2019 Watchmen Educational Staff
Brass Staff
Paul Rendon was born in San Diego, California in 1973. He studied Music Composition at The University of Toronto (Ontario, Canada) and Music Education at San Diego State University. While at San Diego State University he was admitted membership into The San Diego State University ETA THETA Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, a national honor society, for his academic achievement and contributions to the SDSU School of Music and Dance. He was also granted a fellowship in The California Music Project! He received his credential from San Diego State University.
Paul is an active educator, composer, arranger and performer in Southern California. As a wind band composer, he was commissioned to compose a piece for The 2014 California All-State Music Education Conference for Rancho Buena Vista High School Wind Ensemble. In the same year, his transcription of Leonard Bernstein’s “Three Dance Episodes from “On The Town” for wind ensemble” was premiered at the San Diego Winds Composers festival. The second movement, “Lonely Town”, is still being performed today. In 2016 The Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Riverside, California premiered his original show entitled “Goliath” during their competitive Drum Corps International season. Paul is very active in promoting the arts and arts education as well.
Paul has been a brass designer, brass caption head, Program Consultant and instructor at the World and Open Class levels of drum corps. His Drum Corps programs include The Kiwanis Kavaliers, Velvet Knights (World), The Watchmen, West Coast Sound, Bracken Cavaliers, Long Island Sound, Illusion and The Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets winter program. He has also designed wind band books for various high schools. Recent Marching Band include Rancho Buena Vista HS, Mission Hills HS, Steele Canyon HS, Point Loma HS, Serrano HS, Fallbrook HS, Wateska HS (Illinois), Las Vegas HS and numerous others.
Paul is very active in the community as a performer. A Trumpet and French Horn player, he has performed with numerous Orchestras and Wind Ensembles. His credits include The La Jolla Symphony, San Diego Youth Symphony, San Diego Wind Ensemble and Concert band, The San Diego Symphony as an ensemble, various woodwind/brass quintets and other college ensembles where he has studied. He was also in a national touring ska band and played Trumpet with Dave Wakeling of The English Beat/General Public. Paul was a member of the World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugles Corps from 1991-1993 where he played French Horn and Mellophone, was a section leader and soloist. As a member of SCV, he performed at DCI’s solo and ensemble competition where he earned third place against some very talented musicians. He attributes his parents and numerous other people in his life that have mentored and impacted him in arts education including SCV legends Gail Royer, Myron Rosander, and Rick South just to name a few.
Currently Paul is the director of bands at Homestead High School in Cupertino, California. Before his current duties at Homestead he was the assistant director of bands at Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista, California where he taught /conduct all 3 wind ensembles, marching band and other after school programs like Jazz, Theory, and composition. He also helps students with International Baccalaureate Music throughout the year. He is a music adjudicator and clinician for various circuits including SCSBOA and CMEA.
This is his 3rd year as brass arranger for The Watchmen. He currently resides in San Jose, Ca.
Stephanie Rittenhouse is a music educator and holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from California State University Fullerton. While at Fullerton, Stephanie performed with multiple groups including the Brass Ensemble, Brass Quintet, and the Wind Symphony. She studied trumpet with Dr. Mark Garrabrant and Barry Perkins.
Before transferring to Cal State Fullerton, Stephanie attended Riverside Community College where she was involved with numerous performing ensembles. These ensembles include the RCC Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Brass Quintet, Orchestra and the RCC Marching Tigers. Stephanie studied trumpet under Rich Chasin and Kevin Mayse while at RCC.
Stephanie Rittenhouse is currently Director of Instrumental Music at Chaparral High School in Temecula and was previously the director at Vista Del Lago High School in Moreno Valley. This is her sixth year as a high school music director. Stephanie has also, previously been involved with Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps as part of the brass staff in the 2014, 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Victor began working in education in 1999 as a marching and brass coach for local high schools in the Southern California area. He is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Bloomington High School in Bloomington, CA after being Music Director at Fallbrook High School located in North County San Diego. When he is not in the classroom, Victor teaches horn to his private studio and performing with local orchestras and wind ensembles. Working with young performers is a passion he has had since his time as a performer himself.
His work as a educator at Redlands High School where he played horn, mellophone in the band and marching bass drum for the winter drumline. After graduating he continued his playing with the Riverside Community College Marching Tigers and Drum Corps International. In 2008, he graduated from the University of Redlands with a degree in Music Education and Teaching Credential. He is currently working on finishing his graduate school.
