Percussion Student Leadership Team Announced

The Battalion’s first ever percussion student leadership team was selected at the corps' April camp, and we couldn't be more excited to introduce you to them. Get to know a little bit more about them below!

Andrew Allen (Front Ensemble Section Leader)

Andrew is originally from the Northern Virginia area, but is currently studying music education at Brigham Young University. Throughout high school, he had the opportunity to play with several prestigious honor groups, most notably the All-Virginia Orchestra and the McLean Youth Orchestra. At present, Andrew is a member of the BYU Philharmonic. Through four years of high school band playing in the battery section, Andrew learned to love and appreciate the marching arts. This passion led him to join the Cadets2 2013 front ensemble and has since led him to The Battalion. Andrew is an active member of the marching community, having served as arranger and instructor for several different high schools. He currently serves as the front ensemble instructor for Westlake High School.

Personal Statement: I love drum corps. Everything about it makes those that participate in it and those that watch it better. I'm excited about the opportunity that we have this year as an ensemble to bring an incredible experience to the community, and to grow drum corps.

Ryan Good (Bass Section Leader)

Ryan is a junior at the University of Colorado Boulder where he studies Technology, Arts, and Media Engineering, and plays Tenor drums for the Golden Buffalo Marching Band. This winter Ryan marched bass 2 for his second season with Rise Percussion and was bass section leader. Rise took 7th place in WGI Open Class World Finals and also won the fan favorite award. Before CU, Ryan also participated in the Monarch High-school Marching band, the Monarch Indoor Percussion ensemble, and the school’s Jazz program.

Personal Statement: “With a lot of hard work in a positive environment The Battalion and its members will excel in all aspects of the activity. I’m really excited for an outstanding first DCI appearance!”

Michael Murdock (Snare Section Leader)

Michael Murdock is a sophomore at Brigham Young University majoring in Business Management. He hails from Des Moines, IA via Cincinnati, OH. He has performed in percussion and marching ensembles, both indoor and outdoor, throughout his high school years in Ohio and Iowa and his college years at BYU and with South County Percussion. He fell in love with marching percussion during his freshman year of high school in Milford, OH where he marched quads. The next year he transitioned to center snare and has stuck with snare ever since. He has been honored to hold several leadership positions in the various groups.

Personal Statement: "I am beyond excited to be part of this amazing group with such talented performers. I want to help set the bar high for The Battalion's inaugural year so we can create something truly special that will carry on for years to come."

Jared Sampson (Tenor Section Leader)

Jared hails from Orem, Utah and is currently a sophomore at BYU studying music education where he plays tenors and tuba. He has marched 13 seasons since he started in 2007: 11 on drums and two on tuba in the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps. He has played on the state champion tenor line of South County Percussion and Impact Percussion where he recently led his section to receive the state’s outstanding tenor section award. Having recently returned from an LDS mission, he is excited The Battalion was founded giving him an opportunity to march his age-out.

Personal Statement: “Drum corps in Utah? This is what we've been waiting for isn't it? The waitings up. Now we need to perform so that the crowds, fans, and other corps will start waiting anxiously for us."