Paul Rennick is Professor of Percussion at the University of North Texas where he has served on the faculty since 1991. He teaches a wide variety of applied lessons, conducts several different percussion ensembles, composition lessons and a percussion arranging course. A leading figure in the world of marching percussion and percussion education, Paul has a long history of successful students and renowned performing ensembles, and has been a featured clinician and guest artist worldwide. In 2017, he was elected to the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame, the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2021, and the Santa Clara Vanguard Hall of Fame in 2024.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities at the University, Paul is currently the music coordinator, percussion director and arranger for the 2018 World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, recently winning the DCI Fred Sanford Award for Percussion Performance for the ninth time, six times in the last ten years (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024), achieving the rare feat of winning the DCI drum trophy multiple times with two different organizations. Since 2103, Paul has also been the percussion coordinator and arranger for the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps. 

Paul served as the director of percussion for the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from 2003-2010, winning the Drum Corps International Fred Sanford Award three times (2006, 2008, 2010), and the DCI Championship in 2008.

Paul was a design team member, music composer/arranger, instructor, and percussion manager for the Tony & Emmy Award-winning Broadway production “Blast!”

He is also an active performer, appearing as a featured soloist across the United States Europe, and Asia, most recently as a concerto soloist with several UNT Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble. Notable recordings include “Contact” (2018), the University of North Texas Percussion Ensemble recording “Vespertine Formations” (2009), and the UNT Wind Symphony DVD recording “Percussive Palooza,” with a related showcase concert at PASIC 2006.  He is also an active composer with many popular works for percussion published by Innovative Percussion, Musicon Publications, and Drop6 Music.

Paul is an artist and product consultant with Dynasty/Titan USA, and designed the “Custom Elite” series of drums and keyboards.  He is also a signature artist with Innovative Percussion, Inc., with four stick designs, FS-PR, FS-PR2, TS-PR, and CMS-1, as well as an artist/clinician and product consultant for Remo Inc. and SABIAN/Gon Bops Percussion where he designed the “Overture” series of cymbals.

Paul is an artist, educator, and Signature Creator with Ensemble Block, with several online instructional courses available through their Online Education Platform - https://ensembleblock.com/paulrennick/

Sandi Rennick is a percussionist and marimba soloist with extensive performing and teaching experience in the DFW area and throughout the United States. An original cast member of the Tony and Emmy Award-winning production “Blast!”, Sandi performed in London, England, as well as a featured marimba soloist on tour throughout the United States. Sandi is currently a percussion arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (2011-present), andthe Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-present).

Sandi has teaching and arranging experience with a variety of groups at all levels, including the UNT Green Brigade Marching Band, Drum Corps Japan Champions Yokohama Scouts, and Drum Corps International champions Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (2003-2010) and Carolina Crown (1998-2004).

A member of the Percussive Arts Society since 1995, Sandi served on the PAS Marching Committee for 13 years, and was elected to the PAS Board of Advisors in 2019.

Sandi is an Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of North Texas and Texas A&M University-Commerce. In addition to her drum corps responsibilities in the summer, she also serves on the faculty of the UNT Keyboard Percussion Workshop, and is a clinician for the Girls March music and leadership camps. Sandi is a Signature Artist for Innovative Percussion, Inc., and a clinician/artist for Dynasty USA, Remo Drumheads, and SABIAN / Gon Bops Percussion.

Dr. Matthew Jordan currently serves as Percussion Operations and Inventory Manager for the University of Michigan. He is also a music designer for Music City Mystique, the music producer and sound designer for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps (DCI 2024 World Champions), and a music designer for the “Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to starting at the University of Michigan, Matt has held roles as the Associate Professor of Percussion at Jacksonville State University, Concert Percussion Marketing Manager for Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments, and Assistant Director of Bands/Instructor of Percussion at Middle Tennessee State University. 

