Founder

Raychel serves on the Percussive Arts Society Diversity Alliance, coordinates the Hit Like a Girl Marching Contest, and is an Educational Artist for Dynasty USA, Innovative Percussion Inc., and Remo Drumheads.

CONTACT RAYCHEL: raychel@girlsmarch.org

Percussion Director for Coppell High School

Miss Annie Chernowis the Director of Percussion Studies for Coppell ISD. Ms. Chernow’s responsibilities include coordinating the marching percussion program, the private lesson program, the 6^th-12^th grade concert percussion ensembles, and teaching the beginner percussion classes at Coppell Middle Schools East, North, and West.

Ms. Chernow received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Delaware and a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Ms. Chernow has studied with many esteemed percussionists including Harvey Price, Jim Ancona, Orlando Cotto, Iain Moyer, Tim Broscious and Gene Koshinski. Ms. Chernow has performed with numerous world-renowned organizations including The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Quey Percussion Duo, the University of Delaware Wind Ensemble, and the University of Minnesota Duluth Graduate Percussion Group.

Outside of the classical percussion and educational world, Ms. Chernow was a member of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2012, 2013, and 2014 seasons as well as a member of the Cadets Winter Percussion in their inaugural 2014 season. During her time as a member, the 2013 percussion section was awarded the prestigious Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion section, and CWP was awarded the gold medal in WGI Open Class. Ms. Chernow was also named Cadet of the Year in 2014. In addition to her performance career, Ms. Chernow was on the percussion staff at The Cadets2 for their successful 2015 season and on the percussion staff for Carolina Crown from 2016 to 2018.

Under Ms. Chernow’s direction, the Coppell High School Percussion Program has won the 2021 TMEA Invited Percussion Ensemble Competition, the 2020 International Percussion Ensemble “Call for Tapes” Contest, as well as the 2018 Black Swamp Percussion Ensemble Competition for Best Small Ensemble. The Coppell High School Drumline won the 2019 Lone Star Drumline Contest with their show “Bushido” along with awards for Outstanding Bass Drums, Outstanding Tenors, Outstanding Snares, Outstanding Front Ensemble, Most Creative Show, and The Caldwell Cup for highest overall score. Ms. Chernow is in her third year in Coppell and is an Educational Artist for Innovative Percussion and affiliated with the Percussive Arts Society and the Texas Music Educators Association.

Percussion Arranger and Front Ensemble Instructor for Coppell High School

Patricia Islas is a performer, composer, educator, clinician, and adjudicator based out of Plano, Texas. She has worked with artists such as Gregg Bissonette and Imogen Heap and has performed with Grammy-nominated artists Ignacio Berroa, Horacio Hernandez, and Poovalur Sriji. As a composer, Patricia has written solos, ensembles, and the popular keyboard method book Momentum. She has been commissioned for original works performed for the PASIC Invited Percussion Ensemble (High School), and Midwest Invited Percussion Ensemble concerts. 

Together with her husband Doug Bush in collaborative duo Team Islas, she has written, arranged, and taught for numerous award-winning high school band programs including champions of the HEB Drumline Contest, Plano Drumline Contest, North Texas Drumline Contest, Lewisville Drumline Contest, Lone Star Drumline Contest, PASIC Drumline Contest and medalist for Texas State UIL and BOA marching bands. They have also served as percussion teachers and arrangers for World and Open Class Drum and Bugle corps. 

Patricia holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of North Texas.  She has studied percussion under Mark Ford, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Christopher Deane, Paul and Sandi Rennick, She-e Wu and Leigh Howard Stevens. Having an interest in a variety of musical styles, Patricia performed with the Indoor Drumline, South Indian, Gamelan, Contemporary, and Classical Percussion ensembles while at North Texas. In 2002 Mrs. Islas received the award for the Best Individual Keyboard Soloist at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and was a winner of the UNT Concerto Competition in 2004. Patricia Islas proudly endorses Mapex/Majestic Percussion, Pro-Mark Sticks and Mallets, Remo Drum Heads, Sabian Cymbals, Beetle Percussion, and Lot Riot Apparel.