While serving at his position at Fallbrook High School for six years, his ensembles have received high recognition and awards. The Marching band has found success in the Western Bands Association earning several 1st place awards. The Wind Symphony has earned Excellent and Superior Ratings at Festival. The Winter Drumline has won the Gold Medal (Novice Class – 2015), Bronze Medal (Scholastic B – 2016) at the American Drumline Association Championships. The Winter Color Guard has consistently competed at a high level earning a Gold Medal (Scholastic AAA – 2016) at the Winter Guard Association of Southern California Championships.
This is Victor’s Second season with the Watchmen and is excited for this new opportunity.
Robert is currently the Instrumental Music director at Grand Terrace High School; a position he has held since the school opened in 2012. This follows a 7-year tenure as the music director at Terrace Hills Middle School and two elementary schools beginning in 2005. Robert has also served as a low brass tech, brass caption head, and assistant director for a number of school band programs in Southern California including Serrano High School, Riverside King, Murrieta Valley HS, and John W. North Blue Star Regiment winning SCSBOA Championships in 2002-2003. He has also served as a guest clinician for a variety of high school and middle school band programs, university music ensembles, and regional honor bands.
Robert has been playing the trombone since 1991 and has an extensive background as a freelance musician performing with a number of Southern California ensembles and with several Grammy-nominated musicians. He is a low brass specialist with significant performance and teaching experience on Euphonium and Tuba in addition to Trombone. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from CSU San Bernardino in 2004.
This is Robert’s first full season with the Watchmen and is excited for this new opportunity.
Adam graduated from Fallbrook High School in 2015 and attended Mira Costa Community College in Oceanside, California from 2015-2018. During the summers of 2017 and 2018, he marched mellophone with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps. In his ageout year, he was the mellophone section representative and soloist in their 2018 production “Here’s to the Ones Who Dream”.
In September of 2018 he relocated from Fallbrook to Riverside and is studyingmechanical engineering at the University of California, Riverside.
James Ana is a music educator that holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from California State University Fullerton. While attending Fullerton he performed in various ensembles including, the Wind Symphony, the University Symphony Orchestra, the Fullerton Jazz Orchestra, the New Music Ensemble, the Varsity Band, and the Brass Quintet. James studied under the tutelage of Barry Perkins the Principal trumpet for the Pacific Symphony while at CSUF. He has also studied under Rich Chasin, and Kevin Mayse director of the Wind Symphony at Riverside Community College. Some other performance experiences include the RCC Wind Ensemble 2001-2008, RCC Jazz Band 2002-2008, RCC Marching Band 2001-2002, Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corp 2000-2002.
This will be James’ second year with the Watchmen. James took over as brass Caption last season. James is also currently in his first year at as Music Director at Montclair High School after fourth year as Music Director at A.B. Miller High School where he overseas and/or works with the Marching Band, Concert Band, String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Rebel Percussion Alliance, and Fontana Miller Guard. He coordinates with other district faculty to organize events such as the All City Honor High School & Middle School Bands, and the All City Honor High School Choir. James has also worked as a brass and visual coach at Sierra Vista High School in 2011 thru 2012. He also created, and instructed a Brass Quintet while instructing at Sierra Vista High School.
Percussion Staff
This is Brandon’s second year working with The Watchmen after the 2014 summer season and has been involved with the marching activity since 2004. Brandon’s marching experience includes Yamato Drum and Bugle Corps, Velvet Knights, POW Percussion, RCC Fall Marching Band and the RCC Indoor Drumline as well as the Concord Blue Devils. He has worked with, taught and written for numerous programs in Southern CA including Canyon Springs High School, John W. North, Temescal Canyon, UCR, South Pasadena, Ayala, Incognito Drum and Bugle Corps, Pace Indoor Percussion and Dark Sky Percussion. He currently works with Western high school in Anaheim, Cypress high school and performs with Sidle entertainment. Moreover, he is pursuing a BM in Music Composition from California State University Fullerton with an emphasis in percussion.
Brandon Lives in Fullerton, CA.
This is Connor’s second season teaching with Watchmen and he has taught with
Mission Hills High School(2015-2016).
He has marched in both Winter and Summer groups including, marching his age out
with Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps(2014-2017), is a founding member of
Watchmen Indoor(2015), and was a member with POW Percussion(2016-2017). He currently resides in El Cajon.
This is Edward’s first season with Watchmen, He is spreading his talents and passion across the region, teaching at Rancho-Starbuck Intermediate School, Torrance High School, Glendora High School, and South East High School. His extensive performance experience includes membership in Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, Dark Sky and E’lan Winter Percussion. He has a Associate of the Arts in Music at Fullerton College and resides in Whittier, CA.
