CAVALIERS WELCOME CROSS TO RETURNING CAPTION LEADERSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Originally posted October 28, 2016 by Chris Lugo)

(ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS) – The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps is pleased to announce the returning caption leadership for the 2017 season, including the addition of Dr. Travis J. Cross as Brass Co-Caption Head and appointment of Tommy Allen as Color Guard Caption Supervisor.

As The Cavaliers head into 2017, the continuity of the design team and caption leadership helps build on the momentum established in 2016 after finishing the season in fifth place with a score of 94.025 at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis, Ind.

As Associate Professor of Music and department vice chair at UCLA, Dr. Travis J. Cross joins The Cavaliers to lead the brass caption alongside Michael Martin. "As a friend of the drum corps activity for the past 25 years, I’m thrilled to join the truly outstanding artists and educators on the staff of The Cavaliers," said Cross. 

"I’ve always admired the corps, especially for its consistent history of pushing the boundaries of both excellence and creativity. I look forward to collaborating with the talented and eclectic brass staff in offering a vibrant and rigorous experience for the marching members and memorable performances for audiences nationwide." 

Michael Martin, who enters his second year as both the arranger and caption head, added that "the addition of Dr. Travis J. Cross to our brass team is a commitment not only to continuing our work of providing a world-class brass and musical education to our members, but indeed to expose them to the absolute best that all facets of the professional world of music has to offer."

"No matter your aspirations as a musician–be it professional performance, education, something in between, or to simply continue your love of music beyond drum corps–the diversity of this team means guidance at the highest possible level in any avenue a student might wish to pursue."

For The Cavaliers’ music captions, leadership teams include Michael McIntosh as Percussion Caption Supervisor and Joe Hobbs as Percussion Caption Head. Michael Martin and Travis Cross lead the brass caption with Brad Hughes and Daniel Treuman as Assistant Brass Caption Heads and Freddy Martin as Pedagogy Coordinator.

For The Cavaliers' visual captions, we build on our consistency with Michael Tarr returning as Visual Caption Head, with Alan Chrzanowski and Michael Neubert serving as the corps’ Assistant Visual Caption Heads.

Visual Designer Tommy Allen will serve as the Color Guard Caption Supervisor to aid the caption’s development along with Travis Speice, who returns for his fifth year as Color Guard Caption Head.

"Travis and I are focused on furthering all aspects of the color guard caption with a shared vision of development, mentoring, and performance excellence," said Allen. "We're working together to create an environment that provides our students with a challenging, positive, and exciting approach to the Cavalier Color Guard experience now and into the years ahead."

Corps Director Joe Roach added his excitement about the new additions and the veteran educational team. "With the addition of Travis to the brass team and the appointment of Tommy to help further shape the color guard caption, I'm confident that we will continue to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for performers here at The Cavaliers."

"We want to see prospective members come in the door hungry to demonstrate their hard work, dedication, and passion for performance."

Click here to see the announced Staff overview.

The Cavaliers are preparing to hold auditions in Dallas/Ft Worth, Atlanta, Chicago, and Austin for the upcoming 2017 season. More information about our auditions can be found by visiting AUDITION.cavaliers.org.

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About Michael Martin

An award-winning composer and arranger, Michael Martin serves The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps as Brass Arranger and Caption Head. Mr. Martin studied composition while a student at Northwestern University and studied orchestration at the University of Chicago with renowned composer, orchestrator and conductor Cliff Colnot. Mr. Martin has been commissioned by members of the Atlanta, Boston and Chicago Symphonies, the Chicago Chamber Musicians, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Boston Pops. 

Regularly a fixture at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Mr. Martin has collaborated with the VanderCook College of Music, Avon High School (IN), Clear Creek High School (Texas), Flower Mound High School (Texas), Kell High School (Ga.), Kennesaw Mountain High School (Ga.), and North Hardin High School (Ky.) band programs.

Upcoming commissions and projects include two new works for solo trumpet and wind ensemble, including a collaborative effort with close friend and composer, William Pitts; “Zero to Sixty!”, a fanfare celebrating the Northshore Concert Band’s 60th anniversary (Mallory Thompson, Artistic Director); "Symphony for Winds and Percussion" for the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Mallory Thompson, Director of Bands); and a "Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra", commissioned by The Boston Pops and Keith Lockhart for Ben Wright, 2nd Trumpet of the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops. Proud of his status as an accomplished “crossover” composer, Mr. Martin is also an active arranger and program coordinator for BOA and non-BOA marching bands around the country. 

