Jordan Garza

Front Ensemble Caption Manager

Jordan Garza, from Austin, Texas is currently the Ensemble Director and Front Coordinator at Rhythmic Force Percussion (PIW).  He also serves on the band staff at McNeil High School as the Director of Percussion where he coordinates percussion instruction and curriculum for grades 6-12.  Jordan holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education (Instrumental Emphasis) from Texas State University and is endorsed by the educational programs of Marimba One, Evans Drum Heads, Vic Firth, and Zildjian Cymbals.  He is an active clinician, percussion arranger and instructor for programs across Texas.

Under his direction, Rhythmic Force Percussion has performed at WGI World Championships as a 2018 PIO Finalist, a 2019 PIO Finalist, a 2022 PIW Finalist, and a 2024 PIW Finalist.  In 2021 during the WGI virtual seasons, Rhythmic Force embarked on a standard setting initiative to film their production “Dissolving Boundaries.”  Simultaneously, his percussion ensembles have made appearances at multiple UIL Area Finals Performances, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and are consistent finalists at local and national competitions.  In the spring of 2023, McNeil HS Percussion was invited to perform at the Music for All National Percussion Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This will be Jordan’s 2nd year with the Blue Stars as the Front Ensemble Caption Manager.

JP Ruiz

Front Ensemble Instructor

Juan Pablo Ruiz is an active percussionist and educator based in Austin, Texas. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Music and Health Concentration) at the University of Texas at Austin, with a minor in Social and Behavioral Studies, under the instruction of Dr. Thomas Burritt, Professor Ivan Treviño, and Professor Richard Huntley.

Juan Pablo just finished his first season as a front ensemble instructor with Rhythmic Force and has been a technician with Cedar Park High School (2022-Present) as well as Westlake High School (2024). He is also a freelance private instructor, teaching students all across the country.

Juan Pablo was previously a cast member of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2019-2021), Monarch Independent Percussion (2021-2023), and the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps (2022-2025). While a member of the Bluecoats, Juan Pablo toured and performed across the United States, where he received a Silver medal at Drum Corps International Finals in 2022, 2023, and 2025. He earned the DCI High Percussion Award in 2022, as well as the DCI World Championship in 2024. Juan Pablo was awarded Percussion Performer of the Year in the 2024 season, and Bluecoat of the Year in the 2025 season.

Clark Floer

Front Ensemble Instructor

Clark is a musician and a native of Pontiac, Michigan, helping percussionists and performers of all ages. He works locally at Accent Pontiac, where he teaches percussion. His DCI background includes front ensemble experience with the Crossmen, and aged out with the 2023 Cavaliers. During the winters in the Midwest, Clark performed with WGI groups Motor City Percussion and Rhythm X. He is currently the front ensemble coordinator for Lake Effect Percussion. He is thrilled to be working with the Blue Stars this year!

Adam Whoolery

Front Ensemble Instructor

Adam Whoolery is a percussionist based in North Texas. He has received a bachelors degree in music education from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and he is currently working on a masters degree in music performance from Oklahoma-City University.

Some recent performance opportunities that he has been apart of is the 2023 PASIC performance, featuring IPEC winners Texas A&M University-Commerce. He also is an alumni of the Boston Crusaders front ensemble from the years 2021 and 2022.

Adam has enjoyed teaching throughout the Dallas Metroplex and working with various high schools in the area. Most recently, he has just finished his student teaching at Marcus High School based in Flower Mound, TX. Adam wants to continue to develop his teaching experience while growing as much as possible in the process.

Trysten Cook

Front Ensemble Instructor

Trysten Cook, from Round Rock, Texas is currently the Assistant Front Ensemble Coordinator for Rhythmic Force Percussion (PIW). He also serves as the Director of Percussion for Pflugerville High School, as well as its subsequent feeder patterns, maintaining the curriculum and instruction for those 6-12th grade students. Trysten has worked with many other prestigious band programs throughout the state of Texas, including: Weiss High School, Westwood High School, Burleson High School, James Bowie High School, and finally McNeil High School, where he was the primary percussion technician from 2020-2022.

Trysten holds a Bachelor in Music Studies/Education from Texas State University (Concert Percussion emphasis) and had the privilege of learning under Mr. Robert Lopez, as well as Mr. Genaro Gonzalez, and Ms. Kari Klier.

Trysten has performed with many prestigious ensembles within Central Texas, such as the Texas State Symphony Orchestra, served as Principal Percussionist of the Texas State Wind Symphony, the Texas State Bobcat Marching Band, both Texas State Percussion Ensembles, and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp in 2016. Most notably, Trysten was a member with Rhythmic Force Percussion, performing as a snare drummer in 2019 and 2020, and served as Ensemble Captain and Center Marimba For the 2021 and 2022 seasons. 

Sophia Thomason

Front Ensemble Instructor

Sophia Thomason is a music educator and percussion instructor based in Austin, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied privately with Ivan Treviño and Thomas Burritt.

Sophia currently serves as a battery instructor at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and as a front ensemble instructor at Anderson High School and Rhythmic Force Percussion. She has previously instructed at Cedar Park High School and with the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.

As a performer, Sophia has been a member of several DCI and WGI ensembles, including Rhythmic Force Percussion, Monarch Independent Percussion, the Boston Crusaders, and the Bluecoats.