Connecting aspiring students with world class educators

Taha Ahmed received his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology from the University of Texas at Austin. Currently, he resides in the Houston area where he works with Cy-Fair High School and Clear Brook High School. He is also an active instructor, consultant, arranger, designer, and rudimental private lesson teacher at numerous other high schools in the area. When Taha is not teaching, he is working as a Licensed Advanced Emergency Medical Technician.

Taha has multiple years of experience beyond the scholastic level. His drum corps experience includes being a snare drummer at Bluecoats 2012, Academy 2011, Santa Clara Vanguard 2010, and the Troopers in 2009 and 2008. Taha is currently the Battery Coordinator for The Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to that, Taha was a snare tech at The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2016 through 2019, and the snare tech at The Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2015 season. During his drum corps career, Taha was privileged to learn from instructors such as Mike Jackson, Murray Gusseck, Ralph Hardimon, Glen Crosby, Roger Carter, Eric Shriver, Matt Ramey, Jim Ragsdale, Brian Stevens, Rick Barclay, Derrick Fields, and Kevin Welborn.

In the indoor scene, Taha has also experienced multiple seasons of success as an instructor. He was the Battery Coordinator and Movement Specialist for the 2014 WGI Independent A Gold Medalist, Lone Star Independent. Taha has been working with Monarch Independent since it’s inaugural season in 2015. Monarch Independent was the Texas Color Guard Circuit Independent Open Gold Medalist and WGI Independent Open Finalist in both 2015 and 2016. In 2017, Monarch made its World Class debut and since then has been the Texas Color Guard Circuit Independent World Champion, as well as WGI Championships PIW Finalist. Taha was also the battery specialist for the 2016 PSO Bronze Medalist, Cy-Fair High school and 2019 PSO Silver Medalist, Clear Brook High School.

Taha proudly endorses Pearl / Adams, Vic Firth, and Zildjian.

Nick Arce is a world-class educator from La Quinta, CA. He currently teaches on the battery staff at Arcadia High School (2017-present), RCC Indoor Percussion (2015-present), and The Blue Devils (2014-present), working specifically with the respective snare sections. Some of his other teaching experiences include being the quad tech at Carolina Crown in 2013, and being show designer, and battery/drill writer at various groups in the Coachella Valley before moving to Alhambra, CA with his wife, Raquel.

Nick’s performance experience includes Impulse (2006-2007), Mystikal (2008), The Blue Devils (2009-2012), and RCC Indoor Percussion (2009-2013). He has also been a part of performance entertainment companies such as Blue Devils Entertainment, Aerial Experience, and SIDLE Entertainment.

Aside from being a music educator, Nick received his BA in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and currently works with the Health and Human Performance Foundation, a non-profit organization. He is pursuing a career in academic research in psychology.

Dalia Berman is a percussionist and music educator in the Los Angeles area. She has been teaching and playing a wide range of musical styles since 2008. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from California State University, Northridge and Master's in World Percussion from California Institute of the Arts.

Outside of her schooling, Dalia performed in various DCI and WGI groups including Pulse Percussion, Phantom Regiment, The Academy, Mandarins, Velvet Knights and Full Force Percussion. Dalia is currently a musician in the 300th Army Band based out of Southern California and works at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a musician and accompanist for the School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities.

Thomas Claesen is a quad tech at Rhythm X and recently worked with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (2017-2019). He has taught marching ensembles and English as a foreign language in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Born and raised in Belgium, Thomas moved to the States in the fall of 2017. He now lives in Nashville, TN with his wife Chelsea and their energetic dog Rachel. He works as a freelance designer and developer, and revamped the Rudimental Mindset website in 2020.

Thomas marched drum corps at The Academy (2008-2009), Santa Clara Vanguard (2010) and The Cavaliers (2011). Some of his teaching experiences include being the battery arranger and coordinator for DrumSpirit (2010-2017), teaching the quadlines at The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2012-2013) and the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (2017-2019), representing Innovative Percussion as an educational artist, working with the Field Band Foundation in South Africa, and being an English lecturer at VIVES University College.

Frank Connelly is a performer, teacher, and composer with a diverse background in the marching arts, percussion ensemble, orchestra, wind ensemble, and solo playing.

