Dan Delong heads LVK Percussion Staff

For Immediate Release
October 22, 2003

Dan Delong heads LVK Percussion Staff

Building on our success of being the top Division 3 corps on the east coast
for the past two seasons... The Lehigh Valley Knights are proud to announce
their staff for the 2004 Season.  The Lehigh Valley Knights are based in
Allentown, Pennsylvania but have members from all over the east coast and
midwest.

Our 2004 staff include: 
Program Coordinator: Donnie VanDoren 
Musical Director & Brass Caption Head: Edward Protzmen    
Brass Arranger: Frank Sullivan 
Brass Instructor: Abel Maldonado
Director of Percussion: Dan Delong 
Percussion Caption Head: JR Bechtel 
Percussion Instructor: Christopher Bechtel 
Percussion Instructor: Nick Buddock 
Percussion Instructor: Dennis Hodge 
Color Guard Caption Head/Instructor: Jennifer Metroka 
Color Guard Instructor: Missy Heckmen 
Color Guard Instructor: Lauren Moffatt    
Color Guard Instructor: Alyssa Erickson  
Color Guard Instructor: Jon Kreamer 
Visual Caption Head: Brad Donoris  

With some of the most respected staff in the activity, come out and be a part
of what will certainly be an unforgetable season of drum corps. The Lehigh
Valley Knights will be competing in Division 2/3 in DCI in 2004, our tour will
be leading us to Denver for the 2004 DCI Championships.  Our tour may also
include an early Midwest tour as well our usual tour in the DCI Atlantic
Division.

2004 Membership & Audition Weekend - November 29-30!  In 2004, there will be
many car pooling opportunities with members traveling from all over
Pennsylvania (including the Pittsburgh area), New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, and Bloomington, Indiana.  The
Lehigh Valley Knights will also be doing regular airport pickup's from
Philadelphia and Newark.  Make your plans now and don't miss out on being part
of the Division 2/3 Finalist Lehigh Valley Knights.

Staff Bio's:
Program Coordinator: Donnie VanDoren - Donnie returns to LVK for his forth
season. Serving once again as Program Coordinator for LVK in 2004. He is the
Current Associate producer of the Tony Award winning BLAST and also CYBER JAM.
Donnie has been involved in the drum and bugle corps activity for more than 35
years. Throughout his career, he has worked with numerous musical
organizations. Under his leadership as a brass manager, he has developed
several world championship brass programs and is noted for his relentless
pursuit for perfection and his commitment to excellence in brass performance.
Donnie was Previously the Brass Caption Head at: The Cadets '80-'84 & '98-'99(3
World Championships); Star of Indiana '86 & '88-'93 (1 World Championship) and
Troopers '85. Donnie came to Star of Indiana as the brass manager in 1986 and
has been a part of the organization's evolution from a competitive drum and
bugle corps to the current theatrical stage presentation called Blast! In 1997,
he was inducted into Star of Indiana's Wall of Fame. As the Associate Producer,
he is part of the creative and strategic planning process, and is responsible
for managing the day-to-day activities of the organization. A native of
Pennsylvania, Donnie relocated to Indiana in 1998 to fully commit to the Blast!
project. He holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Villanova
University.
   

Musical Director and Brass Caption Head: Edward Protzmen - Ed has previously
been the show coordinator for the Lehigh Valley Knights and enters his second
season as Brass Caption Head.  Currently, he is the Director of Bands at
Central Bucks West High School. Previously he was the Band Director at Wilson
Area High School in Easton, PA (1996-2002). In 1997 he was the Pit Percussion
Arranger and Instructor for the Kinston Grenadiers Senior Drum & Bugle Corps,
Kinston, Ontario, Canada. In 1996, he was the Pit Instructor for the Golden
Lancers Junior Drum & Bugle Corps. From 1994-1996, he was the Pit Percussion
Arranger & Instructor for the Harrison Bushwackers Senior Drum & Bugle Corps.
In 2002, he completed his Masters in Conducting from the University of Calgary,
Canada. In 1995, he completed his BS in Music Education with an Emphasis in
Percussion Performance from Moravian College. From 1991-1993, Ed completed his
Graduate work in Orchestral Percussion Performance and in 1990 completed a BA
in Music Performance from Kutztown University. During the summers of 1987-1989
, he performed with the Summer Percussion Institute, Oberlin Conservatory,
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH. 
   

