Martin (Marty) Sacksteder is an American Rudimental and Celtic drummer, Instructor, Arranger, and Adjudicator. Marty performs and competes regularly with Southern California based Nicholson Pipes and Drums throughout California and Scotland.


Marty began his music studies at the age of 4 under the direction of his father, David M. Sackstder, United States Navy percussionist. Marty became a member of Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 1974 as a performer and then as a performer, section leader and drum captain in 1976 through 1978. He returned to the Kingsmen as an instructor in 1981 and 1982 along with Tom Float and Ken Watts.


Marty was a member of the 2005 & 2006 Kingsmen Alumni Corps project and post season Instructor. His titles and affiliations include DCI World Open champion, CYO (percussion) champion, runner-up DCI percussion and sanctioned events for the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association in Inverkeithing, Sterling, and Glasgow Scotland.


Marty's current studies are percussion instrumentation with the English penny whistle, Irish Uilleann bag pipes and Medieval instruments. He is influenced by his good friend and Motion Picture recording artist Eric Rigler of Braveheart and Titanic fame and his good friend "Buzz" Blair Brown of the World Champion 78th Frasier Highlanders,Canada.


Marty is employed with Engineering Ride and Show Quality Assurance Department at the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim CA.

Steve Biondo is a drummer/percussionist, composer, instructor and recording artist. Steve's drum corps career began in Southern California in 1972 marching as a multi-tenor player with the Lynwood Diplomats, The Vaqueros, The Velvet Knights and was a member of the Anaheim Kingsmen from 1976 through 1978. He placed 2nd as a multi- tenor in the 1978 DCI Individuals competition. Biondo has also been a percussion adjudicator for Drums Across California. From 2005 through 2007 Steve was the section leader and instructor for the 10 man quint section of the Kingsmen Alumni Corps for the 35th Anniversary of Drum Corps International.


Steve's influences are Jazz, Rock, Latin, Cuban and African percussion. He has been a multi-instrumentalist for many years performing on drums, djembé, steel pan, congas and miscellaneous percussion. He has enjoyed a diverse musical career over the past 35 years performing and recording with Ricky Lawson, Ron Powell, Jonathan Moffett, Luis Conte, the Appolonicon, The Reed Gratz Band, Gayle Serdan, Monkey Meet, Jazz Caribe and Wild Kingdom.


Most of his musical education has been through private instruction with Dick Hyman, Bob Maxim, William Polacek, Tom Float, Donnie Porter Jr., Michael Ellerby, Rudolph Charles and Raynor Carroll. Steve is currently the director of the West African Drum Ensemble at University of La Verne and also serves as the Music Department coordinator. He currently performs with Ensemble Kuku, the Reed Gratz Band and the Shawn Kirchner Quartet.

Tim Tintari started his drumming career at age eleven when he joined his elementary schools concert band. Once exposed to rudimental snare drumming in high school Tim new he always wanted to be involved with the activity.


Tim performed in Drum Corps with Pacific Crest from 1998 through 1999 and then with the Blue Devils during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. In 2001 and 2002 Tim was given the opportunity to be the section leader of the RCC Winter Drum Line, and in 2002 helped RCC win its first WGI championship.


He began his teaching career right out of high school and has been very successful. While at Pacifica High School from Garden Grove California, the group received a bronze medal and three championships in their local circuit of SCPA. Also, the ensemble qualified for WGI finals four times winning the silver medal in 2005 and the gold in 2006. Tim began teaching Drum Corps in 2003 with Yamato, and during the 2003 and 2004 seasons Yamato was awarded the silver medal at the DCI Div II/III world championships. After teaching Pacific Crest in 2005 Tim got the chance to be the snare tech for the Concord Blue Devils in 2006, and in 2007 the Blue Devils won the DCI championship along with the Fred Sanford.

Bob Grigas is a freelance percussionist that has traveled all over the country and taught at many different schools across Southern California. Bob performed with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps 2003, 2006 and 2007. He has performed with the Mt. San Antonio College Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band for 5 years. Bob has performed in many famous venues across the country such as, the world famous Carnegie Hall in New York, and also in Reno Nevada for the Reno Jazz Festival. Mr. Grigas played in the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and this past year went on tour to play in Hawaii for the ensemble.


Bob’s skills include mallets, Concert percussion, Latin percussion, and drum set. Bob also teaches and has taught up to 7 different high schools around Southern California which include: Azusa, Esperanza, La Mirada, Redlands East Valley, Schurr, California High School and South Pointe Middle School. He is currently giving private instruction, and teaching at South Pointe Middle School, Azusa High School, Schurr High School, and Redlands East Valley High School.

