Pulse World Bios
Joe Enriquez- Director
Design Team
John Mapes- Program Coordinator, Battery Arranger
Ian Grom- Front Ensemble Arranger/Composer
Robert Bowen- Drill Design/Staff Coordinator
Instructional Staff
Ken McGrath- Ensemble Consultant
Fred Newcomm- Ensemble Coordinator
Paul Curci- Ensemble Coordinator
Rudy Arzaga- Front Ensemble Coordinator
Ezekiel Lanser- Snare Tech
Wesley Hernandez- Snare Tech
Kevin Wilfon- Tenor Tech
Fred Han- Tenor Tech
Melannie Stakely- Bass Tech
Jonathan Morris- Cymbal Tech
Mike McGee- Visual staff
Weston Amaro- Front Ensemble Staff
Jesse Hirakawa- Front Ensemble Staff
Jhonny Crespo- Front Ensemble Staff
Joe Enriquez, Pulse Percussion Open Director
This is Joe’s 2nd year as director for Pulse Open and as a member of the Board of Directors. He has been a music educator in southern California since 1995. He taught Garfield High School for many years until starting the Garfield Independent percussion ensemble in 2008. In 2011 he merged Garfield Independents assets into Pulse Percussion Inc, making it possible for the birth of Pulse Open. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization.
He has also worked with Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps and the Velvet Knights Drum & Bugle Corps.
Joe currently lives in Ontario, CA
John Mapes, Program Coordinator, Battery Arranger
This is John’s fifth year on staff with Pulse and 2nd year writing for the Open ensemble. He is a full-time percussion designer and educator involved in teaching over 20 high school and independent percussion programs in Southern California since 1997. His marching experience includes Velvet Knights and Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps organizations. He received his Bachelor of Arts in percussion from California State University Long Beach, in the spring of 2000.
He is currently the Percussion Director at Chino Hills HS and works with the Blue Devil B Corps as the percussion arranger from 2007 to the present. He was the Battery Arranger/ Percussion Caption Head for the Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps from San Diego, CA from 2002-2006.
John is a Yamaha Artist, a member of the Vic Firth Educational team, a Remo artist and a WGI Percussion Steering Committee/Advisory Board member. He is also a principle percussion arranger for JKS music and a co-founder of www.box-six.com, a website compiling original indoor percussion and marching band works by John and Ian.
John lives in Tustin, CA
mapes@box-six.com
Ian Grom, Front Ensemble Arranger/Composer
This is Ian’s fifth year on staff at Pulse and 2nd year writing for the Open ensemble. He is a performer, composer and educator based out of Southern California. He received his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from California State University Long Beach, where he specialized in drum set, marimba and composition.
He currently teaches, designs, and composes for the indoor percussion programs at Chino Hills HS, and Los Alamitos HS. He also composes original Marching Band shows for several HS programs around the country. In the summer of 2009 Ian was brought on as the electronics consultant/arranger with the world famous Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
Ian is a Yamaha Artist, a member of the Vic Firth Educational team and a WGI Percussion Advisory Board member. In the summer of 2008, he launched www.box-six.com which offers a large library of original indoor percussion and marching band shows composed with fellow arranger John Mapes.
Ian lives in Huntington Beach, CA
grom@box-six.com
Glen Crosby, Ensemble Consultant
This is Glen’s fourth year on staff an the ensemble consultant at Pulse. He is currently the Caption Head and Arranger for The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps. Mr. Crosby's drum corps performance experience includes being a four year member of the Concord Blue Devils percussion section during the 1980s.
Since then, Glen has been an instructor/clinician for such groups as the Garfield Cadets, Blue Knights, Glassmen and the Velvet Knights. Glen is currently a percussion specialist for several school programs and served with the Santa Clara Vanguard staff for almost 15 years.
Glen lives in Long Beach, CA
Robert Bowen, Drill designer, Staff Coordinator
This will be Robert’s 2nd year working with Pulse Open. Robert has been teaching in Southern California for the past 12 years and has taught over 25 high school/independent groups. His current schools include Trabuco Hills, Esperanza, and Nogales High Schools. He also has consulted and written for many groups across the country.
Robert’s performance experience includes West Coast Sound and Black Knights 2002 and 2003.
Robert lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Ken McGrath, Ensemble Consultant
Ken was one of the founders of Pulse Percussion in 2005, working with the ensemble from then until 2007. He recently became involved again and in his 2nd year working with the Open ensemble. He has taught many programs across southern California and currently teaches at Rancho Cucamonga and Upland HS’s.
Ken performed with …
Ken lives in Pasadena, CA
Paul Curci, Ensemble Coordinator
This is Paul’s 3rd year on staff with Pulse Percussion and first year on staff with Pulse Open. He has been a percussion educator in Ventura County since 2003 teaching various local programs and recently worked with the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps.
Paul's performance experience includes Buena High School, Black Knights, Pulse Percussion (Charter Member), and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps.
Paul finished his Bachelors in Liberal Studies (Teaching and Education) at CSU Channel Islands in the spring of 2008.
