Co-Caption Head - Brandon Lesando

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Brandon Lesando attended Wilson Area High School and marched in the award winning Warrior Marching Band where he was the Drum Major for 2 years.  In addition to high school marching band experience, Brandon has marched in both the DCA and DCI realms.

Brandon has been on brass and visual staffs with Nease High School (2011-2012), Fletcher High School (2008-2010), Terry Parker High School (2007), Radnor High School (2007-2008), Line Mountain High School (2004-2005), Wilson Area High School (2004-2006).  While working with these high schools, Brandon also mentored and trained drum majors who have gone to become award winning drum majors in the high school, college and drum corps worlds.

In the Summer of 2010, Brandon founded and managed the first Fletcher Leadership Academy in Jacksonville, FL which will be continuing into 2011.

In December 2011, Brandon received his Honorable Discharge from the US Navy as a Missile Technician First Class and Naval Instructor at Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, GA.  He is pursuing a degree in Music Education and Euphonium from The University of North Florida.

Co-Caption Head - George DeGuzman

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George DeGuzman comes to us from Clearwater, FL where he attended Clearwater High School and was a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle corps from 1999-2001.

Educationally, George attended Jacksonville State University as well as the University of South Florida. He was a music education major at both institutions as well as a member of the JSU Marching Southerners and the Herd of Thunder Marching Bands (inaugural member of HOT). George has also performed with the JSU Chamber Winds, JSU Brass Choir, JSU Jazz ensemble, USF Wind Ensemble, USF Symphony Band, USF Jazz 1, and the USF Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure at USF, George has had the honor of performing with award winning musicians such as Jon Faddis, Eric Darius, Jack Wilkins, and many others.

As a clinician, George has worked at numerous high school and drum corps programs across the Southeast. These include, South Cobb, Freedom, Chamberlain, and Clearwater High School. He has also worked as a brass technician for the Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, the Tampa Bay Thunder and Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.

Currently, George is the music director at Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel, Fl. During his time at Wiregrass, the band has grown in both size and quality. Under his leadership the Wiregrass winter guard program has medaled three times in the four years that they’ve been in the FFCC circuit. 

When he’s not working or performing as a musician, George enjoys spending time with his wife, Megan. He’s also an aspiring photographer and an avid sports fan. George can often be found enjoying a Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

Trumpet Tech - Tami Fessenden

Tami Fessenden comes from Naples, FL and is a graduate of the USF School of Music with a Bachelors in Music. She attended Naples High School and was on staff for two years after graduating. During her time at Naples High School she performed solos in Paris and at the moat at the Tower of London. 

Tami has performed in many different places including: Walt Disney World (2006-2008), multiple musicals (2002-present), Tampa Bay Symphony (one season), USF Herd of Thunder (2004-2008), and Tampa Bay Lightning Frozen Funk Band (2006-2007). In addition to performing, Tami also teaches middle school band and private lessons. Her students have gone on to be accepted to many fine universities and receive superiors at both the district and state levels of solo and ensemble. In the five years she marched with USF, she was lead trumpet and also played in the basketball band and showband.  

Lower Brass Tech - Will Chaney

William Chaney is from Jacksonville, FL where he graduated from Duncan U. Fletcher and was a member of the Fletcher Marching Senators (2002-2006). While in high school he was briefly a member of the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.  He went on to march baritone at Tampa Bay Thunder for their inaugural 2011 season.

William was also assistant band director at Paxon School for Advanced Studies (2010-2011). 

Lower Brass Tech - Anthony Parisi

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Anthony Parisi has  spent most of the last 20 years deeply involved in many aspects of the marching activity. In high school and college he marched both brass and percussion. Anthony moved on and  participated in junior corps for partial seasons  with both the Bluecoats and Boston Crusaders.

He  began his  senior corps  career  with a year in the Sunrisers  and  then  marched for the next 8 years  with the World Champion Hawthorne Caballeros playing both baritone and euphonium.

Anthony  was also involved for several years with the  WGI World Finalist  Emanon Winter Guard as  a visual tech/consultant.  Anthony has been the Drill Designer/Show Coordinator for  several bands in the NY/NJ/PA  area over he last several years  and is  currently the Program Coordinator/Designer for  the  Pequannock HS Marching Band, 4 time winner of the Yamaha  Cup and  2008 Northern States Champions.

