Andrew Lynge Joins Bluecoats Team, Ryan Kilgore Returns
Dr. Andrew Lynge joins the team as Front Ensemble Consultant. Dr. Matthew Ryan Kilgore’s long-time influence in percussion caption re-affirmed in additional role as Percussion Caption Advisor.
International percussionist and Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Alabama Dr. Andrew Lynge will join the Bluecoats Team as a Front Ensemble Consultant.
“We’re so excited to add Andrew’s perspective as a world-class performer and educator to The Bluecoats team! His contributions will be integral to the evolution of our front ensemble, and the continued refinement of our percussive identity” - Tom Rarick, Director of Percussion / Composer / Designer
Andrew is the Director of the UA Percussion Ensemble, who was named a winner in the 2020 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition and has performed and presented in Brazil, Italy, Argentina, as a concerto soloist with the Dallas Winds at the 2021 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and at five Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (PASIC). He was a featured artist at both the 16th and 18th International Patagonia Percussion Festivals in General Roca, Argentina, the 2019 and 2021 World Percussion Movement in Bari, Italy, the 2019 Percussion Seminar at Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Brazil, and is looking forward to visiting Chili, Thailand, and Argentina for the upcoming 2021- 2022 season.
Andrew is a founding member of Epoch Percussion, a percussion quartet who has gained a national reputation as concerti soloists with the top wind bands throughout the United States. As an educator, Dr. Lynge’s students have received top placements at numerous national and international competitions including those hosted by the Percussive Arts Society and the Oklahoma Modern Music Collective. Having a strong history in marching percussion, Dr. Lynge was a member of the teaching staff for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2016- 2019) and the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2012-2014). As a performer, he was a member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from 2008 (DCI Champions-Fred E. Sanford High Percussion Award)-2009. Andrew is an artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion and Zildjian, among others.
We are also excited to welcome Dr. Matthew “Ryan” Kilgore back for his 15th season on the Bluecoats team. Due to his long-time service and his continued influence in the percussion caption, he will be returning to the team with the new title of Music Ensemble Coordinator / Percussion Caption Advisor. In this role, Ryan will continue his work overseeing the implementation of the music ensemble, while he advises the percussion leadership team.
Ryan is a percussionist, arranger, clinician, and adjudicator who is currently serving as Visiting Assistant Professor of Percussion at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. With a diverse percussive background, he specializes in keyboard percussion, chamber music, steel band, and the marching arts.
As a performer, Ryan has performed and given clinics throughout the United States and Europe. Ryan was the highest placed American in the Paris Marimba competition as well as being selected as a representative of the United States in the 5th installment of the World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart, Germany. He has performed at three Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, including the Mallet Masters All-Stars in 2010. As a chamber musician, Ryan has performed with Third Coast Percussion Ensemble, Mark Ford, Michael Burritt, Steven Schick and She-e Wu. He can be heard on University on North Texas’s Percussion Ensemble CD Marimba Heritage where he is featured on Alejandro Vinao’s Estudios de Frontera as well as an upcoming solo album of the entire Cello Suites by J.S. Bach.
Ryan marched with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 1999, and has been teaching here since 2008, He is also an instructor for Rhythm X Indoor Percussion Ensemble and has been part of 3 gold medal seasons. Ryan holds degrees in percussion performance from Rutgers University, Northwestern University, the University of North Texas.
2022 PERCUSSION EDUCATIONAL TEAM
Tom Rarick, Composer / Director of Percussion
Roger Carter, Percussion Caption Head
Dr. Ryan Kilgore, DMA, Music Ensemble Coordinator / Percussion Caption Advisor
Kevin Shah, Music Design Consultant
Ryan Anderson, Battery Coordinator
Joe Hobbs, Battery Coordinator
Zach Gruse, Battery Instructor
Cassius Johnson, Battery Instructor
John Lluvera, Battery Instructor
Robert Martinez, Battery Instructor
Greg Power, Battery Instructor
Zach Wilson, Battery Instructor
Joe Woodie, Battery Instructor
Suvin Varghese, Battery Instructor
Connor Yasuda, Battery Instructor
Allen Justus, Front Ensemble Coordinator
Andrew Lynge, Front Ensemble Consultant
Ben Armeni, Front Ensemble Instructor
Claire Kenney, Front Ensemble Instructor
Jake Lyons, Front Ensemble Instructor
Marc Rivet, Front Ensemble Instructor
