The Tampa Bay Thunder Drum and Bugle Corps is pleased to announce the musical design team for the

2012 season will be Mr. Ron Ellis and Dr. Omar Carmenates.

After a successful 2011 Inaugural season making DCA Open Class finals, the Thunder is committed to

increasing the show level and adding these proven professional arrangers will help us in this quest.

Mr. Ellis is returning as the Brass Arranger and is currently the Director of Athletic Bands at the

University of Texas/ San Antonio and was the Director of Bands at the University of Central Florida for

over 20 years.

Omar Carmenates is currently the Assistant Professor of Percussion at Furman University in Greenville,

SC where he oversees all aspects of the percussion program including classical, jazz, and world

percussion studies. In addition to his duties at Furman, Dr. Carmenates was also the Percussion Caption

Head and Arranger for the internationally-renowned Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps from 2007-

2009. While at the Crusaders, Dr. Carmenates was also a member design team and oversaw all aspects

of the percussion program.

“We are honored to have Ron and Omar return the Thunder for the long –term success of the corps.

Ron did a fantastic job last year with us really not knowing what to expect from our members and Omar

returns 11 years later as he was a tenor tech for the 2000 Tampa Bay Thunder.” says Executive Director

James V Newman.

More staff and design information will be posted soon…..2012 is going to be an exciting year!