Percussion Writer/Battery and Program Coordinator: Steve Roberts
Steve grew up in the Hampton Roads area. He attended Bayside High School in
Virginia Beach, where he marched Snare from 1991-1994 for the Marching
Marlins. The following season, Steve was a technician for the band, followed by
a year of arranging the percussion music.
During his time at Bayside, Steve was also a member of the Boston Crusaders
Drum and Bugle Corps from 1993-1994, marching snare drum, and serving as
the section leader in 1994. Moving on from the Boston Crusaders, Steve was a
member of the 1995 Cadets of Bergen County Snareline, placing 2nd at DCI
Finals. Over the next couple of years, Steve taught the Salem High School
drumline, and performed for the Old Dominion University Percussion Ensemble.
Steve moved on from performing in DCI to teaching then-newcomers Tarheel
Sun from 1997-2000. Steve was the Co-Arranger and Caption Head for the
majority of his time there.
Steve then took his percussive knowledge to Princess Anne High School,
serving as the Arranger/Caption Head from 1996-2003, stepping away for a
couple of years, and returning in 2006 to continue as the
Coordinator/Arranger/Designer until the present day. Steve also arranges for
Indian River High School in Chesapeake, VA.
Steve grew up in the Hampton Roads area. He attended Bayside High School in
Virginia Beach, where he marched Snare from 1991-1994 for the Marching
Marlins. The following season, Steve was a technician for the band, followed by
a year of arranging the percussion music.
During his time at Bayside, Steve was also a member of the Boston Crusaders
Drum and Bugle Corps from 1993-1994, marching snare drum, and serving as
the section leader in 1994. Moving on from the Boston Crusaders, Steve was a
member of the 1995 Cadets of Bergen County Snareline, placing 2nd at DCI
Finals. Over the next couple of years, Steve taught the Salem High School
drumline, and performed for the Old Dominion University Percussion Ensemble.
Steve moved on from performing in DCI to teaching then-newcomers Tarheel
Sun from 1997-2000. Steve was the Co-Arranger and Caption Head for the
majority of his time there.
Steve then took his percussive knowledge to Princess Anne High School,
serving as the Arranger/Caption Head from 1996-2003, stepping away for a
couple of years, and returning in 2006 to continue as the
Coordinator/Arranger/Designer until the present day. Steve also arranges for
Indian River High School in Chesapeake, VA.
Director: Derek Sanson
Derek Sanson has lived in Virginia Beach for most of his life. He grew up
around music and marching band, and as he came of age, was afforded
the opportunity to march for the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers. Derek was
in the tenor line in 1998 and marched snare from 1999-2001. He also
participated in many concert groups and percussion ensembles until he
graduated from Princess Anne High School in 2002.
After Graduating, Derek was asked to join the team of staff with the
Fabulous Marching Cavaliers. He was a Percussion Technician for the
Battery for the 2002 and 2003 marching seasons. Following that, Derek
became the Percussion Coordinator, Arranger and Writer at Granby High
School in 2004. He remained at Granby until 2006, after which Derek
returned to Princess Anne High School in 2007 as a battery specialist, and
in 2008 became the Battery Coordinator. Derek was also the Battery
Coordinator for Dominion Storm for the founding year of 2007 and looks
forward to more great seasons to come.
To start the 2010 season, Derek took over as Director of Dominion Storm,
and continues to lead our group to this day.
Derek Sanson has lived in Virginia Beach for most of his life. He grew up
around music and marching band, and as he came of age, was afforded
the opportunity to march for the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers. Derek was
in the tenor line in 1998 and marched snare from 1999-2001. He also
participated in many concert groups and percussion ensembles until he
graduated from Princess Anne High School in 2002.
After Graduating, Derek was asked to join the team of staff with the
Fabulous Marching Cavaliers. He was a Percussion Technician for the
Battery for the 2002 and 2003 marching seasons. Following that, Derek
became the Percussion Coordinator, Arranger and Writer at Granby High
School in 2004. He remained at Granby until 2006, after which Derek
returned to Princess Anne High School in 2007 as a battery specialist, and
in 2008 became the Battery Coordinator. Derek was also the Battery
Coordinator for Dominion Storm for the founding year of 2007 and looks
forward to more great seasons to come.
