Brandon Cruz has been involved in a variety of musical settings. As a classical percussionist, he has performed with the New World Symphony, Miami Symphony Orchestra, Miami Master Chorale, Greater Miami Symphonic Band, Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston, and the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. He was timpanist and Latin percussionist for the World Champion Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps in 1995 and 1997. He has also performed for several musicals including productions of “Cabaret”, “Mack & Mabel”, “Baby”, & “Chess.”
In addition to a wide spectrum of performance experiences, Mr. Cruz has always been actively involved as a writer, arranger, and educator. He has written percussion music and arranged for several Miami-area high schools. Between 1995 and 2000, he served as percussion instructor for G. Holmes Braddock, Coral Reef, and Barbara Goleman Senior High Schools. During this time, he regularly performed clinics at several public schools and served as consultant to improve local percussion programs. Since 2004, he has been director of percussion and assistant director of jazz at Charles Flanagan Senior High. With several public performances, his students have entertained thousands locally at events such as the ING Miami Marathon, Pines Day Celebration, and Relay for Life as well as multiple television appearances. They have also received performance recognition at the local and state level by the Florida Bandmasters Association. During his summers, Mr. Cruz is the music director for the Broward Arts Camp where he fully develops, programs, and prepares young musicians of all ages and levels for performance at the end of each camp session. In addition to all that he does locally, Brandon has released an ongoing series of instructional lessons for drums available through easymusiclessons.com. Mr. Cruz is currently nominated to become an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association.
Mr. Cruz received his Bachelor's Degree in Classical Performance from Florida International University in April 2000. His instructors included John Kapanekas, John Tafoya, Errol Rackipov, Hector Neciosup, Jonathan Joseph, and Ignacio Berroa. He earned his Master's Degree in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music in May 2003. He studied with Gary Chaffee, Jon Hazilla, Sa Davis, Jerry Leake, Ken Schaphorst, George Russell, Oscar Stagnaro, Danilo Perez, Dave Samuels, and Jerry Bergonzi. In September 2002, Brandon Cruz was recipient of the Allan Dawson Memorial Scholarship presented by the Boston Jazz Society.
PERCUSSION STAFF
Danny Augustin, Percussion Instructor
Bio Coming Soon...
PERCUSSION STAFF
Marcus Ramirez, Percussion Instructor
Bio coming soon...
PERCUSSION STAFF
Mike Lao, Percussion Instructor
Michael Lao graduated from Hialeah Senior High in '08. He spent his first two years in the front ensemble, then moved on to marching Bass Drum his last two years of High School. He is currently a student at MDC and is studying to be a Music Production Major. He plans to minor in either Music Education or Business. He has marched Bass Drum during the sumnmers of '08 and '09 with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps. He plans on marching his remaining years with the Corps.
VISUAL/MUSIC STAFF
Glenn Martinez, Visual Instructor
Attended Hialeah High School '98 - '01
Hialeah indoor drunline marching bass drum '99 & '00
Hialeah Band Captain '01
FIU Wind Ensemble, Spring '03
Marched in the Boston Crusaders '00, '02, '04, '05
Hialeah Hs staff from '01 - '06
Tuba player since '96
Currently working at Weiss-Rohlig USA, LLC, A freight forwarding company in the Miami Airport Area. Glenn is studing to become a U.S. customes broker.
VISUAL/MUSIC STAFF
Jose Guimaraes , Visual Instructor
Jose Guimaraes Jr, a tuba player since the age of 12, was born on January 28th, 1989 in Recife, Brazil. After moving to Boca Raton, Fl in 1998, Jose began his apprenticeship under Mike Egan and later continued with Jay Bertolet, former principal tubist of the Florida Philharmonic, and Joe Murphy, founder and principal tubist of the MTJ (modern tuba jazz project). Some of his accomplishments include: principal tubist of the Florida All-State/All-Districts Bands, principal tubist for two consecutive seasons of the FIB (Florida Intercollegiate Band), principal tubist for the Souther Division Intercollegiate band, soloist for the 2009 FAU wind ensemble October concert, performing Vittorio Monti’s Czardas and being the winner of the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 FAU concerto competition performing Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Tuba Concerto, and Arild Plaus’ Tuba Concerto. Other accomplishments include being a member of the Spirit Drum and Bugle Corp (2005) the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corp (2006, 2008, 2010), and making it to the final round of The Juilliard School audition (2009). Jose currently gives private lessons and master classes to high school, middle school, and college students all throughout the south Florida region. Jose has held staff positions with John I. Leonard high school, Atlantic high school, Jupiter high school, Stoneman Douglas high school and currently holds teaching positions with Flanagan high school and is the drill writer and music arranger for Pompano high school.
VISUAL/MUSIC STAFF
Jorge Sanchez , Visual Instructor
Jorge Sanchez was born and raised in South Florida and started his music career at Palm Springs Middle. Jorge graduated from Hialeah High School in 2006. After his junior year of high school he ventured into the world of Drum Corps with the Magic of Orlando. When he returned he was the band captain of the T-bred band for his senior year. Since then Jorge ha marched with the Teal Sound in 2007 and just completed his age out summer with the Phantom Regiment. jorge is attending Florida International University and majoring in Political Science/International Relations.
