The Cavaliers Introduce 2025 Design Team
ROSEMONT, IL- The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps is thrilled to announce the design team that will craft our 2025 production. This dynamic group features a blend of seasoned pageantry experts new to the organization, returning staff, and alumni proudly coming home to The Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers 2025 Design Team
Rick Subel - Artistic Director
Kevin Shah - Music Coordinator and Sound Designer
Lindsey Vento - Visual Coordinator
Ryan Ellis - Program Facilitator
Jay Bocook - Brass Arranger
Peter Weber - Drill Designer
Josh Brickey - Battery Arranger
Lee Allman - Front Ensemble Arranger
John Leonard - Color Guard Designer
Tim Jackson - Design Consultant
Noah Bellamy - Design Consultant
Tom Aungst - Design Consultant
Bret Kuhn - Design Consultant
“The talent within this design and instructional leadership team is truly inspiring,” notes Rick Subel. “I’m eager for the creative adventures and collaborative fun that lie ahead.”
Meet The Team
The design team will be led by Artistic Director Rick Subel, a 30+ year veteran of the pageantry arts. Rick is the Co-Founder, Co-Director, and Creative Designer for Paramount Winterguard, and he served as the Artistic Coordinator for Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from 2017 to 2023. Over the years, he has collaborated with many world-class corps, including Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, Crossmen, Bluecoats, and the Cadets, and he recently served as the Staging Director for the 2024 Japanese tour of Blast!. A successful designer for prestigious independent, collegiate, and scholastic colorguard and band programs across the country, Rick is passionate about fostering growth and innovation in all areas of the marching arts. He also serves as a clinician, adjudicator, consultant, and is a member of the WGI Steering Committee.
Spearheading the program’s musical design is Kevin Shah, who will serve as the Music Coordinator as well as Sound Designer. Kevin has served as a Sound Designer, Front Ensemble Arranger, Music Design Consultant, and Music Coordinator across world-class drum corps including Bluecoats, the Blue Knights, and Carolina Crown. Kevin is the Front Ensemble Designer for Broken City Percussion as well as the Winds and Front Ensemble Designer at Vista Murrieta High School. He actively contributes to the marching arts as a board member for WGI, Southern California Percussion Alliance (SCPA), and Broken City, and is a member of the WGI Percussion Steering Committee. Kevin commented “The team that has been assembled is nothing short of extraordinary. I am looking forward to collaborating with these expert minds to craft the next chapter of The Cavaliers.”
Lindsey Vento will oversee the program’s visual production as the Visual Coordinator. Lindsey has been involved in pageantry for 26 years as a professional performer, instructor, program designer, adjudicator, choreographer, executive board member, and educational consultant. She’s worked with numerous organizations across DCI, WGI, and BOA , including Carolina Crown and The Academy. She currently designs for over 20 high school marching programs, including Blue Springs High School. Lindsey has been a long time fan of The Cavaliers: “The 2000 production ‘Niagara Falls’ is the production that made me fall deeply in love with the pageantry arts. I think back to this moment all the time. The fact that my career passion and drive changed due to the inspiration of that Cavaliers production, to now being on the design team, just feels right, and I am beyond grateful.”
Ryan Ellis
Ryan Ellis joins the team as Program Facilitator, providing creative insight as well as administration, communication, and logistic facilitation of the design process. He has served as a Visual Designer, Music Arranger, Program Coordinator, and Educational Consultant across indoor and outdoor marching music ensembles. He is a Visual Designer for Rhythm X, and most recently has worked with the Madison Scouts as Battery Arranger, and the Crossmen as a Snare Tech and Battery Coordinator. He is the founder of the Marching Arts Society, providing educational and creative support to marching music ensembles.
Two more world-renowned pageantry veterans join the 2025 Design Team, with Jay Bocook as Brass Arranger and Peter Weber as Drill Designer.
Jay Bocook, a GRAMMY-nominated arranger and internationally recognized figure in the music world, served as arranger for the ten-time world champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps for a remarkable twenty-four years. His impressive career includes composing and arranging music for multiple Olympic Games, contributing to the acclaimed musical "CyberJam," and serving as the Principal Arranger and Associate Music Director for "Blast!, The Music of Disney". Bocook's exceptional talent has been recognized by prestigious institutions like the U.S. Marine Band, who premiered his transcriptions of John Williams' film music, and Drum Corps International, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. Bocook is a principal composer and arranger for the Hal Leonard Corporation, where he has published over 600 arrangements and original compositions.
