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Star United 2009 Players Roster   

Becky first served as a brass player with Star of Indiana in the corps' inaugural season. She has since served as Drum Major, Tour Director, and Den Mother for the Star family, continuing her tradition of performing with Star United. Becky's dedication to the organization is unquestionable. She was the recipient of Member of the Year accolades from her fellow cast members in 2008.

Mark is more of a phenomenon than a person. This drum corps "force of nature" has participated in drum corps since he was a mere lad, including the Caballeros (the Cleveland variety) and Pride of Cincinnati (corps and winterguard). As a baritone performer with the Star of Indiana in 1985, he was also the first ever DCM Guard I&E Champion. An avid cyclist and health nut, Mark brings a remarkable spirit to Star United.

Nancy participated with the Star of Indiana pit from 1985 through 1989, wisely electing to skip the 1987 season. As a local Bloomington troublemaker, Nancy was assimilated quickly into the Bridgemen-influenced percussion section at the Star of Indiana, developing a New Jersey accent that remains in place to this day. Currently, Nancy is the tour manager for the Blue Stars.

Ron performed with the Star of Indiana percussion section between 1988 and 1991, helping the corps earn their only DCI championship. He was lured to Star United this year and has become an integral part of the corps’ pulse. Although it’s possible he had no idea what he was getting himself into, Ron couldn’t be a better fit for the corps.

Penny originally attended winter camps for Star of Indiana in preparation of the 1991 season, but eventually participated with the 1993 Concord Blue Devils. In recent years, she’s performed with Music City Legend Senior Corps. Penny’s interest in lending her talents to Star United was especially fortuitous considering the heavy demand placed on the unit’s percussionists this season. More importantly, she’s singlehandedly introduced the word “Y’all” into the Star United verbal lexicon.

Brian was a mellophonist at Star of Indiana from 1989 through 1991. He also performed with Brass Theater and was an original cast member for with Blast! Brian also served his country with distinction as a soprano bugler under the baton of Truman Crawford in the Commandants Own Drum and Bugle Corps (1991-1995). If Brian keeps working at it, he might get as clean as his jarhead haircut!

Star United is lucky enough to bring Raquel aboard in 2009. A veteran of Star of Indiana ('92), Brass Theater ('95, '96) and an inaugural member of Blast! She's also received acclaim as a performer Synergy Brass and is a Conn-Selmer artist. Gee, I guess this makes her a ringer. She begins her tenure as the Assistant Trumpet Instructor at Northern Kentucky University this fall. Check out her great web site (click here).

Ed has been fortunate to experience every incarnation of the Star organization. Although he is a trumpet player in the formal sense, he is a card carrying member of the Dead Mello Society (link). When he is not playing trumpet or mello, he is usually training for his next race with Jonnie's Goodguys (link). Ed would like to thank Brian Frederick for introducing him to drum corps and Star. Ed's best advice: "Start your day with a dew!"

It’s rare to encounter a quiet trumpeter. Dan has quietly fulfilled an important role for Star United since its inception. A veteran of Brass Theater (’96 & ’97), Dan has been depended upon to switch between first and second trumpet parts at a moment’s notice. This year he has also been asked to master accessory percussion instrumentation for Star United’s 2009 production.

Mike’s drum corps experience is limited to Star United. As the only member who has lived “outside the faith” of the drum corps activity, Mike has adapted effectively to the organization and has helped the corps earn three championships. He’s also learned to communicate with fewer syllables and it's possible his IQ has dropped no less than 15 points since joining us.

Dan is a veteran of the Bluecoats' mellophone section, and has been an enthusiastic presence in the trumpet section since 2007. His fellow corps mates don't have the heart to tell him that when Star United is announced, the crowd is saying "Boooo," not "Bluuuu."

Frank’s drum corps experience is with the Racine Kilties, who he participated with from 2002 to 2007. Joining Star United in 2008, Frank helped the corps win its third consecutive national title. This is the guy who is responsible for the Star United scarves. An avid soccer fan, Frank can be seen exhibiting his interpretation of “breathe dah” technique on trumpet before bewildered audiences at Chicago Fire soccer matches.

Sean joined Star of Indiana in 1986 and has been involved with the corps ever since. A resident of the Star “Wall of Fame,” Sean undertook the task of creating Star United. It was a tough sell to the prospective members, many of which were unfamiliar with senior drum corps. Countless hours of planning, preparation, and extortion on Sean’s part have made the dream of returning to competition a reality for the corps' members.

