LEADERSHIP
Kenneth Xiong
ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR
Kenneth Xiong joins Red Wave Indoor as its next Director, bringing nearly a decade of dedication, experience, and passion for the marching arts.
A proud alumnus of California State University, Fresno, Kenneth earned a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and was a member of the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band. He has since built a professional career as an architectural designer, helping shape California's current and future educational facilities.
Kenneth has experienced many of Red Wave's most significant milestones firsthand. As a charter member in 2017, he helped establish the foundation of the organization. He was part of Red Wave's inaugural trip to the 2018 WGI World Championships in Dayton, OH, performed with the ensemble's highest-scoring production in 2019, and contributed to the historic 2022 season when Red Wave was promoted to Independent World Class.
Outside of Red Wave, Kenneth serves as a Board Member for the Friends of the Bulldog Marching Band, Battery Manager at Clovis East High School, and percussion technician at Selma High School. Through his work in music education and the marching arts, he remains committed to developing students, strengthening programs, and creating opportunities for future generations of performers.
Now, as Red Wave celebrates its 10th anniversary, Kenneth returns to lead the organization through its next chapter. His unique perspective as a performer, educator, administrator, and alumnus positions him to honor Red Wave's legacy while continuing its pursuit of excellence.
DESIGN TEAM
Greg Power
Program Coordinator
Taha Ahmed
Battery Arranger
Albert Avery
Front Ensemble Arranger/Sound Designer
Akira Torrijos
Visual Designer
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Austin Ballard
Ensemble Coordinator
This will be Austin’s sixth year on staff with Red Wave Indoor. He has been involved with various percussion programs throughout the Central Valley of California for the past twelve years, since graduating from Tulare Western High School in 2014. He currently works as the Percussion Caption Head at Hanford West High School and has been working with the program since 2017. Austin also works with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps- an independent world class ensemble based out of Tempe, AZ. He has been working with The Academy since 2025, serving as a Snare Tech in 2025 and Battery Coordinator in 2026.
Austin performed with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps for four years during the 2014 through 2017 seasons, and with POW Percussion for the 2018 & 2019 seasons- serving as the section leader for the 2019 season.
Austin’s academic journey led him to California State University, Fresno, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Mathematics. Beyond his musical endeavors, Austin currently teaches 7th and 8th grade mathematics in central California.
Oscar Torres
Front Ensemble Coordinator
Oscar Torres is a passionate and dedicated percussionist and educator originally from Modesto, California. With a wealth of performance and teaching experience, Oscar has established himself as a valuable contributor to the marching arts community.
Oscar’s performance career includes notable ensembles such as the San Jose Wind Symphony, Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, Red Wave Indoor, Dark Sky Percussion, and The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. He also had the honor of performing with Rhythm X in 2024.
As an educator, Oscar has made a significant impact at various institutions. He has taught at several schools across the Central Valley in California as well as given clinics and consulted schools or groups in Southern California, the Bay Area, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Washington and Texas.
Oscar has been on the instructional staff of prestigious ensembles, including The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps, Rhythm X, Red Wave Indoor, and Sparta Indoor, as well as consulting for groups such as Paragon Percussion and Seattle Cascades, where he is excited to help the next generation of performers grow and thrive.
Outside of his musical endeavors, Oscar is dedicated to inspiring students to achieve their potential as musicians and individuals. His commitment to fostering growth, excellence, and passion in the arts makes him a vital part of the organizations he serves.
Justin Clement
Battery Coordinator
Justin is an experienced percussion educator based in central California. He currently serves as the Percussion Caption Head at Enochs High School and was a member of The Academy’s instructional staff during the 2026 DCI season. As an educator, he is passionate about developing well-rounded musicians by encouraging personal growth, confidence, and a positive team environment.
His performance experience includes the Blue Knights, Carolina Crown, and Broken City Percussion. Justin brings a diverse range of experience to every ensemble he works with, with a focus on musical excellence and individual development.
The 2027 season marks his fifth year with Red Wave Indoor, where he looks forward to continuing his contribution to the organization and its commitment to excellence in indoor percussion.
