Staff List

This is Bill's third year as pit instructor for NorthCoast Academy. He was a member of the NCA pit in '05 and '06. In addition to his experience with NCA, he was a member of the Bluecoats pit in 2004, the 2002 and 2004 Michigan State University Compline front ensembles which competed at PASIC, the MSU drumline (as a tenor drummer) and Morrice Percussion as a snare drummer (the year with the little pigs). In addition to teaching at NCA, Bill has taken a position in Mattawan Consolidated  School teaching 6-12 band.  Prior to working in Mattwan, Bill served for 2 years as Director of Music for Dryden Community Schools, where he has also started an early childhood music program. He arranges pit parts for some indoor drumlines and marching bands. He has worked with a number of percussion programs including Walled Lake Percussion, DeWitt HS Marching Band (and DeWitt ICE), Mt. Pleasant HS, Rockford High School, and others. Bill is entering his 3rd season as front ensemble supervisor at Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, based in Kalamazoo, MI.  In his spare time, he enjoys watching obscure movies and TV shows from Blockbuster, and he truly enjoys his hair... all of it.

Dan Schmatz began his indoor percussion career marching with Spirit Performing Youth Ensemble from Kitchener, ON from 2001-2002. He grew tired of Canada and joined NCA in 2003. Playing snare from 03 to 05, serving as ensemble leader from 04-05. Dan also is the battery caption head/arranger for the 2006 PIA Gold Medalists, Walled Lake Percussion, based out of Walled Lake Central HS, in Walled Lake, MI. Walled Lake. He also enjoys White Castle, Florida, and Unicorns. "I just think they are magical..."

Diane has been involved with winter percussion in Michigan since it's inception in 1995. Her group, Central Montcalm High School, was one of four charter members. She has gone on to direct or instruct other lines including CAL Perc, East Grand Rapids High School, Huron Valley Percussion Ensemble, Morrice Winter Drumline, Spirit Performing Youth Ensemble, Reese Winter Drumline, and NorthCoast Academy. Diane spent seven summers as a tour manager for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and is currently the battery visual tech for Dutch Boy Drum and Bugle Corps. She has been a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Color Guard Circuit for 8 years - 6 as Secretary and 2 as the Percussion Representative. Diane loves movies, hockey and music and has seen the band Rush TEN times!

I started in high school (and before) a brass player, trumpet then baritone.  Halfway through High School I became bored with the brass section and ventured into the world of percussion.  I played bass for one year and tenors my senior year.

After school I marched for two seasons with the Kiwanis Kavaliers (2000-2001) both on bass 2.  After that I performed with SPYE (2002), also on bass 2.

I joined the Northcoast staff midway through the 2006 season to take care of the bass drums.  I have been the bass tech ever since, and have enjoyed watching the entire ensemble get better and better each season.

I am one of the few staff members that isn't actually working in the "music" world.  I work for the University of Michigan where I manage two offices (SOAS and the UU Cash Office).  If you are a student at U of M and are a part of any student org, come say "Hi".

I have been married since May of 2005.  My wife is a long time WGI/DCI participant, so we get along, and she tolerates me when I'm away every weekend.  We are going to be having our first baby at the end of June, so we are very excited.

Doug Downer, a native of Grand Rapids, MI, is currently working on completing his Music Education degree from Central Michigan University. At CMU, he has gained experience performing in the orchestra, wind symphony and percussion ensemble. In the spring of 2008, Doug had the opportunity to perform with Bob Becker. While at CMU, Doug has studied with Andrew Spencer and David Hall.

Doug began his drumming career with Kenowa Hills High School, where he was taught by Landon Ewers, Ryan Miller, and Chris Bookie. He has been a member of Great Lakes Percussion ( 2001, 2002, 2004), NorthCoast Academy (2006), Americanos Drum & Bugle Corps (2001) serving as section leader, The Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps (2004, 2006) and The Detroit Pistons Drumline 2006-2007. He has been instructed by Frank Chapelle, Will Gordillo, Chris Hestin, Martin Hotte, Scott Idle, Dave Nelson, and Eric Ward.

