Music Staff
Ron Ellis 
Program Coordinator/Brass Arranger/Brass Caption Head – Caption Head
 Ron Ellis currently serves as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Central Florida where he is deeply involved in all aspects of the UCF band program. In addition to writing drill and music for the 250 member Marching Knights, he serves as the coordinator/director for the the Jammin’ Knights Pep Bands, Assistant Conductor of the UCF Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, and Instructor of the Marching Band Techniques Courses. He is also currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Wind and Orchestral Conducting at the University of South Florida where he is a student of Dr. William Wiedrich. He also has served as a conductor, clinician, show designer, music composer/arranger and adjudicator throughout the United States.
As a professional musician and conductor, Ron currently holds the position of Music Director for the Walt Disney Company where his duties include rehearsing, producing, and performing with outstanding college musicians from universities all across the nation and national recording artists/clinicians. In addition, he serves as a show coordinator for the Disney Student Musician Program at the Magic Kingdom where he coordinates and rehearses all student parade bands and street performances of The Fanfares of Christmas, The Christmas Brass, the Riverboat Band, Clown Band, and the Toy Soldiers and Glock Girls. He was asked to be the Assistant Director of the “All American College Band” under Ron McCurdy in 1993, the choreographer/show designer for the Orlando and Paris bands in 1999 and served as the director for the summer 2000, 2004 and 2005 Disney Collegiate All-Star Bands. Ellis also serves as one of the conductors of the Disney Candle Light processional orchestra for the Pre and Post shows. He is also the director of the Orlando Magic Basketball team's pep-band 'Momentum' and their drumline 'Rhythm and Blue.'
As a professional composer and arranger, he presently serves as orchestrator for Dr. David Brunner’s choral pieces and has had works premiered and performed at Carnegie Hall in 2 separate concerts. Other opportunities have allowed him to serve as orchestrator for “Parable,” an original musical, live ensembles at the Walt Disney Resort, and film scoring for the UCF Department of Film and Digital Media. In the marching world, Ellis served as the music arranger and drill designer many outstanding high school music programs across the country and is presently the music arranger and drill designer for 8 high schools in Florida.. He has also arranged and designed shows for Northwestern University, The University of Minnesota, the University of Southern Illinois, Samford University, University of Alabama Birmingham, the University of South Florida and the Florida International University marching bands. He has served as the brass arranger for the Yokohama Inspires Drum and Bugle Corps since 2004 and served on the brass staff for the Magic of Orlando from 1996 through 1999. In his marching years, Ron was lead baritone for Suncoast Sound in 1982, 1983, and 1985 and taught marching in 1987 and 1988.
Brass Staff
Frank Williams
Music Consultant
 Frank Williams received his B.S. degree in music education from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, and his Master of Music degree from State University of New York in Fredonia, New York. An educator for nearly three decades, he has taught at the junior high, high school, and college levels. Currently, Mr. Williams is the Director of Bands at Boca Ciega High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where his jazz ensembles have consistently received superior ratings throughout his tenure. Recently, the ensemble won the First Place Gold Status Award at JazzFest USA, sponsored by Downbeat Magazine.
Mr. Williams has also been involved in the drum corps and marching band arena for over 20 years. He is the former Brass Caption Head for the world champion The Cadets drum and bugle corps; Suncoast Sound drum and bugle corps; and Magic drum and bugle corps; and is presently a brass consultant for the Glassmen drum and bugle corps.
Mr. Williams is a member of MENC, FBA, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Omega Psi Phi, and has served as Vice President for the IAJE Florida chapter. He maintains an active schedule as a freelance composer, arranger, consultant, and clinician throughout the United States.
Percussion Staff
John Campese
Percussion Supervisor/Caption Head
 A lifelong central Florida resident, Mr. Campese also has a long and distinguished drum corps history, marching with the Leathernecks, Florida Vanguards, Anaheim Kingsmen and Suncoast Sound. In 1989, Campese was a founding member of Magic of Orlando. He has also served as percussion instructor/caption head for such corps as Suncoast Sound, Boston Crusaders, Yokohama Inspires (Japan) and, of course, Magic of Orlando. For 18 years Campese has served as a performer/arranger with Walt Disney World. He is perhaps best remembered as one of the performers in the powerhouse Future Corps. Mr. Campese is also the founder and director of the current WGI World Percussion Finalist, Infinity Percussion from Orlando, FL.
