Andrew Kriska
Director
Andrew is pleased to announce he is entering his fifth 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 as a visual tech with Wando high school band in Mount Pleasant, SC Andrew currently resides in Summerville, SC, where he thrives as an entrepreneur.
Chris Alaniz
Design Coordinator
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, and endorses Zildjian cymbals.
Kyle Harvey
Battery Coordinator
Kyle Harvey is excited to be working with Charles Towne Percussion. Mr. Harvey was born and raised in Summerville, South Carolina. He recently earned his Master of Music in percussion performance at the University of Southern Mississippi, studying under Dr. John Wooton. While at USM, Mr. Harvey held a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, teaching undergraduate lessons, percussion methods, Steel band, and assisting in rehearsals. He participated in most ensembles and was a winner of the USM Concerto Competition.
Mr. Harvey earned his bachelor’s degree in music education at Charleston Southern University. While there, he studied percussion under Dr. Michael Haldeman. Mr. Harvey was a member of the Coastal Surge Drum and Bugle Corps and the indoor percussion ensemble, Equinox Percussion. Mr. Harvey’s teaching experience includes teaching private lessons, working with Summerville High School, Ashley Ridge High School, Jones College, Charleston Southern University, and Paradigm Percussion. Currently, Mr. Harvey is the Assistant Director of Bands at Ashley Ridge High School.
Shaquiel Page
Assistant Battery Coordinator
Shaq Page is a South Carolina native coming from Myrtle Beach, SC. Attending high school in Columbia, SC under the direction of Dale T. Hair, and AJ Pace. He marched with the Spirit of Chanticleer drumline under the direction of Dr. Jesse Willis from 2010-2013. He has previously served as battery caption head for MyrtleBeatz Independent percussion, as well as returning for his 3rd season at CTP! Currently he serves as the percussion director for North Myrtle Beach High School, as well as teaching the percussion at North Myrtle Beach middle school. His teaching experience also includes private lessons, as well as large marching ensembles for parades in Horry County.
Ryan West
Front Ensemble
Ryan west is a native of Union, South Carolina. While in Union he was the drum captain, center marimba, and center snare for Union county high school’s marching band and Indoor Percussion group. He led the group to 1st place in the state, 1st place at CIPA championships, and 14th at WGI world championships in Scholastic A class. Ryan also spent time with the independent Open class indoor percussion group Catalyst Percussion. Along with his involvement in indoor percussion for 7 years, he also competed as a soloist in the junior festival piano competition and won best performer.
Ryan later earned a bachelors degree in Music education at Charleston southern university while studying percussion under Dr. Michael Haldeman. He also minored in piano and studied under Dr. Janet Elshazly, Dr. Eugene Kostner, and Dr. Bradley Parker. While in college he was a member of and also arranged pieces for CSU’s Jazz band, jazz combo, percussion ensemble, steel band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, and marching band as center snare.
For the last 7 years Ryan has been, and currently works as a private instructor, music director, and percussion teacher and teaches piano, guitar, ukulele, and percussion with the company music mobile. He is the music director at Faith Church in Goose Creek, and has played electric guitar in multiple major events and conferences with Faith Worship. His teaching experience includes working with Stratford High School, Summerville High School, Gregg Middle School, Charleston Southern University, and Hanahan High school where he has been the percussion instructor since 2019.
Visual Team
Cameron Buskirk
Visual/Cymbals
Cameron Buskirk is very excited to be returning for his second season with Charles Towne Percussion! Cameron was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina and does not plan on leaving any time soon. Cameron received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Charleston Southern University studying French Horn under Mr. Brandon Nichols. Cameron is currently working on his master’s in music education degree through the University of Florida. Cameron’s primary instrument is the French Horn but is proficient on many others. Cameron has performed on many stages including Carnegie Hall, as well as being an international performer. He spent 3 weeks touring Europe with a wind ensemble and performed in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Cameron actively plays in the Summerville Orchestra. He has been an avid member in the marching arts for over 10 years, competing in both marching band and indoor percussion. In 2016 Cameron marched with an indoor percussion group and went on to win Gold at the CWEA Championship. Cameron currently teaches General Music at Fort Dorchester Elementary School in North Charleston. Outside of teaching and performing, Cameron enjoys watching Marvel and Star Wars movies.
Savannah Brooke Page
Movement/Choreography
Savannah Page is a South Carolina native coming from Myrtle Beach, SC attending high school in Murrells Inlet, SC. Under the direction of Mr. Chuck Capps. She marched with the Chanticleer Regiment Colorguard under the direction of Emily Griffin in 2019 at Coastal Carolina University and was a movement performer with Charles Towne Percussion in 2022. Her previous experience includes six seasons of outdoor color guard and four seasons of indoor winter guard in total. She also worked with the color guard at St. James high school, Loris high school, and North Myrtle Beach high school, as well as taught the choreography for large county-wide parade bands.
Andrew Kriska
Visual/Drill Writer
Administrative Assistant
We are currently looking to fill this position. If interested, Contact the director at: charlestownepercussion@gmail.com
Responsibilities may include:
-
Coordinating fundraisers with members
-
Assisting the director with creating social media
-
Securing rehearsal and equipment facilities
-
Creating spreadsheets of data
-
Continuing growth of the organization
-
Fostering Non-profit financial growth