Robert has a long history of being involved with music programs over the years. Some of his past percussion instruction ensembles are Western Albemarle High School (Crozet, VA), Western Branch High School (Chesapeake, VA), Lakeland High School (Suffolk, VA), Tallwood High School (Virginia Beach, VA), Cox High School (Virginia Beach, VA) and Princess Anne High School (Virginia Beach, VA). Robert also did some judging for several marching band circuits and music festivals in Virginia. Robert was also a member of Southern Nights Drum & Bugle Corps that was based in Virginia Beach, VA. After moving to California, he took on the Percussion Instructor for Gahr High School (Cerritos, CA). Later he started an independent drumline for young teenagers in the LA Area. This then transformed into the Mystikal Youth Arts Organization (2004 – 2009). Robert also have experience in visual design as part of his duties with the various high school ensembles and worked closely with his mentors Tim Gauldin, Andy Harnsberger, and Kevin Mitchell arranging marching percussion music for the various high school programs in Virginia Beach, VA.
Robert holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology with a focus on Technical Operations from Old Dominion University and numerous certifications. He is also a member of National Association of Minority Architects (NOMA) and Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity as one of the Charter Members for the Upsilon Beta Chapter. Robert’s professional career is currently doing contractor development and bonding program for Public Agencies in Downtown Los Angeles.
He currently lives in Long Beach, CA where he enjoys international traveling, off-roading, camping and hiking. He loves his family, the Washington Redskins, New York Yankees and Boston Celtics.
Andrew is a dedicated Nursing student at Riverside Community College with a deep passion for both music and education. Over the past several years, he has built a strong presence in the world of drum corps and percussion. Andrew marched with the Gold Drum and Bugle Corps from 2020 to 2023, and has been contracted with the renowned Santa Clara Vanguard for the 2024 DCI season. Additionally, he has performed with Meraki Percussion for three years (2022-2024) in WGI, and aged out with POW Percussion in 2025.
In addition to his performance experience, Andrew has contributed to the development of young musicians through his teaching roles. He has worked with high school programs including Citrus Hill High School (2020-2022), Rancho Verde High School (2022), and is currently teaching at Orange Vista High School.
This year marks Andrew’s first season on staff with Quixotic, where he continues to bring his expertise, passion, and commitment to the next generation of performers.
Zach is a San Francisco Bay Area native who has become a full-time educator and designer since living in Southern California. He has worked with numerous marching bands, drum corps, and indoor percussion ensembles as a designer, drill writer, choreographer, and visual marching/movement specialist. Graduating from California State University Long Beach, in 2017 with a Bachelor of Music degree in performance, has also allowed him to work as a freelance musician and private instructor. In 2023, Zach earned a Master’s Degree in Education and a certified California Teaching Credential.
Zach currently serves on the visual staff at The Concord Blue Devils and RCC Indoor Percussion and is the Visual Designer for Dark Sky Percussion. He is also the Program Coordinator and Visual Caption Head at Ruben S. Ayala HS (CA). Recently, he was the Visual Caption Head at the Blue Devils B Corps in 2017 and on the visual staff at The Sacramento Mandarins in 2018. Other ensembles Zach has worked with are The Blue Knights (CO), The Madison Scouts (WI), Pacific Crest (CA), POW Percussion (CA), IMPACT Percussion(WA), Motor City Percussion (MI), Lake Effect Percussion (MI), Velocity Independent (CA), UTRGV Percussion (TX), Blue Springs HS (MO), L.D. Bell HS(TX), James Bowie HS (TX), Jenks HS (OK), James E. Taylor HS (TX), Lake Hamilton HS (AR), Westlake HS (UT), Cedar Valley HS (UT), Katy HS (TX), North Mesquite HS (TX), Stratford HS (TX), Sullivan HS (MO), Eastwood HS (TX), Hanna HS (TX), Harrison HS (GA), Coronado HS (TX), S. H. Rider HS (TX), James Logan HS (CA), Fountain Valley HS (CA), Homestead HS (CA), Etiwanda HS (CA), El Dorado HS (CA), Castro Valley HS (CA), Portola HS (CA), Rowland HS (CA), and Sunny Hills HS (CA).
