From a Bluecoats press release
Bret Kuhn will join the Bluecoats percussion team as a consultant and teacher.
“The addition of Bret to an already formidable Bluecoats percussion staff is HUGE! I am so excited about working with him again as he is not only a great teacher, but a great friend as well,” said Bluecoats percussion arranger Michael McIntosh. As percussion design consultant, Kuhn will be another set of eyes and ears for the percussion design team, and will also have some teaching time with the members this summer.
Also joining the Bluecoats team as percussion instructors will be Chad Shaedler, Chris Sakowski, and Eric Ridenour.
Shaedler marched snare with both Nite Express and the Blue Knights, and is currently battery caption head and percussion arranger for WGI World Class finalist Gateway Indoor Percussion. He has also worked with the Pride of MSU percussion ensemble and the Colts. He will join veteran Bluecoats staffer Tim Maynard in front of the Bluecoats snare line this year.
Chris Sakowski comes to the Bluecoats after several years spent marching and teaching with the Colts. He also works with Gateway Percussion, and is in his second year as caption head/arranger for the University of Memphis marching band and PASIC drum lines. In 2006, Sakowski will be joining returning Bluecoats percussion instructor Adam Clay as an instructor of the bass line.
Ridenour is a former marching member of both the Blue Knights and the Santa Clara Vanguard. Currently, he is actively involved in teaching Pomona High School in Arvada, Co., and many other high school groups around the Denver area. This season, he will assist returning caption head Ray Ulibarri with the tenor line.
Rounding out the Bluecoats percussion instructional staff for the 2006 season are returning front ensemble instructors Brad Palmer and Allen Justus.
