VK Youth Arts Organization would

TROY CAMPBELL – began his long marching history at the age of 12 in the Sound Machine of the Inland Empire Youth Band. There he marched Mellophone from 92-96. During High School Troy was honored to be excepted into the PCC Honor Band playing lead trumpet. During his Soph0more year in high school Troy decided to join the Santa Clara Vanguard. In Vanguard he played lead Soprano as well as Mellophone from 1997-2001. While attending Cal State Fullerton he was privileged to study trumpet under the late Mark Garrabrant. Troy has previously worked with Bonita High School , Rubidoux High School (under Charles Gray), Yorba Linda High School, King High School (under Charles Gray), and Mountain View High School. He is currently on his 2^nd year as Visual Caption Head at Patriot High School in Riverside under Raymond Moreno. Troy is also currently the lead Toy Soldier in Disney's Christmas Fantasy Parade. As well as being a Marching instructor, he works for an after school program through the YMCA of Brea as a team leader. Troy believes in a strong work ethic and balance between the mind and body. In his spare time you can find him working out , riding bikes and enjoying playing Latin Percusion. Music and Movement run deep in Troy’s blood and he is excited to take on the position of Visual Caption Head He will bring new ideas and very strong concepts to the VK family.

ARON CAMPBELL - has been an active professional music educator in Southern California since 2005 instructing at the middle school level at West middle from 2005-2006. Currently he is the Head Music Director at Moreno Valley High School (2007 – present). He has worked with marching programs such as Rubidoux High School (1999 – 2003), Riverside King High School (2003 – 2005), Moreno Valley All-City Youth Band (2009 – 2010), and The Sound Machine of the Inland Empire Youth Band (1997). In addition, Aron has been an invited clinician for Etiwanda High School. His amateur performance experience includes programs such as The Sound Machine of the Inland Empire Youth Band and The Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (A – Corps Contrabass Section leader 1997 and 1998 seasons) His professional performance experience includes being a lead trumpeter for the world famous Disneyland Christmas Parade and as an ensemble trumpet player for world famous flutist, Cynthia Ellis.

DAVID LEMUS - David is an alumni of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. He played soprano and trumpet in the ’98, ’99, ’00, and ’01 summer tours. In 2001, David aged-out of SCV but not before receiving advanced quality instruction in marching performance which he is determined to pass on to the youth of today. When David isn’t participating in the drum corps activity, he focuses on his studies at the Art Institute of California – Hollywood where he is finishing the completion of a Bachelors of Science in Digital Filmmaking and Video Production. Additionally, his beautiful 3 yr. old daughter, Marisa, constantly keeps him running around the house, making sure she doesn’t get into any mischief. David is extremely excited to be a part of the Velvet Knights organization and anticipates a season of growth and success this coming 2012 summer tour

STEVE MORENO – served as marching instructor for programs at Eisenhower High School in Rialto, Ca and Montclair HS. He marched and aged out in 2000 with Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps playing euphonium. Steve also marched as 4yrs with The Sound Machine of The Inland Empire Youth Band from 1995 to 1998 as a clarinet player. “I offer enthusiasm and passion to members of the corps, as I believe you need to have both to be in this activity”. I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging season with VK.

DANIEL GARCIA graduated from Rubidoux High School in 2005. He is alumni of Pacific Crest drum & bugle corps where he marched in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. He played lead trumpet all four years while at Pacific Crest. Daniel has had the opportunity to work with Patriot High School, Rubidoux High School and Valley View High school. He is currently a musician at Disneyland and a student at Cal State Fullerton working on his bachelors of music education. Daniel is very excited to be a member of the VK 2012 family and is looking forward to a strong season

RANDY BADILLO – returns as Colorguard Caption Head. He will also be serving as our Program Coordinator. He is a very much sought out colorguard instructor, along with his team. He has taught many programs in Southern California since 1998, including but no limited to Bell Gardens HS, Schurr HS, Fairfax HS, Montebello HS, Project “L” Winterguard, Pasadena City College, City Sound 2010, Gold Drum & Bugle Corps 2006 to 2009, as caption head and coordinator. He returns for his second year. His marching experience ranges from the Kingsmen Winterguard in 1995 to the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps 1997. He attended Pasadena City College and Cal State University Northridge, music education. Randy is the founder of Nexus Winterguard, an Independent Open unit competing in the WGI and WGASC circuits.

ALDO TREVINO – will be returning for his second year as an instructor and designer with VK. His teaching experience ranges since 2004 instructing at various organizations as Bell Gardens HS, Bell HS, Schurr HS, the Pasadena City College, Gold, Project “L”, and many more. He has also marched and performed since 1994, Pasadena City college, Spirit of Santa Fe Springs Youth Band, Visual Conception, Kingsmen/Monarch Guard, Glassmen Drum & Bugle corps (1997), amongst others. He has design uniforms and flags for many other fine groups as well, showing his talents as a designer.

