Andrew Gregory
Co-Caption Head

 Andrew Gregory was born and raised in the upstate of South Carolina. He is a graduate of Boiling Springs High School, and studied music education at the University of South Carolina. As a performer, Andrew was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from 2012 – 2015. 

After graduating college and aging out of DCI, Andrew began teaching full time while designing and judging on the side. As an educator and designer, he has experienced success within Bands of America, Winter Guard International, Drum Corps International, and local scholastic circuits. Andrew has been on staff with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps since 2023. 

From 2020 to 2023, Andrew served as the Assistant Band Director at TL Hanna High School in Anderson, SC, and moved to the Director of Bands position in 2024. Under his direction, the programs offered have grown rapidly and the marching and concert bands have had tremendous success. The TL Hanna marching band has been a consistent finalist in the South Carolina State Marching Contest earning the silver medal in 2021, the bronze medal in 2022, and the school’s first State Championship in 2023. The TL Hanna Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble have also experienced success earning consistent “Superior with Distinction” ratings at state concert assessments. In 2023, TL Hanna repeated their success on stage at the SC Concert Performance Assessment and received the “Outstanding Performance Award” for the first time in school history. 

On top of TL Hanna’s concert and marching bands, Andrew also leads one of the most awarded jazz bands in South Carolina, consults and designs for the school’s winter guards, and he designs for and instructs the Indoor Drumline who were 2022 WGI Open Class semi finalists. 

Robert Peterson
Co-Caption Head

Robert Peterson is a marching arts visual educator and drill writer based in Mesa, Arizona. For the past decade, he has taught and designed for multiple high school programs in his home state of New Jersey and throughout Arizona. Robert earned a Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in Music Education from Seton Hall University in 2016 and earned his Master of Music (MM) in Brass Performance Pedagogy from Arizona State University in 2023.

During the winter season, Robert serves as drill designer and visual caption head for the open-class WGI Percussion ensemble Breakthrough Indoor. In the fall, he is the lead visual staff member for the Mountain Ridge High School “Pride of the West” in Glendale, Arizona.

Robert started his drum corps journey in 2013 with Cadets2 and subsequently marched with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2015. Transitioning to teaching after his age out, Robert worked at various drum corps until 2019. In 2020, he relocated to Arizona and joined the visual staff of The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, where he is now in his second year as Visual Co-Caption head for the 2025 season!

Additionally, alongside his work as a visual educator and designer, Robert is a dedicated bass trombone performer and educator. He is the trombone coach for ASU’s Sun Devil Marching Band and a brass educator with the non-profit Harmony Project. Robert also runs a private lesson studio for euphonium and trombone students and works as a clinician specializing in brass pedagogy. Robert has performed with groups including Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, Salt River Brass, and The North Valley Symphony, and was a featured soloist with the Arizona State University Wind Ensemble.

Austin Avery
Battery Movement Specialist

Austin Avery has been a freelance educator and designer for the marching arts since the fall of 2004. He is currently the winter percussion director, program coordinator, and visual designer for the percussion at Trumbull High School. Other high schools he has taught in the northeast have been Norwalk High School, Westhill High School, Stamford High School, and Dartmouth High School. He has also written choreography for schools like Clovis High School and Quitman High School for their fall programs. Austin is a visual consultant for the Connecticut Hurricanes, where he has also been the staff coordinator, choreographer, and visual tech. He’s also taught at numerous drum corps like Oregon Crusaders, Jersey Surf, Hawthorne Caballeros, and Fusion Core. This will be Austin’s fifth year with The Academy and he cannot wait what this new season will bring!

Marc Chacon
Technician

Marc is excited to be returning for his third year at The Academy on visual staff. He currently teaches visual/cymbals at Campo Verde HS in Gilbert, AZ. He also teaches visual and cymbals at Breakthrough Indoor Percussion.

Marc’s marching experience started in 2011 at Chandler HS in Arizona, then marched The Sun Devil Marching band in 2015, The Academy DBC from 2016-2018, and Flux Indoor Percussion in 2019 & 2020.

He has a great amount of knowledge and experience that helps him teach and grow students into excellent performers in the marching arts and great people in society.

Kaitlyn Misch
Technician

Kaitlyn Misch is a visual and dance-focused marching band educator native to Arizona who has taught numerous fall and winter seasons at different Arizona High Schools.

Over the last few years, she has become a Choreographer and Visual Technician at Breakthrough Indoor Percussion, Visual Caption Head at Campo Verde High School and has been teaching visual for the Academy Drum and Bugle Corp for the last three years.

Kaitlyn received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Arizona State University as well as a Minor in Dance. She then received her Master’s Degree in Communications and strives to apply her education and experience to her teaching methods.

Gerardo “Tito” Estrada
Technician

Gerardo Estrada, better known as “Tito”, is a Mexican-American visual instructor, drill designer, and announcer based in Phoenix, AZ. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Tito grew up playing clarinet, but it was marching band that opened the door to a newfound passion. Determined to explore this passion, he learned how to play tuba so he could audition for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. He marched with The Academy from 2015 to 2018, contributing to the corps’ historic achievement of making DCI Finals in 2016. Beyond drum corps, Tito was also a member of NAU’s Lumberjack Marching Band, playing sousaphone in 2017 before earning the role of Drum Major in 2018. As Drum Major, he played a key role in developing and refining the visual program that season.

Tito began teaching in 2015, working with various schools in the Las Vegas Valley, eventually leading him to serve as Visual Caption Head at Silverado High School in 2019. In 2020, he was part of the inaugural seasons of Sage V Indoor Percussion and Phenom Drum and Bugle Corps before the seasons were cut short due to COVID.