Peter Weber, an accomplished music educator and drill designer, brings over 30 years of drill writing experience to The Cavaliers. He has been the Drill Designer for numerous Drum Corps International organizations, including the Santa Clara Vanguard, Madison Scouts, and Colts. Additionally, he has written drills for "The Commandant's Own" – The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, the Yokohama Inspires Drum and Bugle Corps, and several universities, including the University of Kansas and the University of Houston. Programs utilizing his drill design have received notable placements and recognition, including Drum Corps International finalists, Winter Guard International finalists, Bands of America Grand National and Regional finalists, Bands of America Regional champions, state finalists, and state champions. Peter spent 1993 - 1998 with The Cavaliers as a brass player and a drum major, and was Cavalier of the Year in 1998.
Familiar faces from The Cavaliers percussion and color guard captions return, with two percussion leaders taking on new design roles for 2025.
Josh Brickey returns for his sixth season on staff with The Cavaliers, this year in the role of Battery Arranger in addition to Percussion Caption Supervisor. He is the co-founder of Plus 1 designs, where he has been creating and publishing battery exercises, etudes, full custom show designs, and more since 2015. He has been on staff with Rhythm X indoor percussion since 2007, and has worked in various capacities with several award-winning high school programs, the Miami University Marching Band, Bluecoats, Carolina Crown, Crossmen, and more.
Lee Allman joins The Cavaliers for his fourth season, now in the elevated role of Front Ensemble Arranger. Lee is the Front Ensemble Arranger for Avon High School, a consistent top 3 Bands of America Nationals finalist, and has additionally written for numerous high schools, The University of Alabama Million Dollar Band, and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. In the winter, Lee is a member of the instructional staff at Rhythm X.
John Leonard retains the role of Color Guard Designer and Caption Supervisor for a third consecutive season. A former marching member of The Cavaliers and a teacher and choreographer for over 25 years, John has worked with numerous distinguished groups including Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, Crossmen, and multiple universities and high schools. John has also served in various roles on the North Texas Colorguard Association Executive Board (including President), and on the WGI steering committee.
Four seasoned marching arts experts round out the 2025 design team, each providing a keen eye and specific expertise to the show production.
Tom Aungst joins The Cavaliers for a third season, with decades of experience teaching and leading award-winning percussion programs. Tom is the Director of Percussion for Dartmouth Public Schools in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Under his direction, Dartmouth has secured five World Class Percussion Championships and numerous top placements at WGI. Tom's extensive drum corps experience includes over 40 years of arranging, instructing, and leading renowned corps like The Cadets, Carolina Crown, and Blue Stars, culminating in nine DCI Championships and eight DCI High Percussion Awards. Tom is a respected author, clinician, and educator across the United States.
Tim Jackson returns to The Cavaliers in a new Design Consultant role, after serving previously as a percussion instructor and choreographer. He is the Program Coordinator and a Battery and Movement Designer at Rhythm X, where he has worked for nearly 20 years, helping to build and shape the renowned organization’s unique artistic vision. Today, Tim is one of the most in demand consultants and instructors in the United States.
Noah Bellamy, a Cavaliers alumnus, brings extensive experience in visual design and performance to his role as Design Consultant. His impressive marching arts resume includes leading Centerville High School to numerous championships, designing for multiple WGI finalists and champions, and contributing to the successes of Infinity Percussion as well as STRYKE Percussion. Noah has designed for numerous renowned groups including the Troopers, Madison Scouts, and the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Marching Band. In addition to his marching arts accomplishments, Noah boasts a successful career as a musician, having toured with notable artists such as KC & The Sunshine Band, Frankie Valli, and Barry Manilow.
Bret Kuhn returns for his seventh consecutive year, and his twenty-ninth year overall with The Cavaliers. Bret served as Percussion Caption Head and Percussion Arranger during six of the corps’ eight World Championships and five High Percussion Awards. Along with his work at The Cavaliers, Bret has been a percussion arranger, instructor, program coordinator, and consultant across several notable groups, including Bluecoats and Phantom Regiment. He is an educator at Northern Illinois University and Prospect High School, and has a wide-reaching influence as an arranger for schools in the US and Japan. Recognized internationally for his expertise, he conducts clinics all over the globe. Bret is a published author, a member of ASCAP, and a judge for WGI as well as numerous local circuits.
"This design team represents the resolute turning of a new page for The Cavaliers” said Corps Director Daniel Belcher. “Experienced, current, innovative, intelligent, organized, and all in, this is the team for the successful future of this corps. We proudly welcome each of these remarkable professionals, and the dawn of the next era of The Cavaliers."
Stay tuned for more exciting staff announcements as well as information about 2025 auditions coming soon! Learn more about The Cavaliers staff and stay up-to-date about corps auditions using the links below.