November 23, 2021

Introducing the 2022 Percussion Staff

Brian Horn – Snare Technician

Brian Horn is a marching percussion educator from Somerset, NJ.  His marching percussion career started 15 years ago  at Immaculata High School in Somerville, NJ. Brian’s first experience with an independent group was playing snare drum as a member of the Bushwackers (2010). Following the DCA experience, Brian then marched 2 seasons, including his age-out season, at United Percussion (snare drum 2011, 2012)

Brian has been the caption head at Westfield High School (US Bands), since 2012. Brian also has WGI, DCA, and DCI teaching experience, with East Coast Percussion (2018), with United Percussion A (2019), The Hawthorne Caballeros (2018,2019) and most recently with the Jersey Surf (2019)

Carlos Vazquez – Snare Technician

Carlos is a graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts, where he double-majored in Music Education and Psychology and is currently working on his master’s degree in percussion performance at Rutgers. Carlos has been a percussion educator in New Jersey for over 10 years teaching several high schools, private lessons, clinics, and the Rutgers University Drum Line. He is an active freelance musician in the New York and New Jersey area, specializing in classical and Latin percussion. He has played on the national tour of Hair the musical and currently plays snare drum for the NY Giants Drum Line as an employee of Blue Devils Entertainment. He has had the honor to play alongside musicians such as Eddie Palmieri and Delfeayo Marsalis and has recorded with the Wu-Tang Clan. This will be Carlos’ 7th season with the Caballeros Drum and Bugle corps.

Nick Liddie – Snare Technician

Nick Liddie is a highly versatile and passionate musician, composer, and educator. Nick’s rich musical background and emotionally infused drumming renditions have led him to play alongside such acclaimed, path-breaking artists including, Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter, Carolyn Malachi, as well as The Godfather of Neo Soul, Roy Ayers. Nick has performed as a snare drummer with the 2009 DCA Sunrisers, 2011 DCA Bushwackers, and 2012 World Guard International, United Percussion. He is also the founder of Berklee College of Music’s drumline, “Berklee Marching Percussion”.

Liddie has served as designer, percussion arranger, caption head, and consultant for multiple schools in New York along with the DCA’s White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps. In light of the fact that Nick considers himself fortunate to be birthed through a well-supported public arts educational system, his focus is to offer a higher level of music education and instruction to underprivileged communities!

Tom Heider – Snare Technician

Tom Heider is a percussion instructor from Freehold, New Jersey. He has been a marching percussionist since high school where he found a passion for the activity. Afterwards he went on to march with The Bushwackers in 2014-2015, the Rutgers University Marching Band in 2015-2016, The Hawthorne Caballeros in 2016, United Percussion in 2017-2018, Cadets2 in 2017, and finally aged out with The Cadets in 2018. As an educator, Tom spent two years running the Madison High School percussion program alongside fellow Caballeros staff member Ryan Brodhead. He also helped with the 2019 preseason at The Raiders as a snare tech. Tom could not be more excited about returning to The Caballeros this summer as our newest snare tech!

Zachary Brenna – Snare Technician

Zachary Brenna is excited to enter his 5th year with the Caballeros organization, as both a performer and staff member. 

Zach has been involved in drum and bugle corps since 2014, performing with the Long Island Sunrisers (’14-’17), Hawthorne Caballeros (’18-’19) and The Cadets (’20-’21). During this time as a performer, Zach also worked with and arranged at several schools such as Brentwood High School, Musselman High School (WV) and currently holds the percussion caption head & arranger position at Lindenhurst High School. This will be Zach’s second year with the instructional staff at the Caballeros.

Zach has had the privilege to study under several influential educators such as Mike Rabinowitz, Mark Monaghan, Tom Aungst, Jake Gall, and Kevin Murphy.

Floyd Murray – Quad Technician

Floyd Murray is a musician and educator based out of central New Jersey. He began his marching career with the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps tenor line in 2007, and continued in 2010 and 2011. In 2011 he was a member of United Percussion in the tenor line, and section leader in 2012.