During the school year Frank focuses on both primary and secondary pedagogy. From 2013-2015, Frank was the Percussion Specialist at Burleson-Centennial High School where the percussion studio earned numerous accolades including winning the Scholastic A NTCA Indoor Drumline Championship in 2015. After moving on to Godley ISD, the percussion program experienced numerous successes under Frank, including multiple marching percussion captions, and consistent success at State Solo & Ensemble. After moving closer to home for his daughter Darcy, his mother Linda, and his wife Meghan, Frank now teaches at Shoemaker High School in Killeen, Texas.  

In the marching arts, Frank is accomplished as both a performer and educator. He performed as a bass drummer with the Crossmen during 2009 and the Bluecoats in 2010 and 2011. Following Frank’s first year as a bass tech for Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps in 2012, Frank taught percussion for three years at the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps from 2014-2017. Frank served as a percussion instructor at the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018 and 2019, teaching alongside world class instructors Russell Wharton, Michael MacIntosh, and Brett Kuhn. Frank also teaches battery percussion at Monarch Independent, amidst talented teachers such as Taha Ahmed, Brian Perez, and Don Click. 

Mr. Connelly is a Bachelors of Music graduate at Texas State University with an emphasis in Percussion. Frank is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion, Mapex/Majestic Percussion, and Sabian Cymbals.

He currently resides in Belton, TX.


Aundray Edwards received his Bachelors in Music Education from the University of Houston. Aundray has been a percussion specialist/technician for several marching programs in the Houston and surrounding areas, including  Cypress Creek High School (winning PAS call for tapes) as well as Cy-Fair High School. Currently, Aundray resides in Lake Jackson, TX where he is the Assistant Director of Percussion at Brazoswood High School and all feeder programs including Brazoswood High School, Clute Intermediate, and Rasco Middle School in Brazosport ISD. 

Aundray has extensive percussion performance experience ranging from DCI to the collegiate world. While attending UH he was a part of all the performing ensembles, including the wind ensemble and symphony orchestra, which both were invited to perform at the Midwest Band clinic in Chicago, Illinois,  as well as the Texas Music Educator Association clinic. His further percussion performance experience includes the Moores School Percussion Ensemble winning PAS call for tapes (‘10), and marching snare drum with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps (‘10).

Durring the indoor season, Aundray currently serves as one of the bass drum technicians for Monarch Independent since 2016. This summer Aundray will be joining the staff at Sacramento Mandarins as a bass drum technician. Aundray has also served as bass drum technician for the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps ('17-'19) as well as the Guardians Drum & Bugle Corps ('15-'16).

Matt Gonzalez is an active marching arts educator in the L.A. area of Southern California. His passion for teaching began after performing in high school marching band and with award winning groups such as The Blue Devils, RCC, Pulse Percussion, POW Percussion, and The Academy. He has taught at many world renowned groups such as Broken City Percussion, The Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, Chino HS Mission Viejo HS and Chino Hills HS.

Matt is currently working toward his Communications BA with Arizona State University.

For the past 12 years Steven has built his experience by surrounding himself with some of the most accomplished educators and marching ensembles in the community including Chino High School, POW Percussion, Pulse Percussion the Phantom Regiment, and Broken City. With 13 seasons of marching experience in WGI and DCI Steven was inspired to continue in the marching arts and begin his own body of work.

As an educator, Steven has worked with numerous programs in the Southern California Area including Woodcrest JHS, Alvarado IS, Walnut HS, Diamond Bar HS, Rowland HS, Vista Murrieta HS, Chino HS, Upland HS, and the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (2016-2019).
As a music arranger, Steven assumed the role of Battery Arranger / Drill Writer for Chino HS in 2015. Since that time the ensemble has made 3 consecutive A class Finals in the SCPA circuit, becoming class Champion in 2017 and then becoming an Open Class Finalist in 2019. In the Independent Division, Steven became Program Coordinator/Battery Arranger for Orange County Independent in 2017 (2017 SCPA PIO Champion / WGI Finalist) eventually rebranding the program with Weston Amaro as Vessel Percussion.

Zakk Hollander is a world-class performer, arranger, and educator from Mission Viejo, California. He started his marching career under the direction of Mike Jackson at Mission Viejo High School from 2009-2012. After high school, Zakk started his drum corps career with The Academy in 2012 and 2013. He went on to march at The Blue Knights in 2014 and aged out in 2015 with The Blue Devils. He has competed in WGI since high school, performing with Orange County Independent in 2013, Pulse Percussion in 2014, and RCC in 2015 and 2016.

