2023 Staff
Rob Ferguson
Rob Ferguson is currently the Director and Program Coordinator for Performing Arts, serving Matrix Independent World, Matrix Independent Open, and Matrix Independent A Percussion Ensembles. Rob also serves as the music designer for Matrix and has since its inception in 1999. Rob served as the Percussion Arranger and Percussion Caption Coordinator for the Phantom Regiment from Rockford, Illinois, from 2014-2022 and the Percussion Coordinator and Percussion Arranger for the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Toledo, Ohio, from 2008-2012. Rob has served as a percussion representative for the Mid East Performance Association and currently serves as the Percussion Education Director for the Ohio Indoor Performance Association and as a member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board. Rob holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Music in Music Performance from Kent State University where he studied with Michael Burritt and Ted Rounds. He previously served as adjunct percussion faculty and assistant marching band director at Youngstown State University, and currently is the Design Coordinator for Norton High School bands in Northeast Ohio, and the Program Coordinator for the Central Crossing High School Marching Band from Grove City, OH.
Rob is an active clinician and adjudicator for both the indoor and outdoor marching activities. He has presented clinics on marching percussion, keyboard percussion, arranging, and amplification in the marching activity throughout the U.S. and in Europe including the 2007 PAS convention, the 2008 Indoor Percussion Europe Championships, and as a part of the 2016 Chiayi City International Band Festival in Chiayi City, Taiwan. Ferguson has also performed as a marimba clinician and guest artist with numerous high schools and college percussion ensembles.
In addition to teaching, Rob works professionally as a designer, composer, program coordinator, and consultant for outdoor and indoor marching ensembles throughout the U.S. and abroad. He is the owner of Ferguson Design Solutions, a company providing custom arrangements, original compositions, consulting, and design resources for marching bands, drum corps, and indoor percussion ensembles in all major arenas of the pageantry arts. Rob currently resides in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Rob is an endorser and clinician for Mapex & Majestic Percussion, Innovative Percussion, the Avedis Zildjian Co., Planet Waves, Pageantry Innovations, Field and Floor FX, and Remo Inc.
Ryan Reed
Ryan Reed is a percussion educator and designer currently in the Cincinnati, OH, area. He is the percussion director for West Clermont High School. Since 2013, Ryan has served as a front ensemble instructor for Matrix Performing Arts. He is also on the front ensemble arranger and instructor for Southwind and front ensemble instructor for Madison Scouts. Previously, Ryan served as the front ensemble arranger for the Skyliners, Sunrisers, and White Sabers. He has also served as a front ensemble instructor for the Empire Statesmen, Glassmen, Phantom Regiment and front ensemble instructor/coordinator for Capital City Percussion.
Ryan received a B.M. in Music Education from Kent State University where he studied percussion with Ted Rounds. As a performer in the marching arts, Ryan was a front ensemble member of Matrix Percussion from 2006-2008, taking part in the ensembles European tour in 2008. He was also a member of the Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2007 and 2009, and the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2008. In 2016, Ryan performed with Matrix International for the 2016 Chaiayi City International Band Festival in Chiayi City, Taiwan.
In addition to teaching, Ryan is a designer for marching bands and indoor drumlines around the country. Ryan is also a proud endorser of Mapex/Majestic Percussion, Innovative Percussion and Sabian Cymbals.
Jacob Taylor
Jacob Taylor currently resides in Richfield, Ohio where he teaches and designs for several local high school marching bands, independent indoor percussion ensembles and winter guards including Revere High School, Norton High School, Matrix, and Matrix Open. After marching Baritone in 2009 with Capital Regiment and 2010 and 2011 with the Glassmen, Jacob began teaching and choreographing in 2013. He now stages and designs for indoor and marching bands throughout the country. Jacob began teaching drum corps at Phantom Regiment in the summer of 2018 and most recently served as the Visual Caption Head for the 2022 season.
Additionally, Jacob has been a staff member with Matrix Performing Arts since the winter of 2017 teaching both the World (perennial finalist) and Open (2018 gold medalist, 2019 silver medalist) ensembles and started assisting with design in 2019 and now primarily working with and staging the World ensemble. Currently Jacob is the Visual Caption Head for Music City Drum Corp, from Nashville TN. In his spare time he spends time cooking and and trying out recipes with home grown produce.
Josh Nees
John Scharf
John Scharf received his Bachelor’s degree in music education from Michigan State University. He has been a part of numerous ensembles at the university including the Spartan Marching Band where he served as the Band’s President, numerous percussion ensembles, including a 2017 performance at PASIC and the Michigan State Wind Symphony.
Currently, John is the percussion director at William Mason High School. He has assisted with the marching band and playing a part in multiple Grand National Finals appearances. In the concert setting, he coordinated all percussive responsibilities in preparation for the Wind Symphony’s performance at The Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference.
John serves as the Ensemble Coordinator for Matrix Open and is entering his 5th year teaching with the organization. He was a member of the instructional staff for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2019-2022) and currently works with the Madison Scouts.
His marching experience includes the Spartan Marching Band (2015-18), NorthCoast Academy (2014-15), the Cadets (2017) and Matrix Performing Arts (2017-18).
Josh Mitchell
Josh Mitchell is currently in his 9th season as a Bass Drum Technician with Matrix Performing Arts. Josh joined the staff at Matrix Performing Arts in 2015 and has since been a Bass
Drum technician. Josh also served as the Percussion Director at Norton High School from 2014 to 2021. In addition to teaching winter ensembles, Josh has worked with DCI groups Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps ('14-'16), Legends Drum and Bugle Corps ('17), and Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps ('18-'22) as a Bass Drum technician. Josh has had the pleasure of learning from and teaching alongside Shane Gwaltney, Teddy Holcomb, Rob Ferguson, Jeff Prosperie, Eric Willie, Bill Bachman, Bret Kuhn, and many more.
Josh found Matrix as a home in 2014 after aging out of DCI with the Phantom Regiment. Always looking to push his personal limits, Matrix was a perfect match for his work-ethic and aggressive drumming style. Josh will always credit Abby Seay for bringing him into the family.
As a performer, Josh has performed with Wake Forest Independent ('10-'13), Wake Forest University ('09, '10, '12), Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps ('11, '12), NoVa Drumline ('13), Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps ('13), Matrix ('14), Downbeat Percussion ('18), and QStix/ 216stix ('15-present). Josh currently serves as a performer, choreographer, and entertainer for the Cleveland Cavaliers 216Stix.
In addition to his musical background, Josh holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Finance, as well as associate's in Education and Business Administration. Josh currently works as the Director of Operations for 216 Maintenance LLC, a commercial maintenance company based out of Cleveland, OH.
Tara Sengupta
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Tara has been involved in music for most of her life. With piano lessons starting at four and concert percussion lessons at thirteen, performing and now educating remain a central part of her life.
Tara’s world class experience has been on synthesizer, starting with the Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps (2016). From there, after moving to Pennsylvania for college, she discovered Matrix Performing Arts, leading to five consecutive seasons with their World group (2017-2021) and the Member of the Year award in 2020. Throughout this, she also marched the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2018) as well as the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (2019), where she aged out of DCI with a bronze medal and the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award.
Since receiving her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and master’s degree in mechanical engineering, both from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, today Tara is a fuel cell stack development engineer for General Motors in Detroit, MI. On the weekends, she is thrilled to be returning to Matrix for her second year on staff and working with the World and Open groups as a front ensemble and sound technician. In the rest of her free time, she enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and visiting local coffee shops.
Brandon Hoskins
Brandon Hoskins received his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Toledo where he performed with the University of Toledo Rocket Marching Band. He is currently a structural engineer at Nexus Engineering Group in Maumee, Ohio.
Brandon has been an active percussion educator in the Toledo area. He currently serves as the Percussion Director at Springfield High School and is a staff member for the Saint John’s Jesuit Indoor Drumline.
His previous marching experience includes Notre Dame Indoor Percussion, Matrix Open (2016), Matrix World (2017, 2019-2021), and the Phantom Regiment. This is Brandon’s second year teaching Matrix.
