Robert Peterson
Visual Co-Caption Head
Robert Peterson
Visual Co-Caption Head
Robert Peterson is a marching arts visual educator, adjudicator, and drill writer based in Phoenix, Arizona. With over a decade of experience in the marching arts, he has collaborated with numerous programs across the country, with a focus on ensembles from Arizona and his home state of New Jersey. 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.
Robert started his drum corps journey with the DCA group, Cadets2, and later marched with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. After aging out he worked on the visual staff of various ensembles in both DCA and DCI through 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 third year as Visual Co-Caption head and second as assistant drill writer.
During the winter season, Robert is the visual caption head for Breakthrough’s open-class ensemble and as the drill designer for both Breakthrough Open and Breakthrough’s new A-class ensemble. In the fall, he is the lead visual staff member for the Mountain Ridge High School “Pride of the West” in Glendale, Arizona.
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 Phoenix. 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, Arizona Wind Symphony, the North Valley Symphony, and was a featured soloist with the Arizona State University Wind Ensemble.
Andrew Gregory
Visual Co-Caption Head
Andrew Gregory
Visual 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.
Austin Avery
Battery Movement Specialist
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 Chacon
Technician
Marc Chacon is in his fourth year on the visual staff with The Academy. He is a proud alumni of the corps, marching from 2016- 2018. He currently teaches at Campo Verde HS in Gilbert Arizona, and Breakthrough indoor percussion on both Visual and Cymbals. Marc is currently studying music education at Mesa Community College, and is looking forward to passing down his knowledge of the marching arts to the current/future students of The Academy.
Kaitlyn Misch
Technician
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 four 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 “Tito” Estrada
Technician
Gerardo “Tito” Estrada is a Mexican-American visual instructor, drill designer, and announcer based in Phoenix, Arizona. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Tito discovered his passion for the marching arts through band, beginning on clarinet before learning tuba to 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 performed with Northern Arizona University’s Lumberjack Marching Band, playing sousaphone in 2017 before serving as Drum Major in 2018, where he helped develop and refine the visual program.
Since 2015, Tito has taught and designed for numerous programs across Nevada and Arizona, including Liberty High School, Silverado High School, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Corona Del Sol. His deepest commitment is to Tempe High School, where he focuses on visual design and program coordination.
Tito has also worked with Breakthrough Indoor Percussion (2023) and currently serves as Visual Caption Head for Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps (2024–2026). He joined The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps Visual Staff in 2022 and is proud to be returning for his fifth season.
Beyond education and design, Tito is also an announcer and T&P judge for WGASC and WGAZ, continuing to serve the marching arts with enthusiasm, creativity, and heart.
Carter Goldsworthy
Technician
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 fourth year as a visual staff member!
Bryan Hopps
Technician
Bryan Hopps
Technician
Bryan Hopps has been teaching Marching bands in Cobb County Georgia since 2021 and has served as the Visual Caption Head for The Hillgrove Highschool Marching Band, The Hillgrove Indoor Drumline, and is on Visual staff for the inaugural year of Hydra Winds, Georgia’s First independent winds group.
Outside of teaching the marching arts, Bryan photographs for Drum corps and Independent Groups year round including The Academy, Atlanta CV, Edge Independent, Noir Independent, Paramount Winterguard, Vox Artium, Oasis, Phantom Regiment, and Carolina Crown.
Bryan has been a member of the Academy Instructional staff for 2 years. He is excited to return to the group for the summer of 2026.
Julia Robles
Technician
Julia Robles
Technician
Julia Robles began her performance experience as a member of the Oregon Crusaders. She went on to perform with such ensembles as the Phantom Regiment, and Dark Sky Percussion, and aged out with the Santa Clara Vanguard.
During and after her time as a performer, Julia has had the pleasure of teaching, writing, designing, and choreographing for high schools throughout California. She has also worked with multiple indoor groups including Instinct, POW Percussion, and Etiwanda Indoor Percussion. Julia currently serves as a choreographer for Immortal Winds.
Julia has served on the visual staffs of several drum corps over the past five years and is excited to join the Academy this season!
In addition to her work as an educator, Julia serves as a judge for several indoor and fall circuits in California and Arizona.
Julia resides in Southern California with her pitbull Odie.
Ralph Calatrava
Technician
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 2026 as his third 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.
Kiri Guldner
Technician
Kiri Guldner
Technician
An Arizona native, Kiri is thrilled to join the Academy 2026 educational team. As a visual instructor and movement specialist, she brings a dynamic blend of contemporary and jazz influences to the field. Her teaching experience includes work with ensembles such as the Madison Scouts and Vision Percussion, where she combines her background as a Nurse Practitioner in sports medicine and physical rehabilitation to help performers enhance their visual performance while maintaining long-term physical health.
Kiri draws on her extensive drum corps experience—having marched with the Sacramento Mandarins as a contra player, horn sergeant, and drum major—to shape her unique and holistic approach to pedagogy. Beyond drum corps, she has taught for numerous high schools, independent percussion ensembles, and served as a choreographer for winter visual programs.
When she’s not on the field, you can find Kiri tackling new rock climbing routes, practicing her harp, or relaxing with her two cats, Fish and Chips.
Brendan Dunavant
Technician
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 second season on visual staff.
Josie Santiago
Technician
Josie Santiago
Technician
Josie Santiago is a graphic designer in Fort Wayne, IN, as well as a recent Ball State University graduate, where she studied Media Design and Development and Studio Art. Josie spent three years with the Blue Stars, aging out in 2024 as mellophone section leader. She is excited to return to The Academy for her second year on the visual team!
In addition to being a visual educator, Josie is a marching arts photographer and has worked with the Blue Stars and the Blue Knights in their 2025 seasons.
Cora Gilreath
Technician
Cora Gilreath
Technician
Cora Gilreath is a pageantry arts designer and educator based in Fort Collins, Colorado. As a designer in Colorado and beyond, Cora specializes in all aspects of visual design, including program coordination, drill, choreography, prop design and uniform design. With over a decade of teaching experience, her educational roles span far and wide. Currently, she serves as the Visual Caption Head at Loveland High School and the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble, and as a brass tech with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps. Similarly, Cora runs a small private studio of low brass students at Loveland and Fossil Ridge High Schools, as well as Kinard Middle School. Her prior teaching experience includes private lessons and marching band at many programs in Texas, such as Vista Ridge High School, Elkins High School, Austin High School, and Foster High School, as well as Pacific Crest, Spirit of Atlanta and Music City Drum and Bugle Corps.
In addition to her teaching experience, her performance experience as a member of the Phantom Regiment (2013-16) and Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2017) keeps her in high demand as an educator of the marching arts. Cora holds degrees in music education and tuba performance from Iowa State University and the University of Texas at Austin. In her free time, Cora enjoys spending time with her partner Abby and their five cats. She is very excited to be joining The Academy for their 2026 season and cannot get to work with both the staff and students!
Juan Mateo
Technician
Juan Mateo
Technician
Coach Juan emphasizes building confidence, clarity, and consistency in every athlete. He currently serves as the visual caption head for Convergence Indoor Winds and Percussion (WGI Open Class) and co-founded PUSD Indoor Percussion, guiding the ensemble to its first WGAZ State Championship. He is also the creator of DOTS ON TRACK: The Marching Brand for Marching Athletes, combining design, education, and athletic performance culture into one platform.
Coach Juan brings over 15 years of experience in competitive entertainment as a visual educator, designer, and adjudicator. He has contributed to ensembles across Arizona as a caption head, technician, artistic director, and consultant, and has served on adjudication panels for AZMBA, WGAZ, and CSBC.