Zach’s performance background comes from the Concord Blue Devils in 2012-2015, Vanguard Winter Percussion in 2013 and RCC Indoor Percussion in 2016.
Zach lives in Chino, CA.
Chris has dedicated nearly four decades to the marching arts as a performer, arranger, educator, judge, and leader. His musical journey began in 1987 on alto saxophone, later expanding to trumpet and mellophone during high school and college. While pursuing a degree in music theory and composition at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, he was quickly recruited to arrange for local high schools—a moment that launched his career as a respected and in-demand designer.
In1996, Chris joined The Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps, where he spent 14 of the next 15 seasons in a variety of roles, including soprano, G baritone, trumpet, and most notably, ten years as drum major. His dedication and leadership earned him induction into the Bushwackers Hall of Fame in 2009, and he now serves as chairman of the board.
Chris’ arranging career expanded into drum corps in 2008 with Fusion Core, followed by three seasons with the Windsor Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. For nearly 30years, he has maintained a wide-ranging roster of design clients while also serving as an adjudicator across multiple circuits since 2011.
Currently, Chris is the brass coordinator and arranger for the Great American Drum Corps2026 Project, a once-in-a-lifetime ensemble formed to perform in Philadelphia’s Independence Day Parade, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
"I am beyond thrilled for the opportunity to work with Quixotic Winds. It's always my goal to provide challenging compositions and arrangements that allow the members to develop their skills and be competitive. This is going to be a lot of fun!"
Aaron is an educator and music producer from Ventura County who has spent many years teaching alongside dedicated and passionate instructors in the marching arts community. He holds a background as a multi-instrumentalist with a primary focus on trumpet. In 2021, he was credited as the recording and production engineer in the debut album "Gradients" for the up-and-coming surf-rock band Archer Oh and continues to produce music when he has the time. He spent two years studying music and trumpet performance at Moorpark College. After graduating with an Associates Degree from Moorpark, Aaron transferred to California State University, Northridge and earned a Bachelors Degree in Music Industry Studies in 2021.
Aaron's marching experience started with Pacific Crest in 2015, and then 3rddedicated years at the Blue Devils from 2017-2019. It wasn't until 2021 where he started to make strides as a visual caption head for Adolfo Camarillo High School's Marching Band and winter drumline programs. Alongside Camarillo, he has taught at many prestigious programs in the area including Westlake High School, Moorpark High School, and Thousand Oaks High School - constantly helping those programs to medal in their respective divisions.
He took his teaching skills to the independent level with Meraki in 2023 and then Gold Drum and Bugle Corps the following summer.
Warren is a dedicated music student at Moorpark College with aspirations of becoming a band director. His passion for performance and education has shaped a dynamic journey through the marching arts and music education.
As a performer, Warren spent five seasons (2018–2022) with the acclaimed Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, returning for his age-out season in 2024 after an impactful year with The Cadets in 2023. His commitment to excellence continued into the indoor arena, where he marched with Pulse Percussion during the 2024 season and earned a gold medal in the Percussion Independent World Class, one of the highest honors in the activity.
Beyond performing, Warren has cultivated a strong presence as an educator. During his off seasons, he began teaching visual performance to local high school programs, steadily building a reputation for excellence across the Conejo Valley and Ventura County. Over the past four years, he has become a trusted figure in the regional marching arts community, known for his leadership, creativity, and ability to inspire young performers.
Outside of music, Warren is an avid fan of baseball, enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, and has a deep love for writing. His multifaceted interests and unwavering dedication to the arts continue to shape his journey as both a performer and educator.
Cameron is a passionate educator, visual designer, and active musician based in Southern California. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from California State University, Fullerton, and is currently pursuing his Master’s at Grand Canyon University.
With extensive experience leading and designing for award-winning marching bands, drumlines, and orchestras across the region, Cameron has built a reputation for both his musical and visual expertise. His performance background includes multiple seasons with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, where he served as a featured soloist and developed a deep commitment to the marching arts.
Now, Cameron is excited to bring his artistry and teaching experience into the world of independent indoor winds with Quixotic, where he looks forward to inspiring performers and shaping innovative productions.