Doug is active teaching and writing around the west side of the state. He has taught Rockford, Northview, Northpointe, and Mount Pleasant High School's. Currently, he is the percussion caption head and arranger for Northview High School's marching band. He also is the current visual designer and arranger for the winter drumline at Northpointe Christian High School.

I began my competitive drumming career in 2002 with The Capitol Regiment from Columbus, OH. After that I had my first WGI experience in 2003 with Shock Percussion from Walled Lake, MI. The following year I tried out for NorthCoast Academy and I've been here ever since. In 2006 I age out of drum corps with the Madison Scouts. Other drumming experiences include being in the Spartan Marching Band since 2004 and also competing with Michigan State's competitive PAS line in 2004, and now in 2007.

Martin's first strives at Indoor were taken with Spirit Performing Youth Ensemble in 1996. He has been active in the WGI circuit since then. Martin also taught and arranged/composed for many groups from Marching Bands (in Michigan) to Senior Corps with The Syracuse Brigadiers 5 times DCA champions, and also with some Junior corps like Les

I am 19 years old and a five year member of Coast's Front Ensemble now serving as "lead stick" on Marimba. I started with Legends out of Southwest Michigan in 2001 and have been addicted to such great activites ever since. I currently play in the bassline for the Spartan Marching Band Drumline in the fall as well as in another pit during the summer with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.
I am also currently a sophomore Music Education major at Michigan State University where I study with Gwendolyn Thrasher.

Active in the competitive drumming community since 1999, Ross is an alumni of the Clinton Drumline and NorthCoast Academy. Ross is a veteran staff member of the Bandettes Drum & Bugle Corps, and was the Battery Caption Head in their daughter organization, Steel Town Brass. Ross is a semi-freelance graphic artist, and also has experience in audio/video production. Some of his clients have included the Santa Clara Vanguard Booster Club, the Bandettes Drum & Bugle Corps, Walled Lake Percussion, Paramount Percussion, and of course, NorthCoast Academy.

Scott lives in Ann Arbor where he works from home in his design studio. Scott is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a BFA in Art/Design and minor in Music. He marched in the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps and taught the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps from 1993 - 1997. "I was not a drummer" He was also the drill writer for the Vanguard Cadet corps from 94 - 97. Scott had been writing drills for 10 years now for bands and drumlines in California, Kansas and Michigan. Professionally, Scott is the envy of everyone in the line as he is a freelance graphic design working mainly for the video game manufacturers Konami and Sega. Designing the packaging, instruction manuals, posters and anything that they need printed "I have nothing to do with the actual game, so don't complain to me if its lame!" You can see some of his work portfolio at www.scottallendesign.com. Scott also designed our new logo.

Joe Shuker has been involved in the marching percussion
idiom since 1988, when he was 8 years old. He has worked
with numerous groups in Canada and the United States. His
ability to teach and write for a wide range of ages and abilities
has made him a sought after arranger for Drum Corps and
Marching Bands.

As a member of the Cavaliers from Rosemont Illinois, Joe won two
DCI championship titles, and two High Percussion Awards.

He owns and operates his own production
company 2rl Productions, and is an active Percussionist in the

Greater Toronto Area.

Joe lives outside of Toronto, Ontario with his wife Alissa, and their
three kids: Jacob, Caleb and Maya.

Joe is proud to use Innovative Percussion, and Evans Drumheads exclusively.

Tony has been involved in marching drum corps and marching percussion since 1987 and has been a member of both the Kiwanis Kavaliers (1990-1994) and The Cavaliers. (1995-1997) During his marching career he has won several solo and ensemble awards including 1st place in the Ontario Drum Corps Association from 1990-1994 in various categories and 1st in the mutli-tenor category at the DCM I&E in 1995 and 2nd place at the DCI I & E during the same year. He has been on the percussion staff for Phantom Regiment 2000-2002 as well as the Kiwanis Kavaliers from 1998-1999 and S.P.Y.E winter percussion 1998,1999 and 2001. Tony has his Honours B.A. in music from McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario and his teaching certificate from The University of Windsor. Currently he is a music teacher at Frontenac Public School in Burlington Ontario. This is Tony