Staff
Director
Jim Shuman is currently the band director at Rocky Hill High School, Stevens Elementary School and West Hill Elementary School in Rocky Hill Connecticut. In recent years he has taught beginning band at Lebanon Elementary School and taught undergraduate music education majors at the University of Connecticut. Jim holds a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting degree at the University of Connecticut, where he served as a graduate assistant for the UConn Wind Ensemble ,and assisted the undergraduate conducting courses with Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw. He was also a graduate assistant for the UConn Marching Band and Pep Band ,and assisted with a world music course. Jim also received a Master of Music in Music Education degree at Miami University (Ohio), where he studied conducting with Gary Speck, arranging with David Shaffer, and served as a graduate assistant director for the Miami University Marching Band. Mr. Shuman received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Plymouth State University in 2001, where he studied with Dr. Gary Corcoran, Eric Hughes and Tim Gilmore. After graduating, Jim taught instrumental music grades 5-12 for three years in northern New Hampshire. Jim participated in Drum Corps International both as a performer and an instructor with the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps from 1995-2002. He currently resides in Colchester with his wife Erin and son Brady.
Assistant Director
Rick Vale Rocky Hill High School Marching Band
Waterford High School Marching Band
Stamford High School Winter Percussion (WGI)
Drum Corps:
Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Allentown, PA (DCI)
2011 DCI Volunteer of the year
Show Coordinator:
USSBA
Full Time:
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Management
Clinical Research
Visual & Drill Designer
Michael Pence comes to the organization with a wealth of experience in the marching activity. His marching career started as a member of Galgos Winterguard from Chicopee, MA and also as a member of Spunk River Jazz Winterguard from Spencer, MA. He marched in the Drum and Bugle Corps activity as a member of The Marksmen Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, from Springfield, MA, as well as a longtime member of the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps from Derby, CT.His instructional career runs from guards, to marching bands, to drum and bugle corps. He has been the Colorguard Caption Head with the Robert E. Fitch High School Marching Band and Winterguard from Groton, CT, the Griswold High School Marching Band and Winterguard Griswold, CT, the Agawam High School Marching Band, from Agawam, MA , the Southington High School Marching Band and Winterguard from Southington, CT, and as an equipment tech for Affinity Independent Winterguard from Tewksbury, MA. He also serves as the Visual & Drill Designer, and the Colorguard Caption Head with the Rocky Hill High School Marching Band from Rocky Hill, CT.
He also served as the Colorguard Caption Head for The Springfield Ambassadors Drum and Bugle Corps from Springfield, MA, as the Colorguard Caption Head with Knight Storm Drum and Bugle Corps from Chicopee, MA, and as the Drill Designer and Colorguard Caption Head with The 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from New London, CT.
Brass Instructor
Elizabeth Demaria is currently the 6th – 8thgrade General Music teacher at Albert D. Griswold Middle School in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. In her general music classes, she teaches guitar, keyboard, and composition components as well as music theory, and music appreciation with an emphasis on popular music and culture. Previously, Demaria has also taught General Music at Chippens Hill Middle School in Bristol, Connecticut. Demaria graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2011, receiving degrees in both Music and Music Education. As a student at UConn, Ms. Demaria completed a number of internships including the Jorgensen Outreach for the Youth Program (JOY!), Community School of the Arts, and a summer position with the Long Island Philharmonic. Ms. Demaria is pursuing her graduate studies in Music and Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Colorguard Instructor
Christina Halle began her marching career with the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps from Derby, CT. She has taught the Colorguard for Rocky Hill High School since 1999. In addition, she taught at worked with the colorguard at Waterford High School where the Marching Band won the first USSBA National Championship in Class III. In addition to marching band, Christina currently works as a School Psychologist in Regional District #4. She and her husband Eric reside in Rocky Hill with their daughter Alexa.
Drumline Instructor
Eric Halle
Front Ensemble Instructor- Andrew Selig
Colorguard Instructor
Jennifer Beaty is currently a senior at the University of Connecticut studying Human Development and Family Sciences. She graduated from Rocky Hill High School in 2009 as a color guard section leader, chamber choir section leader, and Tri-M officer. At UConn she is a member of the University Marching Band and Winterguard and am also a sister of Tau Beta Sigma, a co-ed national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving collegiate band programs.