Brianna Gier
Visual Coordinator
Brianna Gier is a Visual Educator and Designer from Northern California. She got into the performing arts with dance at a young age, then combined her love of movement with playing trumpet later with Blue Devils B. She has been on the visual team at Blue Devils B since 2022 as a visual tech and was on the visual team at Mandarins from 2023 to 2025. Apart from drum corps, Brianna has worked with various high school bands in Northern California since 2017. She is currently the visual caption head and a designer at Foothill High School. Brianna has worked with multiple indoor programs, including Thesis World Percussion, Leigh High School, and Tri City Percussion, but found a home at Red Wave Indoor.
Andrew Ziehm
Design Consultant
Andrew is a percussion educator, composer, and designer based in California’s Central Valley. With over 15 years of experience in the marching arts, he has worked extensively in percussion instruction, composition, arranging, drill writing, and visual design. While percussion remains his primary specialty, Andrew also composes and arranges full productions, developing cohesive musical and visual content across winds, battery, and front ensemble.
His performance experience includes Blue Devils and Blue Devils B (2012–2015), as well as Pulse Percussion (2016) and Vanguard Winter Percussion. Andrew is entering his fourth year with Red Wave, where he contributes to the program’s instructional and design process. His work includes developing the technique program and helping shape the larger musical and production direction of the ensemble.
Outside of the marching arts, Andrew teaches high school English and holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. His background in both performance and education informs his approach to teaching and design.
INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM
Ariane Ortiz
Snare Drum Instructor
Ariane Ortiz is a percussion educator based in California’s Central Valley with experience teaching at the middle school, high school, independent indoor, and drum corps levels. Her teaching experience includes Edison High School, Clark Intermediate School, Clovis High School, and Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, where she served as a Snare Drum Technician and Battery Manager. She currently teaches at Justin Garza High School and serves on the snare instructional staff at Red Wave Indoor.
Ariane began her marching career at Clovis High School before graduating in 2016. She went on to perform with Orange County Independent in 2017, Vessel Percussion from 2018-2020, Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps in 2019, and Red Wave Indoor in 2022.
Outside of the marching arts, Ariane earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an option in Finance from California State University, Fresno. She currently works in the banking industry and continues to pursue her interests in finance and business.
As an educator, Ariane strives to create the same sense of growth and community that shaped her own experience. She values strong fundamentals, confidence, and accountability while encouraging students to enjoy the process and take pride in their growth both on and off the floor.
Alan Coburn
Snare Drum Instructor
This will be Alan’s first year on staff for Red Wave Indoor as a snare tech. Alan marched with Red Wave Indoor and Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band on snare for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He has marched about 5 years of DCI and WGI, most recently with Pacific Crest and POW Percussion. After aging out from marching, he is currently teaching at Clovis High School for his second year as a snare technician.
Tyler Ortiz
Tenor Drums Instructor
Tyler is returning for his fourth season with Red Wave Indoor. His experience includes Red Wave Indoor 2017, Vessel Percussion 2018 through 2020, and Mandarins 2019. He has taught various middle schools and high schools in the central valley area since 2016 and he is currently working exclusively with Red Wave. Outside of the marching arts Tyler is an American Sign Language Interpreter at Fresno State and has plans for pursuing graduate studies in Rehabilitation Counseling to learn to better serve individuals with disabilities.
Zach Larsen
Tenor Drums Instructor
Zach is a Red Wave Indoor alumnus from the 2020 season, and has performed and taught with groups such as Blue Devils B, Thesis, Blue Stars, and The Academy. He’s excited to return for his third season at Red Wave and continue to grow the marching arts community within the Central Valley. During the day he is a researcher within the Orebi Gann Group at UC Berkeley, where he continues to improve optical models for Monte-Carlo simulations of next-gen neutrino detectors.
Antonio Jimenez
Tenor Drums Instructor
Antonio Jimenez is joining the Red Wave Indoor staff for his third season, and is a former tenor drums player with Red Wave Indoor from 2020-2024. Antonio is a graduate of Washington Union High School. He is currently teaching at Hanford West High School and has previously taught at Edison High School and Washington Union High School.
