Cadets Announce 2024 Management & Design Teams
With 2024 planning already well underway, The Cadets Administration is very pleased to announce that the corps leadership will remain consistent for the upcoming season.
"We have a great team that works well together," said Vicki Ferrence Ray, Executive Director of Cadets Arts & Entertainment. "A couple of folks are stepping into roles that truly maximize their talents, but our 2024 team will look very much like the team that brought The 2023 Cadets to the field," she said.
Brian Murphy will concentrate his focus on providing excellent leadership to The Cadets' membership and staff, returning as Corps Director for 2024.
After an excellent first season as Corps Manager, Kelsey Brunson returns to her position, providing a personal experience for the Cadets themselves.
Most notably, Evan Turner, former Assistant Color Guard Caption Manager and a Cadets Color Guard Alumnus, has moved into the role of Program Coordinator.
"We are thrilled that Evan will be heading up the show design efforts for 2024 and beyond," Brian Murphy said. "He brings incredible talent and creativity to the conversation, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved appointment to a lead role on our Design Team."
Joining Evan on the Design Team are Brass Arranger Jay Bocook, Battery Arranger Lee Beddis, Front Ensemble Arranger and Sound Designer Andrew Monteiro, Visual Designer Jon Bilby, Visual Consultant Jeff Sacktig, Audio Consultant Lloyd Puckitt, Brass Designer Matt Stratton, and Program Consultant/Brass Consultant Marc Whitlock.
More About the Designers
Jay Bocook is recognized internationally as an educator, conductor, composer, and GRAMMY-nominated arranger. He served as The Cadets' arranger from 1993 to 2016 and from 2019 to the present. Jay has played a significant role in creating The Cadets' trademark style, sound, and quality of performance for decades. Read his full bio.
Lee Beddis is a renowned percussionist, instructor, arranger and caption manager who has brought a number of DCI World-Class batteries into competitive standing among the top programs in the world. He returned to The Cadets as Battery Arranger in 2023 and helped lead the percussion section to its strongest competitive finish in several years. Read his full bio.
Jon Bilby is an acclaimed designer and educator throughout Europe and North America who first joined The Cadets' Visual Staff in 1999. He has remained an integral part of the team for over a decade, including the 2000, 2005, and 2011 championship seasons. Jon became The Cadets' Drill Designer in 2021. Read his full bio.
Returning for his second season as The Cadets' Sound Designer, Andrew Monteiro is a music educator, percussion arranger and sound designer based in Philadelphia, Pa. He served as the Front Ensemble Supervisor, Arranger and Sound Designer for Cadets2 as well as several top DCI and DCA corps as well as WGI ensembles. Read his full bio.
Lloyd Puckitt is an accomplished audio engineer, sound designer and consultant who has worked as a recording engineer in the music industry. His work with groups including Depeche Mode, Erasure, Mathew Sweet and Madonna, has earned Gold and Platinum awards. Read his full bio.
Jeff Sacktig is one of the legendary drill designers who made invaluable contributions to The Cadets' modern visual program. In addition to designing shows for some of the top drum corps in DCI, he has worked extensively with winter guards, indoor percussion groups and marching bands. He now serves as The Cadets' Visual Consultant, a role he has held since 2021. Read his full bio.
Brass Caption Manager Dr. Matt Stratton joins the Design Team for 2024, having already made significant contributions to the corps for the past three seasons. "Doc" is a Professor of Music and holds the Charlene Hawkins Chair of Instrumental Music at Olivet Nazarene University, where he serves as the Director of Bands in the School of Music. Read his full bio.
Marc Whitlock has been in demand as an educator, clinician, consultant, and designer for many drum corps since 1980. Marc spent 30 years in education as a band director and school administrator and serves as an adjudicator for marching bands, drum corps, percussion ensembles, winter drumlines, concert bands, and orchestras. He is thrilled to return as Program Consultant and Brass Consultant for The Cadets for 2024. Read his full bio.
Become a Cadet in 2024
If you are interested in joining The Cadets for the 2024 season, visit cadets.org/join to view audition dates and locations and get started today!