Brass Arranger: Frank Sullivan - This will be Frank's second season with the
Lehigh Valley Knights. Frank is a graduate of Indiana State University with a
degree in Music Education. Previously, Frank was a member with Star of Indiana
for seven years then became a Brass Instructor and eventual caption head with
the Cadets in 1998 & 1999. Currently, he is the Artistic Director, Brass
Manager, performer and soloist for the Tony Award winning BLAST. Most notably
Frank was the arranger of the opening ceremonies for the 2002 World Cup in
Korea. 

Brass Instructor: Abel Maldonado from Reading, PA This will be Abel's second
year with the Lehigh Valley Knights. From 1996-2000, he was a member of the
Reading Buccaneers Senior Drum and Bugle Corps on both soprano and mellophone.
In 2001, he was the mellophone instructor for the Buccaneers where they placed
2nd and tied for high brass in DCA. He was also a member of the West Chester
University Golden Rams marching band where he served on the Field Operations
Council. Also, he was a visual instructor and then Assistant Band Director at
Souderton Area High School (98-99). Abel is currently the brass instructor for
the Central Bucks West Marching Band for the 2003 season and plays in a local
band called "The New Kings of Rhythm". Abel holds a Bachelors of Music and a
minor in Business Management from West Chester University of Pa (2002) and
currently works as a Program Director for Festivals of Music in Douglassville,
PA. 


Director of Percussion: Dan Delong - Dan comes to the Lehigh Valley Knights
organization with a wealth of Drum Corps experience.  Known for his
championship drum lines, he is most notably known for his success with the
Westshoremen and Reading Buccaneers. Most recently he has served as percussion
director at the Bluecoats in which his drumline finished in 6th place last
season in DCI Division 1. 

Percussion Caption Head: JR Bechtel - JR comes to the Lehigh Valley Knights
with a wealth of experience in drum corps.  Previously having marched with the
Cadets and at West Chester University.  JR was previously the Percussion
Caption Head at the Harrison Bushwackers Senior Drum & Bugle Corps from
1999-2003.  He is also the Percussion Caption Head for the indoor and outdoor
programs at Central Bucks West High School.  

Percussion Instructor: Christopher Bechtel - Chris comes to the Lehigh Valley
Knights with a wealth of corps experience having previously marched in the
Harrison Bushwackers Senior Drum & Bugle Corps as well as Glassmen and Crossmen
Drum & Bugle Corps. During 2003 is also served as a Winter Tech for the
Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.  Currently, Chris is an instructor for both the
Indoor and Outdoor percussion programs at Central Bucks West High School.

Percussion Instructor: Nick Buddock - This is Nickâs first year with the
Lehigh Valley Knights.  Nick has spent the last 4 years teaching and marching
with the Harrison Bushwackers Senior Drum & Bugle Corps.  Starting his Drum
Corps career with Bush back 1995 Nick has also marched with the Glassmen and at
West Chester University.  Nick has taught several local drumlines and currently
teaches at Central Bucks West High School. Nick holds a BA in Communications
Studies from West Chester University and currently works at JW Pepper & Son in
Paoli. 

Percussion Instructor: Dennis Hodge - Dennis comes to LVK with a great deal of
experience having previously marched with the Cadets (98-01).  Dennis has also
served as a consultant with Penn State University's Indoor Percussion Program. 
His teaching experience includes serving as a percussion tech for Harrison
Bushwackers Senior Drum & Bugle Corps as well as serving as a tech for the
Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps.