A devoted teacher, Mr. Martin has been on faculty at the New England Conservatory and Boston University since 2012. Mr. Martin has taught students ranging from age 10 to 50 and in middle and high school concert and marching band programs around the country. An avid fan and supporter of Drum Corps International, Mr. Martin is also Brass Caption Head with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps of Rosemont, Ill. Prior to joining The Cavaliers, Mr. Martin taught brass for the Phantom Regiment of Rockford, Ill., from 2009 to 2013.

As a performer, Mr. Martin has performed more than 1,000 concerts as Third/Utility Trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops. Mr. Martin has performed with world-renowned conductors and soloists including Emanuel Ax, Charles Dutoit, Alan Gilbert, Håkan Hardenberger, James Levine, Keith Lockhart, Kurt Masur, Yo-Yo Ma, Andris Nelsons, Garrick Ohlsson, Itzhak Perlman, and John Williams and has performed for the likes of Julian Edelman, Barack Obama and Shaquille O’Neal.

Follow Michael Martin on Twitter and Instagram (@playwritemusic).


About Travis Cross

Travis J. Cross serves as associate professor of music and department vice chair at UCLA, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and directs the graduate wind conducting program. He holds a concurrent appointment as associate dean for academic mentoring and opportunity in the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. As wind ensemble conductor for five years at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., Cross led students in performances at the Virginia Music Educators Association conference, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall and developed the Virginia Tech Band Directors Institute into a major summer conducting workshop.

Cross earned doctor and master of music degrees in conducting from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and the bachelor of music degree cum laude in vocal and instrumental music education from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. His principal teachers were Mallory Thompson and Timothy Mahr. Prior to graduate study, he taught for four years at Edina (Minn.) High School, where he conducted two concert bands and led the marching band program.

In 2004, Cross participated in the inaugural Young Conductor/Mentor Project sponsored by the National Band Association. The same year he received the Distinguished Young Band Director Award from the American School Band Directors Association of Minnesota. From 2001–2003, Cross served a two-year term as the recent graduate on the St. Olaf College Board of Regents. In 2006, he was named a Jacob K. Javits Fellow by the United States Department of Education. From 2011–2015, he served two terms as national vice president for professional relations for Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity.

Cross contributed a chapter to volume four of Composers on Composing for Band, available from GIA Publications. His more than 20 original compositions and arrangements are published by Boosey & Hawkes, Daehn Publications, and Theodore Music. He has appeared as a guest conductor, composer, and clinician in several states; Canada, China, Korea, Thailand; and at the Midwest Clinic and leads honor bands and other ensembles in Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, and Singapore during the 2016–17 season.

Cross is a Yamaha Master Educator.


About Freddy Martin

Freddy Martin is the founding director of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. He held the position of executive director of the corps for fourteen years and is now Director Emeritus of the corps.

Freddy is a member of the DCI Hall of Fame and was most recently the brass caption coordinator for the world-champion Phantom Regiment.

Freddy has delivered clinics and seminars all over the country and in England. He is a Bands of America judge and a clinician for some of the finest high school marching and symphonic bands in the country. Freddy has given clinics in Georgia at the Music Educators Convention, in Chicago at the Midwest Clinic, and for Spirit of Atlanta camps for the last 34 years.

Freddy is currently band director at the prestigious Westminster Schools in Atlanta. Freddy’s son Chris is principal Trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra while his younger son Michael is a member of the Trumpet Section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Teaching has been Freddy’s life, and he loves to share the knowledge he has gained over these 47 years of educating young people.


About Brad Hughes

Brad Hughes is currently in his third year as the Director of Bands at Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas. His responsibilities include the direction of the Wind Ensemble and Marching Band, in addition to overseeing all aspects of the band program. Prior to his position at Clear Brook High School, Brad taught as an Assistant Band Director at Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas. In addition to his band director responsibilities, Brad is an active clinician and adjudicator in Texas.

The 2017 season marks the third year Brad will be working as a brass instructor with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, and second year as Assistant Brass Caption Head. From 2012 to 2014, Brad served as both a low brass instructor and a visual instructor with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to working with the Phantom Regiment, he was a brass staff member of the Arizona Academy Drum and Bugle Corps from 2010 to 2011.

