LOVES PARK, ILL. (Aug. 23, 2021) – As Phantom Regiment Inc. looks to the future and its continued growth in the world of performing arts education, it’s excited to name Dr. Todd Snead as its first CEO to oversee all aspects of the organization.

Dr. Snead has extensive drum corps leadership experience as well as several years leading the educational programs for two of the nation’s top opera companies. He will lead an outstanding and experienced staff that includes David Warren, who is entering his third year as Corps Director, newly hired Operations Manager Chris Drake, Robin Lanning coordinating fundraising, and Robert Cawthorne driving merchandise and marketing efforts.

“The combination of Todd’s credentials as an educator, his experience in the non-profit sector – including his history in drum corps, specifically – make him a uniquely qualified choice for Phantom Regiment,” said Kelly Couvelaire, Phantom Regiment’s treasurer. “We are so very excited to have him leading our team.”

Dr. Snead began his career as a band director at Judson High School in Converse, Texas, and later performed professionally as a member of the cast of Blast!, which led him into the drum corps activity. He was on the brass staffs of Madison Scouts and Glassmen before joining Spirit of Atlanta as brass co-caption head in 2010. He became corps director the following year and was promoted to executive director for the 2012 season.

Under his leadership at Spirit of Atlanta, the corps returned to the elite Top 12 and earned its highest score in 25 years. He was inducted into the Spirit of Atlanta Hall of Fame in 2021. During his time at Spirit, he served on Drum Corps International’s Tour Committee. Dr. Snead has also been a member of the board of directors of the Cavaliers.

Prior to joining the team at Phantom Regiment, he served in multiple positions with Lyric Opera of Chicago, most recently as Interim Director of Lyric Unlimited, the learning and community engagement arm of the organization.

“Working at a world-class opera company like Lyric taught me a lot about delivering the highest standard of performance and arts learning programs to the community. I also had incredible opportunities to collaborate with artists, schools, and other arts partners to design meaningful and effective programs,” Dr. Snead said. “I’m eager to leverage those experiences and skills at Phantom Regiment and hope they will help the organization reach new goals and broaden its impact in the community.”

While at Lyric Opera, Dr. Snead was actively engaged in the Opera America Education and Community Engagement Network, served on the Opera America Teaching Artist Training Task Force, and on the Partnership and Professional Learning Collective Impact Panel for Ingenuity Inc. He has also worked for the Phoenix Symphony as well as at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He has a Ph. D. in teaching and learning from Georgia State University, a master’s degree in music from Arizona State University, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas Tech University.

“My entire career has centered on large-form, symphonic performance ensembles. From high school bands, to Blast!, to drum corps, to professional symphonies and opera companies, the through-line has always been the same: using the passion and power of music to connect people, to move them, and to remind them what it means to be human,” Dr. Snead said. “Phantom Regiment does that better than anyone else, and I cannot wait to share that passion with students and fans across the country.”

Dr. Snead begins his new position on Sept. 8.

“We are thrilled to have Todd join the Phantom Regiment team. He comes with a strong academic and professional background along with a proven track record of success in his prior work,” said Jeff Hassan, Phantom Regiment’s vice president. “Todd immediately helps position the organization to capitalize on our most important and exciting opportunities.”

Founded in 1956, Phantom Regiment offers a world-class drum corps as its crown jewel. It also runs brass, percussion, color guard, drum major, and leadership camps in several states as well as its Expert Learning Series under its Phantom Regiment Academy umbrella, drum corps shows in Illinois and West Virginia, a high school marching band competition, a concert band festival, and the Rockford Rhythm percussion ensemble for youth in Rockford.