Kevin Kingkham
Bass Drums Instructor
This will be Kevin’s fifth year on staff with Red Wave Indoor. Kevin graduated from Clovis East High School in 2017 and has been involved with the activity since 2011. After graduation, Kevin began teaching at Clovis North High School as a Bass Drum Technician from 2017 - 2019. Kevin is currently teaching his fourth year at Clovis High as a Bass Drum Technician.
Kevin has marched Red Wave Indoor from 2018 - 2020 and 2022 and served as section leader during his last two seasons. Kevin graduated from California State University, Northridge and has a B.A. in Liberal Studies with specialization in history/social science. Kevin is pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Zack Potter
Bass Drums Instructor
Zack is returning to Red Wave Indoor for his 8th year on staff. Zack has over a decade of experience teaching bass drum in the Fresno/Clovis area since 2014. Zack is also currently a battery instructor for the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band. His marching experience includes Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps and Pulse Percussion. Zack is a Vic Firth Educator.
Jude Magann
Bass Drums Instructor
Jude Magann is a musician and educator based in the Bay Area. He has been drumming for 15 years, and has had the opportunity to march with world class ensembles such as Red Wave Indoor (2020-2022), the Blue Devils A Corps (2022-2023), RCC Indoor Percussion (2023-2024), and the Blue Devils International Corps (2026). This is his third year on staff as a bass instructor with Red Wave Indoor, and he is looking forward to another season of performance excellence with the group.
Fernando Morales
Cymbals Instructor
Fernando Morales will be joining Red Wave Indoor this year as part of the Cymbal Staff. This will be his first year teaching with the group. Fernando has also been a part of the staff for a few high school groups including Washington Union, Bullard, and Clovis East, helping teach cymbals and visuals.
Fernando is a former member of Red Wave Indoor, he started in the inaugural season of Red Wave Indoor and marched with the group all seasons till 2019 and went on to march with Broken City Percussion in 2020.
Joel Flores
Cymbals Instructor
Joel Flores is a marching and music instructor with three years of experience working with ensembles within the Madera Unified School District and over nine years of marching and performance experience. He previously spent three years as a cymbal player with Red Wave Indoor from 2022 to 2024 and is excited to return to the organization as an instructor.
Raymond Herrera
Cymbals Instructor
Raymond is pleased to join the Red Wave Indoor Cymbal team for the 2026-2027 season. Since 2010, he has held numerous educational positions across the Central Valley. His professional background includes serving on the visual staff for Golden Empire’s inaugural season from 2014 to 2017, complemented by his performance experience as a trumpet player with the 2009 Vanguard Cadets and as a cymbal line member for Valley Independent Percussion in 2013 and POW Percussion in 2014. He currently serves as a visual caption head and drill designer for Madera High School and Madera South High School.
Alex Perez
Front Ensemble Instructor
Alex Perez received his Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance from Fresno State in 2025 and is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Instrumental Performance also at Fresno State. During his time at Fresno State, Alex has been an active member of the university’s music program, performing with the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble.
Alex has performed with the Fresno State Wind Orchestra since Fall 2023, performing under Dr. Gary P. Gilroy, now currently performing under Professor Steve McKeithen. He currently serves as a Graduate Assistant for the Wind Orchestra, where he works as the ensemble’s librarian and Percussion Manager. Through these roles, Alex continues to develop his musicianship while gaining valuable experience in ensemble leadership, organization, and percussion education.
Alex has been teaching percussion throughout the Central Valley since 2022 and is currently a Front Ensemble instructor for Justin Garza High School. He joined staff at Red Wave Indoor in 2026, bringing his experience as both an educator and performer to the ensemble.
As a performer, Alex marched with Red Wave Indoor in 2023 and 2025 and spent three seasons with the Sacramento Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps from 2023-2025. His experience in both WGI and DCI activities has provided him with a strong understanding of the commitment, musicianship, and discipline required to perform at the highest level.
Alex is dedicated to continuing his growth as a musician and educator while inspiring and developing the next generation of percussionists through performance and education.
