Staff
Our Staff is rapidly coming together for the 2012 season. With some key changes, and the addition of some of the most experienced performers and teachers in the area. Check out the new faces as we move into our 3rd season!
Cameron Willey : Executive Director/Program Coordinator
Cameron Willey is a graduate of Salisbury University (MD), with a B.A. in Music Performance, Percussion. He has become well known in the Central Maryland area for his work as a member of the Instructional Staff of Baltimore's Marching Ravens; as the Percussion Director and Arranger as well as contributing to music selection and show design. Additionally, he has worked with several top area High School programs, including: James M. Bennett High School, Spring Grove Area High School, Milton Hershey School, Hershey PA; Woodbridge High School, Woodbridge, VA; Boonsboro High School; and Parkside High School in Salisbury, MD.
Outside of the music arena, Cameron works in the IT field for the Lutheran Center in Baltimore.
Gene Bennett III : Asst. Director/Cymbal Technician
Gene Bennett has an extensive history in Drum Corps and Marching Percussion. Coming from a drum corps family, Gene joined the Sunrisers in 1983 where his father was the Color Guard Instructor. Other experiences include:
- Member, Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps, 1983-88
- Member, Dutch Boy Drum and Bugle Corps, 1989-90
- Member, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, 1991-92
- The Commandant's Own, Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, 1992-96
- Instructor, U.S. Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps
- Instructor, Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland
Robert "Tex" Lazenbery : Battery Caption Head/Tenor Tech
After joining midway through the 2011 season and proving his expertise in many areas, Chesapeake Percussion is proud to welcome back Robert "Tex" Lazenbery as the newly-appointed Battery Caption Head. With over 24 years of participation in the marching percussion environment as a performing member, instructor, caption head, arranger and consultant-clinician, Tex brings a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience to the organization. A positive, hands-on approach to teaching has been recognized by both students and instructors throughout the activity.
He has been very fortunate to have learned from some of the best in the pagentry arts, including:
*Robert Poulin and Denny Jones (Lone Star--TX)
*Linda McDavitt (Douglas MacArthur High School--TX)
*Rich Guillen (DCA judge; Sunrisers--NY)
*Marty Griffin (DCI-WGI judge; Sayreville War Memorial High School--NJ)
*Ralph Hardimon, Curt Moore, Scott Hunter, Dodger Posey, Kent Cater (Santa Clara Vanguard--CA)
*Mark and Virginia Kraft (South Brunswick High School--NJ)
*Bill "Woody" Woodward (Hatboro-Horsham High School--PA; United Percussion--NJ)
*Chad Moore, ESQ (United Percussion--NJ)
*John "Country" Dunlap (Central Bucks West High School--PA)
*Dan and Nancy Bonham (Immaculata High School--NJ)
*Chris Bauer, Jim Dugan (Sunrisers--NY)
*Terrell Smith (Fusion Core--NJ)
*John Messenger (Metuchen High School--NJ)
*Paul Weber, Jon Kamrud, Joel Matuzak (Irondale High School--MN)
Recognizing the wealth of talent and experience, Tex also cites the current teaching faculty of Chesapeake Percussion as they push him to continue to be the best educator he can be.
Outside of the activity, he is involved with two music projects: an alternative rock band from the Ironbound district of Newark, New Jersey called The Walkaways, and a metal cover band from Union, New Jersey known as Until It Sleeps. Currently, Tex is the Percussion Caption Supervisor of the Rahway High School marching band from Rahway, New Jersey, and the Percussion Coordinator of the Metuchen High School marching band from Metuchen, New Jersey. In addition, he is the drum line consultant of the Baltimore Ravens' Marching Ravens Band from Baltimore, Maryland.
Robert Lazenbery is an artist endorser of Sabian cymbals, having been a part of its education team since 2003. He is also endorsed by Promark sticks and mallets, and has been a member of its education team since 2005.
