Phantom Regiment is pleased to announce the hiring of Bret Kuhn to lead the percussion caption as arranger and caption head.
Kuhn has a long and illustrious history in the drum corps activity with the Cavaliers, Bluecoats and Colts. While with the Cavaliers in the 1990s and 2000s, Kuhn ‘s section won five high percussion awards and the Rosemont, Ill.-based corps won six world championships.
” I’ve long had great respect for Bret’s musicality and outstanding accomplishments, and I’m thrilled that he will be heading the percussion staff for 2014,” said corps director Dan Farrell, who also serves as Phantom Regiment’ s program coordinator. “Together with Matt Jordan, Tony Nunez and the rest of the design staff, I’m feeling pretty great about where things are headed. “
Kuhn says he’ s ready to get working on next year’ s show.
“For me it ‘s about the visual storyboard. I enjoy being a part of writing the soundtrack for a great 11-minute movie,” he said. ” I like to let the concept be the motivator of ideas, especially when it comes to orchestration and use of color. Having great minds like Tony and Matt on staff to bring that and more to life will be great. “
Much of the staff from 2013 will return, including Huei-Yuan Pan, Nick Thomas, Meagan Hills, Andrew Lynge, Chris Murphree, Derrick Shannon, Scott Simon and Sean Womack.
“The vibe among the staff has been very cohesive, and I think it ‘s only going to keep growing,” said Kuhn, who has been a consultant with Phantom Regiment the past two seasons.
Kuhn takes over for Shane Gwaltney, who rebuilt the percussion program from an all-rookie section starting in 2011.
“Shane has done great things for the Regiment and we wish him well,” Farrell said.
Kuhn, who holds a bachelor s degree from Northeast Missouri State University and is an adjunct faculty member at Northern Illinois University and VanderCook College of Music, is an active arranger in the marching band world. He has been the percussion arranger for Bands of America national champion L.D. Bell High School and Broken Arrow High School and continues to arrange for Aimachi and Vivace in Japan and NIU. He is the percussion coordinator for Prospect High School in the Chicago suburbs.
He has been published in Percussive Notes magazine and served on the board of directors of Percussive Arts Society from 2005-12.
Kuhn notes that there is no lack of familiarity on the design team.
” I ‘ve worked with Don (Hill, the corps brass arranger since 2012) for years, so I feel comfortable with the process we will have together. Along with Matt and Tony, we have great musicians in the room, ” he said. ” And having known Jamey (Thompson, the corps visual designer 2005-07 and 2010-present) since his Cavalier days – and having seen and enjoyed his work over the years – I think the movie, as I call it, will be great. “
