News and Announcements

For Immediate Release

Novermber 13, 2006

215-292-1522

Bushwackers announce 2007 Percussion Staff

Ralph Hardimon - Director of Percussion

Ralph is a percussionist, teacher, composer and clinician. He is best known for his work in the areas of marching percussion, rudimental drumming, drum and bugle corps, and marching band.

His performance experience started with the LA Police Band, and later the Velvet Knights and Anaheim Kingsmen. He taught and studied with Fred Sanford and Charles Dowd at the University of Oregon.

Hardimon became director of percussion for the Santa Clara Vanguard in 1976 and retained that position through 1990, winning five high percussion awards and four DCI championships. He served as a consultant for Santa Clara from 1997 through 2000. Ralph has also scored music for many other organizations, including the Blue Knights from 1990 through 2001, as well as a myriad of college percussion ensembles and marching bands.

Ralph has received Grammy nominations in the Jazz and R&B categories. He has worked for Walt Disney, and has been involved with productions for various bowl games including the Citrus Bowl, Orange Bowl, and even professional football’s Super Bowl. He travels to Japan several times per year to work with percussion ensembles, marching bands, and drum and bugle corps.

He was inducted into the DCI hall of fame in 2000, and received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from Sabian Cymbals in 2005. He is currently a WGI adjudicator, and is currently working with Mike Sherpa at "Head Talk" (A school of percussion in Loveland, CO) In addition, he arranges percussion for Capital Regiment, a Division I DCI drum and bugle corps from Columbus, OH.

Bob Cizmarik - Percussion Caption Head

Bob started his drum corps career in the mid 1990s. He then went on to march with the Glassmen drum and bugle corps until 1999. Upon aging out of the Glassmen, he secured a position with the Bluecoats drum and bugle corps on their percussion staff.

He has been involved with various drum and bugle corps teacher, writer and educator, as well as high school and college marching bands, and independent indoor and outdoor percussion ensembles. He is currently the director of percussion for the Upper Darby High School marching band in Drexel Hill, PA.

Chris Rivera - Percussion Staff

Chris attended Western Connecticut State University, majoring in Percussion. In 2002, he received a BS in Music Education. During his time at WCSU, Chris was a member of the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble. He also served as musical director for several productions. In 2005, Chris earned a Master of Arts degree in Music Theory from the University of CT. While at UConn, he served as a graduate assistant, teaching Honors Music Theory.

He began teaching at Norwalk H.S. in the fall of 1999. Chris was the arranger and percussion ensemble director for four years. Chris is currently teaching Trumbull High School in CT, where he serves as percussion caption head, coordinator and wind and percussion arranger.

This past year, the Trumbull H.S. Percussion Ensemble was a WGI championship finalist. They achieved 8th place in the open class finals in Dayton, OH. They also won the MAC open class championship, in addition to receiving the high percussion award for the past two years, consecutively.

Chris taught the CT Hurricanes from 2000 - 2002, as well as 2005. He served as caption head in 2002. In addition working with various drum and bugle corps, marching bands, and percussion ensembles, Chris is also the director of instrumental studies at Shelton Intermediate School in Shelton, CT.

Chris has performed with artists such as Dave Samuels, Arthur Lipner, Janis Potter, Gordon Stout, Nebojsa Zivkovic, Leigh Howard Stevens, and the New Haven Symphony.

Chris Rivera uses Vic Firth sticks and mallets, exclusively, as an endorsed member of the Vic Firth education team.

Rob Thatcher - Percussion Staff

Rob has been a performing member of the Bushwackers since 1993, marching 1993 through 1995, 2005, and 2006. In addition he was a member of the Crossmen drum and bugle corps in 1996. From 1999 through 2001, Rob held the position of Percussion Caption head and arranger for the New York Skyliners. In 2002, Rob joined the Jersey Surf drum and bugle corps as a technician, and in 2003 was their Percussion Caption Head.

Rob has arranged and/or instructed for a host of marching bands in the NJ, MD, PA area, including: Old Bridge High School, Linden High School, Immaculata High School, Rutgers University Marching Band, Liberty High School, MD, and Pittston area High School, PA.

Rob began his career with the 1993 Bushwackers as a tenor player. He had the good fortune to learn from some of the best tenor players in the business; and hopes to give some of that knowledge back to the current corps members. By focusing on providing a quality experience for each of his students, Rob has achieved success in creating quality programs. He hopes to do the same for the Bushwackers.

Tim Greene - Percussion Staff

Tim spent three years with the Cadets of Bergen County, marching in 1996, 1997 and 2000. Tim has worked as an instructor with King Philip indoor percussion, the Boston Crusaders drum and bugle corps, the Cadets of New York, the Bushwackers and Vision Elite.

Sean McReady - Cymbal Technician

Sean began his marching career at Phoenixville Area High School in PA. Upon graduating from High School, he joined the Bushwacker drum and bugle corps. Sean attended West Chester University, where he was a member of the marching band. He went on to march with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle corps.

Sean's teaching career began as the Cymbal technician of Phoenixville High School in 1996. Since then, he has been involved with several award winning programs in Southeastern, PA and New Jersey. He joined the Bushwacker percussion staff in 2000, marching and teaching until 2004. Sean spent a year as a member of the Lehigh Valley Knights' visual staff in 2004. After a year in the brass line in 2005, Sean returned to the percussion staff for Bush’s 25th anniversary season.

When not with the Bushwackers, Sean is a drummer for The Mother Superior out of Philadelphia, PA.

Alex Nielsen - Percussion Staff

Alex's marching career began at Parsippany High School in NJ. After a year of alto saxophone he made the switch to the drumline and has not looked back. While attending Rutgers University, Alex was a member of the drumline and went on to be a battery tech there for 2 years. Alex finished his college career at William Paterson University where he received a BA in Music Studies.

Shortly after graduating HS, Alex began teaching percussion for Parsippany's marching band and has been directing the percussion program since 1990. Alex has taught at several other NJ marching percussion programs including West Orange HS, Rutgers U., and the Bushwackers.

Alex has been a member of the Bushwackers drumline since 1992. He also created the first website for the bushwackers in 1995 and still maintains the corps' website to this day.

If you're interested in marching, checking it out, or even just getting some more information...please fill out our membership form at http://www.bushwackers.org/member/ or email us by clicking here.