Luke Armstrong is a professional musician, conductor, music educator, marching and manuvering specialist, and vice president of A&R for the PT Pops, a 38 piece big band orchestra. He studied saxophone with an emphasis in music performance with Leo Potts, Jay Mason, Sal Lazano, and Phil Sobel. Luke produced and played on his first album "Love is Everything", featuring the beautiful voices of Sandy Zacky and Mike Clifford, backed up by the PT Pops in 2006, the same semester he graduated from CSULB. Luke managed contracts, musicians, graphic designers and produced a press packet all while preparing for his senior recital at CSULB, winter of 2006.

 

As an educator Luke has been teaching conducting, saxophone, cymbals, marching and basic music theory since he graduated from Fountain Valley High School in 2001. He has worked with Costa Mesa HS, Pacifica HS, Fountain Valley HS, and Chino HS. Summer of 2006 Luke voluntered on visual staff and drove an equipment truck for the Division 3 World Champion, Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps.

 

At CSU Long Beach, Luke performed with the world famous CSULB Wind Symphony and Saxophone Ensemble under the direction John Carnahan and Leo Potts respectivly. Summer of 2005 Luke could be heard playing with Latin/Reggae inspired, Jativa, at venues like the Coach House, BB Kings at Universal City Walk, and the Blue Cafe in Long Beach.

 

Before attending college, Luke marched three years as a drum major and charter member for Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps. Luke competed in solo conducting competitions from age 15, and by his senior year had won 14 first and second place titles and placed second in the state. As a senior Luke marched cymbals with the Fountain Valley Drum Line placing second at WGI Finals. During college he marched an additional three years with Impulse to make it a total of six years marching.

 

Currently Luke is in his second year teaching with Edison High School as visual caption head, saxophone specialist, and cymbal tech. The PT Pops is currently in production and will soon release a three album set featuring Buddy Rich inspired big band, pop music of the 70's, 80's and 90's, and traditional Frank Sinatra style big band orchestra.

Timothy Talavera is a career drummer who started his craft at a very young age. As soon as Timothy was able to hold a drumstick, it was inevitable that he would have future in percussion. Soon after entering Foothill Middle School in Azusa, California, Timothy began taking Introduction to Percussion classes and performed in front of his peers and parents for events such as concerts, talent shows and back to school night. After graduating from Junior High School, Timothy began attending Azusa High School where he learned to play Bass drum, Tenors, and Snare drum in addition to obtaining the position of section leader. Timothy was a dedicated member of the Marching band and received various awards, including the Leroy Harris Scholarship to use towards his future in percussion. Timothy also received a one-year, full-paid scholarship to attend Mt. San Antonio College from the head of the Music Department, Jason Chevalier. While attending Mt. San Antonio College,


Timothy was given the opportunity to fine tune his skills in the orchestral arena, by alternating between the marimba, snare drum, timpani and other percussion instruments. Timothy studied orchestral studies under Matt Altmire and became a member of the Jazz band, lead by Tom Hynnes and currently, Jeff Ellwood. Being a part of the Mt. San Antonio music program has allowed Timothy to travel the country and play in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Reno Jazz Festival. During Timothy's second year of college he successfully filled a Bass drum position on one of Southern California's most prestigious drum corps.


Timothy began marching with Pacific Crest in 2006, and aged out in August, 2008. During his 3 years with Pacific Crest, Timothy had the privilege of studying under Bass techs, Cory Blee from 2006 to 2007, and Dan Wahl in 2008. In Timothy's first year of Pacific Crest he was playing Bottom Bass, he worked his way up to Bass four in his second year and played Bass three in 2008, his age-out year. Pacific Crest has allowed Timothy to work with other talented and driven youth. Working with some of the best young musicians has forced Timothy to challenge and push himself to be the best at his profession. Additionally, Pacific Crest has allowed Timothy to further his travels across the country. Timothy has successfully maintained his commitment to the Mt. San Antonio Music program while giving free lessons to high school students hoping to have a future in percussion. He has also returned to assist his high school band director, by giving drum set lessons to the current Azusa High School band members. Timothy is currently Caption Head of percussion at Gladstone High school in Azusa California and works at Santiago High School in Norco California with Brandon Fox and Matthew Regua. Timothy hopes to continue his career in percussion by becoming a freelance percussionist while continuing to teach youth the art of music and percussion.

Kevin Shah is an active freelance percussionist and educator in southern California specializing in orchestral percussion, marimba, marching percussion and composition. As a concert percussionist Kevin has performed in many venues around the world from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Sydney’s Opera House. Kevin has also recorded for movie composer John Powell. Kevin earned his Bachelors Degree in Percussion Performance from UCLA, and a Masters in Percussion from the Juilliard School in New York.


Also experienced in marching percussion, Kevin has performed with several Division 1 Drum Corps and World Class Indoor Ensembles - in both the battery and the front ensemble. He was a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard, Black Knights, and Pacific Crest.

Currently, Kevin is teaching and composing for Canyon High School, Nogales High School, Upland High School, and Arcadia High School.


Website: www.kevinsshah.com