VISUAL/MUSIC STAFF
Dillon Engel , Visual Instructor
Dillon Engel started his journey in music in the 6th grade playing the trumpet. Then once he joined the Falcon sound he starting playing the mellophone as well as the French horn. He played in the Concert Jazz Band for 2 years and played in the Wind Orchestra for 3 years as well as being a member of the Flanagan floor crew for 2years. During his four years in the falcon sound he spent two of them as the Band captain. In between his freshman and sophomore year he traveled to Europe where he played trumpet in 7 different countries. Dillon is currently going to college where he is majoring in criminology. He is looking forward to teaching the Falcon Sound.
VISUAL/MUSIC STAFF
Nick Garcia , Visual Instructor
Bio Coming Soon...
VISUAL/MUSIC STAFF
Christian Valaquez , Visual Instructor
Bio Coming Soon...
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Emma Roberts, Color Guard Instructor
Emma was born in Ellesmere Port, England, moved to Canada
and was raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. During the summer months Emma is a full time staff member with The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. She was also a performing member of the Cadets from 1997-2000.She has marched and taught color guards such as Emerald Knights, Cardinals, Oakland Crusaders, Genesis II, Bluecoats, Patriots, OoltewahH.S, Walkersville H.S, Patriots, and Emerald Marquis. Emma also travels each year to Sweden to work with the Strangnas Drum & Bugle Corps. Emma currently works full time in the Administration department at Flanagan H.S. She also goes to school part time (Nursing) and enjoys running half-Marathons in the U.S and Canada. She has been a fulltime member of the Flanagan H.S Band and Winterguard staff since 2001.
time member of the Flanagan H.S Band and Winterguard staff since 2001.
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Matt Winans, Color Guard Instructor
Matthew Winans attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Brockport in Rochester, NY where he earned two bachelors degrees in Communications and Dance. In 2005 he relocated to Florida to become a part of the instructional staff for the Flanagan High School Color guards and soon after became a member of the schools faculty as a Social Science teacher.
Matt's experience in the color guard activity goes beyond his age as his mother, Clara Lake, has been involved in the activity for many years in Medina, NY through marching, teaching, and in the judging community. Matt was a member of the Medina High School Winter guard and Marching Band for 7 consecutive years and recently returned to the program as a choreographer and consultant. Matt also is the Color guard Caption Head and designer for the Boston Crusaders Drum Corps (2008-Current) and returned as the Color guard designer for the Empire Statesmen Sr. Drum Corps. (2002-2004 & Current)
Other performing experiences include; many of the SUNY Brockport Dance concerts, the Empire Statesmen Sr. Drum corps, the Rochester Patriots Independent World Guard, and the Cadets Drum Corps. He has also taught and continues to teach many groups on the east coast including; Orchard Park HS, Stoneman Douglas HS, Victor HS, The Cadets Drum Corps (2005-2007) Western HS (2007-2008), Eastridge HS (Director 2002-2005), East Syracuse Minoa HS (2002-2004) & Pheonix HS color guards.
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Evan Zubkovs , Color Guard Instructor
Evan Zubkovs was born and raised in Huntington, NY. He started his marching career at Walt Whitman High School, where he was a member of the drum line and was captain his senior year. While doing High School band, he was also involved with a local independent Winter Guard called Saturday Matinee. Evan's passion for color guard during High School prompted him to expand his marching resume, and decided to march in Alter Ego Winter Guard in 2005 and 2006. From there, he went on to march in the renowned Blessed Sacrament Winter Guard for four years, from 2007 to 2010, and was one of the captains in 2010. Evan has taught several schools, including Walt Whitman High School, Hicksville High School, King Philip High School, and is proud to add Flanagan High School to the list. Other marching experiences include the Bushwackers Senior Drum Corps in 2003, and the Cadets Drum Corps in both 2008 and 2009.
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Christine Nemeth, Color Guard Instructor
Christine Nemeth grew up in Ohio and Florida, where she graduated from Plantation High School. From there, her educational career continues at Northwestern University, home of the “Best Band in the Land.” As a member of the Marching Wildcat Band, she grew to love color guard and the hard work that goes with it. At the end of her final marching season, NUMB was awarded the Sudler Trophy for college bands in 1992. With a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern, she returned to Florida,and later began teaching Earth/Space Science at Flanagan High School. She fell into working with the Flanagan Color Guard soon after this, and has been blissfully happy ever since.
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Amy Naused , Color Guard Instructor
Amy Naused was born in Miami, Florida. Amy has been
familiar with color guard since she was a child as her mom
was and aunt (Debbie and Patrisha Holt) were both former
drum corps alumni. Her mom and Aunt were both significant parts of the North Miami
Beach Charger Band and guard. Her mom was musician/drum major/guard member,
and her aunt was a rifle. They then marched the Florida Vanguard and the Silhouettes
where her mom received a patch for drum corps championships in Ithaca, NY in 1974.