Percussion Staff
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Lee Hansen
Percussion Tech
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Jarod Johnson
Percussion Tech
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Visual Staff
Marcos Martinez
Visual Caption Head
 Marcos Martinez was a member of the Florida Wave from 1987 – 89. In 1990 he joined the Blue Devils and performed with them through 1991. Marcos also marched with the University of Miami band from 1987 – 91 and in 1989 ventured into the color guard world when he was a member of the Alliance of Miami winter guard from 1989 – 93. He has taught both color guard and bands in south Florida and California and is currently the Visual Caption Head with the West Boca HS Band in Florida. Marcos was the designer/caption head of the Division III Champion Americanos Drum & Bugle Corps in 1994. He later became the visual caption head of the Spirit of Atlanta in 1997. Marcos is in his 3rd season with the Teal Sound and has brought a very unique and energetic style to the corps in his teaching of the visual program.
Marcos currently resides in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Visual Staff
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Lainey Drummond
Visual Tech
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Ashley Wright
Visual Tech
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Budd Williams
Color Guard Caption Head/Designer
 Budd comes to Teal Sound for the 2008 season as the new Color Guard caption head. He originally hails from Connecticut and has grown up in the Drum Corps and Winterguard activity.
His drum corps marching experience include the Connecticut Valley Crusaders, Connecticut Hurricanes, the Bushwackers and the Sunrisers of Long Island, NY. He has also been involved with Aurora, Silver Falcons, Conquest and St. Ann’s World as a marching member.
Budd has served as either an instructor or caption head for the following corps and winter guard programs. The Sunrisers, Boston Crusaders, Cadets of Bergen County, Pride of Soka, the Crossmen and most recently with the Capital Regiment. He has taught the likes of Aurora, Zenith, St. Ann’sWorld, Braddock World, Lassiter HS and is currently the guard caption head at Hiram HS and South Paulding HS in Georgia. Budd also serves as an active judge with the USSBA.
He brings a fresh approach and philosophy to the Teal Sound guard program that will add a great deal to the overall visual and effect side of this year’s show. All of us here at Teal are glad that we have the experience and knowledge that Budd brings to the table.
Color Guard Staff
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Shane Cheatle
Colorguard Tech
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Amy Metzlar
Colorguard Tech
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April Gilligan
Visual Color Guard Consultant/Designer
Staff Advisors
Cliff Lipscomb, Ph.D.
Staff Advisor
 Dr. Clifford A. Lipscomb is one of the Staff Coordinator's for the 2008 Teal Sound. His previous music experiences include being a marching member of the Magic of Orlando (1995), a visual designer and cymbal instructor for the indoor percussion programs at the Georgia Institute of Technology (1999-2001), and a percussion instructor/arranger for several high school programs in Georgia and Virginia. Dr. Lipscomb also serves as a judge for the United States Scholastic Band Association, the Florida Federation of Color Guards, and the Atlantic Indoor Association.
Dr. Lipscomb is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. At VSU, he also coordinates the marching percussion activities for the VSU Blazin’ Brigade marching band.
Dr. Lipscomb has an undergraduate degree in economics and sociology from Berry College (1998) and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2003). Most recently, Dr. Lipscomb worked as a Research Economist for the Regional Economic Analysis Division, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, in Washington, DC.
Ralph Venezia
Staff Advisor
 Ralph Venezia is Staff Coordinator of the Teal Sound Drum Corps. A graduate of Oklahoma City University he has served as a designer, arranger, instructor, adjudicator and clinician for corps and bands since 1971. He was a member of the Fair Lawn Cadets and Hawthorne Muchahcos. As a performer and brass instructor for the Hawthorne Caballeros they won five American Legion National titles and four DCA World titles including an undefeated season.
As a trumpet player and percussionist he has performed with the Oklahoma City Junior Symphony, Ridgewood Concert Band and Orchestra, the Metropolitan Brass and ESAD Brass Quartette. Recently he was on the staff of the Cypress Creek High School Band and the Magic of Orlando Drum Corps. He is employed by the Youth Programs division of the Walt Disney Company in Orlando. He resides with his wife The Rev. Deborah Venezia and their two Basset Hounds Queen Elizabeth 111 and Princess Margaret, Countess of Kissimmee.
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