Trevor Santora : Bassline Technician
Trevor Santora is a graduate of Wicomico High School in Salisbury, Maryland and currently serves as the Percussion Caption Head for the Smyrna Regiment of Red marching band from Smyrna DE. He has also a number of top High School programs, including Parkside H.S., Salisbury MD; James M Bennett, Salisbury MD; Wicomico High School, Salisbury MD; Bensalem HS, Bensalem PA; and Middle Township HS from Cape May Courthouse, NJ.
Trevor has been a member of the Reading Buccaneers and was a member of United Indoor Percussion from 2003-2004. Other performing experiences include Lehigh Valley Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps and Baltimore's Marching Ravens
Outside of the marching activity, Trevor is an avid sports fan. His favorite teams include the Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles, and the University of Maryland Terps.
Alex Crowley : Front Ensemble Technician
A home grown product of the Chesapeake, Alex Crowley has been a musician his entire life. Originally a cello player focusing on orchestral music, his marching experience began during his years at Old Mill Senior High School in Millersville Maryland, where he marched tenors and snare drum. Alex sought private instruction in percussion and auditioned for the “Cadets of Bergen County” in 1994. He went on to play in the Cadets front ensemble for 5 years from 1994 through 1999, including 1998 when the corps won its 7th DCI World Championship.
Alex currently lives in Baltimore and teaches percussion for the Naval Academy Drum & Bugle Corps, and has played with numerous different bands and ensembles, currently playing drums for Baltimore based, Mid Atlantic recording artists, “Can’t Hang.”
Kris Marsh : Battery Technician
Kris' first marching experience was at the age of 14 when he joined Baltimore's Marching Ravens in the snare line. From there he has gone on to march with Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, United Percussion and aging out with The Cavaliers in 2010.
A graduate of Towson University, Kris continues to teach the Marching Tiger Band, working with the Drumline, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Johns Hopkins University.
Emily Monohan : Visual Technician
Emily has performed with some of the top Drum and Bugle Corps in the Mid Atlantic. Primarily a Baritone/Euphonium player, she has performed with East Coast Jazz, the Jersey Surf, and the Bushwackers.
After she joined the Chesapeake staff in 2010, she has been instrumental in the development of the "Chesapeake Visual Style".
She recently relocated to Baltimore, where she is working towards completing her degree in Psycology.
Elizabeth Fabian : Visual Technician
Elizabeth Fabian comes to Chesapeake Percussion from a very musical family. She has been involved with music for over fifteen years and has been an avid member in the marching music field for over eleven years. Elizabeth graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, where she was a four-year member of the Marching Royal Dukes. Some of her other marching experience includes the DCI World Class Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps and the Baltimore’s Marching Ravens.
Outside of the marching world, she has an extensive resume of concert experience, earning many awards and performing with numerous prestigious groups in the area such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Elizabeth has had experience teaching several musical organizations in the area, including her high school, Perry Hall High School, in Baltimore, MD. She is excited to work with Chesapeake Percussion this year and looks forward to an outstanding season.
Elizabeth currently works at Johns Hopkins Hospital as a research coordinator. She is also a grad student at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a master’s degree in biotechnology.
Dan Goldman : Consultant
Dan Goldman graduated from Floyd Central High School and as a student participated in their state finalist marching and concert bands as well as their award winning Orchestra while capturing a State Championship in 1995.
Mr. Goldman’s drum corps experience includes the Northmen 1994 from Green Bay, Bluecoats 1998 and other various partial seasons, and is currently a performing member of the DCA champion mini-corps Star United.
Mr. Goldman has been teaching visual programs at high schools and state finalist since 1994. He has written and co-written drill for state caliber ensembles and is not a stranger to the winter guard and percussion realm, interacting since 1998.
Since leaving the School of Music at the University of Louisville in 1997, he became a self-taught AutoCAD technician in the field of Land Surveying and Civil Engineering. Now employed in Indianapolis, IN, he continues to enhance his skills in visual design, program consulting and coordination, music arranging, motivational speaking and team building.