2006-2007 FALCON SOUND STAFF

PERCUSSION
Brandon Cruz, Percussion Instructor
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 also timpanist and Latin percussionist for the World Champion Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps in 1995 and 1997.
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. 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.

PERCUSSION
Kyle Nichols, Percussion Instructor
Kyle Nichols is from Pembroke Pines Florida where he graduated from Flanagan High School in 2003. After marching with the Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum and Bugle Corp that summer Kyle returned to Flanagan as a percussion instructor. In the winter of 2003-2004 he was a member of the independant-open South Florida Percussion Company as well as a member of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corp in 2004-present. Currently Kyle is in his 2nd year at B.C.C. as a music education major.

VISUAL
Paula Hyman, Visual Instructor

VISUAL
Orlando Mastrapa, Visual Instructor

VISUAL
Andre Aubert, Visual Instructor

VISUAL
Luis Mora, Visual Instructor

VISUAL
Carlos Franco, Visual Instructor

COLOR GUARD
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 technician with The Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps. She was also a performing member of the Cadets from 1997-2000. She has also marched and taught color guards such as Emerald Knights, Cardinals, Oakland Crusaders, Genesis II, Bluecoats, Ridge Raiders, and Patriots. Emma has been a staff consultant for King Philip High School, Emerald Knights, Emerald Marquis, and Ooltewah High School Marching Band. She has been a full-time member of the Flanagan High School marching band and winterguard staff since 2001.

COLOR GUARD
Matt Winans, Color Guard Instructor
Matt was born in raised in the small town of Medina, NY. After graduation he attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Brockport in Rochester, NY where he earned two bachelors degrees in Communications and Dance. He recently moved to Florida to teach the Flanagan Colorguards.Matt's experience in colorguard goes beyond his age as his mother, (Clara Lake) marched and taught colorguard for 25 years at Medina High school. Matt was a member of the Medina High School Winterguard and Marching Band as well as being the drum major his senior year. Other marching experiences include the Empire Statesmen Sr. Drum corps, the Rochester Patriots Independent World Guard, and the Cadets Drum Corps. He has also taught many groups through out New York including; Eastridge High School (Director 2002-2005), The Cadets, Empire Statesmen, Orchard Park High School, East Syracuse Minoa High School, Hilton High School, Medina High School, and Pheonix High School color guards. He looks forward to being apart of the Flanagan family for years to come.

COLOR GUARD
Hayden Rhodes, Color Guard Instructor
Hayden is from Monroe, CT. He studied music and psychology at University of Connecticut. He has marched in the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum Corps, Emerald Marquis winterguard, and was Captain of the Cadets of Bergen County drum and bugle corps.

COLOR GUARD
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
Jackee Sears, Color Guard Instructor
Jackee Sears is a graduate of Flanagan High School. She is currently attending Broward Community College. As A Flanagan student she participated in the Falcon Sound Marching Band/Color Guard and Winter Guard. In her senior year she served as captain of the Flanagan World Guard. Jackee has also performed with the Magic of Orlando (2003), the Boston Crusaders (2005), Braddock Independent (2005) and currently teaches the Special Needs Color Guard located in Parkland, Fl.

MUSIC
Denis LLinos, 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.