Seattle Cascades Announce 2022 Brass Staff

We couldn't be more excited to get back on the field with such an outstanding and experienced Educational team. Building on our Summit program in 2021, the Seattle Cascades Brass Caption for 2022 will again feature a veteran team of educators lead by Dr. Michael Alsop. Learn more about each of them on our Staff page (https://seattlecascades.org/staff)

Brass Leadership

Under Dr. Alsop's leadership, the 2022 Seattle Cascades Brass Staff have developed an outstanding instructional program that will challenge our students as musicians and deliver a powerful and entertaining on-field performance for audiences across the country.

Dr. Michael Alsop Brass Caption Supervisor

Dr. Alsop was appointed Lecturer of Music Education and Athletic Bands at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2021. In this position he teaches secondary instrumental music methods, elementary music methods, orchestration and arranging, and music appreciation classes. He is a part of the Music Department’s Music Education Committee, oversees elementary and instrumental field experience placements, and is involved with the UNCP Collegiate NAfME chapter. As Director of Athletic Bands,

Dr. Bill Waterman Brass Caption Head

Bill Waterman joined the faculty at Boise State University, home of the blue turf, in the fall of 2019 as Assistant Professor of Tuba and Assistant Director of Athletic Bands. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Kansas, Master of Music degree from Texas Tech University and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University. Prior to his appointment at BSU, Dr. Waterman served as faculty for the University of Tennessee at Martin, the University of Michigan at Flint (MI), the Flint Institute of Music (MI), Jackson College (MI), as well as instructing classes at both Michigan State and Texas Tech Universities. Since the summer of 2012 he has also serves on the faculty for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, MI.

Brass Educators

Our Brass Educators are more than just outstanding technicians, they draw on decades of experience in education and the performing arts to deliver an instructional program that challenges and inspires students to become more powerful, consistent and effective performers.

• Kathryn Blackburn - Kathryn received her B.S./B.Ed. in Music Education in May 2020 from Western Carolina University, where she participated in various ensembles including the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, and the Trumpet Ensemble, for which she was selected to be a guest conductor.
  

• Carlos Cruz - Carlos earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education degree from the University of Houston, graduating magna cum laude. At the University of Houston, he was a member of the Moores School of Music Jazz Orchestra, MSM Symphonic Band, Spirit of Houston Marching Band, and the UH Cougar Brass. Carlos is currently a member of the Sugarland Winds, a premier wind ensemble directed by Larry Matysiak and Rick Yancy, and has previously performed with several world renowned Latin groups and artists throughout his career as a trumpet player. Carlos was a marching member of the Santa Clara Vanguard (2015) and Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets (2014). He is excited to start a new journey this season with the Seattle Cascades family
  

• Chad Huel - Chad graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada in 2000. Chad has been a clinician throughout Regina and Saskatchewan for many years. He is the Past-President of the Saskatchewan Band Association and sits on numerous other committees such as the Optimist Band Festival Committee and the Prairielands Jazz Camp Committee. He is in his third year of teaching at the University of Regina as director of Jazz 2. Chad is currently pursuing a Masters in Conducting degree from the University of Regina. In the past, Chad has taught the Colts, Crossmen, Madison Scouts, and Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps.
  

• James Pennington - James is the Director of Orchestras at Battlefield Middle School in Fredericksburg, Virginia. James received his bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University in May of 2020. While at JMU, he participated in numerous ensembles, including the JMU Brass Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble. He was also a member of “Virginia’s Finest” the JMU Marching Royal Dukes for five years, holding several leadership positions including trumpet section leader and drum major. James was a member of the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps (2012-2015) where he held various leadership positions. He also marched two seasons and aged out with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (2016-2017). After aging out, James taught high brass for the Madison Scouts in 2019 as a Brass Intern.
  

• Victor Perez - Victor's passion for music and the marching arts started as a low brass player in the wind ensemble, winter percussion, orchestra, and jazz band in high school. He continued his love for music at Rio Hondo College, where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in music performance, and then at California State University Los Angeles, as a euphonium major, performing in the Cal State LA First Chair Honor Band and Cal State Fullerton Honor Choir. Victor performed four seasons in drum corps with Impulse (2008-2009), Phantom Regiment (2010), and the Madison Scouts (2011), where he aged out. He has been playing the euphonium professionally and as part of his local church’s ministry for the last 14 years.
  

• Joey Riordan - Joey began his marching career as a member of the 2006 and 2007 Seattle Cascades. In 2008 he joined the Boston Crusaders. In 2009 he joined the Madison Scouts where he aged out in 2011. After aging out, he joined the staff of the Cascades as a brass instructor and taught the corps from 2012 to 2019. Joey attended Central Washington University and Washington State University where he played tuba. He has degrees in anthropology and elementary education with a special education certification. Currently, he works as an elementary special education teacher and is working on his master’s degree in educational leadership from Eastern Washington University.
  

• Parker Snell - Parker graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in Instrumental Music Education in 2018, and is currently working towards a Master of Music degree in Tuba Performance at Boise State University, where he is also a Graduate Assistant with the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band. Parker was the tuba section leader with the Pride of Oklahoma marching band, and performed with the Symphony Band, Wind Symphony, and Symphony Orchestra.