ABOUT The Marching Panel

Session Title: Backstage All Access to Judging Marching Percussion

Julie Davila is a renowned percussionist, performer, music educator and clinician specializing in concert and marching percussion. She was inducted in to the WGI Percussion Hall of Fame in 2014, in recognition of more than 30 years contributing to the marching arts activity as a leader, teacher, designer and adjudicator. Julie is a member of the chamber percussion ensemble the CAIXA TRIO, winner of a 2011 “Drummie” award by Drum Magazine. In addition to her membership in the CAIXA TRIO, she currently serves as President for the Percussive Arts Society. She is the arranger and instructor for the Middle Tennessee State University Band of Blue Drumline, and an adjunct professor of
percussion at MTSU. Prior to her work at MTSU, she was the percussion specialist at several high schools in Nashville, Tennessee. Many of her groups have medaled in all divisions of the WGI activity, and the John Overton High School Indoor drum line, under her direction won a National Championship. Julie is a member of the WGI and DCI nationally recognized adjudication teams, and recently appointed to the DCI Judge Liaison team. As an active clinician specializing in contemporary and marching percussion, she has performed in Poland, China, Peru, South Korea, France, Netherlands,Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil and extensively throughout the United States. A proud alumni of the University of North Texas, she is the author of the “Modern Multi-Tenor Techniques and Solos”, “Impressions on Wood” and “Inspirations 4 Mallets” and is a co-author of “Aptitude” an innovative solo snare book published by Row-Loff Productions. Julie is an endorser and clinician for the Pearl Corporation, Innovative Percussion, Avedis Zildjian Company, Grover Pro Percussion and Evans Drum Heads.

Master Sergeant Jeff Prosperie arrived to the West Point Band as a member of the legendary Hellcats in 2006 and currently serves as Principal Drummer. He is a World Snare Drum Champion and the only individual to capture the “Triple Crown” of solo competition (DCI, DCA, and PAS). He is also a former winner of the Percussive Arts Society orchestral snare drum competition and the mock symphony audition. He is a member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, The Louisiana Percussion Circuit Hall of Fame and the PAS Advisory Board.

Jeff is a frequent finalist judge for both DCl and WGI World Championships. Prior to entering the Army at age 40, he served as the percussion designer/caption-head for the World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, Percussion Instructor for the National Drumline Champions at the University of North Texas, Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, and Principal Percussion with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.

Jeff completed his undergraduate work at LSU and continued on at UNT for his Master’s and Doctoral work. Jeff is a performing artist endorsed by Pear/Adams, Sabian, Innovative Percussion, Evans and Loyal Drums. He enjoys time in the outdoors with his wife and five children.

Moderator Terry Sanders received his degrees in Music Education and Computer and Information Science from Troy State University. He studied percussion under Dr. Samuel Frederick while marching with the “Sound of the South” Trojan Band under the direction of Dr. Johnny Long from 1980 to 1985. He also studied percussion privately with Sergeant Carl Griggs of the United States Marine Band. Terry was the Co-Percussion Caption Head and arranger for the Florida Wave Drum and Bugle Corps from 1980 – 81.

Terry actively serves as a championship level adjudicator for fall marching competitions and indoor percussion and indoor winds competitions across the country. He is a currently an active Official WGI Percussion Judge. Mr. Sanders currently serves on the WGI Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. Terry is also a member of the 2022-2024 WGI Steering Committee. He has served many years on the WGI Percussion Advisory Board, most recently in 2016. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, and he is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society and currently serves on the PAS Marching Percussion Committee and the PAS Diversity Alliance.

Mr. Sanders formerly served from 2018-2022 as the Program Coordinator and as a Music Ensemble Consultant for Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. Terry is currently an Educational Artist endorser for Innovative Percussion, the REMO Drumhead Company, Sabian Cymbals and the Pearl /Adams Drum Company. Mr. Sanders also operates and owns the Mic Check One Two One Two Virtual Percussion Judges Academy.

Lauren Teel is the Acting Assistant Director for the Texas A&M Commerce “Pride” Marching Band, Assistant Director of Percussion & Director of Marching Percussion for Texas A&M Commerce. Since 2013, she has served as the Percussion Caption Head for the DCI World Class Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps.

