Welcome to the Vegas Vanguard In

	Brian C. Howerton Position: Executive Director/Founder/Arranger/Designer/Drill Writer Email: bhowerton@vegasvanguard.org Brian Howerton has been the Executive Director of the Vegas Vanguard since he founded the ensemble back in October of 2004. Mr. Howerton also is the instructor and arranger for marching percussion at The University of Nevada Las Vegas (U.N.L.V.). He has been the Director/Arranger of percussion in Las Vegas at Cheyenne HS (1997- 2000), Foothill HS (2000-2002), Palo Verde HS (2002-2005), and Spring Valley HS (2005-current). Brian is the Executive Director / Founder / Arranger / Performer with the Vegas Vanguard Entertainment Drumline (V.V.E.D.) since October of 2006. Mr. Howerton was a member of the 1995, 1996 and 1997 U.N.L.V. Indoor Percussion Ensembles, winning the W.G.I. College Class World Championship in 1997, under the direction of Brian S. Mason. Mr. Howerton was also a member of the first ever indoor drumline that was invited to perform at the Day of Percussion Festival at the University of Mexico City, Mexico in 1996. Also while attending The University of Nevada Las Vegas, Brian performed in the marching percussion section of the Star of Nevada Marching Band from (1994-1999) and received his bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communications and Criminal Justice in 2002. Brian has been a clinician for the Nevada Percussive Arts Society, an adjudicator of percussion at local marching band and indoor drumline competitions, and an instructor for the Yamaha Sounds of Summer Drumline Camp. Brian Howerton is a proud marching percussion artist and endorser with The Pearl/Adams Corporation, Remo Corporation, Sabian Ltd., StickTape.com, and Vic Firth Incorporated.

	Charles – David (C-D.) Young Position: Marching and Visual Technician (07, 08, 09) Email: dmeduck@gmail.com Charles-David (C-D.)Young is one of the current Directors of the Las Vegas Student Leadership Clinic (LVSLC) held in Las Vegas. As a graduate from The University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV), he completed his undergraduate studies and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a focus in psychology. C-D. is also an accomplished musician and drum major. His musical background is in classical and jazz piano and the saxophone. Since 1999, he has dedicated his passion and skill to instructing, performing, and counseling the drum major position. His experiences as a drum major includes: two years for Silverado High School in Las Vegas, one year for the Las Vegas Honor Marching Band, and five years for University of Nevada, Las Vegas Star of Nevada Marching Band. C-D. earned his Drum Major Elite Certification in 2000. C-D. has also served as a visual tech and advisor to the Vegas Vanguard Percussion Theatre since 2007. During the school year, C-D. hosts leadership clinics, adjudicates drum major auditions, and instructs marching bands for several different high schools throughout the Clark County School District. Since 2004, C-D has served as a director for Leadership camps in Arizona, California, and Nevada.

	John Speas Position: Front Ensemble Instructor/Co-Arranger (2009) Email: CrzyHrse80@att.net John Speas is currently in his first year as the Front Ensemble instructor/co-arranger for the Vegas Vanguard. In addition he is the Percussion Instructor for the Durango High School band in Las Vegas. Having grown up in the Atlanta area, John attended the University of Georgia and received his bachelors in Music Performance studying under Professor Thomas McCutchen. At UGA John performed with many university groups including the percussion ensemble, steel drum band, the Redcoat Marching Band as well as various wind and orchestra ensembles. In 2000 John had the privilege of performing with artist like Phil Collins, Toni Braxton and Christina Aguilera in the halftime show at Superbowl XXXIV in Atlanta. John was a member of the 2000 Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps and the 2003 Pariah Marching Percussion Theater. He returned to Pariah in 2004 as the front ensemble instructor. John has taught and arranged for groups in Georgia and Nevada.

	John Ferro Position: Battery/Tenor Tech (2009) Email: jferro@lasvegasmarchingarts.org John Ferro is in his first year with the Vegas Vanguard as a battery/tenor technician. Mr. Ferro has had a wide variety of experience in the music community. With proficiency on tenor, snare, and bass drums, he has performed and competed in some of the top drumlines from grade school through college. The highlight of his marching career was performing with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002 and 2003, winning 1st and 2nd place medals in the DCI World Championships. John has also performed with various rock bands playing keyboards, guitar, and/or percussion. He currently gives private guitar and percussion lessons and is a sound designer for the media sound design company Shotgun Sally. He has currently completed projects with companies such as Sprint, Slim Jim, and Tarmac.

	Mac Purdy Position: Battery/Snare tech (07, 09) Email: macsts@hotmail.com Mac Purdy joined the Vegas Vanguard staff in 2007 as a battery/snare tech, and came back to the ensemble in 2009 with the same responsibilities. Mr. Purdy began playing in a classical setting progressing as one of the leaders in music programs throughout his region and the state of KY. He furthered his pursuit of the rudimental aspects of percussion by joining Southwind Drum and Bugle corps in (1994), and moved to the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle corps. in 1995. While there he was awarded a World Championship title and a High Percussion award, as a member of the 1995 and 1996 Cavalier snare line. Purdy also participated in the DCI individual snare competition placing 11^th; competing two years later he placed 7^th. Mr. Purdy enrolled at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where he studied with Brian Mason. While at UNLV Purdy became a member of the indoor percussion ensemble. In 1996 Purdy competed in the individual snare competition placing 4^th, at the Percussion Arts Society Convention in Nashville, TN. In 1998 he was hired midseason as the Percussion Caption Head/Arranger for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle corps. Mac has arranged and taught percussion for numerous drum corps and high school music programs (ex. Pioneer, Marion Cadets, McGavock High in TN, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and Daviess Co. High in KY). Purdy has studied with Brian Mason, Brett Kuhn, Scott Kretzer, Mark Casey and Jason Koontz.

	Robb Sirat Position: Battery/Front Ensemble Technician (06, 07, 08, 09) Email: robb@ssmglv.com Robb has served on the Vegas Vanguard staff since 2006, bringing his invaluable experience to all aspects of the ensemble. Robb has been an adjudicator for the Nevada Percussive Arts Society, and for several local marching band and indoor percussion competitions. Mr. Sirat has been a Director/Arranger for Percussion at several local high schools in the Las Vegas Valley. Mr. Sirat was a member of the Patriots Drum and Bugle Corps from (1971-1979), The Crossman Drum and Bugle Corps from (1981-83), and The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in (1984-85). He was also a marching percussion instructor with The Blue Devils in (1986-87). Robb is a proud artist and endorser with StickTape.com

	Quincy Wade Position: Battery Technician (05, 06, 07, 08, 09) Email: quedizzy@yahoo.com Quincy Wade has been on the Vegas Vanguard staff since it was founded in 2004. Quincy has provided his extensive knowledge and experience of the activity to the ensemble every season. Quincy was a member of marching percussion section at the University of Nevada Las Vegas - Star of Nevada Marching Band from (1994-96), and a member of the U.N.L.V. Indoor Percussion Ensemble from (1995-97) taking First place in the WGI World Championships in the College Class in 1997! Mr. Wade also placed 8^th in the Solo and Ensemble Snare competition at the 1997 PASIC Conference. Mr. Wade has been a lounge band performer for the past 10 years, performing nightly in several hotels and casinos on the famous Las Vegas Strip, Downtown Las Vegas, and all over Southern California. Quincy is proud artist and endorser with StickTape.com