To start the 2010 season, Derek took over as Director of Dominion Storm,
and continues to lead our group to this day.
Percussion Specialist/Battery/Front Ensemble: Leigh Burnette
Leigh was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA. He attended Kempsville High
School from 1998-2002, and marched in the Marvelous Marching Chiefs. Leigh
played in the Front Ensemble from 1999-2001, playing Snare additionally in 2001.
He was an accomplished Timpanist for the school, receiving an All-State audition
his Junior and Senior years on the instrument.
Upon graduation, Leigh taught the drumline at Frank W. Cox High School and
helped out at Kempsville part-time, a year in which the band received 1st Place
Honors at the USSBA Championships. From 2003-2004, Leigh served as a Front
Ensemble Clinician for Kempsville, stepping up to Percussion Caption
Head/Arranger for the 2005-2006 seasons. Leigh then moved on to First Colonial
High School to work with then-band director Andrew Hummer. He served as
Caption Head and Arranger for the next 2 seasons from 2007-2008.
Leigh now teaches the Front Ensemble for Princess Anne High School and
serves as Front Ensemble Technician and Percussion Specialist for Dominion
Storm.
Leigh was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA. He attended Kempsville High
School from 1998-2002, and marched in the Marvelous Marching Chiefs. Leigh
played in the Front Ensemble from 1999-2001, playing Snare additionally in 2001.
He was an accomplished Timpanist for the school, receiving an All-State audition
his Junior and Senior years on the instrument.
Upon graduation, Leigh taught the drumline at Frank W. Cox High School and
helped out at Kempsville part-time, a year in which the band received 1st Place
Honors at the USSBA Championships. From 2003-2004, Leigh served as a Front
Ensemble Clinician for Kempsville, stepping up to Percussion Caption
Head/Arranger for the 2005-2006 seasons. Leigh then moved on to First Colonial
High School to work with then-band director Andrew Hummer. He served as
Caption Head and Arranger for the next 2 seasons from 2007-2008.
Leigh now teaches the Front Ensemble for Princess Anne High School and
serves as Front Ensemble Technician and Percussion Specialist for Dominion
Storm.
Visual Designer: Noah Bellamy
Videographer/Visual Specialist: Rick Foye
Front Ensemble Writer/Program Coordinator: Bryan Maurer
Born in Buffalo, New York, Bryan grew up in Virginia Beach attending Salem
High School. There he marched snare with the Marching Sundevils from 1993-
1997; Carolina Crown in 1994-1995; and Tarheel Sun in 1997. Continuing his
pursuits in music, he attended several small colleges—Simpson College in
Redding, CA, and Chabot Community College in Hayward, CA—and gigged on
drumset with several indie rock bands throughout California.
Finding a passion for writing percussion music, Maurer returned to Hampton
Roads in 2000 and declared his major in music composition studies under Dr.
Adolphus Hailstork and Dr. Andrey Kasparov at Old Dominion University,
Norfolk, VA, earning his Bachelors of Music Composition (B.M.) degree in 2007
and earning awards F. Ludwig Diehn Scholar, Vogan Music Scholarship, and
the S. Eliot Breneiser Memorial Scholarship. In 2010, he was awarded his Master
of Music Education (M.M.E.) degree in applied percussion studies from Old
Dominion University under David Walker—Wheaton Conservatory of Music (B.
M.) and The University of Michigan (M.M.).
Throughout the past decade, Maurer has worked as a freelance percussionist,
arranger, composer, and performer, teaching privately and working for several
high schools and professional organizations including: Dominion Storm Indoor
Drumline, Princess Anne HS, Indian River HS, Landstown HS, Granby HS,
Kellam HS, Hickory HS, Salem HS, Todd Rosenlieb Dance Studios , Music & Arts
Centers, ODU Community Music Academy, ODU Dance Department, ODU
Monarch Drumline, The Tidewater Winds, and The Virginia Wind Symphony.
