Andrew Gekoskie - Jupiter, FL

The American born conductor Andrew Gekoskie is Music Director and Founder of The Orchestra X Project and St. Martin Chamber Orchestra-both professional orchestras located in South Florida (USA). The Orchestra X Project and St. Martin Chamber Orchestra are extremely versatile orchestra comprised of the best professional musicians throughout the South East United States bringing standard classical, pops and new music to the audiences of South Florida.  Mr. Gekoskie held the positions of Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at Langley HS in McLean, Virginia, NW Lehigh HS in PA, as well as Director of Bands at Cumberland Valley HS in PA, interim Director of Bands at Jupiter HS in Florida, Director of Bands at South Williamsport HS in PA, and as the former Music Supervisor for the Angleton ISD in Angleton, Texas. Throughout his career, Mr. Gekoskie has been recognized by colleagues, students and leading professionals alike. He has been a guest on National Public Radio's "Desert Island Disks" and published in School Band and Orchestra Magazine.  In October 2007 Mr. Gekoskie was featured on the cover of the School Band and Orchestra Magazine article entitled “The Music Behind the Notes”. In 2004, Mr. Gekoskie received the National Band Association's "Citation of Excellence”. His wind ensembles have been selected as the featured high school concert band at the Music Educators National Conference Biennial National Convention, in Minneapolis, MN , invited feature concert band at The Western International Band Clinic in Seattle and twice featured and invited to perform at the Bands of America (MFA) National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN. In addition Mr. Gekoskie’s ensembles have been invited and featured on three separate occasions at Carnegie Hall in NYC, invited to perform at State Music Conventions, invited to perform at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, NYC, and featured at the Music Educators National Conference All Eastern Division Conference in New York City. Mr. Gekoskie’s marching bands have also been recognized for outstanding and innovative, national-level quality throughout the county by colleagues and audiences alike. Mr. Gekoskie directed the first ever Class A Marching Band to win a Band of America Regional, as well as securing the Bands of America 1996 Class A Grand National Championship. His marching bands have also won numerous awards, honors and grand championships. 

A proponent of new music, Mr. Gekoskie was responsible for commissioning new wind ensemble literature totaling over 12 titles from composers and consortiums including Steven Bryant, John Mackey, Arturo Rodriguez, Richard Danielpour, Daniel Montoya . His most recognizable commission project is the piece entitled “Dusk” by Steven Bryant.

A graduate of Susquehanna University, Mr. Gekoskie has continued his studies in conducting at the Juilliard School of Music, the Hartt School of Music, Butler University, Duquesne University, Boston University and Shenandoah Conservatory. Gekoskie’s conducting mentors include: Stanley DeRusha, Allan McMurray, Craig Kirchhoff, H. Robert Reynolds, Lukas Foss, Robert Cameron, and Vincent LaSelva.

Tyler Sammons - Austin, TX

Tyler Sammons is the percussion director at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. Originally from Seguin, Texas, He graduated in 2011 from the University of North Texas with a degree in percussion performance and music theory. Since then, he has taught at several prestigious schools across the country, including Marian Catholic High School (IL), LD Bell High School (TX), Hebron High School(TX), and most recently at Tom Glenn High School in Leander, Texas.

Tyler is heavily involved in the drum and bugle corps (DCI) activity, having served as a member of the percussion staff for Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps since 2012. Santa Clara Vanguard won the Fred Sanford Award for best percussion in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018, was the DCI silver medalist in 2017, and was the DCI World Champion in 2018. Prior to teaching at Vanguard, he taught the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, and was a marching member of the Crossmen (TX) and Phantom Regiment (IL), capturing the DCI world championship with the Phantom Regiment in 2008, and the Fred Sanford award for best percussion in 2008 and 2010.

 Tyler is an active arranger, clinician and adjudicator in the marching arts, and is a proud Innovative Percussion and REMO artist.

John Morse - Indianapolis, IN

Under the leadership of head director John Morse, the Greenwood (IN) band won four Indiana Class B state championships and were consistent class winners and finalists at Bands of America regional and super regional contests.  John is currently an assistant principal at Southport High School in Indianapolis.  He spends his free time in the fall adjudicating at many festivals across the Midwest.  

Eric Sabach - Spring, TX

Eric Sabach has been involved in the movement arts for over 30 years. His marching career started as a euphonium player with the Royal Brigade from the Meadowlands, NJ and then with the World Champion Garfield Cadets from 1981-1984. From there he joined the visual staff of the Star of Indiana and was a student of George Zingali. He has worked with many WGI and BOA caliber groups such as The New York Royal Guardmen, Ben Davis HS, and Northwestern Lehigh HS. Staying involved with all levels of the activity, he also consults all age drum corps such as MN Brass Inc. and The New York Skyliners.

Eric has been an adjudicator for DCI, DCA, BOA, ISSMA, TriState Judges Circuit, and Texas Color Guard Association. A music education major from West Chester State University, his full time profession is a marketing professional Stanbury Uniforms and Digital Marching FX.

Robert Solomon - Los Angeles, CA

Robert Solomon has been involved in the marching arts since 1979. He played trumpet and was drum major at El Camino Real HS in Woodland Hills, CA. Solomon continued to perform as a member of the color guard for the Velvet Knights Drum & Bugle Corps and at California State University, Northridge. He then turned to instructing and has designed for several top programs in Southern California, and continues today. He has been judging since 1996 and is an adjudicator for Winter Guard International, Drum Corps International, Bands of America, and various state and local associations. Solomon is a banker and lives in Los Angeles, CA. 

Jeff Gentry- Plainfield, IN

Since 1985 Jeff has written & designed for numerous Marching Bands, Color Guards, Drum Lines, and Drum & Bugle Corps. His visual designs have been awarded 6 consecutive World Class, 5 Open Class, 1 A Class, and 1 AA Class Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) State Championships. This is a unique distinction as he is the only designer to have had groups win all four of IPA's movement classes and at least one IPA Champion for 8 consecutive years. On the International stage, he is in rare company having designed for back-to-back WGI Scholastic World Class Champions in 2005 & 2006. His marching band designs have accumulated multiple State titles, hundreds of Visual/GE Visual caption awards, and been consistent Indiana State Finalist. Notable programs Jeff has designed for include: Avon HS - IN, Carmel - HS - IN, Center Grove HS - IN,  Escambia HS - FL, Franklin Central HS - IN, Germantown - HS - MS, Great Lakes Percussion - MI, Hilliard Darby HS - OH, Irmo HS - SC, I2 - IN,  Northview HS - IN, Plainfield HS - IN, Tate HS - FL and Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps.