Administrative Staff:

Dr. Michael Nickens - Executive Director

Dr. Michael W. Nickens completed his academic degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, Yale University, and the University of Michigan.  He joined the faculty of the George Mason University Music Department in fall 2006 as Director of the Pep Band (Doc Nix and the Green Machine) and as an Assistant Professor of Music. At Mason, he teaches courses in sight-singing/ear training, popular music in America, an improvisatory music ensemble, and regularly collaborates with the Mason Dance Department.  During the summers he teaches tuba, jazz performance, improvisation,  chamber music, and theory at the Performing Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary.  

He draws on his experiences as a one-time marching member of the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps, the James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes, the Yale Precision Marching Band, and as a drum major and marching member of the Spirit of America National Honor Band. He is active as a composer/arranger, and clinician working with a variety of marching programs around the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, These programs include Annandale High School, Thomas A. Edison High School, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Fairfax High School, West Potomac High School, Mount Vernon High School, Damascus High School, South County High School and Falls Church High School.  Other programs include Franklin Central and Warren Central High Schools in Indiana, Farmington High School in Michigan, and the Vision Elite Drum and Bugle Corps in Brooklyn, New York. 

Chris Martin - Program Coordinator

Chris Martin has been teaching marching percussion in Fairfax County since 1999, most notably with Thomas Edison, West Springfield and Chantilly high schools. Writing for battery, front ensemble and visual design, his achievements in the indoor drumline activity include 7 Winter Guard International regional championships, 5 Atlantic Indoor Association circuit championships and a 2006 WGI Scholastic A Class Bronze Medal. He is also the newly elected Percussion Coordinator for the Atlantic Indoor Association.

In addition to actively teaching, Chris has been a member of the United States Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass in Washington DC since 1997. A graduate of Florida State University, he has been instructing and arranging for the FSU Marching Chiefs "Big 8" drumline for the past 15 years. Chris is a proud member of the Vic Firth Education Team as well as being an educator for Pearl/Adams percussion. He is extremely grateful to Dr. Michael Nickens for the tremendous opportunity to create a new musical tradition at George Mason University.

Instructional Staff:
Battery

Chris Garay

Chris Garay is originally from New Jersey, where he graduated with high honors from Delaware Valley Regional High School. Currently he is attending the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar pursuing a double Bachelor's of Arts in both Philosophy and Religious Studies.

His performance career as a snare drummer includes the Jersey Surf, United Percussion, the Cadets, and the Bluecoats. During this time he has studied under such marching percussion legends as Mike McIntosh, Tim Maynard, Tom Aungst, and Chris Vale. Nowadays his primary musical interests are playing drumset and teaching snare drum

Brett Garrett

Brett Garrett is originally from Waycross, Ga. He attended Jacksonville State University where he was a proud member of the Marching Southerners Drumline from 1994-98. Brett’s extensive marching experience includes the 1995 WGI World Champion Atlanta Rhythm Machine, 1995 Spirit of Atlanta and the Santa Clara Vanguard in 1997. He was also a member of The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps from 1999 to 2005.

Brett has also been an instructor for the Magic of Orlando, the Colts and the Crossmen. Locally he has taught the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology where the Indoor Drumline was recently awarded the 2008 Atlantic Indoor Association’s Silver Medal in Open Class competition.

Patrick “Patch” Moss

Patrick “Patch” Moss has been heavily involved in percussion since the age of 10. Receiving his training at Appalachian State University and the esteemed Berklee School of Music, Patrick is currently a full time accompanist for the George Mason University Dance Department playing for technique classes and performing with the GMU Dance Company.

Patrick previously taught at alma mater Chantilly High School (Chantilly, VA) from 2002-04 and is currently the Percussion Caption Head for the South County Secondary School Marching Stallions and Indoor Percussion Ensemble

Neil Pittman

Neil Pittman was transplanted to Northern Virginia from southeastern Michigan after graduating from Western Michigan University in 2006.  He currently works as a Technology Education teacher in Prince William County. 

His performance experience includes the Bluecoats 'Blue Q' Quadline 01-03, WMU Marching Band drumline 02-04, and Great Lakes Percussion 04.  His teaching experience includes the Bandettes Drum and Bugle Corps 00-04, Eastside Fury Indoor Percussion Ensemble 05-07, and various Michigan and Virginia high school marching bands.

Joey Rivera

Joey Rivera has spent the last 10 years as a high school battery arranger and instructor for schools in California, Virginia, and Maryland. Joey is currently the battery tech and co-arranger for Thomas Jefferson HSST in Alexandria, VA.

 Joey’s performance career includes being a member of “The Commandant’s Own” Marine Drum & Bugle Corps 2001-05.  He marched two years in the tenor section and two years as bass drum section leader. He was also one of the head arrangers for the battery from 2003 – 2005.  Joey’s drum and bugle corps experience also includes the 1998 Conquistadors on tenors and Pacific Crest in 1999 on bass #2. He aged out with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps in 2000 as bass #1.

Front Ensemble

Paul “PJ” Fadoul

Paul “PJ” Fadoul is a native of Fairfax, Virginia. He graduated from the Yale School of Music with a Performance Certificate. Paul has worked with numerous marching groups as a designer and instructor over the last ten years including 2007 Atlantic Indoor Association PSA Bronze Medalist Fairfax HS and the 2008 AIA PSA Gold Medalist Herndon HS.

As a performer he has given solo and chamber music performances across the United States and Spain, including two solo appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra. He was also the youngest member of the faculty at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University from 2000-2002.

Steve Ballard

Steve Ballard is a Fairfax County native having attended W.T.Woodson High School, and has been an itinerant elementary and high school band director for the Fairfax County Public School system since 2003, most recently at the esteemed Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology. He is currently beginning his third year as an instructor for the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps pit.  He has previously instructed the Crossmen and the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. Steve is a Vic Firth sponsored percussion educator.

Steve was a member of the 1996, 97, and 98 Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps pit playing mallets, and the 2000 and 01 Santa Clara Vanguard pit as the timpanist. Steve received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Music Performance (percussion) studying under Gordon Stout as well as a Master of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY.

Visual

Alan Johnson

Mr. Johnson is the Director of Bands at South County Secondary School in Fairfax County, VA.  His teaching responsibilities include the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Indoor Drumline and Music Theory.  In only three years, South County has twice been named a VA Honor Band, and every ensemble has received a superior rating.

Mr. Johnson holds a B.M. in Music Education from James Madison University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Music education from Shenandoah University. He is also a former member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.  Additionally, Mr. Johnson writes drill and arranges music for several marching bands and drumlines in Virginia.