(Posted originally on Facebook group)
Today officially marks ONE YEAR from parade day!!! We are pleased to introduce you to some additional members of our leadership team!
Daniel Bostic ~ Color Guard Coordinator
Daniel Bostic
Daniel Bostic is no stranger to the pageantry arts or how big celebrations tend to be in the City of Brotherly Love! A Philadelphia native, Dan began playing the piano at the age of 6. He also learned to play the trumpet, trombone, and baritone - and was the drum major of his high school marching band!
Dan studied piano at Michigan State University, with a minor in brass. He first experienced drum corps at the West Chester University George Parks Drum Major Academy in 1984. From there, he got involved in winter guard out in the Midwest during his time at Michigan State. In 1986, he began his WGI and DCI marching experiences with Studio One Winter Guard and The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. Dan was first a baritone player (1986) and then a member of the color guard during his second season with the Crossmen (1987). He was also a member of the color guard with the 1988 Santa Clara Vanguard. Daniel's DCA experience as a performer was with Sunrisers & The Bushwackers. He was later involved with Bush as the Guard Caption Head, as well as Fusion Core in the same capacity. At the age of 35, Daniel fulfilled a bucket list item of performing at the Independent World Class level of WGI, with the Black Watch from Mount Laurel, NJ! In addition to his experience as a performer, Daniel has also been a talented designer, choreographer, and technician for several area high school and independent winter guards, including almost two decades with The Light Brigade Color Guard. He is currently the color guard director & head designer for Downingtown East High School and still resides in Philadelphia.
Chris Kilian ~ Brass Coordinator
Chris KIlian
Chris Kilian began playing the alto saxophone in 1987, and later added trumpet to his repertoire upon arriving at Archbishop Ryan High School. He attended college at West Chester University as a music composition major & spent 3 years as a mellophone player in the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band. In 1996, Chris was recruited to The Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps, where he would spend 14 of the next 15 summers: 10 as drum major, one as a soprano, one as a G baritone, and one as a trumpet player. He also served as Corps Manager, Brass Caption Head, Staff Coordinator, and was elected to the Bushwackers Hall of Fame in 2009. Chris also served on the design team for Fusion Core (2008, 2016) and the Winsor Regiment (2011-2013). Chris Kilian is currently an active arranger and composer for bands of all types and is an in-demand music judge for band contests in the mid-Atlantic region. He is excited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to honor and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. He cannot wait to stand in front of an incredible horn line that spans generations of drum corps veterans.
Gary Matczak ~ Consultant to the Board / Admin Consultant
Gary Matzcak
Gary is a Licensed Architect registered in Pennsylvania and New York, and directs his firm, Gary Matczak Architects, in Erie, PA. He began his professional career in 1979 as a drafter & attained professional licensure after serving a 15-year apprenticeship. Gary has had a passion for live performance arts from a very young age, watching his father and grandfather perform as musicians, and the exposure they provided to many forms of music, theatre, dance, and drum and bugle corps. He began playing professionally in 1980 in several local jazz & rock combos, ethnic music groups, big bands, & for musical theatre. Gary currently serves as the Business Manager for the Erie Thunderbirds, as well as Board Secretary for the Erie Drum Corps Association & Lake Erie Fanfare. He is a member & founder of the Pennsylvania Drum Corps Hall of Fame. Gary’s personal experience in significant-scale drum corps events includes Mardi Gras in Galveston, Texas, the Daytona Shores Christmas Parade, & Chinese New Year with the Renegades in San Francisco. Gary has two daughters. Sara is a Lead Trader & Product Manager for a private equity investment management group in the West Palm Beach area. Amy recently completed her master's degree and clinicals in Veterinary Science at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, UK, and is a Board-Certified large animal and exotic animal veterinary surgeon practicing in Chicago.
Joe Salorino ~ Percussion Coordinator
Joe Salorino
In 1970, at the age of 12, Joe joined the Erie Thunderbirds. He was fortunate as a young rudimental drummer to have the great Dr. Cosmos Barbaro as his mentor. Joe played single tenor then snare for five competitive seasons before landing a full-time professional drumming job with an Erie-based band. The band toured the eastern US and had a regional radio hit. Joe had the opportunity to play in some of the most notable recording studios in the country, including Agency Recording in Cleveland and the Village Recorder in Los Angeles, where he lived and worked as a full-time musician for several years. After relocating back to Erie, Joe continued his career in live music. He worked as an arranger, instructor, and percussion caption head for marching bands at the high school & university levels and has been the arranger and instructor for the Erie Thunderbirds for 30 years. He played snare with the All-Star Drum & Bugle Corps in the 1994 Macy's Parade in New York City. Joe is a retired music and graphic media teacher and is the long-time president of the Erie Thunderbirds and Erie Drum Corps Association.