Zakk is currently pursuing his Bachelor's Degree in Communications at CSU Fullerton. He teaches at Rowland High School, El Dorado High School, Diamond Bar High School, and Dark Sky Percussion, and private lessons throughout Southern California. He also serves as battery arranger for Meraki Percussion.

Jackson Lai is a music educator based in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. He has taught students of all levels ranging from preschool through college for the past decade and continues to guide students along their educational journeys at multiple high schools in the Orange County area. A few programs that Jackson has taught at include Ayala High School, Mission Viejo High School, Trabuco Hills High School, Fountain Valley High School.

During the summer, Jackson is a part of the front ensemble education team at the Blue Devils B Drum & Bugle Corps (2019-present) and formerly taught on the front ensemble education team for the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets (2015-2018).

Jackson received his Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education with an emphasis in percussion at CSU Long Beach and is currently finishing up his Master of Education in Education and single subject teaching credential to become a high school music teacher in the near future. While at CSU Long Beach, he studied classical percussion with Raynor Carroll, former principal percussionist of the LA Philharmonic, and Dr. Dave Gerhart, former Director of Percussion at CSULB. Ensembles he performed with included Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Steel Drum Orchestra, and World Percussion Ensemble (focusing on West Ghanaian music/culture).

Performance experience in the pageantry arts include performing in the front ensembles of the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets for drum corps, as well as Pulse Percussion Open and Pulse Percussion World for indoor percussion.

Jackson is endlessly motivated and inspired to teach people through music. Whether it be college/honor performance ensemble audition preparation, assistance with drum corps auditions, music composition/arranging, or just learning about music, he will always do his best to pass down everything that he has learned and experienced in the world of music.

Chelsea Levine is an established cymbal technician throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

She’s dedicating her post-marching career to the advancement of marching cymbals through teaching, building her company Seavine, & co-founding The Cymbal Scholarship.

Chelsea has marched and taught in various groups around the world. She was fortunate enough to perform with Rhythm X, Crossmen, Jersey Surf, United Percussion & Gateway Indoor. Upon aging out, Chelsea has been a cymbal technician for Rhythm X, Colts and Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, Centerville High School, Western Carolina University, & DrumSpirit. She has also promoted the art of cymbal playing in Europe and Asia with clinics in Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, China, and Thailand.

In 2010 Chelsea founded Seavine, a company that offers high quality cymbal and hornline performance products such as The Cymbal Gloves. She founded The Cymbal Scholarship- assisting WGI & DCI cymbal players with their membership fees. Since 2012, they have given away over $26,000 to marching cymbalists fully funded by Seavine profits.

Chelsea currently resides in Nashville, TN with her super cool husband Thomas and her energetic dog Rachel.

Ernie McLaurin has been an active percussion instructor in Southern California since 1993. He has been the Cymbal Instructor for Ayala High School since 2004 and has worked with the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps since 2013 in various capacities. Ernie was on the Percussion staff at Impulse Drum and bugle Corps from 2002 to 2006 winning the 2006 DCI Div. III World Championship. In 2007 Ernie became the Corps Director of Impulse until 2010. Ernie then became the Assistant Director for the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corp in 2011 & 2012.

Ernie’s performance experience includes Sacramento Freelancers, Cal State Northridge Percussion Ensemble, United State Olympic Drumline.

Ernie has worked with the following percussion programs: Pulse Percussion, Impulse Drum and Bugle Corp, John Muir High School, Simi Valley High School, Garfield High School, Alhambra High School, and Grant High School and has been a clinician for a vast number of ensembles. Ernie is an Education Artist with Zildjian Cymbal. Ernie is a graduate of John Muir High School and Cal State Northridge and works full time in the Mortgage Industry.

Richard has been a member of the marching arts since 2006 as a member of the Buena High School Marching Band. After graduating, he began his independent marching career with Pulse Open Percussion Ensemble in 2011 then continued his WGI seasons with Pulse Percussion from 2012-2015. Richard also spent time performing in DCI with the Sacramento Mandarins from 2011-2012, and proceeded to go on to The Bluecoats from 2013-2014. 

Richard has also taught/written music and drill for a multitude of High School and Independent Ensembles such as Buena HS, Camarillo HS, Westlake HS, William S. Hart HS, Newbury Park HS, Central HS, Clovis North HS, Tulare Western HS, Broken City, POW Percussion, Blue Knights, and most recently the Sacramento Mandarins. 

Richard currently resides in Camarillo, CA and is a member of the Innovative Percussion Educational Team.

Nic Rundell is a composer, educator, & audio engineer based in Austin, Texas. 