Making his Drum Corps International teaching debut is Logan Gonzalez-Bellenkes. A Santa Barbara native, Logan attended Serrano High School, where he got his first experience with percussion and the marching activity.
His marching experience includes three seasons with the famed Riverside City College Marching Tigers Quadline, and DCI quadline experience with City Sound, Gold and Mandarins.
He has received tutelage from the likes of Jared Andrews, Matthew Regua, Zakk Hollander, Adam Wilson, and Miguel Guaderrama. His teaching experience includes time at Serrano HS, Ramona HS, Chaparral HS, and Vista Del Lago HS.
Logan is an avid percussionist, and is currently in his second semester studying percussion performance at Riverside City College.
This is Marcel’s second season as Front Ensemble Caption Head with the Watchmen.
His past teaching experience includes Martin Luther King High School, La Sierra High School, Moreno Valley High School, West Covina High School, Apple Valley High School, and Jurupa Valley High School. He graduated from Martin Luther King High School, and is the Front Ensemble Caption Head.
After high school, Marcel would perform with the RCC Marching Tigers, Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Watchmen Indoor Percussion, and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps.
Marcel currently resides in Riverside, CA, and is studying Percussion Performance under Jason Goodman and Steven Schmidt. Marcel has had the pleasure to study under Sandi Rennick, Lauren Teel, Brennan Davis, Stephen Symank, Chris McWilliams, and Brian Dinkel, through his years in the marching activity.
This is Whitley’s first season as Front Ensemble with the Watchmen.
Her teaching experience includes Vista Murrieta High School, Murrieta Valley High School, Chaparral High School and front ensemble caption head for the Velvet Knights in 2012. Whitley played with almost every ensemble at Riverside City College has to offer including concert percussion, jazz and marching percussion. She’s has also completed the music theory courses and is the principal percussionist in the orchestra and the wind ensemble. I will be graduating from RCC in June 2018.
Mitchell James Sampang is a student majoring in Music education at Mt. San Antonio College. His marching experience include Chino High School 77th Cavalry Winter Percussion, Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps, and Dark Sky Percussion. He has worked as a Cymbal and Visual Tech and for Chino High School Winter Percussion, Riverside King, AB Miller HS, and Ontario HS. He eventually plans to apply and transfer to Cal State Long Beach, where he will pursue music education.
Chris is a percussionist with over 30 years of performance experience and over 20 years of teaching experience. His parents encouraged him to join the school band in third grade when he was just eight years old and he quickly found his passion for music. His passion has kept him closely involved in the music education, products, and performance fields.
His teaching credits include: Drum Corps – Pacific Crest (DCI World Class), Gold (DCI Open Class) and Esperanza (DCI Open Class)
Winter Drumline: Alternative Percussion Ensemble (WGI PIO Finalist)Schools – Southern California – Oak Valley MS, Steele Canyon HS, Scripps Ranch HS, West Valley HS, Valley Center HS, Del Norte HS, Vista HS, Rancho Buena Vista HS, Bonita Vista HS, Monte Vista HS, Patrick Henry HS, Marina HS, Estancia HS
His performance experience includes: The Procrastinators, The All-Star Drumline, Percussionation, The Percussionators, Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps, Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, West Coast Sound Drum & Bugle Corps, Community wind ensembles San Diego State University marching band, pep band, and winter drumline San Clemente High School, Shore cliffs Junior High School, and Palmer School. He graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Public Administration in 2002.
Chris uses and proudly endorses Adams percussion, BassMuffling.com foam, Beetle Percussion, MarimbaString.com string, Pearl drums, Remo drumheads, StickTape.com tape, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Xymox practice pads, and Zildjian cymbals.
Color Guard Staff
Maritza Ramirez comes to us from Southern California where she has been a part of the color guard community since 2005 having 13 years of performance experience.
She has performed at the middle school, high school, and college level. With groups like Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, RCC Marching Band, RCC All-stars Band and the world famous winter guard Fantasia. Maritza’s teaching credits include Palm Middle School, Lakeside Middle School, Vista Verde Middle School, Canyon Springs High School, Patriot High School and Rancho Verde High School.
She has also gone on to study at the University of California, Riverside where she has received her undergraduate degree and is currently using that degree to work in the Moreno Valley Unified School District and the Val Verde Unified School District. This will be Maritza’s second year with the Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps.
Samantha is from Northern California, she moved to Southern California to go to school at RCC and be in the RCC Marching Band. She has been involved in of the world of color guard pageantry since 2006. Before color guard Samantha studied ballet from a young age, and for 6 years was a member of the Crocket Dean Dance Company, Sacramento Ca.