Recently, Bryan has founded Vital Cycles Music & Entertainment Productions
(vitalcyclesmusic.com), contributed music for an independent film documentary,
THE CHILD, and is Director of Contemporary Music at Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church in Virginia Beach. The 2011 season will be Maurer’s second with
Dominion Storm Indoor Drumline.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Bryan grew up in Virginia Beach attending Salem
High School. There he marched snare with the Marching Sundevils from 1993-
1997; Carolina Crown in 1994-1995; and Tarheel Sun in 1997. Continuing his
pursuits in music, he attended several small colleges—Simpson College in
Redding, CA, and Chabot Community College in Hayward, CA—and gigged on
drumset with several indie rock bands throughout California.
Finding a passion for writing percussion music, Maurer returned to Hampton
Roads in 2000 and declared his major in music composition studies under Dr.
Adolphus Hailstork and Dr. Andrey Kasparov at Old Dominion University,
Norfolk, VA, earning his Bachelors of Music Composition (B.M.) degree in 2007
and earning awards F. Ludwig Diehn Scholar, Vogan Music Scholarship, and
the S. Eliot Breneiser Memorial Scholarship. In 2010, he was awarded his Master
of Music Education (M.M.E.) degree in applied percussion studies from Old
Dominion University under David Walker—Wheaton Conservatory of Music (B.
M.) and The University of Michigan (M.M.).
Throughout the past decade, Maurer has worked as a freelance percussionist,
arranger, composer, and performer, teaching privately and working for several
high schools and professional organizations including: Dominion Storm Indoor
Drumline, Princess Anne HS, Indian River HS, Landstown HS, Granby HS,
Kellam HS, Hickory HS, Salem HS, Todd Rosenlieb Dance Studios , Music & Arts
Centers, ODU Community Music Academy, ODU Dance Department, ODU
Monarch Drumline, The Tidewater Winds, and The Virginia Wind Symphony.
Recently, Bryan has founded Vital Cycles Music & Entertainment Productions
(vitalcyclesmusic.com), contributed music for an independent film documentary,
THE CHILD, and is Director of Contemporary Music at Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church in Virginia Beach. The 2011 season will be Maurer’s second with
Dominion Storm Indoor Drumline.
| © 2012 Dominion Storm |
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Battery Instructor, Bass Tech - John Gibbs
John is the “new guy” and entered this organization as a bit of a wildcard. He
originally hails from Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, born and raised, and
currently works for the Department of Defense in Naval Logistics/Contract
Acquisition with the Naval Supply Systems Command. When John isn’t
spending time spending your money, he’s cavorting the dream; living ultimate
frisbee, drinking coffee, playing chess, participating in any number of the
plethora of other hobbies he’s associated with, or simply running around
enjoying what the Greater Norfolk Region’s social life has to offer.
John brings an approach to the table that puts the end goal further than the last
performance of the season. He vies to not simply teach the show, but to
encourage learning and progression to breach between rehearsal and students’
real lives (social, personal, and professional). From one-on-one instruction to
promoting group synergy in full ensemble scenarios, John hopes to convey how
the tools being utilized through Dominion Storm can be used to promote positive
feedback in all facets of daily life.
John is the “new guy” and entered this organization as a bit of a wildcard. He
originally hails from Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, born and raised, and
currently works for the Department of Defense in Naval Logistics/Contract
Acquisition with the Naval Supply Systems Command. When John isn’t
spending time spending your money, he’s cavorting the dream; living ultimate
frisbee, drinking coffee, playing chess, participating in any number of the
plethora of other hobbies he’s associated with, or simply running around
enjoying what the Greater Norfolk Region’s social life has to offer.
John brings an approach to the table that puts the end goal further than the last
performance of the season. He vies to not simply teach the show, but to
encourage learning and progression to breach between rehearsal and students’
real lives (social, personal, and professional). From one-on-one instruction to
promoting group synergy in full ensemble scenarios, John hopes to convey how
the tools being utilized through Dominion Storm can be used to promote positive
feedback in all facets of daily life.