Paul lives in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Fred Newcomm, Ensemble Coordinator
This will be Fred’s first year on staff with Pulse Open. His teaching experience includes being the main battery tech at Pacifica HS and being on staff at Chino Hills HS. Fred attended the Musicians Institute of Los Angeles studying audio engineering in 200?
Fred’s performance experience includes the RCC Winter Drumline, Kingsmen percussion ensemble, Seaworld’s Riptide cast and BD Entertainment.
Fred lives in Whittier, CA
Rudy Arzaga, Front Ensemble Coordinator
This will be Rudy’s 5th year working with the Pulse Organization and his 2nd working with the Open ensemble. He currently is teaching Trabuco Hills, El Toro, Upland, and Valencia High Schools.
Rudy’s performance experience includes Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, Black Knights, Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps, the RCC Winter Drumline and Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps.
Rudy received his B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Advertising and a Minor in Music from Cal State Fullerton. Rudy is a member of the Vic Firth education team.
Rudy lives in Laguna Niguel, CA
Ezekiel Lanser, Snare Tech
This will be Ezekiel’s first year on staff with Pulse Open. Ezekiel is currently the percussion instructor / arranger for Pacifica High School and also teaches at Los Alamitos High School.
Ezekiel was a member of Momentum Percussion Theater from 2005 - 2006. He was also a member of Pulse Percussion in 2011. He marched drum corps as a member of the 2004 Seattle Cascades, 2005 Esperanza, and the 2006 - 2007 Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. Ezekiel graduated from the University of North Texas in May of 2010 with a percussion performance degree. He is a member of the Vic Firth education team.
Ezekiel lives in Huntington Beach, CA
Wesley Hernandez, Snare Tech
This will be Wesley’s first year on staff with Pulse Open. He has taught various high schools programs and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps.
Wesley’s performance experience includes Granada Hills High School, Mystikal Drum and Bugle Corps, SCV Cadets, Valley Independent Percussion, Troopers, Pulse Percussion, and Oregon Crusaders Indoor. He is currently an English major at Los Angeles Community College.
Wesley lives in Granada Hills, CA
Kevin Wilfon- Tenor Tech
This will be Kevin’s first year of staff with Pulse Open. He has taught many groups in the Reno/Sparks, Nevada area. His performance experience includes the Sacramento Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps, Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps (section leader 08), and the Sacramento Freelancers.
He graduated from The University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and is working at a Commercial Insurance firm.
Kevin lives in Palmdale, CA
Fred Han- Tenor Tech
This will be Fred’s first year on staff with Pulse Open. Fred has been involved in teaching multiple schools in the Southern California area.
Fred’s performance experience includes the Yamato, Pacific Crest and Arizona Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. He was also a member of Pulse Percussion from 2008-2011 and has performed on stage with Enrique Iglesias, America's Best Dance Crew, and others.
Fred recently graduated from UCLA with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Fred lives in the South Bay, CA
Melannie Stakely, Bass Tech
This will be Melannie’s 2nd year on staff with Pulse Open. She has also taught the Gold Drum and Bugle Corps and the Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps.
Melannie’s performance experience includes Black Knights, Mystikal Drum & Bugle Corps, Pulse Percussion, and Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps.
She is currently going to Cal State University Los Angeles studying child development/elementary subject matter.
Melannie lives in Boyle Heights, CA
Jonathan Morris, Cymbal Tech
This will be Jonathan’s first year on staff with Pulse Open. His performance experience includes the Black Knights, the RCC Winter Drumline and Pulse Percussion.
Jonathan earned his Bachelors’ degree in Science in Health Administration and is pursuing his Masters in health administration form Cal State University Northridge.
Jonathan currently lives in Santa Clarita, CA
Mike McGee, Visual Staff
This will be Mike’s first year on staff with Pulse Open. He currently is teaching at Los Alamitos, El Modena, and Claremont HS’s.
His performance experience includes Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, Pulse Percussion Open, and Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps. Mike is currently working on his degree in Music Composition.
Mike lives in Riverside, CA
Weston Amaro, Front Ensemble staff
This is Weston’s 2nd year on staff with Pulse Open. His performance experience includes Rancho Cucamonga High School, and Pulse Percussion. He is a full time percussion instructor and teaches/arranges for Rowland and Rancho Cucamonga High School’s.
Weston lives in Ontario, CA
Jesse Hirakawa, Front Ensemble staff
This is Jesse’s first year on staff with Pulse. His performance experience includes South Torrance High School, the Yamato Drum & Bugle Corps, the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and Pulse Percussion from 2008-2011. He is currently teaching Valencia and Los Alamitos High School’s and was on staff with the Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps.
He is currently attending Cal Poly Pomona in pursuit of a Landscape Architecture degree.
Jesse lives in West Covina, CA
Jhonny Crespo, Front Ensemble staff
This is Jhonny's first year on Pulse's staff. He marched with the Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps from 2005-2007 and aged out at the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps in 2009. He was also a member of Pulse Percussion from 2007-2010.
Jhonny has taught many local high school programs and recently taught the front ensemble at for the Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps. He has a Bachelors in Music Composition from California State University Los Angeles and is currently working on his Masters in Commercial Music.
Jhonny lives in West Covina, CA