Brad Hughes graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston in 2012 and holds a bachelors degree in Music Education. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Brad currently lives in League City, Texas with his wonderful wife, Angi, and their two dogs, Eugene and Bella.


About Daniel Treuman

Daniel Treuman joined the faculty at Collins Hill High School as the Assistant Director of Bands in 2010. He took over as the Director of Bands in 2011. Daniel has served the band program as the primary conductor of all four concert ensembles, as well as the Director of the Screamin' Eagle Marching Band. Concert and marching ensembles under his direction have consistently received superior ratings at competitions and festivals. Most notably, in the last two years the Collins Hill Symphonic Winds have been invited to perform as guest bands at the 2015 UGA January Musical Festival, the 2015 Music For All Southeast Regional Concert Band Festival, and most recently at the 2016 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. 

Daniel received his Bachelors of Music degree from The University of Georgia. While at UGA, he studied euphonium with Professor David Zerkel and performed as a member of the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble and Redcoat Marching Band. His conducting teachers included John Lynch, Gregg Gausline, and Mike Robinson.

Daniel marched euphonium as a member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps during the 2007-2009 seasons. Highlights of his tenure with the corps include being selected as a finalist for the Mark Glasscoe Member of the Year Award in 2009 and placing first at the Drum Corps International World Championships in 2008. Daniel spent 2011 as a member of the Phantom Regiment Brass Staff, and he is currently in his third season as a member of The Cavaliers' Brass Staff. 

Daniel's professional affiliations include the NAFME, GMEA, and NBA. He also serves as the GMEA District 13 Band Chair.

Mr. Treuman currently resides in Atlanta, Ga. with his wife Kathryn and his dog Eleanor.


About Tommy Allen

Tommy Allen, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., studied Fashion Marketing and Management at The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, and he currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Tommy is an alumnus of The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (2002-2006), serving as drum major for the 2006 Championship season, as well as The Pride of Cincinnati (2003-2004) and Lawrence Central HS (1998-2002). 2016 also marked his tenth year on the instructional staff and design team with The Cavaliers.

From 2008 to 2015, Allen served as the Visual Coordinator and Color Guard Director at Norwin HS, helping Norwin Winter Guard claim four appearance in Winter Guard International's (WGI) Scholastic World Class Finals.

Tommy consults, programs, and designs for many organizations, including his current clients: The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, Franklin HS (Tenn.), Eastlake HS (Texas) Marian Catholic (Ill.) Kiski Area HS (Penn.), Norwin HS (Penn.), Miamisburg HS (Ohio), Independence Winter Guard (Ill.), and Juxtaposition Winter Guard (Ohio).

His previous work includes such esteemed programs as Pride of Cincinnati, Zydeco Color Guard, Northern Academy of Performing Arts, Northmont HS, Lawrence Central HS, Centerville HS, Americas HS, Paul J. Hagerty HS, Central Crossing HS, and Paul Laurence Dunbar HS.


About Travis Speice

Travis Speice will returning to the role of Color Guard Caption Head for the 2017 season, marking his eighth year with The Cavaliers.

Speice resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been involved in the color guard activity for years. He currently teaches the Pride of Cincinnati, is a member of the advisory board for the TriState Marching Arts color guard circuit, and has adjudicated marching band contests across the country.

In the past, Speice says he has been fortunate to have worked with other groups in various roles including Zydeco color guard, and other high schools in Indiana, Ohio, and New York. Speice is a proud alum of Pride of Cincinnati, Aimachi, Empire, Patriots, and Boston Crusaders.

Speice is an Assistant Professor of Arts and Sciences at The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences. He earned his doctoral degree in sociology from the University of Cincinnati in 2016.

“I loved the 2016 production Propaganda, and I am very excited to be working with this team again on our 2017 production!”


About Michael McIntosh

Michael McIntosh is a graduate of Butler University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an emphasis in Composition.

In addition to freelance composing and digital sound design, Michael is the Percussion Coordinator for the Music For All Summer Symposium. He is the Percussion Caption Supervisor and one of two percussion designers for The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. In 2011, The Cavaliers were the recipients of the DCI Fred Sanford High Percussion award. From 1997-2011, Mr. McIntosh was a percussion specialist at Carmel High School in Carmel, Ind., and part of a program named the 2001 AAA National Champion, and the 2005 and 2012 BOA Grand National Champions.