Drumline Instructor for Coppell High School

Eliana Yamouni is an avid percussionist with a passion for marching snare. As a performer in the marching arts, she was most notably known for her accomplishments with the Santa Clara Vanguard drumline from 2018-2019. During her time with SCV, Eliana contributed to two Fred Sanford High Percussion Awards, as well as the 2018 DCI World Class Championship title. She was also invited with the SCV percussion section to perform at PASIC in 2019 under the direction of Paul Rennick.

Currently, Eliana proudly teaches the drumline at her alma mater, Coppell High School. As a recent graduate of the University of North Texas School of Business, she primarily works as a Marketing Specialist, and is also pursuing her MBA at the University of Texas at Dallas. Eliana attributes much of her professional success to her background in music, and plans to continue teaching and performing whenever possible.

Drummer for “Six” the Musical and Percussion Specialist for Mesquite ISD

Paige Durr, currently located in the DFW area, is a freelance percussionist and educator for the North Mesquite ISD cluster. She was most recently the role of “Maria,” the drummer for Six the Musical on Norwegian Cruise lines Bliss.

She graduated from James Madison University in May of 2018 with her Masters Degree in Percussion Performance where she had the pleasure to study under Casey Cangelosi, Laurel Black, and Bill Rice. She also received her Undergraduate degree in Music Education from James Madison University in 2016.

During her time at JMU, she was a Graduate Assistant for the marching band, on the snarline for three years, and also a Drum Major. Paige received second place in the Marching and Concert category of the 2019/2020 Hit Like A Girl Competition. She was also the runner up for the Ted Atkatz Summer Seminar Mock Audition. She has performed in many venues including the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 2015 Rome New Years Day Parade, and the 2015 McCormick Percussion Ensemble Festival at FSU.

Through all of her experiences writing, teaching, and playing, she became a Vic Firth Sponsored Marching Artist in 2019.

Percussion Director for Newman Smith High School, Percussion Instructor for Blue Knights and Vigilantes Indoor

Brittany is the Director of Percussion at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, TX. She also serves as the sponsor for the school’s Human Rights Advocacy Forum. Brittany is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at UNT. She believes that all children are unique and need a safe, welcoming, equitable, positive learning environment that encourages risk-taking, stimulates natural curiosity, and fosters student growth.

Brittany received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas for Percussion Performance. During her time at UNT, she was involved in classical and contemporary chamber ensembles, symphonic band, orchestra, Gamelan, and the 2 o’clock steel band.

During her musical career, she has performed at various events and venues, including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and the Meyerson Symphony Center. She has also played in concert with the Dallas Winds, Steve Smith, Tommy Igoe, Joel Rosenblatt, Gregg Bissonette, Lalo Davila, Ed Smith, Mark Ford, and Christopher Deane.

Brittany shares her passion for music through teaching: she has taught all over the DFW metroplex, including Boswell High School, Frisco Liberty High School, and Pearson Middle School. She also taught as a front ensemble technician at the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps and Vigilantes Indoor Percussion.

In her free time, Brittany enjoys bouldering, golfing, biking, and taking her yellow sailboat out on White Rock Lake. She has two incredibly dramatic cats, KitKat and Layla.

Brittany is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Percussive Arts Society. Brittany is a proud endorser of Vic Firth sticks and mallets.

Private Lessons and Front Ensemble Instructor for Coppell High School

Lindsey Hartfelder teaches private lessons and instructs the Coppell Junior Varsity marching band, and is an active percussion performer and arranger. She holds bachelors degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Entrepreneurship from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a Masters of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Delaware where she was the Marching Percussion Graduate Teaching Assistant.

As an invested performer and arts entrepreneur, she interned with Vic Firth Company and Zildjian’s educational team, and has performed with So Percussion in their production A Gun Show, the Boston premiere of Inuksuit by John Luther Adams, and in Dr. Iain Moyer and Jason Ihnat’s 2016 PASIC clinic on front ensemble arranging and instructing. While at UMass, she received a research grant for her research on modern percussion performance practice and was a finalist performer in the First Annual Chair’s Showcase Recital. Most recently, she traveled to Zagreb, Croatia to perform at the 2018 World Saxophone Congress, and performed in Spain with the University of Delaware Wind Ensemble.

