James Rocillo – Program Designer/ Creative Director
Mr. Rocillo is currently an Associate Professor at Riverside City College in Riverside, CA., where he conducts the Community Concert Band, Leads the Jazz Ensemble, and is the Director of the world-famous Riverside City College Marching Tigers.
James has been the Program Designer and Creative Director at Gold Drum & Bugle Corps since 2018, where he leads the creative staff and creates the vision and design philosophy for each year’s production. He has led GOLD to numerous awards, including DCI Most Improved Drum & Bugle Corps in 2018, Bronze Medalist in 2018 and 2019, and Open Class Silver Medalist in 2022. He has been on the brass staff for the Blue Devils A Corps since 2008, has been a part of eight DCI Championships (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022) and four Jim Ott Awards.(2008, 2010, 2014, 2022).
James earned his Bachelor of Science in Business/Marketing from the University of Phoenix in February of 2008 and his Master’s Degree in Education from National University in May of 2013 and is currently working towards a Master’s Degree in Conducting from California Baptist University in Riverside. James resides in the Inland Empire with his wife Sara and their son Miles and their dogs Aki and Coltrane.
Bill Fritz – Staff Director and Brass Caption Head
Mr. Fritz is an outstanding educator with over 15 years’ experience as a Band Director in the Southern California area. Currently Associate Director of Bands at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, CA., Mr. Fritz has most recently taught at Vista Murrieta High School & Azusa High School where his students consistently receive high marks at festivals and parades, and are frequent participants in honor bands throughout the state.
As Staff Director and Brass Caption Head at Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, Bill leads a talented group of music educators who are committed to performance excellence! Bill has taught at Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps and Academy Drum & Bugle Corps, and has performed with Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps and as a member of the 2007 World Champion Blue Devils.
Mr. Fritz obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education along with a Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance from California State University, Fullerton, studying under the direction of Mr. James Rotter. He earned his Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from California State University Fullerton, under the mentorship of Dr. Mitch Fennell.
Steven Herman – Percussion Caption Head
Mr. Herman has built his experience in the marching arts by surrounding himself with some of the most accomplished educators and marching ensembles in the DCI an WGI community including: Chino High School, POW Percussion, the Phantom Regiment, Pulse Percussion, and Broken City.
As an educator, Steven has worked with numerous programs in the Southern California Area including Woodcrest JHS, Alvarado IS, Walnut HS, Diamond Bar HS, Rowland HS, Vista Murrieta HS, Chino HS, Upland HS, Orange County Independent, Vessel Percussion, the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, and Broken City.
Steven proudly endorses Vic Firth/Zildjian as an Educational Artist.
Joey Valenzuela – Color Guard Caption Head
Mr. Valenzuela has performed all over the country with groups such as Pacific Crest, Corona Winter Guard and Fantasia Winter Guard. He is a highly respected educator who has taught several award-winning groups all over the southern California area, including Azusa High School, Charter Oak High School, Whittier High School, Chino High School, Don Lugo High School and Bellflower Middle & High School. He has taught at Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps, Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, and The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps, and has been teaching in the Southern California area since 2000.
As Color Guard Caption Head at Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, Joey leads a team of educators who are committed to performance excellence! He also serves as the Director of Gold Winter Guard, an Independent A ensemble that competes in the WGI and WGSAC circuits in Southern California, and competes nationally each year at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. Joey is heavily involved with the Winter Guard Association of Southern California; one of the largest winter guard circuits in the country, where he serves as Head of the Classification Committee.
Mr. Valenzuela obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from California State University, Fullerton.
Joey currently lives in Temple City, CA. with his husband Andrew, and children Jeremiah and Aiden.
Darrel Burns – Visual Caption Head