Greg Power

Percussion Caption Head

This is Greg’s 3rd season as caption head and 6th season working at Blue Stars. Greg resides in Clovis, CA and is a member of the Vic Firth/Zildjian education team. He received his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Washington State University (2015) and his Master of Music in Percussion Performance at California State University - Northridge (2018). He performed in DCI with the Cascades, Blue Stars and in WGI with Pulse Percussion. 

Greg is currently an Associate Instrumental Director at Buchanan Educational Center, where he directs both Alta Sierra Intermediate Percussion and the Buchanan High School Percussion Studio.

Greg has taught drum corps international and dci students for 9 years. He has had private lesson students march in every active DCI world class drum corps and prior to his employment at Blue Stars, taught at Bluecoats (2020-2022), who won the Fred Sanford award for best percussion in 2022.

Greg is a WGI educator as well, teaching POW Percussion for 6 seasons, as a battery tech, front ensemble coordinator and ensemble coordinator. He currently teaches at RCC indoor.

Greg formerly taught the following high school programs: Arcadia, Thousand Oaks, Sierra Vista and Chino Hills HS. Greg was a former adjunct professor of percussion at California State University, Bakersfield, front ensemble coordinator at Golden Empire and adjunct professor of percussion at Bakersfield College.

Cameron Ayers

Battery Coordinator

Cameron is a composer and educator from Ventura, California. He has been writing and teaching percussion for ensembles in the greater Los Angeles area since 2016, including Élan percussion, POW Percussion, and Pulse Percussion. Cameron received his Bachelors in Music with a Commercial and Media Writing option from California State University Northridge in 2021.

His performance career in the marching arts includes Pulse Percussion, the Sacramento Mandarins, POW Percussion, and Golden empire drum corps. During the summer of 2020, Cameron composed the program for Marching Vlogs' "MV All Star Drumline," which brought together members from broken city percussion, RCC, and Pulse Percussion to raise money for a food bank in La Puente, CA.

This is Cameron's third year with the Blue Stars.

George Collins

Battery Consultant & & Coordinator

George is a percussion educator in Southern California that has worked with various ensembles such as OCI, Odyssey, Meraki and Dark Sky Percussion. He is also a prolific private instructor seeking to provide mentorship and the training necessary to help performers and staff members achieve their goals.  This work shares many parallels with his day job as a Literary Manager for writers and artists working primarily in the Animated TV Industry.

Benjamin Pyles

Battery Ensemble Consultant

Benjamin Pyles is an active percussion designer and educator based out of New Braunfels, TX.   Ben was born and raised in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and studied music education at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  He currently serves as the Athletic Percussion Director at the University of Texas at San Antonio and UTSA Indoor ensemble.  Ben is one of the original members of Monarch Independent based out of Houston, TX and still serves as part of the music design team today.    

With over two decades of World Class performing, instructional, and design experience in the DCI community, Ben has been involved with multiple teams including the Glassmen, Bluecoats, Crossmen, Spirit of Atlanta, Colts, and the Mandarins.  Ben also has a large presence in the WGI community, holding multiple State Championships in A Class, Open Class, and World Class, along with instructing and designing for multiple WGI World Championship finalist ensembles. 

Benjamin is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion Inc, Mapex and Majestic percussion, and Sabian Cymbals.

Jesus Alcantar

Battery Ensemble Consultant

Jesus Alcantar is a marching percussion specialist in Southern California. Currently Jesus is in his seventeenth year as a percussion instructor at South Hills High School. Previously Jesus served as the battery percussion manager at Arcadia High School.

Jesus keeps an exclusive private lesson roster where he enjoys emparting his years of experience with students from beginner to world class levels. Jesus’ long standing reputation for producing high quality students and ensembles at all levels has shaped him as a leading member in his community.

Jesus proudly endorses Vic Firth and Zildjian.

David Ramirez

Snare Instructor

David is a Vic Firth/Zildjian educator from Temecula, CA with 9 years of teaching experience. He is currently the battery manager for Great Oak High School’s open class drumline, while also arranging music and visual design for the program’s A class indoor drumline. He graduated from CSU Long Beach with a degree in English Literature. 

David has formerly taught at various schools and ensembles in the Southern California area, including Chaparral HS, Carlsbad HS, Vail Ranch MS, Los Alamitos HS, Fallbrook HS, POW Percussion, and serving as interim percussion caption head at Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps in 2022, where he taught for 4 summers. David is proud to return for his second year of teaching the Blue Stars battery in 2025.

David’s performance career consists of Pacific Crest, POW Percussion, Pulse Percussion, and the Blue Stars. He is a proud to have aged out with the Blue Stars in 2018 after 2 years of membership.

Bryan Criswell

Snare Instructor

Bryan is an educator/designer based in the Central Valley. His time as a performer was spent solely in West Coast ensembles, including Red Wave Indoor, RCC Indoor, and the Blue Devils. In both education and design, Bryan contributed to the growth of several percussion programs in his hometown of Visalia (2018-2022) and collaborated with some Bay Area ensembles, including a brief stint with Thesis Indoor (2023).

He currently operates as Percussion Caption Head at Clovis West High School, where he also serves as battery arranger and in visual/concept design. During the indoor season, he works closely with Red Wave Indoor in an effort to provide the Fresno area with top World Class education.

This will be Bryan’s second year with the Blue Stars.

James Taylor IV

Snare Instructor

James is an educator from Southern California. He was the Co-Battery manager for Great Oak High School’s world/open class drumline from 2021-2024, and managed their A class indoor battery as well from 2021-2023. James currently teaches at élan percussion, returning this year for his second indoor season with them as a snare technician.