Nic attended Texas State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sound Recording Technology, and is currently on the Production Team at University of Texas at Austin for the Moody College of Communication. He is also heavily involved as a recording/mixing/mastering engineer at Nicrund Audio and is a freelance percussion composer. 

Nic began his marching percussion career at Cy-Woods High School before going on to perform with Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps (2016), Madison Scouts (2017), and Blue Knights (2018-2019), where he aged out as the battery captain and received the Dan Burke Memorial Award. Additionally, he spent four years with Monarch Independent Percussion (2017-2020) and one year with Broken City Percussion (2022). 

As an educator, Nic has had the pleasure of instructing for various high school programs across the country including Cy-Fair High School, Cy-Woods High School, Dripping Springs High School, Rowland High School, and several others. Currently, he is a quad technician for Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and Monarch Independent Percussion. 

In his free time, Nic is writing for his band Citadel Burning and enjoys spending time with his dog, Winston.

Suvin Varghese is a performer and educator from the Bay Area and currently living in Chino Hills, CA. Previous performance experience includes Blue Devils “B,” Vanguard Winter Percussion, and international performances with Blue Devils Entertainment. Suvin has instructed multiple high schools in the Bay Area and Southern California, including James Logan High School, Homestead High School, and Etiwanda High School. He taught the battery at Blue Devils “B” from 2014-2016, Bluecoats from 2016-present, and Broken City from 2017- present. 

Outside of percussion education and performance, Suvin attended San Jose State University and Azusa Pacific University, completing a BA in Psychology, M. Ed in Educational Psychology, and an Ed.S in School Psychology, and is currently a practicing School Psychologist in Southern California.

Jonathan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), musician, entrepreneur, and Founder of Rudimental Mindset. He graduated from UC Irvine with a B.A. in Cognitive Sciences in 2010 and a Master of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Louisville in 2018. When he is not providing services to those exposed to traumatic experiences, he is busy cultivating young musicians into world class performers, while also finding the time to develop products and services in mobile, game, and web development.

Jonathan has been teaching percussion ensembles in Southern California since 2007; instructing several junior high and high school ensembles including Ayala High School, the Mandarins, Carolina Crown, and Broken City. He has traveled around the world as an entertainer, and looks forward to building a long-lasting global presence through clinical and business endeavors.

Veronica is a percussion educator in Southern California with an additional background of study in psychology and social work. She has taught many schools throughout her teaching career and is dedicated to educating young adults through music and mentorship. Veronica's previous experience ranges from teaching and designing for several high schools throughout Southern California along with drum corps to include battery education and Percussion Caption Head of the Blue Knights (2014 - 2019). Veronica currently teaches and designs for battery percussion at several high schools to include scholastic world groups Vista Murrieta High School and Rowland High School, along with Broken City and Carolina Crown. 

Brandon Zackey is a very dedicated and talented performer. His talents have been recognized the world over and his performances have been seen on many different stages. Brandon’s drumming career started at the age of 9. With his love of rock and heavy metal, Brandon began drumming for various metal bands. Upon entering high school he discovered a love for other types of performance including concert band, jazz band, and marching band.
 
Through marching band and drum corps Brandon was able to refine his musicality to a new level of precision. His drumming talents grew with his resume as he performed for world class organizations like Yamato, Esperanza, Glassmen, Riverside Community College and the world renowned Blue Devils. These seasons of drum corps took him on 6 national tours and lead him several opportunities to play in Japan. He has been contracted multiple times to perform at Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan. Brandon can also be seen on episodes of The Office, American Idol, and Big Love.
 
Upon aging-out of the drum line activity, he immediately began teaching high school and professional ensembles, including the San Diego State University Winter Drum Line in 2012 and Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps. Brandon was also a consultant for Dark Sky Percussion in 2019. He currently teaches Chaparral High School and Great Oak High School while also giving private lessons. Brandon is also a clinician for System Blue.

in 2016, Brandon was a Grand Finalist at the 27th Annual Guitar Center Drum Off where he competed against some of the top drummers in the country.  He can be seen in the deathcore band Enterprise Earth and with the black metal band Sicarius. He is also a member of the prog metal band Axis Nova and has toured North America with Felix Martin. Brandon has also presented drum set clinics at Drumflip in Vista, CA and Lonestar Percussion in Fullerton, CA.

Brandon proudly plays Tama Marching drums, Vic Firth Sticks, Zildjian Cymbals, and Trick Drum Pedals.