Samantha’s performance credits include such groups as Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, RCC Marching Band, RCC All-stars Band and Fantasia Winter Guard. Samantha’s teaching credits include: RCC Marching Band Color Guard Captain, Grand Terrace High School, Banning High School, and West Valley High School.
Crystal Lissette Ortiz is a Southern California native having 7 years of color guard experience. She marched four years with the Riverside Kingsmen followed by three years of teaching.
She is currently the captain head at Orange Vista High School and March Middle School. In addition to teaching Crystal is pursuing a career in marriage and family counseling. She is studying for her undergraduate degree at the University of California Riverside.
This is Kathleen Nicole Berkshire (KT) first year with Watchmen. Her current teaching experience has been with Sierra Middle School and Citrus High School. KT performance experience includes Ramona Dynasty Band & Color Guard and Riverside Community College Color Guard.
In 2006 and 2007 Anthony marched with the Concord Blue Devils, reciving a bronze medal and a gold medal
Anthony then Pursueid into a teaching career immediately right after high school and begun to teach with his alma mater Chaffey High School, in 2008, 2009, 2011 in the scholastic A division after a couple years of learning experiences with choreography, designing, and instructing. he continued on with instructing other high schoolgroups such as Don lugo High School, Santa Fe High School, Magnolia High School, Cypress High School, and Saddleback High School, the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, and Gold Drum and Bugle Corps. as well as a canadian group known as the Blue Saints
With extensive experiences both technology and artistically he has successfully created programs throughout his teaching career and will continue to keep going. Anthony currently teaches with Saddleback high school, in Santa Ana, California.
Anthony is currently Resideing in Garden Grove, California and is very estatic to be part of the watchmen family this up coming season.
This is Gabriel Rodriguez first year with Watchmen. He’s currently with Rancho Verde High School. His previous teaching experience includes being caption head at Desert Mirage High School and Taft Charter High School.Gabriel performance experience includes High school, Gold Drum and Bugle Corps ‘13-‘15 (‘13 I marched contra), Oregon Crusaders 2016 , Mandarins 2017 and 4 years of WGI world class.
Visual Staff
Ryan H. Turner brings a rich history in the marching and pageantry arts activity that covers over 35 years of experience as a performer, designer, instructor, administrator, and adjudicator.
Ryan graduated from Pasadena High School in 1984 after a successful high school music career, performing on trombone, euphonium, and tuba, and serving as drum major and marching instructor for the marching band. He moved on to Pasadena City College, where he served two years as the drum major for the PCC Lancer Marching Band as well as the world-renowned Official Tournament of Roses Honor Band. During those same years, Ryan began his three-year stint with the very popular Drum Corps International World Class Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Anaheim, California, serving one year as a lead baritone in 1985, and then the next two years as drum major. He was also a member of the highly regarded California State University at Long Beach “Big Brown Music Machine” Marching Band for two years. In his performing career, Ryan has performed in multiple idioms of music with over sixty performance ensembles as a specialist in low brass with some of the top names in southern California music education and entertainment.
Ryan’s love of drill design is evidenced in the over 225 shows he has designed since 1984 for high school and collegiate marching bands, drum and bugle corps, winter guards, and indoor drum lines across the country, garnering awards and praise in multiple judging circuits. He has instructed and designed as well for both DCI and DCA corps, including the Velvet Knights, Anaheim Kingsmen, Pacific Crest, Impulse, Capital Sound, City Sound and So Cal Dream All-Age Drum and Bugle Corps.
Administratively, Ryan served as Vice President of Contests for the Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC) from 1990-1994, and was part of the Executive Management team that propelled the WGASC to its current status as the top “local” winter guard circuit in the world. After two years on the Board of Directors with the Pacific Crest and So Cal Dream Drum and Bugle Corps’, he served on the Board of Directors for the Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps in a public relations role as well as on the Executive Steering Committee for So Cal Dream. He has worked both with the WGASC as a Contest Director, and the Marching Band Open Series (MBOS), a division of the WGASC, assisting the organization with management, strategic planning, and promotions.
Ryan’s adjudication skills have taken him nationwide, and he is currently certified as a visual performance and effect judge for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), the Southern California Judging Association (SCJA), the American Drumline Association (ADLA) and US Bands (formerly the United States Scholastic Band Association–USSBA). He is a sought-after leadership consultant for drum majors and student leaders in the southern California region, and has taught at the acclaimed California Leadership Academy with nationally-renowned leadership expert Dave Kuhns. As well, he has offers his own “Dynamics of Leadership” workshops to great reviews, working with the Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps and several marching band programs across the country.