Prior appointments include Interim Instructor of Percussion for the University of Alabama, and Adjunct Instructor for the Million Dollar Band Front Ensemble as well as Instructor for the University of North Texas Green Brigade Marching Band. She has also served as an Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at several universities, including The University of North Alabama, The University of Alabama- Birmingham, and The University of Montevallo.

Lauren earned her M.M. in Percussion Performance at Indiana University in 2016 and a B.M. in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas 2012. In 2012, Lauren had the privilege of traveling to Chennai, India to perform for an audience of over 75,000 people with Oscar winning composer, A. R. Rahman. Lauren also appeared in the 2013 blockbuster, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as an on screen timpanist. While living in Atlanta, Lauren performed as a member of the NFL Atlanta Falcons Drum Line.

Lauren is a current Music Caption Judge for WGI Percussion. She Judges Indoor Percussion across the Southeast and multiple other locations. She has also served as a Percussion Judge for the Texas UIL competitions. Lauren proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Marimba One, Zildjian, and Remo.

Jeff Ausdemore currently serves as President and Co-Founder of Stryvemind.com, a revolutionary online music education platform that impacts students and music educators around the world. This venture serves students, music educators and administrators in many capacities, including educational consulting, professional development opportunities, as well as the Stryve Academy. Mr. Ausdemore has been appointed Visiting Assistant Professor of Music for New Mexico State University, where he teaches applied lessons, jazz appreciation, and music education pedagogy classes. In addition, Jeff also serves as a percussion faculty member at Texas A&M University- Commerce where he teaches applied lessons, technique classes, pedagogy and music entrepreneurship classes. In addition, Jeff serves as the President of Ausdemore Music, a proprietary composition and arranging house for Mr. Ausdemore’s music catalog. As a composer, Mr. Ausdemore is published through C. Alan and Tapspace publications, and has contributed original works for piano, instrumental guitar, contemporary multimedia, percussion and choir, percussion solo instruments, percussion ensemble, as well as wind ensemble and marching band. Several ensembles have commissioned and premiered Mr. Ausdemore’s works on recordings, concerts, the Music for All national festival, the Interlochen Fine Arts Academy summer camp, the 2021 Midwest Clinic, and two world premieres at the 2022 Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention.

Jeff will be returning to his role of percussion composer/arranger and music consultant for the Blue Knights drum and bugle corps from Denver, Colorado. In October 2023, Mr. Ausdemore has released his first book; “Breathe, Grow, Share-Fostering Student Impact Through the Lens of a Music Teacher’s Best Life” through Ausdemore Music and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

Prior, Mr. Ausdemore served as the Director of Music at Grapevine-Colleyville’s iUniversity Prep. In this expanded role, Mr. Ausdemore oversaw all music curricula, including music theory, music history, music composition/arranging, as well as applied music for all primary and secondary level students. In addition, Mr. Ausdemore created the iMusic Club, a club dedicated to enriching the lives of all students enrolled at iUniversity Prep.

Previously, Mr. Ausdemore served eleven years as the Director of Percussion Studies at Colleyville Heritage High School. In this role, Mr. Ausdemore served as the percussion coordinator, head of jazz studies, and co director/composer/arranger of the Colleyville Heritage marching band. Under Ausdemore’s direction, the Colleyville Heritage High School percussion program flourished, gaining national notoriety through chamber music, guest artist concerts of all genres, recitals, and ensemble competitions. The percussion program has enjoyed competitive success at many levels, including the 2013 and 2014 gold medal for the North Texas Color Guard Association, as well as capturing the 2008 Percussive Arts Society Marching Percussion title. Other accolades include the Percussive Arts Society’s “Call for Tapes” winners, the Percussive Arts Society’s Small Ensemble Champions, the Plano Drum Line Competition marching percussion champions, as well as the Lone Star Drum Line Competition champions. In Mr. Ausdemore’s first year at CHHS, he launched the GCISD Percussion Club, expanding the students’ musical education and enriching the lives of GCISD middle and high school percussion students throughout the district. The GCISD Percussion Club presented master classes, clinics, solo and ensemble performances by local and regional professionals throughout the north Texas area. The GCISD Percussion Club has produced a record number of students selected for the GCISD “Select Band”, the Region 24 “All-region Band”, the Region 24 “All Region Jazz Band”, and the Texas “All-State Band”. CHHS is proud to have produced several percussion students who have earned the national title for the Percussive Arts Society’s solo champion on several different percussion instruments as well.