Austin Pengilly
Josh Arnott
Josh is a front ensemble educator from Lake Orion, Michigan. He graduated from the Oakland University with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. Currently, Josh is a Camera Application Engineer at Magna Electronics.
As a performer, Josh had the pleasure of being a part of Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps front ensemble (2019), North Coast Academy (2017), Cap City Percussion (2019) and Matrix (2020-2021).
As an educator, Josh began teaching at Matrix during the 2022 season. He has also taught numerous high school marching bands and indoor groups in Michigan. Currently Josh lives in Waterford, MI and enjoys golfing.
Trisha Hardner
Trisha Hardner received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. During her time at Baldwin Wallace she was an active member in the Symphonic Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble where she had the opportunity to perform in NASM in 2019.
Trisha currently serves as the Assistant Band Director at Springfield High School in Toledo, Ohio. She is the Director of the Saint John’s Jesuit Indoor Drumline and a staff member for the Saint John’s Jesuit Marching Band and Indoor Color Guard. Trisha has also been the front ensemble instructor for the Northeast High School Marching Band.
Her previous marching experience includes Lake Erie Regiment Indoor Color Guard (2014-2016), Matrix Open (2017), Matrix World (2019-2021), and the Phantom Regiment. This is Trisha's second year teaching with Matrix.
Noah Runninger
Noah Runninger is a percussionist and educator based in Northeast Ohio. He earned his Bachelor’s in Music degree in Music Performance from Kent State University. Noah is currently the percussion director at Norton High School and Barberton High School. He is also a front ensemble instructor with Matrix Performing Arts and Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. When he is not teaching percussion, Noah is a substitute teacher at local school districts.
In the marching arts Noah has performed with Phantom Regiment (2018,2019, and 2021). During his last year at Phantom Regiment Noah was the center marimba and co-section leader for the percussion. During the indoor seasons Noah performed one year with Matrix Open (2018), winning a gold medal, and four years performing with Matrix World (2019-2022). Noah has won the member of the year award three times at Matrix Performing Arts in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Noah is grateful for all of his mentors and teachers, some of which include: Dr. Matthew Holm, Rob Ferguson, Dr. Janine Tiffe, Cory Doran, Dustin May, and Ryan Reed.
In his spare time he enjoys watching movies, reading books, and playing with his cats Apollo and Mars.
James Moss
James Moss is a percussionist and teacher based in Northeast Ohio. James earned his Master of Architecture degree (2022) and his Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree (2021) at Kent State University (KSU). Currently, James works as an architectural designer at Söl Harris/Day Architecture working closely with clients and personnel to work towards earning his architectural license.
In the marching activity, James has performed with Phantom Regiment (2020 and 2021) and Legends Drum and Bugle Corps (2019). Throughout the indoor activity, James performed one year with Matrix Open (2018) and four years with Matrix World (2019-2022). James is the percussion director for the Revere High School Marching Band and also dedicates some of his free time to other bands in the area. This is James’s first year on staff with Matrix, working closely with the bass drum students and his third year teaching with Matrix A.
In his free time, James enjoys spending time outdoors, hanging out with friends, and trying to find a bit of relaxation in a busy life. James chose Matrix because he wanted to push himself as well as the activity. While life is challenging, Matrix pushes you to become a different person behind the drum and be a better person in all other aspects of life. Matrix helped keep him on his toes and brought him friends and experiences that he wouldn’t change for anything.
Minato Hamasaki
This will be Minato Hamasaki’s first season on staff with Matrix Performing Arts. Minato is a bass drum tech originally from Okinawa, Japan. Her marching career includes 3 seasons with Nishihara High School Marching Band, a perennial Japan Marching Band Association national competition finalist. She also marched with the Oregon Crusaders in 2017, Oregon Crusaders Indoor in 2018, the Phantom Regiment in 2018 and 2019, and Matrix World from 2020-2022, all on bass drum. Minato also teaches drumline at a local middle school in Okinawa, is an amateur kickboxer in Okinawa, and teaches Muay Thai in her spare time. She currently volunteers as a bass drum tech with South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia.
