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Introducing 3 more members of The Academy Production Team

Posted on by AAPA Admin
19
Jan

The Academy is excited to introduce three additional talented staff members working with the corps within the Production Team in 2018.  New to the corps will be Derrick Shannon, and Kim Kras, who joins returning member Chris Velez.

Derrick Shannon
Sound Designer

Working with The Academy for the first time, Derrick Shannon will be working with the music design team in the creation of the digital sound design.

Derrick Shannon is a percussion specialist originally from the Chicago-land area.  He currently holds the Director of Percussive Arts position at Plainfield Community Schools and formerly the Director of Percussive Arts position at Goshen Community Schools where he oversaw two World Class finalist ensembles that actively competed within Winter Guard International.  He started Percussive Soundscapes which offers a variety of services to the marching arts community including custom arrangements for band and winter percussion ensembles. He taught at Ball State University, judges during the weekends, consults with numerous groups across the country and is the Creative Director for Legacy Performing Arts Percussion Ensembles. He is also currently the President-Elect of the Indiana Percussion Association.
After marching seven summers of drum corps with groups such as the Phantom Regiment and Cavaliers, both in the battery and front ensemble, Derrick has become the Percussion Caption Head for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, IL.  He received his Bachelors in Music Education at the VanderCook College of Music and his Master’s in Music Technology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Derrick proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Pearl/Adams, Remo, and Etymotic. He currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife Kayla and their daughter Miyah.

Kim Kras
Production Team

Also new to The Academy is Kim Kras, who will be serving on the production team, assisting the corps with the implementation of the production design.

Kim is excited to join the production team at The Academy for the 2018 season. Kim has 17 years of experience working with marching bands and winter guards across the US. In marching band, Kim has acted as an instructor, designer, color guard choreographer, movement designer, clinician, and adjudicator. In the winter guard season, she has directed, instructed, designed, and choreographed programs at a variety of levels.

Kim’s drum corps experience began as a color guard member with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps followed by the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps. Kim marched winter seasons with the Pride of Missouri State University Winter Guard.

Apart from her work in the pageantry arts, Kim earned her doctorate in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2014. Kim now resides in Boston, Massachusetts where, she is an Assistant Professor of Criminology.

Chris Velez
Production Team/Brass Choreographer

Chris Velez returns for another season working as an additional specialist to help implement the show design.  Chris will also be specializing in the area of movement choreography for the brass section of the corps.

Chris Velez began his performing arts career with Riverside Community College Marching Tigers, Fantasia Winter Guard, and the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. Leaving his performing days behind him, Chris transitioned into the role of choreographer, designer, and instructor.

Over the course of 10+ years, he has had the privilege of working with several groups that include Ramona High School, Poway High School, Chino Hills High School, RCC Marching Tigers, Fantasia, and their Winter Drum Line, and The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also been fortunate enough to work with organizations in Japan such as the Yamato Drum and Bugle Corps and the Yokohama Scouts.

AAPA Admin

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