Often referred to as the “Voice of Southern California”, he has served as announcer and Master of Ceremonies for a multitude of drum corps, marching band and winter guard shows across the southwest region over the past 30 years. He has announced for DCI, WGI, SCSBOA, and WGASC, as well as having the honor of announcing for the 2007 DCI Division II/III World Championships in Pasadena, California and for the Anaheim Kingsmen Alumni Corps’ semi-finals performance at the 2007 DCI World Championships in the Rose Bowl.
While Ryan’s love is in the marching and pageantry arts, he also serves in a very rewarding career in public safety and has been recognized for contributions in the public safety emergency communications and management industry during his 25+ year career. He is currently the Senior Fire Communications Supervisor of Education and Training for the fourth largest fire department in California, the Orange County Fire Authority, in Irvine, California. He assists in managing a workforce of 26 full-time 911 dispatchers and supervisors in a state-of-the-art Emergency Command Center. He resides in Brea, California, with his wife and three children.
Israel has been with the Temescal Canyon High School marching band as the visual caption head since the fall of 2007. He has worked as a marching tech with the Vista Murrieta Golden Alliance in 2005.
He marched contra with the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2005, euphonium with RCC Marching Tigers from 02-04, and tuba with the Santa Ana Winds Youth Marching Band.
John Cross has teaching marching and visual instruction in Southern California since 1994. Starting out with the Grossmont School District at Helix High School and then with Rancho Buena Vista High School. He moved to Orange County was started working with El Dorado High School and then with Mission Viejo High School for 6 years.
He has worked with Ramona High School & Martin Luther King High School. John started his drum corps experience with the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle corps back 1980 – 1982, he then joined the Impulse Drum and Bugle staff in 1997 – 2002 and then was elected to the Board of Directors for a couple of years.
Wanting to still perform he has performed with the San Francisco Renegade Senior Drum and Bugle corps for the last couple years and is also on the Board of Directors. John is excited to work this year with the Watchmen group after seeing their performances last year, it is going to be a great year. John is currently living in Riverside, CA.
Daniel Aguayo has began his show design career in 2011 arranging music for Troy High School in Fullerton, CA and Ontario High School in Ontario, CA. He’s designed for several schools in both Southern California and Nevada with many advancing to their competitive circuits championships.
Mr. Aguayo’s marching arts experience began while attending Warren High School In Downey, CA. During his junior year, Mr. Aguayo began marching in DCI with the Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle corps in Diamond Bar, CA (2006-2008). After finishing his 3rd season with the corps, he decided to take his talents to the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in Canton, OH where he aged out of in 2010.
In conjunction with designing, Mr. Aguayo has taught high school and Drum corps with groups such as Savanna high school, Tesoro high school, Crossmen Drum and Bugle corps and was even on staff at the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013 when the group earned it’s first DCI World Championship.
Michael has a long history in the marching arts, starting back in 1973 as a member of the Chevaliers of Waterloo, Iowa which later became the Royal Chevaliers in 1975. In 1976, Michael moved on to march with the Osage Precisionaires of Osage, Iowa. Michael moved to the west coast and found a home with the South San Francisco Conquistadors, marching with them in the 1979 and 1980 seasons.
After a long hiatus from the activity, he resumed his marching career with the San Francisco Renegades Senior Corps in 1998 and performed for three years with them. In 2002, he was part of the management team that started the all age SoCal Dream Drum and Bugle Corps. Michael served in many roles for several years for this successful organization, including President of the Board, Corps Director, Visual Tech, Tour Manager, and a member of the hornline.
Michael has taught all levels of drum corps and high schools. He served as a visual tech for the St. Paul Scouts (1979), Logan High School (1984-85), Impulse (2000-2001), SoCal Dream (2005-2006), Renegades (1998) Gabrielino High School (2006-2007), Norco High School (2010-2011), and Los Amigos High School (2014). Visual Caption Head for the highly successful Dynasty Marching Band of Ramona High School in Riverside, CA. (2016-2018)
Michael resides in Huntington Beach, CA with his wife of 35 years and has a great career in the automobile industry.
Mitchell James Sampang is a student majoring in Music education at Mt. San Antonio College. His marching experience include Chino High School 77th Cavalry Winter Percussion, Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps, and Dark Sky Percussion. He has worked as a Cymbal and Visual Tech and for Chino High School Winter Percussion, Riverside King, AB Miller HS, and Ontario HS. He eventually plans to apply and transfer to Cal State Long Beach, where he will pursue music education.