Arranger - Ken Norman

Caption Head - Lansing R. Dimon

Low Brass Consultant - Dr. Jason S. Ladd

Brass Consultant - Dr. Cecil Austin

Brass Technician - Christopher Reid

Brass Technician - Stephen West

Brass Technician - Jacob Welle

Ken Norman

Some DCI Hall of Fame members’ legacy and influence on the drum corps activity started well before the formation of Drum Corps International in 1972, and such is the case with Ken Norman. In the early 1960s still as a French horn-playing member of the Racine Kilties, Norman got his start arranging music for the corps’ brass section. Always eager to improve and do more with his compositions, he found himself limited by the instrumental restrictions placed on corps by the veteran’s organizations that governed the competitions of that time period.

Wishing to utilize brass instruments that weren’t as limited in range and flexibility as the traditional military bugles, Norman orchestrated a change that many to this day consider one of the most significant historical milestones in the evolution of drum corps instrumentation.

Hall of Fame member Dave Richards wrote in a 2000 Drum Corps International Magazine article: “Headed by Ken Norman, top musicians in the activity developed a G [keyed] bugle with the valve tuned in F and a rotary valve tuned in B-flat. In essence, they created an instrument that mirrored the trumpet’s first and second valve and made the bugle a legitimate instrument. It not only brought greater notation opportunities for the instrument, but it brought greater musicians into the activity—arrangers, instructors, performers. The activity had finally gained the recognition as a worthwhile musical activity, and the recognized precision of the past continued to rise.”

Norman not only helped craft the proposal that would ultimately convince the VFW to accept this new style of bugle in competitions, he would help manufacturer a custom set of the instruments for the 1968 Kilties horn line to showcase the new technology along with an advanced musical arrangement to go with it.

The ’68 Kilties horn line made history. Hall of Fame member Jack Meehan complimenting the innovation of Norman and his group said, “[Ken] gave us all a glimpse into the future and a taste of what was possible.”

For more than four decades, Norman has composed or is credited for the brass arrangements of a staggering number of junior, senior and alumni corps, including the Kilties, Anaheim Kingsmen and Argonne Rebels, among a list of no less than 65 others. Beyond composing and arranging, he is also credited for developing new adjudication captions that form the cornerstone of today’s judging system used in Drum Corps International competitions.

“It was Ken whose significant influence made it possible to overcome the inertia of locked-in an archaic rules of the national veterans’ organizations and freed the activity to achieve excellence as an art form,” said Hall of Fame member Glenn Opie. “In doing so, legions of kids and adults learned teamwork, how to achieve excellence with enhanced spirit, and the discipline that resulted in successfully handling life and its endless number of trials.”

Lansing R. Dimon

Lansing enters his second year as brass caption head of Pioneer. He began his drum corps involvement with the Syracuse Brigadiers in 1994. Lansing has over 25 years in the marching activity, and has instructed, consulted, designed and arranged in the marching musical activity since 1994 working with several high school field bands, college bands, drum corps and winterguards. Additionally, he has served in administrative and leadership positions on several boards of directors for alumni and fraternal organizations throughout his professional career and has higher education experience in student affairs, residence life and student programming.

During his 17 year tenure with The Brigadiers he has marched baritone, mellophone, soprano, served as an assistant drum major and has served on the Board of Directors as President and Vice President. Lansing has been involved with Pioneer as a low brass tech during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, and was also a tech for Spirit of Atlanta in 2000. Along with continuing to work with the Brigadiers Alumni, Lansing has consulted and been on staff with the Kingston Grenadiers as a brass instructor, having started at the end of the 2010 season.

Lansing is a 1994 and 2005 graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned his B.M. in Music Education, M.S. in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation, and M.S. in Music Education. When not involved in his studies or work, he continues to develop his skills as a composer and musician (both instrumental and vocal) and integrative educator, exploring the use of technology and development of instructional media in music education. He is currently pursuing a C.A.S. in Educational Administration and is being . For more information, please visit www.lansingrdimon.com.