Matt Spencer
Front Ensemble Instructor
Matt Spencer is currently working towards his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education at Fresno State University. This will be the last year of his BA and is preparing for his senior recital coming in the spring. After graduating, Matt plans to work as a full time music educator in the Fresno area while also obtaining his teaching credential. Later down the line, Matt plans to return to school to obtain his Master of Arts in Instrumental Performance, furthering his music education.
Matt’s performance experience extends to both the marching and concert worlds. During his time in the marching arts, he has performed with Red Wave Indoor and POW Percussion. While in school, Matt has been a part of numerous ensembles including the Fresno State Symphonic Band, Bulldog Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Wind Orchestra. Most recently, he is a percussionist with the Wind Symphony of Clovis.
As an educator, Matt has been teaching in the Fresno area since 2023. He is currently a Percussion Instructor at Justin Garza High School. He works with the front ensemble and concert percussion class. He has also worked with various music programs in the area, offering assistance in the classroom and during rehearsals. Matt joined the Red Wave Indoor staff for the 2026 season. He is excited to be back for a second year, working to elevate the ensemble and the experience of its members.
Matt holds himself and his students to high standards and is committed to excellence and expression above all else. His love for music goes beyond just performance. He is dedicated to spreading his passion for music and nurturing the growth of his students.
Alec Post
Front Ensemble Instructor
Alec has been apart of the Fresno musical community since graduating in 2019. Working with the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band from 2024-2025, Red Wave Indoor from 2024-2026, after marching both groups as a now Alumni.
Alec also teaches in the Clovis area at Buchanan High school where he has spent the majority of his musical career after spending 2019-2022 teaching at El Diamante High school in Visalia.
Teaching is a passion Alec has been fortunate to partake in and finds himself proud and honored to be apart of the staff for this years Red Wave Indoor!
Matt Vasquez
Front Ensemble Instructor
Matt Vasquez is a music teacher/educator based in Sacramento, CA. Over the last 5 years, Matt has been instructing front ensembles across multiple high schools. Matt has also been teaching elementary school band. Matt has performed with the Seattle
Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps, Sacramento State Indoor Percussion, and Sparta Indoor Percussion. Matt’s drive to improve both the skills and lives of the next generation has impacted over a hundred students. He has inspired a new passion for music in many students learning for the first time, as well as showing older students a new motivation for excellence and growth within the activity. Matt has made his name known as a valuable educator for the marching arts community.
Matt’s commitment to the marching arts activity and to the many students who come from it has made him a dedicated instructor, always giving his best effort to improve both the members and the organizations he serves.
Dario Costa
Front Ensemble Instructor
Dario Costa is a percussion educator, arranger, and designer based in California's Central Valley. He has over 20 years of experience in the marching arts and has provided instruction for programs throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area. Dario performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets. As an educator, he emphasizes individual development, attention to detail, and encourages growth through self analysis and musicianship.
Heidi Villa
Visual Instructor
Heidi Villa is a passionate visual educator, choreographer, and dancer in California's Central Valley. Heidi has recently graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: Exercise Science.
Her performance experience includes the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, Red Wave Indoor, and Fresno State Contemporary Dance Ensemble. Heidi is currently the visual caption head for Central High School and serves as a visual technician at Matilda Torres High School, Blue Devils B, and Blue Devils C.
Heidi is very excited to build and create with Red Wave Indoor, as this will be her first year as instructional staff.
Nathan O’Neal
Visual Instructor
Nathan O'Neal is a music and visual instructor from the Central Valley, who is currently teaching at Clovis West High School and Reedley High School. With a focus on motion and movement through space, he seeks to help younger musicians build body awareness and self-confidence through captivating performance quality.
His competitive marching experience includes Red Wave Indoor, Phantom Regiment, and RCC, bringing a unique combination of instruction new to the Valley. He has also performed with both Blue Devils Entertainment and Blue Devils International, demonstrating the marching arts to a wide variety of audiences and generating support for the activity.
With his first season back at Red Wave Indoor as a staff member, he is eager to give back to his community and bring the next generation of musicians to a higher level, and more importantly, a higher standard.
Wyatt Baylock
Visual Instructor
Wyatt Blaylock is a very involved educator in the marching arts around the Central Valley. His current involvement in the Central Valleys marching arts includes Selma High School where he serves as the battery captain head, and as a snare tech at Hanford West High School and the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band.