Intrigued by the patch, Amy started asking questions and learning about Drum Corps
and Color guard. She learned to spin from her aunt though she wasnt able to march yet.
Until she finally got the opprtunity to spin in high school, she participated in gymanastics,
cheerleading, dance, swimming, soccer, and karate. Amy began her color guard
marching experience at Flanagan High School in 1999, where she learned to spin
weapon by her first winter season. She performed at Flanagan until she graduated in
2002 in open class with the show "Patchwork Quilt." In 2003, Amy marched with the
Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps the year they placed tenth in Division I Finals,
in their show "Silver Voices." That winter, she performed with FIU's winterguard, in their
inaugeral season, with the show entitled "Vertigo." The same year she also took a
teaching position at Hialeah Miami Lakes, but decided not to continue teaching the
following year, due to her marching commitments. In the summer of 2004, Amy
auditioned for the Boston Crusaders Color guard and performed in the show "The
Composition of Color," where the corps place 9th in Finals. She fell in love with the
history and passion of the crusaders and remained a member until she aged out in the
2006 show "Cathedrals of the mind." In 2005 she had a short stint with the UM color
guard but didnt finish the season. That winter she marched with the Braddock
Independent World guard and was a WGI world class finalist in their show entitled
"So..." Following her age out in 2006 with the Boston Crusaders Amy took on a position
at Western High School as the guard director, where she has been for the last 3 years.
Amy is very excited to start working with the JV guard at Flanagan this winter, and
can't wait to see what the future holds!
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Andrea Watts, Color Guard Instructor
Andrea is originally from Union City, CA and moved to Miami for school
in December 2008. In Union City she joined colorguard at her middle
school and continued marching in high school and after. She was apart
of the James Logan World Guard 2003, 2004 and 2005 where she was taught
under Scott Chandler. She is a 3-time WGI world champion. After
graduating in 2005 she continued marching for The Blue Devils A Corp in
2005, 2006 and 2007. She is a DCI gold medalist as well. She also was
apart of Santa Clara Vanguard World Guard in 2006, and was apart of the
San Jose Raiders World Guard in 2007. She currently is attending
Florida International University, earning her Bachelors in Psychology.
She is very excited to get back to the colorguard world and take on
teaching rather than performing.
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Shayna Middleman, Alumni Color Guard Instructor
Shayna began performing with the Falcon sound in 2006, where she was a member of the front ensemble. When the 2007 season came around, Shayna decided to make a change, and joined the color guard. She performed in six consecutive seasons with the color guard, including one year in the JV guard and two years in the world guard, as well as being a member of Flanagan's concert band as a flute player from 2006 - 2009. Shayna graduated in 2010, and is attending FIU to major in english, but she excited to be coming back to Flanagan this year as a guard instructor.
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Ashley Bruce, Alumni Color Guard Instructor
Ashley Bruce graduated from Flanagan high school in 2010. She marched in the color guard for the four years of her high school experience, and was a part of the world guard for three years. She was one of the captains of the fall and world guard her senior year. Ashley is now majoring in Art at FIU and plans on making a career out of animation or graphics design with a company such as Disney, Pixar, or Nintendo.
COLOR GUARD STAFF
Cristina Prada , Alumni Color Guard Instructor
Cristina Prada started marching with the Flanagan Color Guard in 2005, Super Hero Chronicles. She has done marching band all four years of high school. Cristina’s first two years were in JV. Her sophomore year, she was the captain. Her last two years of high school, she joined the world guard. After she graduated in 2009, she decided to join Braddock Independent for the 2010 season. Cristina is majoring in psychology and is going to miner in criminal justice.
MUSIC ARRANGER
Dennis Llinas, Music Arranger
Mr. Dennis Llinas graduated from Hialeah High School in 1998. Mr. Llinas then attended Florida International University earning his bachelors degree in Music Education. While in college, Mr. Llinas marched four years of Drum and Bugle Corps with the Boston Crusaders from the years 1999 through 2002. He then went on to teach the Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003.
Mr. Llinas has been instructing high school percussion programs since his graduation with schools including Hialeah High School, Miami Springs High School, Palmetto High School, Stoneman Douglas High School, Cooper City High School, and Felix Varela High School to name a few.
At the age of 19, Mr. Llinas was asked to arrange his first marching band show covering all wind and percussion parts. Since then, he has grown to write for over 20 high schools throughout Florida and extending through Minnesota and Massachusetts. He was also hired by the South Florida Percussion Company to compose and teach their program from the years 2000 through 2003.
Since then, Mr. Llinas has been commissioned to compose pieces for performers from various universities including Florida International University, University of North Texas, and the University of Central Florida.
Dennis Llinas is currently finishing his second year at Miami Coral Park Senior High School. By his second year, he has earned the marching band straight superiors (a first since 1999), the Wind Ensemble straight superiors (a first since 2000), and the Jazz Band straight superiors (first time in over 26 years). The Wind Ensemble was invited to the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational in 2006 and received straight superior ratings from adjudicators such as Mark Camphouse and David Holsinger. The Jazz Band participated at the Festival Disney competition in 2006 and was awarded grand champion for the Jazz Ensembles.