FRANK RICO - Returning to the Velvet Knight’s Brass team, in the role of Brass Caption Head is Frank Rico. Frank has a degree in music education from The California State University, Los Angeles (2000) and is currently wrapping up his MM in Commercial Music/Afro-Latin Studies from Cal State L.A. He has taught, arranged music and charted drill for many educational based organizations. Some of these organizations include, Bell Gardens High School, Schurr High School, Temple City High School, Montebello High School, Gladstone High School, La Mirada High School, Pasadena City College, Tournament of Roses Honor Band, Irvine Community College, Cal State LA, Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (2004), Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps (2007), Velvet Knights (2011, 2012). Frank is currently entering his 7^th year as the director of bands for Bell Gardens High School. After joining the Velvet Knights in June 2011, Frank will be working his first full season with the Velvet Knights. His drum corps experience as a performer includes performing with the Sacramento Freelancers and The Blue Knights from Denver Colorado

RAYMUNDO VIZCARRA – Raymundo Vizcarra is a graduate of Fresno State. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music. While at Fresno State he performed in the Bulldog Marching Band, Symphonic Band (piano), and Wind Ensemble. At the same time he was the principal trombone in Steve Trapani's trombone studio with whom he studied. He has also been member of the Cal State LA Jazz Ensemble, Afro-Latin Band, and Wind Ensemble. Other studies include Northern Michigan University and The Ohio State University. Ray has been a freelance musician since 1994 performing music of various genres. He is the current instrumental music director of Fairfax Academy since 2006 and the director of Revolution LA since 2011

CHRISTIAN BETANZOS has trombone for 10 years graduated from Chino High School. He is involved as a volunteer with various Non-Profit Organization community band groups such as Ontario Chaffey/ Community Show Band / 4 years (Jack Mercer Director), Riverside Concert Band / 2 years (Terry McPherson), and Placentia Symphonic Concert Band / 2 years (John Hausey Director), He plays with the Chaffey College Jazz, Concert Band, Latin Jazz, and Mariachi. He currently attends and marches with the Riverside Community college band, and is taking applied music classes with Steven Williams and will be receiving his Music Performance Certificate this spring of 2012. He was on the visual staff at Chino High School. Christian is also an alumni of the Velvet Knights Drum & Bugle corps.

ERNIE MCLAURIN - has been an active percussion instructor in Southern California since 1993. Currently he is the Percussion Caption Head and Assistant Director for the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corp and percussion tech for Ruben S. Ayala High School in Chino Hills. He has worked with percussion programs such as, Pulse Percussion, Impulse Drum and Bugle Corp, John Muir High School, Simi Valley High School, Garfield High School, Alhambra High School, Grant High School. His Performance experience includes such programs as Cal State Northridge Matador Band, Freelancers Drum and Bugle Corp, Tournament of Roses Honor Band and Burbank Lancers Youth Band. The percussion programs that he has worked with have earned such accolades as 2006 DCI DIV 3 champion and High Percussion Award with Impulse Drum and Bugle Award and 2010 WGI Scholastic World Percussion Championship. He graduated from Cal State Northridge in 1997.

DAVE BECKER - is an active percussion instructor and designer based in the Southern California area. He is returning as the bass tech for the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (08-09, 2011). He is currently the head percussion tech for the Chino High School 77th Cavalry.. He is also the Percussion Caption Head for Los Altos High School, Rubidoux High School and Don Lugo High School. In addition, David is a clinician for Woodcrest Jr. High School and Grace Yolkly Middle School.
David teaches up and coming students of all ages and levels throughout the community. His performance experience includes programs such as the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps., The Sound Machine of the Inland Empire Youth Band (Percussion Captain), and Riverside Community College (Bassline Section Leader). David is endorsed by Innovative Percussion.

STEPHANIE VASILAKIS drumming experience began at an early age on the drum set. From then on she has grown up loving to play the drums. In 1999 she discovered the indoor drumline activity and was instantly hooked. Once she reached Jr. High School she joined band and drumline at Canyon Hills Jr. High as their drum set player. She continued playing drum set as a freshman at Ayala High School and was then moved onto snare in her sophomore year of high school. Stephanie was also a member of the Ayala concert emsemble during her 4 years of high school. After graduating high school in 2008, Stephanie continued her journey in the marching arts by joining Pulse Percussion in 2009 as their drum set player. In the fall of 2009 she joined the Riverside Community College Marching Band as a snare drummer. She then continued her snare drumming career when she was accepted in the RCC Indoor Drumline for the 2010 season. Stephanie has been a member of the RCC Indoor Drumline for the past 2 years and is embarking on her 3rd year with the group this year. Along with an extensive participation in the indoor marching activity, Stephanie joined the DCI family in 2010 when she was accepted to the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. She then became an age-out member of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2011 DCI season. Some of Stephanie’s competitive accomplishment’s include: 2003 and 2004 SCPA Gold medalist, 2004 WGI Scholastic A finalist, 2005 Bands of America Grand National Finalist, 2006 and 2007 WGI Scholastic Concert World Champion, 2010 DCI Bronze Medalist, 2011 WGI Silver Medalist, and 2011 DCI Silver Medalist. Currently, Stephanie is a Business Marketing student at Cal Poly Pomona, teaching private drum lessons at KYR Music and the battery instructor for Charter Oak High School.

TONY VILLASENOR – returns to the Velvet Knights Drum & Bugle Corps for his second consecutive year, but third, as the front ensemble instructor. He taught VK 2009, 2011 and now. He also currently teaches at Bellflower and El Segundo High School. His past teaching experiences varies from La Puente and Montclair HS, Dream Drum & Bugle Corps, OCI (2011), Full Force Percussion 2009, 2010. He marched and aged out with VK in 2007. Impulse 2004/2005, Full Force Percussion 2007/2008. He is a graduate of Garfield High School.