STAFF

MARC YOUNG

Battery Arranger, Percussion Caption Head, Program Coordinator

Marc Young, a music educator and actor, was born and raised in Southern California. Marc attended California State University, Long Beach where he studied Music Performance and Theater. He is an educator in the marching arts activity, predominately teaching in Southern California. He is  currently the Percussion Director at Westminster High School in Westminster, California. Marc is the founder of Instinct Percussion, and previously he has taught at Odyssey Percussion.

Marc has an active performance career, currently performing with Aerial Experience Productions. He is involved in many other theater productions as a performer, collaborator and advisor. He is a founding member of Contigo Theatre Company. He was a performer with Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps (2010 – 2012, 2014) and POW Percussion (2012).

Marc is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion.​

JAZPER SALDAÑA

Front Ensemble Arranger

Jazper Saldaña is currently the Front Ensemble/Private Lesson Instructor at Haltom High School in Fort Worth, TX. Prior to that, he worked with numerous groups in the Southern California and Texas areas including Westminster HS, Ayala HS, and Centennial HS. Jazper has also served as the Front Ensemble Caption Head for the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps and Vigilantes Indoor Percussion. Additionally, he is on staff with the Concord Blue Devils.

Originally from San Diego, California, he completed a Bachelors Degree in Percussion Performance from California State University, Long Beach. He went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Percussion from the University of North Texas. Indoor marching experience includes Alternative Percussion, Pulse Percussion, and Riverside Community College. DCI credits include the Sacramento Mandarins and the Concord Blue Devils. 

Jazper is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion. He currently resides in Fort Worth, TX with his wife and two dogs.

ZAK STILLWELL

Drill Designer

This will be Zak’s second year designing for Impulse. 

TAYLOR SMITH

Brass Caption Head

Taylor Smith is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach Bob Cole Conservatory of Music earning two degrees in Music and Jazz Performance (Trombone). As an undergraduate at CSULB, Mr. Smith performed with the Concert Jazz Orchestra directed by Jeff Jarvis earning the Downbeat Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Graduate College category in 2013/2014. Taylor has traveled across the country performing with the World Champion Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps then later teaching the Blue Devils “B” Corps, The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from LaCrosse Wisconsin, Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps from Diamond Bar California and The Academy from Arizona. He has taught and has designed at several prominent band programs in the Southern California region. In addition to marching and performing in 4 Rose Parades as part of the opening and closing ceremonies with the Riverside City College Marching Tigers, Taylor is an active professional musician, performing alongside some of LA’s top recording instrumentalists. He is currently an active member and adjudicator for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra.
 
Taylor Smith is currently the Associate Director of Instrumental Music at Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Ca). He is also the Director of the Mater Dei High School Music Academy. The Music Academy provides musicians from well over 10 different private and public schools the opportunity to participate in music outside of school band. In 2018, the Music Academy won the silver medal award for Outstanding Beginning Band Recruitment Program in the Music For All Advocacy in Action Awards! The Music Academy will also be featured in an upcoming publication of the YamahaED Magazine in Fall 2019. 
 
Over the past few years, Taylor can be seen performing on over 20 TV shows, TV pilots, such as Glee, Little Big Shots, Parenthood, Teen Wolf, The Middle, and more, including feature films like The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), J. Edgar (2011), and Whiplash (2015).” His latest TV appearance was in the new FX TV Pilot “PLATFORM” directed by BJ Novak. 
Taylor is honored to be a part of the great history and culture the Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps maintains, and hopes to shed a new perspective and experience for its members this coming 2020 DCI season as Brass Caption Head! 

AMANDA CRUZ

Colorguard Caption Head

Amanda started her color guard career as a performer at Los Alamitos High School (2010-2014). She was a co-captain her junior year and head captain her senior year of high school. After graduating, she was a performer for Fantasia’s World guard in 2015 and 2018.

In addition to being a performer, Amanda has been a coach at Westminster High School (2016-present) and Mater Dei High School (2015-present). Since she started coaching, Amanda has been promoted to color guard Caption Head at both schools.​

ALEXIS MORENO

Visual Coordinator, Visual Caption Head

This will be Alexis’s fourth year on the educational team for Impulse and her second year as the visual caption head. She is currently the visual caption head for Instinct Percussion, Glendora High School, and Westminster High School. She is also on the visual teams at Nogales High School and Millikan High School.

Alexis had the privilege of marching with Impulse for their 2011 and 2013 seasons and with the Troopers for their 2014 and 2017 seasons. 

Alexis has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California State University, Los Angeles and currently resides in Upland, California.