As an educator, Floyd has instructed various award winning high school drumlines around the New Jersey area including Ramsey High School, Woodbridge High School, and Westfield High School. In 2013 he was a quad tech for the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, and returned for the 2019 season. From 2013 – 2018 Floyd was a battery instructor at his alma-mater Old Bridge High School for both the marching band and indoor ensembles. During his most recent season with the group, they were awarded the 2018 WGI Scholastic Open Class silver medal and WGI fan favorite award.

Currently, Floyd is a performer with the Blue Devils Entertainment – East Coast Division for the NFL Giants Drum Line. He is extremely excited to be returning to the percussion staff for his 6th season with the Hawthorne Caballeros.

Jonah Nack – Quad Technician

Jonah Nack is a percussion educator and musician from New Jersey. He is currently pursuing his music education degree at Rutgers University where he studies under Joseph Tompkins, Javier Diaz, Ian Sullivan, and Mike Truesdell.

His marching experience began at Roxbury High School in Succasunna, NJ. He then went on to march quads with the Rutgers University Marching Band (2018-2019), United Percussion 2 (2019), and the Hawthorne Caballeros (2019-2021), where he held the role of battery captain for their 2021 DCA championship winning season.

Jonah has taught at multiple high schools around New Jersey and is currently a percussion technician at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. He is excited to continue a tradition of excellence here at the Hawthorne Caballeros!

Luke Chemidlin – Quad Technician

Luke Chemidlin is an enthusiastic percussion instructor and educator based in Somerville NJ. Luke began his marching career with Immaculata High School where he discovered his love for music and performance. He has performed on quads with the Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps (2014), 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2016), the Rutgers University Drumline (2015-2016), Cadets2 Drum and Bugle Corps (2017), as well as United Percussion in 2017.

In recent years, Luke has gone back to Immaculata High School to help teach and grow the program. He began his teaching career 6 years ago, helping to design and arrange Immaculata’s marching band program as well as their indoor drumline program (2015-Present). He now runs the percussion program as Percussion Caption Head. In addition, Luke has been a quad tech, then Battery Coordinator, and now Battery Caption Head for United Percussion 2.

Throughout the course of his marching career, Luke has had the privilege of learning from incredible instructors, including Dan Bonham, Neil Cote, Ken Riehman, Paul Nalesnik, John Forte, Jeff Bickford, Omi Batan, Carlos Vazquez, Brendan Murphy, Andrew Kain, Joe Ciancimino, Alex Beltran, and many more. Luke is honored to take part in The Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps organization, and eagerly awaits to continue the tradition of excellence!

Ryan Brodhead – Bass Technician

Ryan’s marching career started in 2012 with The Cadets2 Drum and Bugle Corps for their inaugural season and continued with them through the end of the 2013 and 2014 competitive seasons. During that time, Ryan performed with Cadets Winter Percussion for the 2014 and 2015 WGI seasons and then spent three years touring & performing with the 10-Time DCI Champions, The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps (2015, 2016, 2017). Upon aging out, Ryan received the ‘Cadet of the Year’ award as a member of the 2017 Cadets Drumline. He also spent three years in the Rutgers University Drumline and served as bass drum section leader for his last two years.

Ryan has worked with multiple high school percussion programs in New Jersey and is currently the Percussion Caption Head & Battery Arranger for Madison High School. For the 2018 and 2019 WGI seasons, Ryan was the United Percussion 2 Bass tech, and is now spending his first season teaching United Percussion World for the 2022 WGI season. This will be Ryan’s 5th year with the Hawthorne Caballeros and is extremely excited to defend their World Championship this summer.

Outside of the marching arts, Ryan received his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. Currently, Ryan works full time as an IT Systems Administrator in Manasquan, New Jersey.

Tristan Shafran – Bass Technician

Tristan is a music educator and performer from North Jersey. He is currently an elementary General Music educator at School 19 in Elizabeth, NJ. After his high school marching career, he marched with Fusion Core, Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps, the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, and aged out with the Santa Clara Vanguard.

He attended Rutgers University Mason Gross School the Arts as a Music Education major in the Saxophone studio. Currently, he is the bass tech for Bridgewater-Raritan High School and Livingston High School. He is excited to return home to the Caballeros as a staff member after having been a two-year vet and give back to the organization that introduced him to the marching arts. He is ready to continue to defend the 2021 World Championship DCA Title and help grow the Caballeros family.