Matt has worked as a percussion instructor and arranger with a number of DCI and WGI groups, including the Phantom Regiment, Carolina Crown, and Spirit of Atlanta. He is also very involved at the scholastic level as an arranger for indoor drumlines and marching bands, having written for groups such as the University of Michigan Marching Band, Max Percussion (Bangkok, Thailand), Bangkok Society Drumline, Franklin High School, the Woodlands High School, McGavock High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, and Father Ryan High School, among others. 

As a performer, Matt has performed regularly with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, Jackson Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Huntsville Symphony, Traverse City Symphony, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Nashville Scoring Orchestra, and Intersection Contemporary Music Ensemble, among others. Matt has also been involved in commissioning or premiering works from numerous composers, including Emma O’Halloran, John Hennecken, Nathan Daughtrey, Dave Hall, Evan Chapman, Pamela Z, Mat Campbell, Caleb Pickering, Russell Wharton, Matt Filosa, Lucas Garner, Bill Hickok, Matt Ridge, and Greg Harrison. 

Matt also travels abroad frequently, having performed (or had works performed) in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Thailand, Mexico, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, and Japan. In the summer of 2010 he traveled to Ghana in West Africa to study Ewe drumming. Matt's major influences include Dr. John W. Parks IV, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Christopher Deane, Mark Ford, Paul Rennick, Lalo Davila, Erik Johnson, Leigh Howard Stevens, Christopher Norton, John Feddersen, and Bill Wiggins. 

Matt is very involved in the greater music and percussion communities, currently serving as the music technology committee chair for the Percussive Arts Society, the secretary for the Michigan chapter of PAS, and has previously served on the PAS Board of Advisors. Matt is also an active adjudicator with numerous marching arts circuits throughout the US, including Bands of America, the Southern California Percussion Alliance, Mid East Performance Association, Carolina Winter Ensemble Association, and more. 

Matt completed the Doctor of Music degree from the Florida State University, a Master's Degree from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor's Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Matt is a proud artist and clinician for Pearl/Adams instruments, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Evans Drumheads, and Zildjian Cymbals. 

Richard Kearns is an educator, designer, and clinician for ensembles across the country. Most recently, Richard has served as the Percussion Director at Burleson Centennial High School (TX) from 2015-2026, and is the newly appointed Percussion Director at Azle High School (TX). He is currently the Battery Choreographer for Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps (DCI), as well as the 2027 Program Coordinator for Monarch Independent (WGI).

As both an educator and designer, Richard’s ensembles have earned numerous distinctions, including High Percussion captions at the Texas State Marching Contest, Texas UIL State Marching Band Finalist, NTCA and TCGC Class Championships, WGI A, Open, and World Class Finalist placements, and four WGI World Championship Gold Medals. 

Under his leadership, the Burleson Centennial Percussion Program established itself as one of the premier World Class ensembles in the nation, earning multiple Top 5 World Class Finalist appearances at the WGI World Championships and capturing the 2017 WGI Percussion Scholastic Open World Championship.

Prior to his time at Centennial, Richard served as the Percussion Director at Azle High School (TX), where his ensembles earned multiple NTCA and TCGC Circuit Championships, Lonestar Classic Champions, as well as multiple successful appearances at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio.

From 2008 to 2011, Richard served as the Percussion Director at Palestine High School as well as the Battery Coordinator at Tyler Junior College. During this time, his instructional contributions helped lead the Tyler Junior College Indoor Drumline to the 2008 WGI Percussion Independent Open World Championship, promotion to WGI World Class, and consecutive finalist appearances at the WGI World Championships.

Richard serves on the WGI Advisory Board, as well as the NTCA (North Texas Colorguard Association) Executive Board, and was the 2026 Inductee to the NTCA Hall of Fame. Richard was selected by WGI in 2019 as one of the top designers from around the world to be part of WGI's 1on1 consultation program, and has been featured in WGI’s educational webinar series to assist groups in developing their programs and productions. 

Richard currently resides in Burleson, Texas with his wife Stacie and Daughters Sam & Lennon. He is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion, Pearl/Adams, Remo Drumheads, and Zildjian Cymbals.