Mr. McIntosh is an active clinician and WGI adjudicator, giving clinics throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan, and China.

Compositionally, Michael has had works commissioned for the Midwest Band Directors Convention as well as the West Point HellCats. Currently, he has works published by SmartMusic, Row-Loff Publications, Yamaha Sounds of Summer, Tap Space Publications, Key Poulan Music, Drop 6 Media, The Hal Leonard Corporation, Innovative Percussion, Marching Show Concepts and Dynamic Marching. 

Michael is a Yamaha artist/clinician as well as a signature drumstick artist with Innovative Percussion. Mr. McIntosh also endorses EVANS drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, and Planet Waves Cables. 


About Joe Hobbs

Joe Hobbs is currently the Director of Percussion at Vandegrift High school in Austin, Texas. Joe is responsible for the Drum Line, percussion ensemble and also over sees all percussion responsibilities at Four Points Middle School in Austin, Texas.  Vandegrift is a consistent BOA regional finalist and was the Texas State 5A Silver medalist in 2015. Joe was previously the director of percussion at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas. Under his direction the Newman Smith drum line was recognized as one of DFW’s strongest drum lines having won both the Plano Drum Line Contest as well as the Lone Star Drum Line Contest. Joe previously held the same position at Harpeth High School in Nashville, Tenn., where under his direction Harpeth was a Scholastic Open finalist at WGI Championships in 2009 and 2010, placing 4th in 2010. Harpeth also won multiple WGI regionals as well as SCGC championships.

Joe currently serves as the percussion caption head for The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Ill. Joe took over the caption head position in 2015 after having joined the snare staff in 2014. Before joining The Cavaliers, Joe served on the percussion staff for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Ill., and Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps from Atlanta, Ga., where he was the battery caption head 2008-2010. Joe was also involved with Music City Mystique as a battery instructor from 2009 to 2011.

He was a member of Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps from 2001-2003. During his time at Southwind, he was named the 2003 DCI I&E Snare drum champion. From 2004-2006 Joe was a member of The Cavaliers’ snare line. During his time with The Cavaliers, Joe won two DCI World Championships, the 2006 DCI I&E mixed ensemble championship, and in 2006 he was awarded the “Cavalier of the Year” and Zildjian awards.

Joe received his Music Education degree from Murray State University in Murray, Ky. Other teaching experience includes: George Rogers Clark High School, Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, Murray State University, Austin Peay State University, and Mt. Juliet High School.

Joe is endorsed by Pearl Drums, Innovative Percussion, and Evans Drumheads. Joe and his wife Kara and their Great Dane “Truman” currently live in Austin, Texas.


About Michael Tarr

Originally from Wyandotte, Mich., Michael Brady Tarr began performing with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (1988-1994) as a member of the soprano line. During that time, and since, Michael has enjoyed a successful career in pageantry and performing arts that spans well over two decades.

As an adjudicator, Michael is in high demand judging throughout the country. Michael is an active adjudicator for Bands of America/Music for All, Winter Guard International, the Colorado Bandmasters Association, and the Michigan Competing Band Association, and he has also adjudicated at the All Thailand Marching Championship and the All Japan Marching Championships.

Currently, Michael is an active consultant/ instructor with The Avon Marching Black & Gold (Avon, Ind.) and The Pride of Owasso (Owasso, Okla.) along with the Colleyville-Heritage High School Band (Colleyville, Texas) and Grapevine High School Band (Grapevine, Texas). Additionally, Michael has an extensive and successful career teaching & consulting with many other programs including The Cavaliers (1994-1998, 2013-2016), Glassmen (2000), Bluecoats (2001-2004), and Santa Clara Vanguard (2007-2009). Michael also served on the staff of the Plymouth-Canton Marching Band (Canton, Mich.) from 1993-2002 and had the privilege of experiencing the program earning Grand National Champion at the Bands of America Grand National Championships (1999) and earning two Steve Brubaker Outstanding Visual Performance Awards (1998 and 2001). In addition, Michael previously worked at Kennesaw Mountain High School (Kennesaw, Ga.), Carlton J. Kell High School (Marietta, Ga.), Milford High School (Milford, Mich.), DeKaney High School (Spring, Texas), The Aimachi Band and Color Guard (Nagoya, Japan), Horwang High School (Bangkok, Thailand), St. Joseph School (Bangkok, Thailand), and many other national caliber programs.