His performance experience includes Red Wave Indoor from 2023-2026 , and The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. Wyatt is very driven to give back to the marching arts as it has helped shape his future.
2027 will be Wyatt's first year with Red Wave Indoor as a member of its instructional staff where he looks to help give back and further help with the development of the organization.
David Ziehm Tovar
Choreographer/Movement Specialist
David Ziehm Tovar is a choreographer and visual educator from California’s Central Valley, currently based in Modesto. His marching arts career began at Ustach Middle School and Beyer High School, followed by performances with Fever Drum & Bugle Corps, Imbue, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps. As a performer, David earned two DCI World Championship gold medals and one silver medal with the Blue Devils, as well as WGI Scholastic World silver and WGI Independent World bronze medal.
After aging out, David joined the Blue Devils instructional staff in 2012, where he continues to serve as a visual technician and choreographer. His experience also includes Imbue, Origins, and Malachi winter guards, as well as numerous scholastic programs throughout California. He currently serves as Color Guard Caption Head at Amador Valley High School, which placed fourth in Scholastic A at the 2024 WGI World Championships and eighth in Scholastic Open in 2026. In addition to his work as an educator and designer, David adjudicates for SVWAA and PPAACC, bringing an adjudicator's perspective to his approach to performance, design, and achievement.
David’s choreographic approach centers on musicality, dynamic range of effort, and creating movement with intentional flow and thoughtful complexity. He strives to create choreography that strengthens the relationship between music and movement while remaining logical and organic for the performer. He is excited to bring this approach to Red Wave Indoor and contribute to the ensemble’s visual identity.
SUPPORT TEAM
Travis McDonald
Sound Engineer
Travis is an active percussion educator and in-demand Audio Engineer from Clovis, CA. Travis currently serves as the Front Ensemble Co-Lead for Clovis High School, as well as works for Clovis Unified School District as a VAPA Elementary Music Assistant across several schools district-wide. Prior to his current roles, Travis taught with Clovis East HS, Clovis West HS, Selma HS, and Madera South HS.
As a performer, Travis was a charter member for Red Wave Indoor during the 2017 Inaugural season, returning again in 2019. Travis also marched with Dark Sky Percussion in 2018.
Since 2022, Travis has continuously served various roles for Red Wave as a technician, coordinator, consultant, and currently as the Lead Audio Engineer.
Outside of Red Wave Indoor, Travis was an Audio Engineer for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps during their 2025 and 2026 seasons, and is currently an Audio Engineer for the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps for the upcoming 2027 season.
Bryan Soyinthisane
Content Creator
Bryan Soy is a Fresno-based videographer and photographer with a background in media, marketing, and branded content. He has worked with real estate professionals, businesses, and creative organizations to tell stories through photo and video. Bryan is currently documenting the people, preparation, and journey of Red Wave Indoor Percussion throughout the 2026–2027 season.
Marcus Zellous
Photographer
Marcus is in his tenth season with Red Wave Indoor. He's previously taught on the visual staff, and currently serves as a photographer with the media team, and as a member of the Red Wave Board.
He is a music educator with the Lemoore Union Elementary School District teaching K-8th grade instrumental music, and has served in multiple locations as a visual designer, choreographer, consultant, and instructor in the Kings, Tulare, and Fresno counties. He has also served as a parade drum major clinician in the Central Valley, and was on the drum major staff for the United Spirit Association in the early 2000s.
Marcus attended California State University (Fresno) as a saxophonist, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in music education - during which time, he served as a drum major for the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band (2002, 2003, 2004), and for Fever Drum and Bugle Corps of Modesto (2005). He continued on to Fresno Pacific University where he earned his single-subject teaching credential, as well as his master’s degree in teaching.
In addition to his involvement in the marching arts, Marcus serves as the Communications Pastor at South Valley Community Church in Lemoore.
Outside of band, Marcus enjoys spending time with wife and their daughters. They have a passion for food, for spending time with people, binging various shows, and consuming copious amounts of ice cream and cookies.