- CONTEST INFORMATION -
2025 JUDGES
RICK RODRIGUEZ
Mr. Rick Rodriguez is currently the percussion director and Associate band director at Cedar Ridge High School, Round Rock TX. Rick has been the director of the Cedar Ridge Symphonic Band and is currently assisting all of the Cedar Ridge Concert Bands and the Cedar Ridge Wind Ensemble. He is also the primary director of the Cedar Ridge Jazz Ensemble and the Cedar Ridge percussion program. Mr Rodriguez and his ensembles have been fortunate to have several appearances at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic held annually in Chicago IL. Mr Rod is also a busy and active percussion arranger and versatile clinician. In his younger days, Rick was the “center snare” of the infamous University of North TX PASIC Drum Line where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Rick was also a snare drummer for the Concord Blue Devils. Rick has been a staff member of the Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights and is currently with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also been on the adjudicating staff of Drum Corps International (DCI), Bands of America (BOA) and is currently on the WGI judging panel. Mr. Rodriguez is endorsed by the Zildjian Cym Co., Innovative Percussion, and Evans Drum Heads.
FRANK CONNELLY
Frank Connelly is a performer, teacher, and composer with a diverse background in the marching arts, percussion ensemble, orchestra, wind ensemble, and solo playing. In the marching arts, Frank served as a percussion instructor at the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018 and 2019, teaching alongside world class instructors Russell Wharton, Michael MacIntosh, and Brett Kuhn. Frank also teaches battery percussion at Monarch Independent, amidst talented teachers such as Taha Ahmed, Brian Perez, and Don Click. Mr. Connelly is a Bachelor of Music graduate at Texas State University with an emphasis in Percussion. Frank is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion, Mapex/Majestic Percussion, and Sabian Cymbals. Mr. Connelly works with the Beginning Percussion classes at Palo Alto.
NATHAN SIEGEL
Nathan is an active performer, educator and composer. He earned his bachelors degree in percussion performance with a minor in jazz studies at Indiana University and his masters degree in percussion performance from the University of Colorado Boulder. He is currently finishing his DMA at the University of North Texas. As a performer, Nathan has been active in the DFW area most recently as a soloist with the North Central Texas Winds. Other performance experience includes multiple regional symphonies in Texas and Colorado. Nathan has been involved in the marching arts for several years, performing with Vigilantes Indoor Percussion in 2014, Rhythm X (‘16,’17) and the Bluecoats (‘18). He has taught the Front Ensemble at Legends Drum and Bugle corps and most recently Genesis drum and Bugle Corps. Nathan writes and arranges percussion music for groups across the metroplex. Most recently, he composed a percussion ensemble piece titled “Ark”, a marimba Duo titled COLOR and a collection of six marimba etudes titled “Creatures of the Wood” both premiered at UNT. Nathan primary specialties are solo marimba improvisational research and performance and Afro-Latin percussions throughout the Americas. A main focus of his keyboard research is dedicated to the expansion of what is technically possible on the marimba as well as a focus on improvisation at the keyboard and a method geared for advanced high school and early college percussionists without a background in Jazz. Nathan creates online content geared for young keyboard players and those who are interested in technique and improvisation. This past fall, Nathan presented his clinic titled “Fun with Improvisin’” at the PASIC convention in Indianapolis.
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