanying artists such as Beatriz Adriana. Mr. Lopez has recorded (and produced) a CD with Mariachi Tamazula entitled Con Orgullo Mexicano. He has also recorded alongside Manuel Vargas (formerly of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan) on his second album A Rienda Suelta.

Robert is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, College Music Society and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

~2008 PASIC Battery Technician~

John Potter is currently in his seventh year of teaching, and his fourth with Akins High School in Austin, Texas. As the Assistant Percussion Director for the last three years, John has acted as Director of the Akins High School Drumline, where he conducted rehearsals and oversaw the marching element of the percussion ensemble.  This year he will oversee the entire percussion section and serve as Head Percussion Director.

John was a member of the Cavalier’s Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002 and 2003, as well as the Phantom Regiment in 2001.  During the summer of 2007, John was Battery Caption Head and Snare Tech for the Division III World Champion, and high percussion award winning, Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, and is currently pursuing a Music degree from Texas State University.

~2008 PASIC Battery Technician~

Aaron has been teaching in the Austin, Texas area for over 10 years. He has previously worked with many Austin and surrounding area High Schools and Colleges.

Aaron currently works with Texas State University, AI, and Leander HS. Along with his duties working with marching percussion sections, he teaches private lessons, conducts percussion ensembles and works with the feeding middle schools.

Aaron was a member of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2000 and the Phantom Regiment from 2001-2003. He was the Bass Technician for the Cavalier's Drum and Bugle Corps in 2008. He is also a permanent fixture in the Austin live music scene, as a member of several local bands. Aaron is currently the in school pursuing his degree in Physics at Texas State University.