Executive Director
Andrew kriska
Andrew is pleased to announce he is entering his 8th year as director of Charles Towne Percussion. As a lifetime member of the marching arts community, and a native of North Carolina, Andrew has served many roles in various organizations throughout the years. His membership included an impressive 6 seasons of drum corps that consisted of the 2006 Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps(DCA), 2007, 2008, & 2010 Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, and the 2011-2012 Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. While at The Cavaliers he received a bronze medal in the 2011 DCI finals, and was a recipient of the Yamaha Brass member award in 2012. He has also served as a visual technician for Carolina Gold, Paradigm Percussion, and visual caption head for Coastal Surge Drum and Bugle Corps. He has worked as a visual coordinator and drill writer for many high schools in West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Andrew studied music education at West Virginia University, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Currently he serves on the visual team entering his 4th season with the 14 time 5A state champion Wando high school band in Mount Pleasant, SC., and is currently serving his third term on the Percussion and winds advisory board for CWEA. Andrew currently works at Audio Technica as the quality control lead for the southeast distribution center in Moncks Corner, SC.
Program Coordinator
Chris Alaniz
Chris Alaniz is a native of Central Illinois. After working many years as the Percussion Caption Head for Danville High School and numerous groups in the area, he moved away to become the Percussion Caption Head at Normal West Community High School in Normal, Illinois under the direction of Lisa Preston. As a well-rounded percussionist and adjudicator, Chris has taught a variety of traditional ensembles and ensembles involved WGI, CIPA, OIPA, CWEA, MEPA, IMEA, BOA, DCA, and DCI. His career has afforded him opportunities to work with groups from the Midwest to the East Coast. As Chris worked his way down South Carolina he was the assistant to Kurry Seymour the Director of Percussion at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC and went on to become the Percussion Caption Head at Ashley Ridge High School in Summerville, SC. He was also part of the staff of the WGI Gold Medal Winning Palmetto Percussion Independent (2010-2015) from Central South Carolina. He is currently on the percussion staff of the Bands of Wando at Wando High School in Mt Pleasant, SC. Chris Alaniz is a Vic Firth Educational Artist, endorses Zildjian cymbals, and Remo drum heads.
Administration
Director
Noah is a native of Pembroke New York. This will be Noah’s 3rd full season with Charles Towne, in those three years he has seen the group grow significantly. Noah has been involved in the marching arts since joining his high school parade band in 2012. In 2016 Noah began his drum corps career with the White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps where he was a marching member for an impressive four years. In his final year Noah joined the administrative team where he was in charge of membership communications. Noah then spent two seasons, 2019 and 2020, teaching with the Central Square Red Hawk Regiment in the New York State Field Band Conference. Currently Noah is entering his second season as a visual tech with the Bands of Wando at Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Noah Kelsey
Instructional staff Leadership
Batterie Caption Head
Hailing from Richmond Hill, Georgia, Cody is excited to be entering his first year as Batterie Caption Head. He is determined to foster a culture of excellence through building musicality, strengthening ensemble cohesion, and developing a mindset of continual growth. While pursuing his degree, Cody was a member of Western Carolina University’s Pride of The Mountains. Cody is also a founding member of Charles Towne Percussion, 2019-2021. In 2025 Cody joined CTP as a snare tech and quickly became a cornerstone of the team. Beyond the ensemble, Cody works as an ICU registered nurse in Asheville, NC and enjoys spending time with his dog and Fiancé while also finding time to cook and golf.
Cody Walker
Front Ensemble Caption Head
Will has a deep rooted passion for the marching arts that has continued to strengthen and develop through the years. This will be Will’s third season as Front Ensemble Caption Head. He is committed to building a culture similar to that which has given him his passion and knowledge of the activity. He has previously worked with Boiling Springs High School, Chesnee High School, and Ridgeview High School. Will previously performed with Coastal Surge Drum and Bugle Corps and Saints Indoor Percussion.
Will Land
Visual Caption Head
A native of Lexington, South Carolina, Charlie Winston is excited to return for his second season as Visual Captionhead. Charlie has been a member of many successful marching arts organizations, including Spirit of Atlanta and the Bluecoats, where he was a member in the hornline that won the Jim Ott, John Brazale award for visual proficiency, and the DCI World Championships in 2024. Charlie is also the visual instructor for the River Bluff High School Gator Band in Lexington, South Carolina. Outside of the marching arts, Charlie is a Music Performance and History major at the University of South Carolina Honors College, and spends time with his fiancée watching Love Island.
Charlie Winston
Instructional staff Technicians
Snare
This will be Ace’s first season with Charles Towne Percussion. As an instructor Ace believes in sharing niche knowledge and facilitating a healthy environment for personal and team growth. Ace’s previous marching experience includes the Pride of the Mountains from 2019-2024 including two seasons as snare section leader, Civitas 2020, 2022-2024, and Academy Drum and Bugle Corps 2023. While with Civitas Ace was appointed section leader, this helped Ace develop his adaptability and adversity and how to teach more effectively. Outside of teaching, Ace is a cook at Ilda in Sylva where he gets to combine his mindset of the marching arts and the world of culinary. In his free time Ace loves to cook, bike, and golf.
Ace Zhao
Bass
This is Aliah’s third year on staff with Charles Towne Percussion. Her WGI experience includes two years with Charles Towne, 2020 and 2022, and her age out with Civitas Independent in 2023.
Aliah Gibson
Quads
Ben Johnson is a biology major at Coastal Carolina where he is also a member of the Coastal Regiment. Ben has previously marched with Nomad Indoor, 20-22, Charles Towne Percussion 23-24, and recently aged out with Paradigm 25. Ben previously taught with Penn Trafford High School drumline. This will be Ben’s first year teaching with Charles Towne Percussion.
Ben Johnson
Bass
Christian is excited to be returning for his second season with Charles Towne Percussion. He brings over 10 years experience in the marching arts, most notably with Saints Percussion in 2017 and Civitas Percussion in 2020 and 2023. Christian has previously served as battery instructor at Laurens High School.
Christian McCotter
Bass
Will Moore
Audio
David Katilius
David Katilius is a native of Greenville, SC. His background in the WGI field includes performing with Palmetto Percussion from 2009 to 2011, on both bass guitar and marimba. David then went on to teach with Frequency Percussion in 2012 then with Saints Percussion from 2016 to 2019 as audio coordinator.
Formerly a classically trained pianist and percussionist, David graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Electric Bass Performance. In addition to his duties with CTP, David is a touring musician and performs with nationally-renowned Phish tribute band Runaway Gin, coincidentally, based right here at home in Charleston, in addition to touring with the original music project Henry’s Pocket, featuring members of the Marcus King Band. David is also a freelance live audio engineer, having toured extensively throughout the US as a front-of-house and monitor engineer, and was most recently the head engineer for nearly 3 years at Doc’s Tavern in Greenville, SC.
Audio
Justyce Powell is returning for his second year at Charles Towne Percussion as the Audio Manager. Justyce studied Music Business and Audio Engineering at Dark Horse Institute, while there he had the privilege to work with Grammy award winning engineers and some of the top artists. Justyce marched 2019 and 2020 with Charles Towne Percussion and is once again excited to give back to the organization where he started.
Justyce Powell
Front/Synth
Miguel Orozco, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, has over a decade of experience in percussion performance. As a former member of Charles Towne Percussion and Civitas Independent, he has been under the wing of many noteworthy instructors from various generations, groups, and organizations. Now, in his second year of instructing with CTP, he is excited to continue the role of a mentor by guiding and supporting students.
Miguel Orozco
Front Visual
Erick is thrilled to be returning for his third season with Charles Towne Percussion as the front ensemble visual tech. Erick first began his marching career in Indianapolis where he participated in his school's marching band and indoor percussion program. After high school Erick continued his marching career with the Citadel Regimental Band. Erick loves nothing more than sharing his love of music with others, he could not be more excited to be back with CTP this season!
Erick Mendoza
Mallets
Payton is a devoted percussionist and educator from Houston, Texas. She is finishing up her degree from the University of Texas at Austin where she is majoring in Music. Payton has performed with world class ensembles such as the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps (2022-2024) as well as Monarch Independent (2022-2025). Currently, Payton is working with local high schools in the Austin area such as Leander and Weiss High School, as well as spending a summer teaching the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. She is excited to start a new adventure in Charleston and is looking forward to being on staff at Charles Towne Percussion
Payton Icard
Choreographer
A Central Square New York native, Cassandra comes with 14 years of experience in the marching arts. Cassandra began marching career with her high school where she took part in winter guard, field band, and parade band.Her high school is also where she began her teaching experience, as a tech with the JV, club, and summer guard; while also giving private lessons. Outside of school Cassandra has years of experience in dance. Cassandra’s marching experience also includes a season with Gates Chili Independent, as well as 3 years with the White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps, 2016-2018. Currently she works with Wando Bands as a guard coach, and back for her 3rd year here with Charles Towne Percussion, second as choreographer.
Cassandra Kelsey
Visual
Ben Stone
Ben Stone, originally from Leesburg, Virginia, is excited to begin his first season with Charles
Town Percussion. Ben is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in music education at the
University of South Carolina, with a performance certificate on Euphonium. At the University of
South Carolina he has performed with the Wind Ensemble, Left Bank Big Band, and the USC
Marching Band. Ben is also the principle euphonium in the South Carolina Brass Band. He is also a recent age-out of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps where he was a featured soloist in each production, 2022-2024. Ben brings a wealth of knowledge to the table and is looking forward to his time with Charles Town Percussion!
Visual
Connor Hammond is originally from Pace Florida. He had the pleasure of marching with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in 2021 and 2022. Connor’s teaching experience rivals that of his performance credits, he has taught at multiple high schools in Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, and South Carolina! Additionally, he is a visual staff member at Music City Drum and Bugle Corps and taught at St. Martin Independent in 2023. Professionally, Connor is a Graduate Assistant at the University of South Carolina.
Connor Hammond
Visual
Micah Sullivan is a native from Pawleys Island, South Carolina. This is Micah’s first year with Charles Towne Percussion. Outside of Charles Towne, he is a performance major at the University of South Carolina and works with the Lexington High School Marching Band. Micah spent 2024 and 2025 touring with Phantom Regiment.
Micah Sullivan
Support/External
staff
Batterie Consultant
Kyle Harvey
Front Consultant
Brett is a Boiling Springs, South Carolina resident who marched Palmetto Percussion in 2011. Following that season, he began teaching at various high schools throughout the Upstate. From 2013 to 2016 He was the front ensemble director at Boiling Springs high school, following that he was the front ensemble caption head at Saints Percussion from 2016 to 2019. In 2020 Brett was a front tech with Palmetto Indoor Percussion. Brett is no stranger to Charles Towne Percussion as he has been helping the front behind the scenes since 2023. Brett is excited to be joining the team in a more official role with the Front Ensemble.