Dr. Jason S. Ladd

Dr. Jason S. Ladd is in his third year leading the Marquette University Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as director of the Marquette Symphonic Band as well as co-directs the Marquette Pep Band. His previous positions include teaching in the public schools in the cities of Oswego (NY) and Syracuse (NY) and also serving as an adjunct professor in tuba and euphonium at Syracuse University. Musicians he has performed with include the national touring company of Chicago, vocalist Nancy Wilson, saxophonist Dave Liebman, tubist Howard Johnson, and conductor Kazuyoshi Akiyama.

Dr. Ladd received a Bachelor’s degree in Tuba Performance/Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, Master’s degrees in Tuba Performance and Music Education from Syracuse University, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Education and Conducting from Florida State University. As a composer his works have been read by the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Cassatt Quartet, and the Eppes Quartet as well as having works performed by the Eastman School of Music’s Tuba Mirum and the Syracuse University Wind Ensemble. Currently, Dr. Ladd serves on the advisory board for MENC’s Music Educator’s Journal. His memberships include the American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Dr. Cecil Austin

Dr. Cecil Austin is a nationally recognized outdoor pageantry adjudicator, with over thirty years of experience in the marching band and drum and bugle corps arena. More than eight states have utilized his expertise in their championship marching band contest. In addition, musical groups taught by Dr. Austin have won state championships in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Kentucky as well as two Drum Corps International championships.

Dr. Austin graduated from UW-Whitewater with two degrees in both instrumental and vocal music education.  He later received his masters degree from UW-Milwaukee in education of the emotionally disturbed and learning disabled. He received his PhD from the University of Minnesota in educational psychology and problems of urban education. He has also completed a two year internship in clinical psychology. Dr. Austin has taught at the college level for five years, at UW-Whitewater, the University of Minnesota and the University of Northern Colorado.  As a music educator, his professional peers honored him with his election as President of the Milwaukee Music Directors Association. Last year he retired from the Milwaukee Public Schools, where he was the director of bands and choirs at John Marshall High School. He presently is on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Christopher Reid

Chris is entering his first season on Staff at Pioneer. He began his drum corps career in 2000 while marching with the Govenaires out of St. Peter, MN. Chris has over 15 years of being in the marching activity and has instructed high school marching bands in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

His marching career consists one season with the Govenaires, 2 years at Pioneer where he earned the section award for the Baritone/Euphoniums his age out season. He then went on to start marching Minnesota Brass where he has been a part of two top hornline winners in DCA as well as being a part of the first corps outside the Northeast to win the DCA Championship. Chris has marched and played the trombone, baritone, euphonium, and tuba in his marching career.

Chris is a 2006 graduate of Crown College in the Twin Cities with a B.A in Sports Management. Currently he is working on his Master’s degree in Business Administration. During his off time when he is not studying or working, he enjoys outdoor activities and being with his friends.

Stephen West

Mr. Stephen West will be returning for his fifth season as an instructor for Pioneer.

He marched with the 1996 Division II Silver Medalist Pioneer before entering the U.S. Navy. From 1996 to 2005, he was an Air Traffic Controller in the Navy, serving both at sea and on land.

While stationed in Southern California, Steve performed with the SoCal Dream Senior Drum and Bugle Corps from 2003-2005, serving on the Brass Staff in 2005 as well.

In 2010, he graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. While at the university, he had the privilege of performing with concert, marching, and jazz ensembles and served as a staff member of the marching band.

Steve returned to Pioneer in 2007 on the visual staff and taught the corps again in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

He teaches Kindergarten through 5th grade music in Newcastle, Wyoming.

Jacob Welle

Jacob Welle brings with him extensive experience in the marching musical activity from experience in high school marching band, college marching band and drum and bugle corps. Jacob marched baritone for two years with the Madison Scouts (2010 and 2011), as well as Minnesota Brass, earning a DCA Championship in 2011. His experience also includes the University of Minnesota Marching Band (saxophone, mellophone) and Champlin Park High School Marching Band (saxophone, snare) and Winter Drumline (front ensemble, bass drum).

Along with his instructing the low brass at Pioneer, Jacob continues to instruct on staff with Champlin Park Marching Band, teaching both visual and music. He will be graduating in May from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics.