Jim is entering his 28th season with the Bushwackers. He has held many roles with the Bushwacker organization throughout the years. Jim served as co-show coordinator from 1988 to 1995 and program coordinator from 2002 to 2007 and from 2016 – 2021. He was percussion caption head from 1984 to 1995 and played snare in 1985, 1987, and 1991. During Jim’s tenure the corps won six championships in eight years, as well as six high percussion awards in a row. He was inducted in the Bush Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jim has been involved in drum corps most of his life. He started at the age of six when his dad taught him to play the drums. He went on to play snare with the Bayonne Bridgemen and won two DCI drum trophies his last two years.
He was the snare tech and battery coordinator for the Bluecoats and is proud to have been a part of their first finals appearance. Jim has many years of experience in DCA including the Connecticut Hurricanes from 2008 to 2012 where the corps placed in the top four every year and also had stops along the way with the Long Island Sunrisers and the Hawthorne Caballeros.
In 2022, Jim was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.
Jim has taught many high school bands over the years in New Jersey and Connecticut. He is currently an adjudicator for USBands.
Jim has a BS from Central Connecticut State University. He is an Accounting Team Manager at Smithland Supply. He lives in Milford, Connecticut with his wife Janet, his drum corps sweetheart from their high school days.
Billy Zarychta started teaching the Bushwackers as the Snare Technician in 2016. He returned as the Percussion Caption Supervisor in 2017-2019. Billy is excited to return for his third season as the Program and Staff Coordinator.
He began his marching career at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, New Jersey. Billy continued his marching career in DCA, playing Snare at Fusion Core in 2013, Cadets2 in 2014, and eventually moving to DCI with the Crossmen in 2015.
In 2017, Billy marched with the George Mason University WGI Independent World Class Indoor Drumline following three seasons with Cadets Winter Percussion, where he won Percussion Independent Open in 2014, and was an Independent World Class Finalist in 2015-2017.
Lauryn (Heller) Griffin is looking forward to her seventh season with The Bushwackers Drum Corps. She experienced the world of marching arts from a very young age, particularly because of her mother’s influence. Lauryn reflects fondly upon her 13 years of learning and performance as a member of the Haddon Heights marching programs. She also performed with The Light Brigade, Alter Ego, The Black Watch, and The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
Lauryn’s creative and instructional experience includes: Washington Township HS, Surge Independent, The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, The Black Watch, Hatboro Horsham Indoor HS, United Percussion, Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, Haddon Heights HS, Bridgewater Raritan HS, and The Bushwackers Drum Corps.
Beyond her involvement in the marching arts community, Lauryn is currently in pursuit of a master’s degree in teaching special education from NJCU, while she works as a special education teacher in Bridgewater, NJ. She loves to spend free time with her husband, Eddie, and their two dog babies – Henry and Murphy. Lauryn is looking forward to the creation of another memorable season with The Bushwackers.
Edward Griffin is an active educator and performing musician throughout the New York metropolitan area. He is currently the Band Director at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in the Edison Township Public Schools. At TJMS, Eddie instructs all lesson groups, directs both concert bands, and leads the jazz band.
Eddie received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, where he earned a double-major in Music Education and Music Performance. At Rutgers, Eddie studied euphonium and brass pedagogy with Aaron Vanderweele, Alan Baer, and Jerry Peel. He also studied conducting with Darryl Bott and Todd Nichols.
As an educator, Eddie has instructed several marching bands throughout New Jersey. He works on the staff at John P. Stevens High School, where he instructs the brass and is a member of the design team. During his time at J.P. Stevens, the band has grown to be a perennial finalist at the BOA Mid-Atlantic Regional and is one of the largest bands in the state of New Jersey. Eddie maintains a private studio, and his students have earned acceptance into several honor ensembles and university music departments. He also serves on the visual staff of the United Percussion 2 indoor ensemble.
As a performer, Eddie has played with several award-winning brass bands and concert ensembles. He currently performs with the Eastern Wind Symphony, a semi-professional band based out of central New Jersey. Eddie has also performed with the Princeton Brass Band, Atlantic Brass, Imperial Brass, and the Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York.
Eddie has been on the Bushwackers staff since 2018. In 2019-2022, he served in the role of Brass Caption Head. His family has been involved in drum corps his entire life, and he is excited to return to the Bushwackers!
Lewis C. Kelly has been a Bushwacker since the age of 14. He marched baritone in 1992 (World Championship), 1993 (Undefeated World Championship), 1994, 1995, 1996, and 2001. He marched contrabass in 1997, 1999, and 2000. He arranged the horn book in 2004 and was a consultant for the 2019 & 2020 seasons.
Mr. Kelly is currently the Director of Bands at West Orange High School in West Orange, New Jersey where he directs the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, Marching Mountaineers, and teaches Advanced Placement Music Theory and instrumental lessons. Mr. Kelly started teaching at WOHS in the fall of 2000. Under Mr. Kelly’s direction, all of the groups have received superior ratings and honors in local, regional, and national festivals and competitions. The Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the Music for All (MFA) National Concert Band Festival, the NJ State Concert Band Gala, and the NJMEA State Convention. The Marching Mountaineers have been a two-time Bands of America (BOA) Regional Finalist and Jazz I have been a perineal state finalist.
Mr. Kelly is currently the Co-Chair of the Band Division of the North Jersey School Music Association (NJSMA) and the Vice President of the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA). He has guest conducted the NJSMA Symphonic Band and Ninth Grade Band and has been an adjudicator for the Middle School Concert Band Festival. Mr. Kelly has also been active within the North Jersey Area Band and All-State Band organizations, serving as a festival chair, committee member, manager, and audition chairperson.
Mr. Kelly received his Bachelor of Music from William Paterson University of New Jersey and his Master’s Degree in Education from Augustana University. Mr. Kelly has been involved in the marching arts since 1992 and has marched, taught, and arranged for various bands and drum corps from Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Kelly started his drum corps career with the Bushwackers in 1992 and also marched with the 1998 Crossmen as a baritone soloist.
Mr. Kelly resides in Byram Township, NJ with his wife Sarah, and their sons Beckett and Miles.
Dan started his marching career playing snare drum in the inaugural season of the Cadets2 in 2012. After spending two years with C2, he became a member of the 2014 Cadets for his age-out season. During this period, he was also a member of Imperial Dynasty’s 2013 debut in Winter Guard International.
Dan instructed the snare drum section of Cadets2 from 2015-2018, which includes their DCA World Championship title in 2016, and is currently a percussion instructor at The Cadets. He also served as ensemble coordinator at Imperial Dynasty from 2016-2019.
As an emerging writer/arranger in southeast Pennsylvania, Dan contributes to many high school programs in the region. He is currently the percussion director at Downingtown East High School, as well as a designer for the Downingtown Indoor Percussion Ensemble.
Aside from the marching activity, Dan attended West Chester University with a focus in music and philosophy, and closely studied classical-style percussion with Ralph Sorrentino, a frequent performer in the Philadelphia Orchestra. Dan has also taught the battery percussion section of the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band, Shippensburg University Marching Band, and currently, the Widener University Marching Band.
Jesse Valencia is very excited to return to the Bushwackers Design Team in 2023 as the Front Ensemble Arranger.
Jesse’s marching experience started with Cadets2 in 2014 and continued on to march the Cadets in 2016 and 2017. Jesse has also been heavily involved in the Percussion Independent World scene in WGI, having marched with Cadets Winter Percussion in 2015 and 2016 and with United Percussion in 2018, all PIW finalist groups.
As an educator, Jesse has proven an accomplished arranger as the Caption Head and Arranger at both Downingtown East High School outdoor program and the Downingtown Area School District indoor percussion program ever since 2017. Jesse also taught Cadest2 in 2017 and 2018 and taught United Percussion 2’s Front Ensemble in the 2020 season.
Jamey is excited to join the Bushwackers design team for 2024! Previous DCA/All-Age experience includes Empire Statesmen 2000-2005 and Connecticut Hurricanes 2008-2014. This year marks his second as Visual Designer for Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. He designs shows for high school marching bands throughout the United States as well as Western Carolina University “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band. Previously, he was Visual Designer for Phantom Regiment, Madison Scouts and Glassmen. Jamey graduated with a BBA from Loyola University Chicago and worked in not-for-profit accounting and arts management before dedicating his time exclusively to the marching arts.
Sal Azzara is an front ensemble educator, arranger, and sound designer based in the Southeast PA region.
Sal studied Music Education at West Chester University and has performed with West Chester’s Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, and marching band. His marching experience includes performing with The Buccaneers (’15-’16), The Cadets (’17-’18), and United Percussion (’20, ’22) as a front ensemble member.
An active edcuator in the Southeast PA region for many years, he has been working with theShippensburg University Marching Band since 2019, Downingtown Indoor Percussion since 2019, and recently started working with United Percussion 2 for the 2023 season.
Sal has also served as Front Ensemble Arranger and Sound Desiner at Downingtown Indoor Percussion and the Shippensburg University Marching Band since 2020. He is excited to be back with the Bushwackers for his third year as Sound Designer and Front Ensemble Coordinator.