About Us Richard Lopez - Owner Richard Lopez - an instructor and show designer since 1978 for many Texas high school color guards and bands. Richard has designed shows for numerous indoor color guard state champions, UIL Texas State marching finalists and WGI regional champions. He has also designed programs for state solo and ensemble color guard champions. Richard was the education director for the Texas Educational Color Guard Circuit. Richard is also a marching band drill designer. He has written for the Revolution Drum and Bugle corps as well as many high schools. Many of his drills have placed in the UIL State Marching Band contests. His drill for the Revolution Drum and Bugle Corp finished 4th at the D.C.I. Finals. Richard is the owner of Performer's Academy, a consulting company for the visual arts. He is an active member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and executive board member for the Schertz, Cibolo and Universal City Community Fine Arts Network. Heather Benton - Director Of Operations Born and raised in Andrews, Texas, Heather is a graduate of Andrews HS and attended the University of Miami receiving her degree in Electronic Sound Engineering. Heather performed in the Andrews HS Color Guard, Univ. of Miami's "Band of the Hour" Color Guard, Alliance of Miami, and Echos of New Orleans Parade Corps. Heather has designed and/or directed for other high school programs such as Brenham HS, Comeaux HS, Vandebilt Catholic HS, Midland HS, Midland Lee HS, Andrews HS and Deerfield Beach HS. For the past 4 years she was the color guard director at Tomball HS. Under her direction, the program won many marching auxiliary and winterguard awards in the Houston area. Heather has also been on guard staff for Southwind D&BC from Lexington, KY, and Memphis Sound D&BC from Memphis, TN, Code Black Independent A from Houston, TX, and Identity Independent Open from San Marcos, TX. Heather is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association and Texas Music Educators Association. Heather currently resides in San Antonio as the Director of Operations for "Performer's Academy" writing drill, staging and choreography and is the colorguard caption head for Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps. Saundra Patton-Decker - Instructor Saundra Lee Decker - was 1987's Miss West Virginia for the Miss America Scholarship Program. She was the recipient of the Cavalier Talent Scholarship at the 1988 Miss America Pageant and also received preliminary talent scholarship awards at the 1985 and 1986 Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageants. Saundra is a former Lawrence County Junior Miss and received the Creative and Performing Arts Scholarships for both Lawrence County Junior Miss and Pennsylvania Junior Miss Programs. She has received over 1200 awards for her performing abilities including over 100 State and National championship titles. Saundra received a B.F.A. in Theater with an emphasis in Acting and Dance from West Virginia University and was a feature twirler with the Pride of West Virginia University Marching Band from 1984-1988. Saundra is an accomplished choreographer of dance, baton twirling and color guard. She is a coach and choreographer for over 75 State and Regional champions in all fields of performance. Saundra is a former co-owner of Performer's Academy and is currently an instructor for the company. She has been teaching since 1978 and continues to stay current with today's trends in performance. Tyler Berget - Instructor Tyler is a graduate of Lampasas High School. While attending, he was a member of the Lampasas Badger Band from 2002-2006 where he served as Band officer for three years, and drum major his final year. He was also a member of the Lampasas High School Illusion Winter Guard from 2004-2006, and succeeded in becoming the Texas Color Guard Circuit State Champions in the Scholastic AAA class with their production of “The Carpenters”. After graduating, Tyler became a cast member for both the Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps and Winter Guard and performed within the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Tyler also had the privilege to perform with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in their production of “Metamorphosis”. He finalized his drum corps career in 2008 as an age out with the Crossmen and their production of “Planet X”. He also had the honor of participating in the inaugural season of the Identity Independent Open Winter Guard, where he served as captain. Tyler currently resides and attends school in San Antonio, Texas where he is director of the William H. Taft High School Color Guard, and technician for Roosevelt High School. Samuel Rosado - Instructor Samuel Rosado is a graduate of Lampasas High School where he was a drum major for the 2002-2004 marching season. He played oboe and received many awards on a state level. After graduating, he marched with the Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps in the summer of 2005. He also performed with the University of Texas at Arlington marching ensemble in the fall of 2005. He then became a cast member of the 2006-2007 Revolution Independent Winterguard. He most recently performed with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in their 2008 production "The Knockout." He is currently residing in San Antonio, Texas and is very excited to be with Performer's Academy. Emily Razo - Instructor Emily is a graduate of Canyon High School where she participated in the Colorguard from 2002-2006. Emily was the Commander of her high school team from her sophomore year through her senior year. During her first year as Commander the Canyon High School Marching band competed at the State Marching Contest. Emily received a bronze metal for her participation with Canyon High School in the 2005 TCGC State Championships. Emily was also privileged to perform in the inaugural 2008 season of the Identity Independent Open Winterguard where she served as Captain. Emily has taught at Madison High School, Seguin High School and is now the Director at Steele High School. Along with teaching Emily attends school at Texas State University in San Marcos. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Science and will also become teacher certified. Emily currently resides in New Braunfels, TX. Brittany Ham - Instructor After graduating from Lampasas High School, Brittany served as a flag instructor for Lampasas, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove High Schools. She was a performing member of Phantom Regiment's 2010 production "Into the Light", and has been a cast member for Identity Independent Winterguard for the last 3 years serving as co-captain for 2010 and 2011. In 2010, she served as section leader for the Texas State Bobcat Band Colorguard. Brittany is a full time student at Texas State University studying Communication Design and is currently the director at Samuel Clemens High School and tech staff for Tom C. Clark High School. Ruben Alejandre - Instructor A graduate of William Howard Taft High school, Ruben was a member of the Taft Raider Band colorguard. He became a member of Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps for two seasons. After aging out, Ruben became a staff member for the corps specializing in dance and flag. Ruben was also a part of Revolution Independent Winterguard for four seasons competing in both the Open and World class at WGI. Currently, Ruben resides in San Antonio, where he is working on his college degree in Dance. He is currently the director at Earl Warren High School and John Jay High school. Jessie Arbolay - Instructor Jessie is an alumni of Lampasas High School where he was active in the band and colorguard programs. While in high school, he was a member of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2008. Jessie was a member of the Identity winterguard in 2010 and currently in 2011. Jessie has worked with Copperas Cove High School, Harker Heights High School and Harker Heights High School as a technician. Currently Jessie is the director for Steele High School and is studying Dance Education at Texas State University. Danielle Ramirez - Instructor Assistant Danielle Ramirez is a graduate from William Howard Taft High School, where she marched with the Raider Band and Colorguard from 2001 - 2006. She served as Colorguad Captain from 2005- 2006. After graduating Danielle became involved with the dance program at Northwest Vista College where she attended ballet, modern, indian folk and middle eastern dance classes. She performed in the dance programs "open studio" in 2008 and 2009. Danielle is curently attending Texas State University in San Marcos, with a major in cultural anthropology and and minor in dance. She resides in San Antonio and is working at Samuel Clemens High School as an assistiant insructor. Helen Stein - Instructor Assistant Helen Stein is an honors graduate of Cooper City High School. She participated in WGI finals in both scholastic A and scholastic open class, under the direction of Hayden Rhodes. During her senior year the Sound of Pride Marching Band won the gold medal becoming state champions in class AAAA. She was privileged to join the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, becoming the youngest member of their 2007 production, "A Picasso Suite," under the direction of Michael Shapiro. She continued to march with the corps from 2007 through their 2010 production of, "Thy Kingdom Come," where she was featured as the lead female dancer for the ballad. Helen also performed in Identity independent winterguard's 2010 production, "Curiouser and Curiouser," as the character of Alice. Helen is currently instructing the William H. Taft and Earl Warren High School color guards. She is currently residing in Castroville, TX, and a full time student at Northwest Vista College, majoring in physical therapy. Elizabeth Nations - Instructor Assistant Elizabeth Nations graduated with honors from James Madison High School . All four years of high school she participated in the Madison Marching Band as part of the colorguard and winterguard, as well as played the oboe in the Symphonic Band. Her junior year the Madison Winterguard was awarded a silver medal at the TCGC State Championships for Regional A White Division with Elizabeth serving as Co-Captain. Her senior year she advanced to Captain and Madison Winterguard brought home a gold medal from TCGC State Championships for Scholastic Regional A White Division. Elizabeth has performed with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in "Planet X", and the following summer in "Forbidden". Her final year of Drum Corps International, Elizabeth marched with The Holy Name Cadets in their 2010 production "Toy Soldier". The Cadets placed 5th that year at DCI Finals. Currently, Elizabeth is attending Texas State University in San Marcos studying Communication Disorders. She currently lives in San Antonio and is truly ecstatic to have taken the step from student to technician as part of the Performer's Academy team. Dylan Perez - Instructor Assistant Dylan graduated from James Madison High School. During his years in High School, he was a member of the Mighty Maverick Marching Band from 2006-2007 and then joined the colorguard and winterguard programs for the 2009 - 2010 season. After graduating from James Madison High School, Dylan became a cast member of ATX Winterguard's Independent "A" Group, with their production of "Autumn Joy" in their 2011 season and will be marching with the Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2011 season. Currently, Dylan is a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he is pursuing his many interests, and like many new students, is very indecisive about the "perfect major choice." He currently serves as a Colorguard Tech at Earl Warren High School. Megan Pena - Instructor Assistant Megan Pena is a graduate of Tom C Clark High School in 2010 where she participated in the guard from 2007-2010. She was the commander of the guard her senior year and received State Champions in AA in TECA in 2010 with the show "Rejoice." Currently Megan is teaching at Madison High School as a Tech. She is also a member of the 2010 Identity Independent A Winterguard and will be a performing member in Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps summer 2011. She currently resides in San Antonio, Texas and is attending the University of Phoenix. In her spare time, Megan enjoys swimming, crafting and scrapbooking.