Brass Consultant - Robb VanEck

This is Robb’s first year as a staff member with the Tampa Bay Thunder.  Robb has been a volunteer assistant with Jacksonville area high school bands since 1999. He currently serves as a marching and maneuvering assistant and is the brass caption head for the Fleming Island High School “Golden Eagle” band (FMBC 3A State Champions 2010, 4A Finalists 2011). 

By day Mr. Van Eck is a Systems Analyst in the Information Management department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, who graciously allow him to pursue his band habit in the name of volunteer service to the community.  He is also currently on the board of directors for the Jacksonville Tuba X-mas.

After graduating from New Smyrna Beach High School (1986), he studied Music Education at Florida State University, where he principled on tuba under Paul Ebbers and string bass under Pam Andrews.  He was section leader of the “Royal Flush” during his last year (1990) in the Marching Chiefs, was active in Kappa Kappa Psi, and was a proud member of the FSU “Seminole Gladiators” Basketball Pep Band.  Robb performed for a year in the “Das Festhaus” polka band at Busch Gardens, The Old Country in Williamsburg, Virginia (1988).  Mr. Van Eck also teaches privately and performs with the Jacksonville River City Brass Band.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Studies from The Florida State University. 

Robb also served as an assistant with the Paxon SAS Marching Eagles (2001 - 02) and worked with the Manor Marching Mustangs at Manor High School in Norfolk, Virginia (1988), Sandalwood High School Marching Saints (1999 through 2005 – FMBC 4A Finalists 2003), and Duncan U. Fletcher High School Pride of the Beaches (2005-2010).  His former students include DCI World Champion performers, DCI World Class members, collegiate scholarship recipients, military band members, and a new generation of FSU Marching Chiefs.

Tuba Tech - Richard Sargent

Richard is from Leesburg, Florida.  He attended Leesburg High School and marched with the LHS Swarm of Sound throughout his high school career.  During his high school years, Richard marched tuba with The Magic of Orlando in 2006 and Spirit from JSU in 2007.
 
Upon graduating, Richard attended Lake-Sumter Community College where he participated in the LSCC Symphonic Band, Choirs, Central Florida Youth Orchestra and Florida Young Artists Orchestra, along with teaching his alma mater’s marching band.  After completing his Associates of Arts in Psychology in 2010, Richard joined up with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, where he stayed for his final two years, aging out as an angel in 2011.
 
Richard currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida, studying music education with emphasis in tuba at the University of North Florida.

Trumpet Tech - Jordan Rigdon

Jordan attended Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville FL and was a member of Spirit of Atlanta from 2006-2007. He's have been playing trumpet for about 15 years.

Currently Jordan is going for a general education degree at FSCJ. He have helped teach visual and music at Terry Parker High School, and has helped out with the Middle School and High school orchestra at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville.

Jordan is currently playing with the group 20WT and the First Baptist Church Chancel Orchestra. 

Mellophone Tech - Oscar Escobar

This is Oscar's first year with Tampa Bay Thunder. He is currently the Assistant Director and Show Designer at Estero High School in Estero,FL. Oscar also performs with The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Edison State College Concert, Jazz and Orchestra.

Oscar's marching career started with the G. Holmes Braddock Sr High marching band. After graduating, he instructed Braddock from (1997-1999). Oscar also taught BOA finalist Miami Coral Park marching band in (1998). Oscar marched mellophone with the Boston Crusaders from (1998-2000). In (2001) he marched with Micro Magic.  He was also a visual instructor for the Magic of Orlando in the (2002) season where they were the DCI Division 2 Champions. During the (2008-2010) season at Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps, Oscar instructed both their brass and visual program.  

Brass Consultant - Dennis Laorenza

Dennis Laorenza earned his Bachelor of Music from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Dennis is currently a music consultant with numerous bands across the South East United States. He has worked on the brass staff of many DCI Drum & Bugle Corps. Some of the drum corps he has worked with include Sun Coast Sound, The Cadets, Glassmen and is currently working with the Boston Crusaders.