The IMPULSE staff is dedicated to the education and growth of each member. The staff is made up of educators and professionals who provide the foundation for the success of the corps. Consisting of credentialed teachers, professional musicians, arrangers, designers, choreographers, and consultants, the staff delivers the knowledge necessary to facilitate the member’s success. They understand the Drum and Bugle Corps activity as most of the staff have had very successful careers as performers and instructors. With a number of DCI World Champions and Finalists from some of the most prestigious drum corps in America on staff, they bring their vast experience to the corps. It is this diversity that allows for the staff to collaborate and produce the overall education program and growth of the members.
Peter Connell - Corps Director
Peter is an active performer, composer, and clinician throughout the United States. He has written music for over 50 high school and university bands spanning 10 states. In addition, he composes music for the Disneyland Resort, Sea World, and Epic Games: Fortnite.
Some of his early performing hallmarks (before entering the LA Music industry) included: The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Disney Collegiate All-Star Band, and the production BLAST II: Shockwave. Currently he is the leader of the world famous Disneyland Band, a position that he has held since 2015.
Peter is honored to hold the position of Corps Director for Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps, a role he has been in since 2022.
Peter is an active performer, composer, and clinician throughout the United States. He has written music for over 50 high school and university bands spanning 10 states. In addition, he composes music for the Disneyland Resort, Sea World, and Epic Games: Fortnite.
Some of his early performing hallmarks (before entering the LA Music industry) included: The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Disney Collegiate All-Star Band, and the production BLAST II: Shockwave. Currently he is the leader of the world famous Disneyland Band, a position that he has held since 2015.
Peter is honored to hold the position of Corps Director for Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps, a role he has been in since 2022.
Impusle Admin team
Scott Suyama - Operations Manager
Scott Suyama is a music educator from the South Bay. He has performed with Impulse (Charter Member), Scarlet Regiment, Velvet Knights, Kingsmen Indoor Percussion, and USC Trojan Marching Band. Scott graduated from USC with Bachelors of Music in Music Education. Scott also is a performing musician at Disneyland and in-studio recording sessions. Scott has taught the USC Drumline and several Southern California High School percussion programs including Torrance HS, Bishop Montgomery HS, Alhambra HS, and San Dimas HS - before becoming the Band Director at Gardena High School 2007. Scott has been on the admin team at Impulse DBC, Impulse Indoor, OCI, and Kaizen.
Scott Suyama is a music educator from the South Bay. He has performed with Impulse (Charter Member), Scarlet Regiment, Velvet Knights, Kingsmen Indoor Percussion, and USC Trojan Marching Band. Scott graduated from USC with Bachelors of Music in Music Education. Scott also is a performing musician at Disneyland and in-studio recording sessions. Scott has taught the USC Drumline and several Southern California High School percussion programs including Torrance HS, Bishop Montgomery HS, Alhambra HS, and San Dimas HS - before becoming the Band Director at Gardena High School 2007. Scott has been on the admin team at Impulse DBC, Impulse Indoor, OCI, and Kaizen.
René Lupercio - Percussion Manager
René is an active educator and performer based in Southern California, with a strong foundation in both the marching arts and academic instruction. As a percussionist, his performance experience includes Full Force Percussion, Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, and Orange County Independent Percussion. He also studied jazz drum set at El Camino College, where he earned his AA in Music Performance.
In addition to performing, he has been a dedicated music educator since 2009, working with programs such as Gardena High School, Peary Middle School, and currently serving on the staff of Impulse Indoor Percussion and Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps. René served as an admin and snare technician at Orange County Independent Percussion from 2024–2025, and in 2026, he helped found Kaizen Percussion, which was promoted to World Class in its inaugural WGI season.
Outside of the marching arts, René holds a degree in Mathematics from CSUDH and a Master’s in Applied Statistics from CSULB. His professional career includes six years as a math teacher, and he now serves as a middle school coordinator, focusing on academic support and administrative responsibilities.
René is an active educator and performer based in Southern California, with a strong foundation in both the marching arts and academic instruction. As a percussionist, his performance experience includes Full Force Percussion, Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, and Orange County Independent Percussion. He also studied jazz drum set at El Camino College, where he earned his AA in Music Performance.
In addition to performing, he has been a dedicated music educator since 2009, working with programs such as Gardena High School, Peary Middle School, and currently serving on the staff of Impulse Indoor Percussion and Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps. René served as an admin and snare technician at Orange County Independent Percussion from 2024–2025, and in 2026, he helped found Kaizen Percussion, which was promoted to World Class in its inaugural WGI season.
Outside of the marching arts, René holds a degree in Mathematics from CSUDH and a Master’s in Applied Statistics from CSULB. His professional career includes six years as a math teacher, and he now serves as a middle school coordinator, focusing on academic support and administrative responsibilities.
Melannie Stakely - Tour Manager
Melannie brings a diverse background in both performance and education to the marching arts community. Her instructional experience includes serving as a Bass Drum Technician with Gold (2010), Impulse (2011), POW Percussion (2011–2014), Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps (2013–2017, 2019), OCI Open (2016), and Gold Indoor and Drum and Bugle Corps (2022).
As a performer, Melannie has been a part of several respected ensembles, including Black Knights (2007), Mystikal Drum and Bugle Corps (2007–2008), Pulse Percussion (2008–2010), and the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2009).
