Troopers Announce 2027 Design Team
As the Troopers look toward the 2027 season, there is tremendous excitement about the team coming together to create the next chapter of the corps.
For nearly 70 years, the Troopers have been shaped by generations of members, staff, volunteers, alumni, families, and supporters. Every season adds something to that story. Every generation leaves its mark. And every new season brings another opportunity to build upon what came before while exploring where the Troopers can go next.
At the heart of that journey is identity.
The Troopers have long represented ideals of perseverance, honor, loyalty, and dedication. Those ideals belong not to any one show, season, or generation, but to the thousands of people who have carried this organization forward since 1957.
As stewards of this era of the Troopers, we recognize the responsibility and privilege of adding our own chapter to that history.
The production audiences experience on the field is an important part of that responsibility, but its impact reaches far beyond the competitive arena. It becomes part of how our members remember their summer. It creates moments shared between generations of Troopers. It strengthens the connection between the corps and its alumni, fans, families, and supporters. It inspires people to wear the cross sabers, support the organization, and become part of the journey.
Above all, we want every member who wears the Troopers uniform to have an experience they can look back upon with pride for the rest of their lives.
With that mission in mind, the Troopers are proud to announce the design and coordination team for the 2027 season:
Tim Snyder
Program Coordinator & Brass Arranger
Mark Moreno
Visual Designer & Supervisor
Justin Shelton
Sound Designer
Lauren Teel
Percussion Arranger & Caption Manager
David Cavazos
Battery Arranger & Coordinator
Chris McCarthy
Visual Coordinator
There is tremendous excitement surrounding the opportunity to bring this particular group of artists and educators together. Each brings a distinct creative voice, a wealth of experience, and a shared enthusiasm for what the Troopers can accomplish together.
Their collaboration will build upon the momentum of the corps while continuing to explore new ways to bring the Troopers identity to life for our members and audiences.
That balance between legacy and possibility has always been part of the Long Blue Line.
As the Troopers approach their seventh decade, our goal remains to create programs that bring members, alumni, fans, families, and supporters together around something larger than any single summer. Each generation inherits the Long Blue Line for a moment, adds something of its own, and passes it forward.
In 2027, this team takes the reins.
And the Long Blue Line moves forward.
Perseverance. Identity. Honor. Loyalty. Dedication.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Gough
Troopers Executive Director
More information about the team
Tim is a freelance arranger/composer, educator & adjudicator. His music has been performed on concert stages and football fields all across America. Tim works as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the country in brass pedagogy.
Tim returned to the Troopers in 2021, ushering in a new creative era for the corps. As Program Coordinator and Brass Arranger, Tim assembled the 2022 show "vorAcious" which saw the return of the Troopers to the elite top 12 for the first time in thirteen years. Since then, the Troopers have achieved the longest consecutive finals appearances in the history of the organization, along with their highest scores in the DCI era.
In 2018, Tim took over the Mandarins brass program guiding them to a top 12 finish, making drum corps history, not only with the Mandarins, but within the drum corps community. In 2019, the Mandarins returned to DCI Finals, this time with more accolades and record breaking achievements. The highest 10th place score in DCI history, first time a new finalist has returned to finals the following year in 19 years. Mandarins achieved BOX5 in 2019 as a brass program for the first time in their history. In 2020, Tim was named a Jupiter Educational Artist.
In 2017, as the caption manager of the Oregon Crusaders, OC had the largest brass turnout in corps history. While at Oregon Tim was instrumental in setting new standards for the Oregon Crusader organization.
As the brass caption manager of America's Corps, The Troopers. Tim oversaw the resurgence of the Troopers to national prominence just missing Drum Corps International Finals by a mere .15 points in 2013 and saw the Troopers to a top 12 finish in brass in 2015. The Troopers continued to grow as a brass team through the 2016 season, which some have said, is the finest Troopers hornline in history.
Tim has learned from some of the best educators in the world; Arnold Jacobs, Donnie VanDoren, Marc Whitlock, Brad Kerr Green, Dennis Johnson, Earle Louder, Ray Conklin, Richard Miles, Nick Williams and many more.
From 2014-2021 Tim was the program coordinator of DCA Open Class Corps, Cincinnati Tradition, based in Cincinnati, OH. During his tenure they were a 4-time DCA Class A Finalist, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 and 2-time Open Class finalist, 2018 & 2019. Earning Back-to-Back Class A Championships (2016 & 2017) along with high brass and GE awards in both of those seasons.
As a tuba tech at Carolina Crown in 2007 & 2008, Tim oversaw the return of the 16-person tuba line to the field since the 1992 Star of Indiana; in 2010 & 2011 Tim was a tech of the first ever 20-person tuba line(s) at the Madison Scouts. Tim has had the pleasure of teaching some of the best tuba lines in the history of activity and many of his students have gone on to teach at the highest levels of the activity.
