Anthony Cruddas, Brass Caption Head
Anthony Cruddas is a Texas-based Designer, Arranger, Instructor, Adjudicator & Clinician of high school, college, and world class marching bands, drum corps, and indoor percussion ensembles.
Anthony currently holds the position of Brass Caption Supervisor for the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps from Casper, Wyoming. Most recently, he served as a Low Brass Instructor and Ensemble Specialist with the corps in 2016.
From 2014 – 2015, Anthony held the position of Brass Caption Head for the 25-time DCI World Class Finalist Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas. While on the Crossmen faculty, the corps returned to DCI Finals competition for two consecutive years, earning the highest 12th place score in DCI history in 2014 and an 11th place finish in brass performance in 2015.
From 2011 – 2013, Anthony served as Lead Technician and Low Brass Instructor on the Brass Staff of the 15-time DCI Finalist Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps from Boston, Massachusetts. In 2013, the Boston Crusaders were selected to perform at both the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, DC and the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
Additionally, Anthony taught the brass section of the DCI Open Class Finalist Revolution Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas in 2010, and has been on the Instructional Staff of Imperial Percussion Theater, a WGI Independent World indoor percussion ensemble from Houston, Texas.
As an adjudicator, Anthony has served as an Ensemble and Individual music judge for marching bands in all classifications throughout the United States. Since 2014, Anthony has been named to the adjudication panels for the US Bands National Championship events.
Anthony resides in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area where he works as a Project Manager and also maintains an active designing and teaching schedule. He holds an Associate of Arts in Music from Blinn College, has completed additional studies at Stephen F. Austin State University and is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, the Texas Music Educators Association, the International Tuba-Euphonium Association and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Lauren Teel, Percussion Caption Head
Lauren Teel is an accomplished percussion performer, arranger, and teacher with experience across the USA. She is the Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at the University of North Alabama and the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She is the Percussion Caption Head for the DCI World Class Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps and a member of the DoubleStop Percussion Education Team.
Lauren earned her Masters in Percussion Performance at Indiana University. She earned a B.M. in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas. Her studies have allowed her to study with renowned percussionists including Kevin Bobo, Steve Houghton, Michael Spiro, Paul Rennick, John Tafoya, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, She-E Wu, Robert Schietroma and Ed Smith. While pursuing her masters degree she was the Front Ensemble Coordinator for the BOA Grand Nationals Finalist Center Grove Band in Greenwood, IN. Prior to graduate school, she held the position of Director of Percussion at Allatoona High School in Cobb County, Georgia.
In 2014, Lauren was selected to perform at PASIC in Indianapolis, IN, for Leigh Howard Stevens clinic “Marimbists Guide to Performing Bach”. She was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Great Plains International Marimba Competition in Oklahoma City, OK. 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 a timpanist. While living in Atlanta, Lauren performed as a member of the NFL Atlanta Falcons Drumline. She is a member of the entertainment group, The Wrecking Crew, based out of Atlanta, GA.
While attending the University of North Texas, Lauren was a member of the 17-time PAS National Champion University of North Texas Indoor Drumline. In 2008, the group won first place at PASIC and in 2011 they traveled to Europe for a special guest performance at the 2011 IPE Championships. She was a member of the 2009 and 2010 Phantom Regiment percussion ensemble, which received the 2010 Fred Sanford Award for high percussion, and of the 2011 Santa Clara Vanguard. Both ensembles were under the instruction of Paul Rennick.
In her spare time Lauren pursues her other passion of working with animals by volunteering at the Georgia Aquarium, Indianapolis Zoo, and with Indiana Canine Assistant Network as a certified service dog trainer. She is also an avid swimmer, trained lifeguard, and certified scuba diver.
Lauren is an endorser of Marimba One and Innovative Percussion.
Susan Hanggi, Color Guard Caption Head
Susan Hanggi, originally from Atlanta, GA, began her education training at Kennesaw State University earning a Bachelor Degree in Secondary Education with a Minor in History. She continued her studies at the University of North Texas and received a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Throughout her academic studies, she marched drum corps at the Santa Clara Vanguard and the Phantom Regiment. She also maintained constant membership at Pride of Cincinnati and Phantom Regiment Winterguards.
As a colorguard instructor, Susan has worked with renowned organizations such as Kell High School, Kennesaw Mountain High School, Phantom Regiment and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps and their respective winterguards. She has also served as caption head for the Madison Scouts. Today, Susan lives in Denton, Texas. She teaches PreAP World Geography in Keller ISD, serves as President of the North Texas Colorguard Association, and is the Director of Colorguard at Guyer High School.
Todd Clevenger, Visual Caption Head
Serving as a designer, instructor, consultant and adjudicator, Todd Clevenger has been involved in the pageantry arts for more than thirty years. DCI, WGI, BOA and circuits across the country have seen finalist performances from groups with which Todd has worked. Well-versed in all facets of our activity, Todd is currently active in marching band, drum corps, winter guard, indoor percussion, and indoor winds.
A long list of respected programs have benefitted from the wealth of knowledge and student-centered approach that Todd brings to his teaching. Northmont High School in Ohio, Mililani H.S. (Hawaii), Las Vegas H.S. (Nevada), and Greenwood, Ben Davis, and Center Grove.
High Schools in Indiana are some of the programs Todd has enjoyed working with. For five years beginning in 2004, Todd was thrilled to be on the visual staff of the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Toledo, Ohio. It was then his privilege to accept the position of visual caption head for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Denver, Colorado. Todd held this position in 2013 and 2014.
Todd also served three years as the visual caption head for Indianapolis Independent (I-Two) Percussion Ensemble from Indianapolis, Indiana, a program which was an Independent World Class finalist two of those years. In addition to teaching indoor percussion groups each winter, Todd is an active adjudicator and announcer, working for circuits nationally. His voice may be recognizable as WGI Percussion World Championships frequently find him behind the microphone serving as one of the voices of the Sport of the Arts.
Todd holds a baccalaureate degree in education (B.S.) from Indiana State University. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Greenwood, Indiana where they are the proud parents of two feline children, Fang and Waldo. A proud Hoosier by birth, Todd passionately follows his beloved state teams: the Indiana Hoosiers, Indianapolis Colts, and the Indiana Pacers. He also enjoys reading, cooking, and participating in competitive team trivia.
"I am honored and thrilled to be working with such a recognizable and iconic organization as the Troopers. Being able to collaborate with and learn from some of the most successful and legendary names in our activity is a rare and exciting opportunity. I am eager to get to work and make fans fall in love with America's Corps over and over again!"