After relocating to Phoenix in 2022, Tito expanded into drill writing alongside his teaching career. He’s had the opportunity to work with schools like Sandra Day O’Connor and Corona Del Sol, but his deepest commitment is to Tempe High School. Dedicating most of his time to designing, coordinating staff, and teaching, he strives to uplift students in a low-income community, showing them that passion and perseverance outweigh financial limitations.

Tito has also worked with independent ensembles such as Breakthrough Indoor Percussion in 2023 and currently serves as Visual Caption Head for Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps (2024–2025). He joined The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps Visual staff in 2022 and is excited to be returning!

Beyond his work as an instructor and designer, Tito is also an announcer and T&P judge for the WGASC and WGAZ competition circuits in Southern California and Arizona.

Carter Goldsworthy
Technician

Carter Goldsworthy currently resides in Phoenix, AZ. Spending over 10 years in the marching arts activity, Carter began marching euphonium with The Academy in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and completed his performing career with Blue Knights in 2020 and 2021.

Throughout Carter’s performing career his passion for education became clear. His teaching experience includes serving as Canyon View High School’s first-ever visual caption head during the fall season of 2021, and being on the music staff at Sandra Day O’Connor High School through the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

The Academy holds a special place in Carter’s heart, and he is happy to be returning for his third year as a visual staff member!

Bryan Hopps
Technician

Bryan Hopps performing experiences include The Phantom Regiment and The Sound That Lights the South. He has taught the marching arts in Cobb County, GA for 3 years. Beginning with the Combined Kellgrove Ensemble in 2021 and continuing as Visual Caption head for the Hillgrove High School working with the Marching Band as well as the Indoor Percussion Ensemble.

Bryan resides in Woodstock, GA where he teaches middle school during the day and various performing ensembles during the evenings. He is incredibly excited for another season of working with The Academy.

Benjamin Lynch
Technician

Benjamin (Ben) Lynch is in his 8th year of teaching and in his first year as Band Director at Desert Vista High School, in the Tempe Union High School District. Under his leadership his groups have received the highest ratings in concert and marching band festivals.

Ben graduated from Northern Arizona University in May 2017 with his degree in Instrumental Music Education and obtained a certificate for Secondary English Immersion. Before graduating, Ben completed his student teaching in the Deer Valley Unified School District at Deer Valley High School, under the direction of David Kuhns, and Desert Sky Middle School, under the direction of Evan Dixon. Throughout college, Ben was actively involved in the marching band scene as a visual technician with Shadow Mountain High School, under the direction of Natan Simon, and Coconino High School, under the direction of Ms. Jennifer Hamilton. Ben was the Assistant Band Director at Paradise Valley High School from 2016-2022.

Ben has marched with the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps and Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to working with Academy, he worked with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. This 2025 season will be Ben’s second year working with The Academy, and he is very excited to continue his teaching journey with the organization!

Ralph Calatrava
Technician

Ralph is a dedicated marching arts instructor based in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a passion for developing excellence in the performing arts. He joined The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps instructional staff in 2024, marking 2025 as his second year with the organization.

Ralph has had the privilege of working with outstanding programs, including Arbor View High School in Las Vegas, NV, and Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, HI.

As a performer, Ralph marched with the Vanguard Cadets in 2019 and went on to join the Concord Blue Devils from 2022 to 2023, where he aged out as a member of the world-renowned corps.

Morgan Clark
Technician

Morgan is joining The Academy visual team in 2025 after spending the past three seasons teaching The Troopers. She loves working with tubas, and marched tuba herself with Legends and The Bluecoats during her marching career. Morgan has also worked with various local marching bands including Des Moines Roosevelt and her alma mater Carlisle High School.

Morgan attended Drake University where she received her BA in Journalism and Mass Communication. In her day-to-day life, Morgan works as a marketing specialist.

Brendan Dunavant
Technician

Brendan Dunavant is an accomplished musician and educator in the Atlanta, GA area. Originally from Michigan, Brendan received his bachelor’s in music education from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Currently, he works at an accomplished band program, Lakeside Middle School in Cumming, Georgia. In his free time, Mr. Dunavant likes to enjoy coffee, go snowboarding, and referee soccer. He is excited to join the Academy and can’t wait to get started with his position on visual staff.

Josie Santiago
Technician

Josie Santiago is currently in her final year at Ball State University, where she studies Media Design and Development with a minor in Studio Art. Josie spent three years with the Blue Stars, aging out in 2024 as mellophone section leader. She is excited to join The Academy for the 2025 season!

Outside of drum corps, Josie participates in Ball State’s handbell choir and is on the executive board for the Asian Student Union. She also designs for Ball State’s student-run newspaper and magazine. Josie hopes to get a job working in graphic design post-graduation.

Will Whitten
Technician

William Whitten is a middle school band director from Flagstaff, Arizona. He currently has two bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Performance from Northern Arizona University. Will started his musical journey on saxophone in fifth grade and eventually changed instruments to perform in the professional marching arts. Going into college, He worked on becoming a professional trombonist and performed two seasons each with The Academy (’18, ’19) and Santa Clara Vanguard (20′ 21′). Will recently served as the principal bass trombonist for NAU and the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. Alongside his performance career, he has been arranging music, choreographing, and writing and teaching drill for local high schools. As an educator, Will is dedicated to fostering artistry and technical skills in students of all levels. With that, he is extremely honored to be back with The Academy; not only as an educator and staff member but to be reunited with the family that shaped me into the person he is today.