Learning from many great teachers and educators, Michael credits Mitch Rogers, Patrick Ruddy, David McGrath, Don Booher, Scott Seal, Gregg Rinehart, Sylvester Sybilski, Chad Jacobs, and Tim Barr as influences on his career where he has been fortunate enough to work with so many talented, artistic, and dedicated individuals.

Michael earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interpersonal Communication (1997) and a Master of Arts Degree in Communication Arts (1999) from Eastern Michigan University. During his undergraduate studies, Michael’s work on a presentation for the Undergraduate Research Symposium was later expanded and developed into a research article focusing on Adolescent Children and Deception, which was presented at the National Communication Association Convention (1997). In addition, Michael served on the adjunct faculty at Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn as well as serving as the Assistant Director of Student Affairs for the Mercer University School of Medicine – Savannah, Ga. Campus.

Currently, Michael resides and spends time in Texas and Michigan.


About Alan Chrzanowski

Alan Chrzanowski was born and raised in Mansfield, Texas. He received his degree in Music Education from The University of Texas - Arlington where he studied trumpet with Dr. Rick Bogard. During his time at UT Arlington, Alan assisted with and directed the Maverick Marching Band, and MavBrass Basketball Band, and performed with with the Wind Ensemble, Trumpet Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Brass Quintets.  

After receiving his degree, he taught middle school and high school band in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and now works as a drill writer, instructor, design consultant, and clinician for marching bands and winter guard programs throughout the state.

Alan is a former member of The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, having marched trumpet in 2007 and 2008.

The 2016 season will mark his tenth year with The Cavaliers, and eigth year on the Visual Staff where he is fortunate to work with some of the most gifted minds in the activity. He is looking forward to continuing to build the excellence that was established through the corps distinguished history.


About Michael Neubert

As an educator, Michael Neubert was a member of the visual team for the 7-time DCI World Champions, The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (2000-2009) primarily working with the marching percussion. Michael returned to The Cavaliers in 2014 and currently serves as assistant visual caption head.

As an adjudicator, Michael has served as a visual performance and visual effect judge for competitions in Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. He has also served as a clinician and consultant for various marching bands and indoor groups around the country and abroad. Michael was a member of the horn line for The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (1993-1995) and is a graduate of Miami University ( Oxford, Ohio) where he currently resides and teaches.

As a visual designer, Michael has designed drill and staging for finalist groups competing in Bands of America (BOA), UIL, KMEA, ISSMA, Mid-States and OMEA. He also designs shows for winter guard, indoor percussion, and indoor winds groups competing in Winter Guard International (WGI), IPA, and MEPA. Michael’s indoor groups have consistently placed among the top scoring groups in all classes including the 2016 PSO finalist Union High School (Tulsa, Okla.), 2016 PSA Finalist and MEPA Champion Colerain HS (Cincinnati, Ohio), 2016 MEPA Champion Edgewood HS (Trenton, Ohio), 2015 and 2016 PSO Regional Champion Powhatan HS (Richmond, Va.), 2014 PSA Finalist Freedom HS (Fairfax, Va.), and 2013 PIW 8th place (2012 PIO Champion) George Mason Independent Percussion Ensemble (Fairfax, Va.).

In 2013, Michael designed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade show for the Miami University Marching Band (Oxford, Ohio) that was broadcasted all around the country. He has designed shows for them since 2008 and has recently designed shows that are performed on an ice hockey rink at their hockey games. Michael has also traveled to London, England where he has designed shows for Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band that have been performed at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, and Windsor Castle in Great Britain.


About The Cavaliers

Founded in 1948 from Boy Scout Troop 111, The Cavaliers are one of the most successful drum and bugle corps in history, winning 20 national championships, including seven Drum Corps International World Championships since 1992.

The Cavaliers provide a variety of educational and performance programs for young people, including GearWORKS, Cavaliers Indoor Percussion, and Chromium Winds. The organization delivers life-changing experiences that go beyond music and performing arts to build personal accountability, excellence, teamwork, and camaraderie.

The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization sponsored by The Village of Rosemont, Illinois.

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