James’ performance career includes Pulse Percussion from 2020-2023. Pacific Crest 2019 and Bluecoats 2022.

James is currently pursuing a degree in Kinesiology, with a focus in Movement Science from CSU San Marcos and is expecting to graduate in May of 2025.

This will be James’ second year with Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and he is ecstatic about his return!

Isaiah Wood

Snare Instructor

Isaiah is originally  from Irmo, South Carolina. Currently residing in Indianapolis, Indiana Isaiah spends the majority of his time giving private lessons, composing and arranging battery, and working towards his degree in biological psychology. 

Isaiah began his independent marching career in 2017 with North Greenville Indoor and continued to perform with ensembles such as Civitas Independent, Veritas, Cincinnati Tradition, and Rhythm X. 

Being aged out, Isaiah is very excited to contribute from the other side of the drum in his 2nd year on staff with The Blue Stars. Other ensembles Isaiah has instructed include: Irmo High School, Greenville High School, Batesburg Leesville High School, Ninety Six High School, East Central High School, Plainfield High School, Cincinnati Tradition, and Connexus Indoor Percussion.

Charlie Davis

Tenor Instructor

Entering my 10th year as a marching percussion educator, I am thrilled to be back with the Blue Stars percussion staff for my third consecutive season. 

Having marched at the Bluecoats, Oregon Crusaders Indoor, Vanguard Cadets, and Blue Devils B, I bring a variety of knowledge and experience to my students whom I hope to empower and develop into incredible people and performers.

Building on the tremendous growth the last two seasons, I am beyond excited for what we have in store for 2025.

Luis Garcia

Tenor Instructor

Luis Garcia is excited to return for his third summer with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. He’s also had the pleasure of working with Vanguard Cadets in 2022, POW from 2023 to the present, and Pacific Crest in 2024, helping students grow their skills and love for the marching arts.

When he’s not on the field, Luis works as a mechanical engineer in aerospace manufacturing, where he enjoys applying his problem-solving skills and technical knowledge. He’s also looking forward to returning to school for an M.S. in Mechanical engineering to focus on propulsion systems, combining his passion for engineering with a drive to keep learning.

Luis is thrilled to be part of the Blue Stars team and looks forward to another memorable summer with the corps.

Evan Smith

Tenor Instructor

Evan Smith is an active rudimental percussion educator in Southern California, based in the San Gabriel Valley. Evan was a performer most notably with the Blue Stars (2021, 2022) and RCC Indoor (2023, 2024).

When not working at his day job with California Drums, he enjoys working with the battery at Arcadia High School and working on other creative projects in his spare time.

Max Salce

Tenor Instructor

Max Salce teaches drums and private lessons in Southern California . From the staff side of things, there are many people I’ve known from marching and finally get a chance to work alongside. It’s an honor to be chosen and trusted for this role and I look forward to seeing what ways my experience guides the members to further develop their performance qualities. 

Marching Experience: Vessel ‘19/‘20, Mandarins ‘21, Broken City ‘22, Pulse ‘23, & Bluecoats ‘22/‘23/‘24

Teaching Experience: Etiwanda High School ‘21/‘22, El Toro High School ‘24, Rancho Cucamonga High School ‘24

Max is super excited to be teaching quads for Blue Stars this summer!

Genevieve Hilburn

Bass Instructor

Genevieve Hilburn is a percussionist and educator based in Southern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in percussion performance from California State University Northridge and a master's degree in percussion performance from Texas A&M University Commerce.

Her performance credits include several national competitions and conventions, including the Modern Snare Drum Competition, hosted by the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Genevieve heads the percussion programs at Bakersfield College and California State University Bakersfield, as well as leading their joint Percussion Ensemble. Her further educational appointments include the Glendale Youth Orchestra, the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and several public school programs in the Los Angeles area. She also serves on the Percussive Arts Society’s “Rudimental and Marching” committee.

Through her work as an educator, Genevieve hopes to foster a mindset of agency and joy within her students through their work in the percussive discipline. She is excited to return to the Blue Stars for her third season.

Kyle Harry

Bass Instructor

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kyle began his musical career playing drum set at the age of 9. After attending Musicians Institute, he had a short but meaningful marching career with Pacific Crest, RCC fall, and RCC indoor. Since then, Kyle has taught bass drum at several different world-class ensembles, including the Mandarins, the Academy, Pacific Crest, and Dark Sky Percussion. He was the bass drum instructor for Arcadia High School World Line from 2014-2020. This is is second year with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps.

Kyle currently resides in La Habra, CA and works as a drummer for the Disneyland Resort.

Kobe Sanders

Bass Instructor

This is Kobe’s first year on staff with the Blue Stars. Originally from Coachella, CA, and now based in Los Angeles, he is a dedicated percussionist and music educator in Southern California. Currently a fourth-year at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, Kobe is pursuing a degree in Music Education while actively student teaching and working toward his single-subject teaching credential.

Since 2023, Kobe has served as a battery instructor at Palisades Charter HS, and in 2024, he was a guest instructor for the inaugural SoCal Bass Camp.

His marching experience includes performing with the UCLA Bruin Marching Band (2021-2023), Élan Percussion (2022), and POW Percussion (2023). In 2023, he served as Bass Section Leader for the Blue Stars and finished out his performance journey with Pulse Percussion and The Blue Devils in 2024.

When Kobe is not drumming, learning, or teaching, he can be found reading, cooking, café hopping, and exploring the hidden gems of Los Angeles.