Scooter switched to mellophone from saxophone in high school. In doing so, entered a previously all-girl section and was placed in last chair, with no option of moving up the ranks. It’s these women who are to blame for his lifelong passion for the mellophone, including stints in class A and open class corps, as well as the creation of middlehornleader.com. So, forgive him if he still occasionally leaves a burning bag at his former classmates' front doors.

Angie was a mellophone performer with the 1991 Star of Indiana, returning to the corps in 1994 to participate with the new Brass Theater concept. She's assisted drum corps midvoices throughout the country, most recently the LaCrosse Blue Stars. Unlike most of her fellow section mates, Angie can read music (very well) and has anchored the section for three successful seasons. She also speaks fluent Klingon.

Mike is  another one of the Star of Indiana inaugural performers, participating in the corps from 1985 through 1988. Active on nearly 250 forums and boards ranging from drum corps to East European Anime, Mike is the resident expert on all that is electronic. We suspect he may be a Borg, but his bodily functions would suggest otherwise. Mike is also the father of the sacred cheeseburger (click here).

This veteran of Capital Regiment and the Syracuse Brigadiers relocated to Bloomington, Indiana to study information technology. Angela is a rare find in the drum corps realm, and has contributed greatly to the Star United mid-voice section. Except for rare moments when she yearns to learn drill, she’s a completely tolerable addition to the corps. This is a very sad commentary on her part indeed.

Jeff performed with the Blue Stars and now assists the corps as a brass technician. He is also a freelance trombonist in the Indianapolis area with a studio of low brass students (click here). Jeff has been a featured soloist with Star United in recent seasons. He's also a research and development specialist for McDonalds. At least that's what we suspect.

Alan is a veteran of Brass Theatre, performing with the group in 1998. His appetite to march again was whetted when he participated with the Star of Indiana Alumni Corps in 2004. As one of Star United’s most enthusiastic participants, Alan brings a large amount of passion, and occasionally great intonation to the baritone section...whenever he’s not creating a firestorm on drumcorpsplanet.com.

Aaron is a true renaissance man. He’s a digital imaging specialist and photographer for the Indianapolis Museum of Art, a fine arts library bibliographic researcher, and, oh yeah, and a three year member of Brass Theater. Despite this, he’s meshed flawlessly into the Star United family. He’s also a rabid St. Louis Cardinals fan. Judging from Aaron’s jersey number, he’s also an Adam Wainrwight fan.

Kim is an inaugural member of Star of Indiana, aging out in the corps’ first season. Despite being the oldest veteran of the corps, Kim is reluctant to back down to a challenge and rarely demonstrates the inherent fear response that has helped to perpetuate our species (unless he's out of margarita mix). Kim is also Star United’s resident oceanographer, discovering the presence of Star United-friendly sharks in Lake Ontario (click here).

Don’t let the boyish good looks and the glued on sideburns fool you, Seth is a grizzled drum corps veteran. Aging out of the Blue Stars, Seth solidified his position within the Star United organization and helped anchor the baritone section during their award winning 2008 performances. He has also perfected the high mark time beer chug (click here).

Randy joined Star of Indiana in 1986 as a sax player and immediately (and foolishly) became a 3rd Euphonium who also played Contra in the Close Encounters production. Two giant horns, no neck straps. Since re-discovering brass with Star United, the challenges continue and the 3rd valve is still a mystery to him. Wave a $100 and sheet music to "Mary Had a Little Lamb" at him and he'll walk away sobbing. Give him six months of rehearsal camps and a fingering chart and he's a monster with the baritone.

Jeff started his career marching with the 1988 Santa Clara Vanguard, and Limited Edition, ’89-‘90. After school, stints as a trombonist on cruise ships, and a two year tour with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, he came to Chicago in 1999. He marched with the Kilties, and now three years with Star United. Jeff is a freelance Bass Trombonist, and is also an eight year member, and past president, of the Illinois Brass Band. He can also recite from memory the entire movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Brian’s drum corps reference emanates from the Madison Scouts. He’s also served as a visual caption head for the Blue Stars and has assisted the Bluecoats. After many years being behind the scenes in the drum corps activity, Brian is genuinely appreciative of having an opportunity to perform before audiences again.

Distinguished Star United Alumnae 

Matt Basey, '06	Chicken Bone Bob, '07	Rob Dorocke, '06, '08
Matt Evans, '06	Julie Gerhardt, '06, '07	Kyle Gross, '06
Dan Solero, '06, '07, '08	Spike, '06, '07	Medea, '93--'??