Tim and his wife founded BOX5 Media. At BOX5 they focus solely on the pageantry arts offering audio and video productions that we feel match our love for the arts. BOX5 has recorded some of the best music ensembles in the world. BOX5 is the go to media company for Drum Corps Associates and many other state music associations.
Mark Moreno is an accomplished visual designer, drill writer, and educator with more than two decades of experience in the marching arts. His work spans drum corps, marching band, and winter guard, with an emphasis on musical and effective visual design.
His performance background includes marching with the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps and Fantasia Winter Guard, experiences that helped shape his approach to movement, staging, and visual design.
Throughout his career, Mark has worked with ensembles across the country as a designer, consultant, clinician, and educator. His background in both drill and color guard gives him a broad visual perspective, allowing him to approach staging, choreography, movement, and production design as interconnected elements.
His professional drum corps work includes drill design with Phantom Regiment and Oregon Crusaders, along with extensive experience in drill and scenic design for competitive high school programs. His work has contributed to multiple UIL Texas State Marching Band finalists across all classifications and BOA Regional Champions.
Mark resides in Kerrville, Texas, and is excited to bring his perspective and passion for the marching arts to the Troopers.
Justin Shelton received a bachelor’s degree in Music Production Technology from the University of Texas at Arlington where he also worked as a recording engineer for the Aspen Music Festival and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He has been on the audio and design staff for the Madison Scouts, Cavaliers and the Oregon Crusaders. Currently, he creates the sound designs for many successful high school bands across the nation, including notable programs such as Cedar Ridge High School, Rouse High School, and Wakeland High School.
In addition to his work in the marching arts, Justin’s music can be heard on major broadcasting networks such as the Discovery Channel, TLC, and the Syfy Channel. Justin resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Megan and their sons Everett and Bennett.
Lauren Teel is the Instructor of Percussion for Jacksonville State University and the Percussion Caption Head / Arranger for the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps. She is actively involved in the percussive arts community as a performer, educator, and adjudicator.
Prior to Lauren's appointment at JSU, Lauren served as Director of Marching Percussion for the East Texas A&M “Pride” Marching Band and Assistant Director of Percussion for the East Texas A&M Percussion Studio. 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.
Lauren proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Remo, Marimba One, and Zildjian.
Alabama-based musician, David Cavazos, is a versatile percussionist with a number of specialties ranging from orchestral to marching percussion. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, David uses his unique background to create a cohesive approach to a wide range of musical styles. David started his career in the North Texas area where he worked with a number of award winning percussion programs and performed with top ensembles around the state. Currently residing in Jacksonville, Alabama, he is an active freelancer throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. He also proudly serves as the battery coordinator and arranger for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, and is the current principal percussionist with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.
As a performer, David regularly performs with the Atlanta Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, and the Huntsville Symphony. He has also performed with the Dallas Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, National Repertory Orchestra, and Sphinx Symphony. He has competed and performed concerts in notable events such as the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and Drumfest in Opole, Poland.
As an educator, David has had the privilege to work at some of the best high school and college programs in the state of Texas. His students have gone on to become all-state percussionists, march at top drum corps, and study at top universities in the country. David has also presented clinics throughout the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.
When not performing, teaching, or writing music, David enjoys cooking, baking, and spending time with his Yorkie, Keiko and German Shepherd, Tex.
Chris McCarthy brings almost two decades of experience as a professional Color Guard and Visual Designer, Educator, and Consultant. Chris’s marching experience includes The Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as Spectrum Winterguard. Before moving to Texas in 2013, Chris taught and choreographed for multiple programs across upstate New York.
From 2013 to 2025, Chris served as Color Guard Director at McNeil High School in Austin, TX, where he led the program to two Top Five WGI Scholastic Open Finals placements, multiple top-three state finishes, numerous WGI Regional Finals appearances, and a State Championship title. He is also an Executive Director and Founder of Origins Performing Arts, based in Austin, TX, which fields multiple ensembles, including a perennial Independent Open and World WGI Finalist. His extensive leadership experience includes serving as Caption Head for the Phantom Regiment Color Guard, as well as teaching The Crossmen and Genesis Drum Corps. Chris is a freelance designer who offers multiple services to clients, including but not limited to: Drill, Winter Guard Staging, Program Coordination, Winds and Guard choreography, Soundtrack Design, and general consulting. Several of his past and present clients include Cedar Park HS, Ronald Reagan HS, Dripping Springs HS, Round Rock HS, Cedar Ridge HS, and Cypress Woods HS. Chris has served on the Texas Color Guard Circuit Task Force, Education Committee, the WGI Colorguard Advisory Board, and was also named 2019 Texas Color Guard Circuit Director of the Year.
Chris currently resides in Cedar Park, TX, and serves as Color Guard Director for The University of Texas Longhorn Band. 2027 will be Chris's fourth season with The Troopers organization. Outside of Color Guard, Chris has an affection for nature, art, coffee, friends, family, and music. He has two dogs, Charlie and Marzipan, whom he adores. He believes that laughter truly IS the best medicine, and enjoys making human connections both in the realm of pageantry and out.
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