Mr. Ausdemore has featured this unique pedagogical model at many state music conventions throughout the United States, including several Texas Music Educators Association Conventions.
In addition to his teaching duties at Colleyville Heritage High School, Mr. Ausdemore served as the percussion arranger and caption head for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 through 2010. During Ausdemore’s tenure at the Blue Knights, the percussion program produced several individual solo championships, ensemble championships, and a strong reputation for excellence, placing in the elite “top 12” in the Drum Corps International Championships consistently.

Prior to his appointment to CHHS, Mr. Ausdemore taught at the University of Texas Arlington, as adjunct professor of percussion. In this role, Ausdemore served as the percussion arranger/assistant director of the UTA Marching Band, taught percussion pedagogy/techniques classes, assisted the UTA percussion ensemble, and maintained a full private studio as well.

Mr. Ausdemore’s performance background includes section and solo performances with several orchestras, wind ensembles, and percussion ensembles throughout the midwest and southwest United States, including the principal percussionist with the Texas Wind Symphony, and principal percussionist/assistant principal timpanist with the Las Cruces Symphony.

In 1995, Ausdemore recorded/toured with Benson Records recording artists Nouveaux, compiling three #1 singles on the CCM music charts between 1995 and 1999. While living in Nashville, Ausdemore participated in many recording sessions, both commercial and proprietary albums.
As a clinician, Mr. Ausdemore has given performances, clinics and workshops throughout the U.S. at several Percussive Arts Society’s “Days of Percussion”, including Arizona, Tennessee, New Mexico, California, Arkansas, Utah, Colorado, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (Columbus, Ohio 2002, Indianapolis Indiana 2009, 2011) and the International Horn Society Convention (Beijing, China 2000). Ausdemore has served as a featured clinician at the 2009 and 2011 Texas Music Educator’s Association Conference as well.

In addition to teaching/performing, Mr. Ausdemore has composed/arranged, instructed and consulted with numerous Drum Corps International drum and bugle corps, college marching bands, and high school marching bands throughout the United States, including the Blue Knights, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Limited Edition, Northern Aurora, and Southwind.

Ausdemore has served as music director/composer for the Insignia Independent Percussion Ensemble. The Insignia Independent Percussion Ensemble participated in the Winter Guard International circuit locally and regionally, winning the 2004 NTCA gold medal in their inaugural season.

Jeff Ausdemore is proud to endorse and serve as a clinician for Dynasty/Bergerault Musical Instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Pro Mark sticks and mallets. The D’Addario/Pro Mark corporation released the Jeff Ausdemore “signature series” snare drum sticks in early fall of 2009.

Mr. Ausdemore’s professional affiliations include adjudication roles for Drum Corps International, Winter Guard International, Bands of America, a percussion committee member for the Percussive Arts Society, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, and currently serves as the current Vice President of Percussion and Winds on the executive board of the North Texas Color Guard Association. Mr. Ausdemore holds a Master of Music degree with distinction from New Mexico State University (2002), as well as Bachelor of Music degree with high honors from Belmont University (1999).

Jeff was recently inducted into the North Texas Colorguard Association’s Hall of Fame in 2017 for his role as VP of Percussion and Winds, and his work and contributions to the circuit at large.

Jeff Ausdemore lives in Bedford, TX with his wife, Pam Davis Ausdemore. In addition to Pam’s pageantry background with the Bluecoats, Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights, Glassmen, and Southwind drum and bugle corps, she has also performed with the Pride of Cincinnati and instructed many performing groups, including Cypress Independent winterguard, Beechwood, Dixie Heights, Seguin, Colleyville Heritage, Keller, William Mason and Prosper High School. Pam is a gifted artist and teacher at Sendera Ranch Elementary School in Northwest ISD.