Lindsey performed with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps front ensemble during the 2013-2015 season, and during this time she was a part of the percussion ensemble that won the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award in 2013. She performed with the UMass Minuteman Marching Band percussion section from 2012 to 2015 under the instruction of Thom Hannum, and was also a member of Spirit of America’s 2017 Dubai Project front ensemble. She has served as front ensemble caption manager at 7th Regiment and Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, and has taught a variety of ensembles including United Percussion and several high schools on the east coast. Lindsey proudly represents Vic Firth and Zildjian.

Entertainment Drumline Performer and Marimba Soloist for “BLAST!”

KAYLIE BROOKE is a Dallas, TX native and currently resides in Austin, TX serving as a freelance percussionist and private lesson teacher for James Bowie High School. Kaylie has formal training in multiple areas of percussion, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas. She then went on to complete her master’s degree at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Most notably, Kaylie has spent time touring Japan since 2017 as the marimba soloist for MEG’s Broadway production of ‘Blast! The Music of Disney’ and Toei Animation’s ‘One Piece Oto Utage.’ She has also performed with both the Dallas Mavericks and FC Dallas drumlines between 2013 and 2018, and she continues to perform with the San Antonio Spurs Drumline.

Her other performance highlights include working with artists such as Meghan Trainor and AR Rahman, as well as playing with Dynamic Rhythm Entertainment for companies such as JC Penny, Hennessy, Chick-Fil-A, and Mary Kay.

Kaylie was also a member of the BOA Grand National Champion LD Bell High School marching band and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps.

Find Your Rhythm Entertainment LLC(FYR) and Percussion Instructor at North Forsyth High School

Emerging from Winston Salem, North Carolina, Jamese Moses is a powerhouse of fiery and fierce energy! As a leader in the percussion industry, Jamese strives to inspire others to find their passions by displaying her love of percussion through the medium of HBCU style Marching Percussion and Music. Jamese brings music to life with a soulful style, high energy dancing, captivating stick tricks, and rhythmic creativity. She began her rise in the percussion industry at the young age of four, when she began to take on the craft in church, following in the footsteps of her father, James Moses. She studied percussion throughout her middle and high school years and into college where she performed with the world famed Cold Steel Drumline at North Carolina A&T State University. While perfecting her craft and building a network of colleagues, Jamese obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing. 

Following college, Jamese teamed up with two of her fellow A&T alumni to form a weekend gigging crew that became the Percussive Entertainment Company, Find Your Rhythm Entertainment LLC(FYR). FYR participates in diversity and inclusion training seminars and helps to push a narrative of inspiration through the means of dedication and precision performance. As an elite performance unit, FYR is able to guide people to find their passion in their every day routine. Alongside her colleagues, Jamese has performed for top level executives of companies including Google, Walmart, PWC, and many more. FYR has led her to many opportunities to teach, perform, and inspire adults and children across the country. 

Jamese is an ambassador for women in the percussive arts and serves as a judge and coordinator for the Hit Like a Girl contest. After winning the marching category in 2019, she has been dedicated to encouraging ladies in music by acting as an advocate for female drummers, speaking as a panelist for groups dedicated to women in music, and continuing to rise to the top of the industry as a female artist. 

Jamese currently resides in Winston Salem, NC and is the Percussion Instructor at North Forsyth High School. She performs across the piedmont triad with her rock-soul band, Sunqueen Kelcey and the Soular Flares. 

Jamese is endorsed by Vic Firth DrumSticks, and TRX Cymbals.

Front Ensemble Arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard and Troopers, Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of North Texas and Texas A&M University-Commerce

Sandi Rennick is a percussionist and marimba soloist with extensive performing and teaching experience in the DFW area and throughout the United States. An original cast member of the Tony and Emmy Award-winning production “Blast!”, Sandi performed in London, England, as well as a featured marimba soloist on tour throughout the United States. Sandi is currently a percussion arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (2011-present), and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-present).

Sandi has teaching and arranging experience with a variety of groups at all levels, including the UNT Green Brigade Marching Band, Drum Corps Japan
Champions Yokohama Scouts, and Drum Corps International champions Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (2003-2010) and Carolina Crown (1998-2004).

A member of the Percussive Arts Society since 1995, Sandi served on the PAS Marching Committee for 13 years, and was elected to the PAS Board of Advisors in 2019.Sandi is an Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of North Texas and Texas A&M University-Commerce. In addition to her drum corps responsibilities in the summer, she also serves on the faculty of the UNT Keyboard Percussion Workshop, and is a clinician for the Girls March music and leadership camps.

Sandi is a Signature Artist for Innovative Percussion, Inc., and a clinician/artist for Dynasty USA, Remo Drumheads, and SABIAN / Gon Bops Percussion.

Percussion Caption Head at Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, Percussion Director at Mililani High School

Lauren Teel is the Percussion Caption Head for the DCI World Class Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, an ensemble member of the Heartland Marimba Ensemble, and Director of Percussion for Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. She is a recognized Innovative Percussion Educational Artist, Marimba One Educational Artist, Zildjian Marching Artist and Remo Educational Artist. She is actively involved in the percussive arts community as both performer and educator, serving on the PAS marching committee and acting as an adjudicator for several PAS international competitions, including the 2018 Percussive Arts Society International Chamber Ensemble Competition and the 2019 Percussive Arts Society International Solo Marimba Competition.​

During the 2018/2019 academic year, Lauren served as the Interim Instructor of Percussion for The University of Alabama, and Adjunct Instructor for the Million Dollar Band Front Ensemble. Prior to this appointment, she was an Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at several universities, including The University of North Alabama, The University of Alabama- Birmingham, and The University of Montevallo. In addition,  Lauren was a member of the percussion educational team “ Double Stop Percussion” based out of Birmingham, AL.

Lauren earned her M.M. in Percussion Performance at Indiana University in 2016 and a B.M. in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas 2012. Her studies have allowed her to train with renowned percussionists including Kevin Bobo, Steve Houghton, Michael Spiro, Paul Rennick, John Tafoya, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, She-E Wu, Robert Schietroma and Ed Smith.​

Lauren has extensive DCI experience as a member of two top twelve drum corps. She was a member of the 2009 and 2010 DCI World Class Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps, which received the 2010 Fred Sanford Award for high percussion, and of the 2011 Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps. Both drum corps were under the instruction of Paul Rennick. ​

In her spare time, Lauren pursues her other passion of working with animals by volunteering at the Georgia Aquarium, and with ICAN as a certified service dog trainer.  She is an avid swimmer, trained lifeguard and certified scuba diver. 

Operational Assistant for Girls March and Nief-Norf

Paige DeDecker is a percussionist from Flower Mound, Texas. She is currently in her third year as Percussion Instructor at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. She graduated with her Masters in Percussion Performance from the University of North Florida in 2020 and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2018. At UNF, Paige studied with Andrea Venet and worked as a graduate teaching assistant, instructing the UNF Drumline and participating in NuMIX, the university’s contemporary chamber ensemble. At UNL, Paige studied with Dave Hall and was a member of the university’s percussion ensemble that performed at the 2016 Percussive Arts Society International Convention as a winner of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition’s Call for Tapes. She also participated in the Cornhusker Marching Band under the direction of Anthony Falcone and had the privilege of leading the Front Ensemble and Drumline as section leader during her senior year.

Consultant for Girls March and Social Media Manager for Avedis Zildjian Company

Stephanie’s experience in the marching arts is nothing short of extensive. Her passion for playing the drums started at an early age behind the drum set. Once the opportunity came to join her junior high drumline there was no turning back. Being a Southern California native, Stephanie attended Ayala High School where she learned what it takes to perform at a world class level. These invaluable skills became her keys to success as she auditioned for DCI and WGI’s top groups. From 2009 to 2013 Stephanie shared the stage with Pulse Percussion, Riverside Community College, the Bluecoats and The Concord Blue Devils.

Upon aging out of the activity, Stephanie’s performance experience shifted as she began to do on-camera work for network television shows such as Glee and most recently performing at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA with the Disneyland Band, the Soundsational Parade and other atmosphere shows.

Concurrently, Stephanie’s professional experience extends to the world of business and marketing where she’s worked for companies such as Yamaha Corporation of America (Marketing & Branding), 20th Century Fox Television (Musician/Vocal Casting), Lone Star Percussion (Media & Marketing), and currently with Avedis Zildjian Company (Social Media Manager).

Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing from Cal Poly Pomona and a Professional Certificate specializing in Social Media & Digital Analytics from UCLA-Extension.