Color Guard Caption Head/Instructor: Jennifer Metroka - This is Jen Metroka 's
third year as the color guard caption head. Since the beginning of her marching
experience in 1993, she has performed with the Cheiftains, the Harrison
Bushwackers Senior Drum & Bugle Corps, the Jersey Surf, the West Chester
University Marching Band and Field of View winter guard. Metroka has been
teaching in the activity since 1997, including stints at several high school
marching band and winter guard programs in Pennsylvania around the Reading,
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas. In the past she was part of the color guard
instructional staff for George Parkâs drum major clinics at Lafayette
College, UMass and West Chester Unitverity. Metroka is also taught for two
seasons on the guard staff of the Bluecoats. Under Jennifer's leadership in
2003, the Lehigh Valley Knights Color Guard earned "High Color Guard" at
Division 3 Championships in Orlando, FL.   

Color Guard Instructor: Missy Heckmen - This will also be Missy Heckmen's third
year with the Lehigh Valley Knights. Teaching several local programs, she has
also marched Field of View and was a member of the Crossmen from 1993 to 1998.
Missy was also on staff from last seasons' LVK Guard which earned "High Color
Guard" at Division 3 Championships in Orlando, FL.   
   
Color Guard Instructor: Lauren Moffatt - This will be Laurenâs second year
with the Lehigh Valley Knights. She has performed as a member of the Magic of
Orlando, the Crossmen, and the Golden Sabers winterguard. She was also part of
a small performance ensemble chosen to go in Japan in 2001. Lauren has taught
at various Pennsylvania high school marching band programs since 1998. Lauren
has also previously been on the color guard staff of the Bluecoats.  Lauren was
also on staff from last seasons' LVK Guard which earned "High Color Guard" at
Division 3 Championships in Orlando, FL.   
   
Color Guard Instructor: Alyssa Erickson - Alyssa returns to LVK for her second
season primarily as the choreographer of the sabre book. She was a member of
the Sunshine Review, Tapestry winterguard, the Americanos as well as the
Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps. Alyssa aged out from the Bluecoats colorguard in
2002. She's also been instructing in the activity since 1999. Alyssa has
instructed such groups as the Sunshine Review, Waukasha West HS colorguard as
well as Spectrum winterguard. Alyssa also previously been on the color guard
staff of the Bluecoats.  Alyssa was also on staff from last seasons' LVK Guard
which earned "High Color Guard" at Division 3 Championships in Orlando, FL.   
   
Color Guard Instructor: Jon Kreamer - This will be Jon's third year with the
Lehigh Valley Knights as an consultant/Instructor. Jon most recently served as
guard caption head at the  Bluecoats. Previously he was an instructor for
Spirit of Atlanta, West Chester University and Field of View. His drum corps
performance career was with the Cadets of Bergen County. An educator in
Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Jon is a 1999 graduate of West Chester
University with a degree in music education. Jon has assisted with production
and been a performer for the Channel 6 ABC Sunoco Welcome America 4th of July
Celebration, Marion Anderson award ceremony, Millennium Philadelphia, and has
worked with Best Entertainment and Under the Sun Productions. He has also
performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Jon was also on staff from last
seasons' LVK Guard which earned "High Color Guard" at Division 3 Championships
in Orlando, FL.   

Visual Caption Head: Brad Donoris  - Brad returns to the Lehigh Valley Knights
for his second season and is an alumni of both the Crossmen and Santa Clara
Vanguard, and his teaching experience has included the Jersey Surf, Central
Bucks West High School, Archbishop Ryan High School and indoor percussion
Sounthern Regional and WGO IO Finalist Riptide. Brad has a music degree from
Rutgers University.   

For Membership? Check out our web site at: www.LehighValleyKnights.org 

Sincerely,
Glen Paisley
Tour Director
Lehigh Valley Knights Drum & Bugle Corps
www.LehighValleyKnights.org 
[EMAIL PROTECTED]