STARCROSS STAFF
Director
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Ryan Bratt - Director
Ryan joined Starcross Percussion in 2014 as a bass drum tech and is now entering his fourth season as the ensemble’s Director. He served as the Percussion Director at Louis E. Dieruff High School from 2014-2017. Previously he has worked with other programs including the Pennridge High School Indoor Drumline and the East Stroudsburg North HS Marching band.
He's performed with Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps as a member of their Bass line from 2007-2009. During these years the corps won an Open Class Percussion Title, Silver and Bronze medals before transitioning to the World Class in 2009. He has also performed with the East Stroudsburg University Warrior Marching Band from 2007-2010 and the Pennridge High School Marching Band and Indoor Percussion Ensemble from 2002-2006. Ryan holds a Bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Business Management from East Stroudsburg University. He currently resides in Allentown, PA where he works as a Human Resources professional.
Jason Keller - Battery Arrangement
Jason has been involved in the marching arts for over 15 years and has been doing percussion arranging for 10+ years. He has worked with high schools and independent organizations all over the country and even internationally. Most recently, Jason was the percussion Arranger for Baltimore's Marching Ravens and continues to arrange for the Shepherd University Marching RAM Band.
With his experience in DCI (Madison Scouts, Blue Stars, Jersey Surf) and WGI (United Percussion, Imperial Dynasty) along with his formal musical training at the University of Delaware, Jason has developed a unique voice in his writing, composing percussion parts based upon what the music desires and the skillset of the ensemble that will be performing it. In 2018, he partnered up with composer and arranger, Daniel Despins, to create Wall of Sound Music, an arranging company that specializes in arrangements for marching arts organizations.
Jason is the proud owner of J.K. Percussion & Arts, an all-purpose music studio located in Wilmington, DE committed to growing musicians and Arts programs throughout Delaware and surrounding areas.
Dan Despins - Front Ensemble Arrangement
Daniel Despins seeks to capture the relentless endurance of the human spirit in each of his musical works. Daniel’s music has been performed in the Mid-Atlantic region and across the East Coast: Notable performances include the Peabody Institute Opera Etudes Program, the Tampa Bay Symphony, the Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Christiana Winds, the University of Delaware Symphony Orchestra, and the Network for New Music Ensemble.
Daniel is also a prolific arranger: He has written arrangements for a variety of ensembles, such as the University of Delaware Pep Band, the University of Delaware 8-bit Orchestra, and the Thread of Blue Klezmer Band. Daniel has a special passion for the marching arts, and writes arrangements and shows for various marching arts ensembles with percussion arranger Jason Keller under the name Wall of Sound Music.
Daniel studied music composition with Jennifer Margaret Barker at the University of Delaware, and with Michael Hersch at the Peabody Conservatory. Daniel plans to continue writing music and spread his musical message on a national and global level, as well as advocating for music and arts education.
Brian Selman - Visual Design
Brian began his marching career at Wilson High School in West Lawn, PA. In 2010, Brian began marching with the Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps and continued there for four years. While there, he spent two years in the cymbal line and two years as an assistant drum major. Brian also got the opportunity to perform with United Percussion in 2013.
His teaching experience began with Conrad Weiser High School in 2012 and continued until 2015. He also began working with the indoor percussion ensemble at Governor Mifflin High School in 2014 and continued working with both their marching band and indoor groups until 2017. In addition, Brian has been the cymbal tech for various DCA and WGI groups including Fusion Core, Aftermath Percussion, and East Coast Percussion. Brian also spent time with the Hawthorne Caballeros and United Percussion 2 as a visual technician. Brian is currently a visual consultant with Nazareth High School and is an active adjudicator with NJA. Outside of the marching activity, Brian is a high school social studies teacher in West York, PA.
Robert "Tex" Lazenberry - Staff Coordinator
Bio coming soon!
Roger Acuna - Snares
Bio coming soon!
Madi Chadwick - Bass / Visual
Bio coming soon!