Ken Masaki
This will be Ken Masaki’s first season on staff with Matrix Performing Arts. Ken is originally from Herndon, Virginia and began his drum corps career in 2016. He spent two seasons with the Jersey Surf playing trumpet, two seasons with Matrix world ensemble, and two seasons with the Phantom Regiment playing synthesizer, aging out in 2021.
Ken graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania majoring in Music Education with a concentration in Piano. He spent the past summer on staff with Phantom Regiment for the 2022 season as their audio engineer. He had several stints as a visual tech at Westfield High School, also front ensemble tech and audio engineer at South Lakes High School, both in Fairfax County, Virginia. He is currently a substitute teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools and on staff with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps as an audio engineer.
Gabby Spearman
Gabby is a cymbal tech from Woodbridge, VA. This is her first year on staff at Matrix. She graduated from West Virginia University with a BA in Psychology. Currently, Gabby works in Office Management for an identity protection and fraud prevention company called ID.me.
Gabby had the pleasure of performing on the cymbal line with Matrix World (2019-2022). As an educator, Gabby has taught cymbals and visual at a few high schools in Northern Virginia. Gabby currently lives in Woodbridge, VA with her sister Kiana and their 2 cats Rex and Rowena. When she’s not focused on teaching band, she enjoys drinking coffee, going hiking, and watching comedy shows.
I chose Matrix because I love that our goal is to push the activity. Matrix is a place where the focus is not just playing clean notes, but a place where the performer is challenged. The performer is not only challenged to be a better performer/percussionist, but to be a better person. I love that at Matrix performers are pushed to understand the emotions behind the design of a show and then given the safe space needed to express those emotions. Each performer is given the ability to be an individual and display their emotions in a way that makes sense to them. It’s this exploration of emotion that makes Matrix shows so exciting to watch. Matrix is not just about drums, it’s also about people.
Nathan Garratt
Addison Stanley
Tanner Bellomy
Ernest Balcueva II
Ernest “Ernie” Balcueva II is a percussion educator who hails from West Bloomfield, Michigan and works as a front ensemble technician with Matrix Open in his first year with Matrix Performing Arts. Previously Ernie has taught throughout the state of Michigan with various high school marching band programs. This winter Ernie began working with Huron Valley Percussion and Motor City Percussion as a front ensemble technician alongside Matrix. He is also the front ensemble arranger for Redford Thurston Percussion.
Ernie started his time marching with the Troy Athens Redhawk Marching Band in 2012 and after discovering his love for mallet percussion, proceeded to march with Ferndale Independent Percussion from 2016 to 2017 before moving to Eclipse Percussion in 2018 and finalizing his time in Michigan with Divergent Performing Arts for the 2019 and 2020 WGI seasons. He also spent the Summer of 2019 with the River City Rhythm Drum & Bugle Corps. Following his departure from Michigan after the 2020 season, Ernie spent his age-out with Matrix in 2022 performing in “Shine”.
From the young age of 16 Ernie knew he wanted to be a part of Matrix, and after spending the 2022 season with the group found himself amazed by how much the organization had changed him as a performer, educator and person. After having such a positive experience, he wanted nothing more but to provide the future generations of the group with a similar experience.
Outside of the marching arts, Ernie is a student at the Motion Picture Institute where he studies filmmaking. Post-graduation Ernie is looking to work in the camera department or as a film director in the future.
Jacob Koch
Jacob is a freelance musician and teacher from Port Clinton, OH. He graduated from the University of Toledo in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance and is currently studying at Kent State University where he will graduate with his Master’s degree in Percussion Performance in Spring 2023.
As a performer in the marching arts, Jacob has performed with Matrix (Matrix Open 20’, Matrix World 21’ - 22’) and Phantom Regiment (21’). He is also active as a freelance musician in Northern OH.
As an educator, Jacob has coached and taught marching/concert percussion with the following groups; Matrix A 2022, Toledo Youth Symphony, Norton HS, and various other HS groups. Additionally, Jacob is the Director of the Kent State University Drumline and assists Dr. Matt Holm as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Percussion Area.
I chose Matrix because I love what we can do together. I think Matrix always comes out with the best shows. Our technical approach is also extremely transferable to other areas of percussion, so I’ve been able to embrace one overall ideology within many areas.