Jacki a senior at California State University, Northridge, where he ispursuing a degree in Music Education. Over the years, he has developed a strongperformance and design background, marching with both Gold Drum & BugleCorps and the Mandarins, and refining his musical and visual skills in enseblesettings.
Currently, Jack works as a visual technologist at Thousand Oaks High School and Westlake High School, contributing to the design, staffing, and visual presentation of their marching arts programs. In these roles, he supports students and staff with visual design, pageantry execution, show integration, and technical staging.
Jack’s experience in both performance and visual production positions him uniquely at the intersection of music, movement, and design. As he prepares to graduate and enter the field of music education, he aspires to fuse his passion for visual storytelling with instructional leadership—designing compelling programs that challenge and inspire performers and audiences alike..
Oscar started his marching and musical career in the mid 1990’s and has performed with several professional organizations, Youth Bands, College Bands, Independent Percussion, and Drum and Bugle Corps. He has performed in Drum Corps International, Drum Corp Association, and several other circuits. He shares his love of music and encourages his students to be passionate and expressive. The knowledge and wisdom he shares with his students comes from mentors who inspired him to be a great musician and educator. He has been a part of four high school programs that include Roosevelt High School, Hollywood High School, Littlerock High School, and Palmdale High School as a Clinician, Brass, and Percussion Instructor. He is currently a Hornline Instructor at his Alma Mater Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, California since 2019.
Oscar is currently attending Los Angeles Valley College and pursuing his Associate’s Degree in Music Education and History. Mr. Rodriguez is planning to transfer to Cal State University Northridge to work on his bachelor’s degree to pursue his teaching credentials to continue to be an inspiration to the next generation of musicians. Oscar was born in Boyle Height, East Los Angeles and lives in North Hollywood, California.
Oscar is excited to be a part of the Quixotic Winds Staff.
Paul grew up in the Antelope Valley, where he attended Lancaster High School before pursuing opportunities with independent ensembles. Originally a clarinetist, he picked up mellophone to march in Drum Corps International, spending the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons with Pacific Crest, where he completed his age-out. In the WGI circuit, Paul performed with POW Percussion’s Visual Ensemble, aging out in 2025.
Soon after high school, Paul returned to his alma mater as a marching band technician, where he has been a vital part of the Lancaster High School program for the past five years. Today, he serves as both a Music Instructional Aide and the school’s Visual Caption Head, guiding the next generation of performers. In addition, Paul took on the role of Visual Caption Head at Quartz Hill High School in 2024, expanding his contributions in 2025 to include drill writing.
Currently completing his AA for Transfer in Music, Paul works full time as an educator and musician. Outside of teaching and performing, he enjoys weightlifting, collaborating with others to play and write music, and spending time with his family.
Philip is the current director of bands at Diamond Ranch High School, in Pomona, CA, where he teaches jazz, guitar, marching band, wind ensemble, concert band, string orchestra, symphony orchestra, and colorguard. He has also held the position of department chair for the visual and performing arts department since 2014.
In addition to his teaching duties, he adjudicates for the School Band and Orchestra Association and has presented to the school board on numerous occasions regarding the different concepts and issues surrounding music education. Previous positions include adjunct professor at Cal Poly Pomona teaching Secondary Instrumental Techniques and director of bands at Servite High School in Anaheim, California. He is currently in his twentieth year of teaching in the secondary classroom where his groups continue to earn numerous awards in marching contests and superior ratings at both district and state festivals.
Mr. Ruiz earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a Masters in Musicology from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. He is currently attending Claremont Graduate University, where he is ABD and in the final stages of completing his doctorate of music with a focus in musicology. His dissertation focuses on the social development of the new instrumental music director and is the recipient of the prestigious Walker/Parker Memorial Endowment Fellowship.
Mr. Ruiz has been honored by Who's Who Among American Teachers, as Diamond Ranch High School's Teacher of the Month and a nominee for Disney's Music Educator of the Year. He is a current member of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association, National Association for Music Education, California Band Director Association, California Teacher Association, and National Education Association.