In addition to her instructional work, Melannie has held numerous leadership and administrative roles across the activity. Her experience includes Battery Manager with POW Percussion (2014), Ensemble Director for POW Percussion (2015, 2017–2018) and Vessel Indoor (2018), Assistant Operations Manager and later Tour Manager/Admin Assistant (2018) and Staff Coordinator (2019) with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, Operations Manager for Gold (2023), and currently serves as Board President and Ensemble Director for Kaizen (2026).
Outside of the marching arts, Melannie is a K–8 School Counselor in the Palmdale School District. She also brings over 12 years of experience working in early childhood education as an infant and toddler teacher.
Melannie brings a diverse background in both performance and education to the marching arts community. Her instructional experience includes serving as a Bass Drum Technician with Gold (2010), Impulse (2011), POW Percussion (2011–2014), Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps (2013–2017, 2019), OCI Open (2016), and Gold Indoor and Drum and Bugle Corps (2022).
As a performer, Melannie has been a part of several respected ensembles, including Black Knights (2007), Mystikal Drum and Bugle Corps (2007–2008), Pulse Percussion (2008–2010), and the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2009).
In addition to her instructional work, Melannie has held numerous leadership and administrative roles across the activity. Her experience includes Battery Manager with POW Percussion (2014), Ensemble Director for POW Percussion (2015, 2017–2018) and Vessel Indoor (2018), Assistant Operations Manager and later Tour Manager/Admin Assistant (2018) and Staff Coordinator (2019) with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, Operations Manager for Gold (2023), and currently serves as Board President and Ensemble Director for Kaizen (2026).
Outside of the marching arts, Melannie is a K–8 School Counselor in the Palmdale School District. She also brings over 12 years of experience working in early childhood education as an infant and toddler teacher.
James (Jim) Sherry - Tour Manager
James Sherry, from Eureka, Illinois, performed across North America, Europe, and Asia, in venues such as Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, the Lincoln Center in New York, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He appeared with jazz bands in Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Vietnam, and recorded and toured with the Russ Morgan Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony.
He began his career as a community organizer with at-risk youth in New York before studying music at Yale University and at the Peabody Conservatory, where he earned a doctorate. He was a performing artist and music educator in Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Chicago.
Dr. Sherry was a clinician for Young Audiences and Columbia Artists, and served as Director of Bands at The Johns Hopkins University, Mahidol University in Thailand, and the University of Dubuque. He teaches at Santa Ana College and is the principal trumpet of the South Orange County Orchestra (SOCO). Drawing from his musicianship and drum corps experience with the Colts, he's excited to support the young Impulse performers on tour this year.
James Sherry, from Eureka, Illinois, performed across North America, Europe, and Asia, in venues such as Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, the Lincoln Center in New York, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He appeared with jazz bands in Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Vietnam, and recorded and toured with the Russ Morgan Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony.
He began his career as a community organizer with at-risk youth in New York before studying music at Yale University and at the Peabody Conservatory, where he earned a doctorate. He was a performing artist and music educator in Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Chicago.
Dr. Sherry was a clinician for Young Audiences and Columbia Artists, and served as Director of Bands at The Johns Hopkins University, Mahidol University in Thailand, and the University of Dubuque. He teaches at Santa Ana College and is the principal trumpet of the South Orange County Orchestra (SOCO). Drawing from his musicianship and drum corps experience with the Colts, he's excited to support the young Impulse performers on tour this year.
Justin Mitnik - Communications Manager
Justin Mitnik is a Boston-raised, SoCal-based trombonist, educator, and entertainment professional whose career bridges the concert hall, theme parks, and the classroom. A longtime Disneyland musician, he performs in a wide range of musical settings, from theme park bands to touring productions and local ensembles.
Offstage, Justin works as an instructional designer and e-learning developer, blending his BM, MM, and MBA training into arts education, leadership, and curriculum design. Passionate about youth development, he serves in key instructional and governance roles with the Impulse Youth Arts Organization, helping young performers grow as musicians, teammates, and leaders.
Justin Mitnik is a Boston-raised, SoCal-based trombonist, educator, and entertainment professional whose career bridges the concert hall, theme parks, and the classroom. A longtime Disneyland musician, he performs in a wide range of musical settings, from theme park bands to touring productions and local ensembles.
Offstage, Justin works as an instructional designer and e-learning developer, blending his BM, MM, and MBA training into arts education, leadership, and curriculum design. Passionate about youth development, he serves in key instructional and governance roles with the Impulse Youth Arts Organization, helping young performers grow as musicians, teammates, and leaders.
Joshua Williams - Equipment Manager
Joshua is an educator based in Southern California. He has performed with various groups such as the USC Trojan Marching Band, Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Band, to name a few. Joshua is currently the Band Director for St Genevieve High School and specializes in brass and visual performance. His career spans 30 years with a focus on tuba, trombone, and electric bass guitar. Joshua credits his mentors and colleagues for making him the educator he is today.
Joshua is an educator based in Southern California. He has performed with various groups such as the USC Trojan Marching Band, Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Band, to name a few. Joshua is currently the Band Director for St Genevieve High School and specializes in brass and visual performance. His career spans 30 years with a focus on tuba, trombone, and electric bass guitar. Joshua credits his mentors and colleagues for making him the educator he is today.
BRASS STAFF
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