Kevin Valentine
Executive Director
Kevin Valentine brings over 25 years of leadership, technology, and operations management experience to Gold Youth Arts, having held senior leadership positions with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and Hilton Hotels.
He is responsible for all aspects of the Organization, including strategic planning, marketing, financial and operational execution, legal and regulatory compliance, human resources management and volunteer coordination, as well as operation of the GOLD’s four performance ensembles (Gold Indoor Percussion, GOLD Winter Guard, Gold Wind Symphony, and GOLD Drum & Bugle Corps.)
Mr. Valentine is a member of the Drum Corps International Open Class Advisory Committee, and is the winner of the 2023 Dr. David Kampschroer Leadership Award recognizing the Open Class Director of the Year.
Mr. Valentine holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Azusa Pacific University, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He lives in Corona, California, and is supported by his wife Kari, his daughter Rebekah and son Tim, who is an alumnus of the Gold Euphonium Section.
Scott Director
Program Composer & Director of Development
Mr. Director has over 20 years’ experience as a music educator and composer, and has extensive experience in the creation and development of fundraising programs for non-profit organizations. He is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all of Gold Youth Arts’ fundraising, planned giving, special events and capital campaigns.
Mr. Director is the composer of original music for Gold Drum & Bugle Corps, and he also serves as the Organization’s Director of Development.
He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Miami where he studied with Clifton Williams, Frederick Fennell and Alfred Reed. Currently, Mr. Director resides in Los Angeles where he maintains an active composing, arranging, and teaching schedule.
Jeremy Grasz
Director of Technology and Live Events
Mr. Grasz has over 20 years of operations experience at Best Buy Co., Inc., as well as more than 10 years’ experience managing the operations of Gold Drum & Bugle Corps.
He is responsible for all technology systems including website design, social media, E-commerce, systems administration, and customer relationship management systems, as well as managing administrative tasks for all GOLD Drum & Bugle Corps events.
Mr. Grasz currently lives in Oceanside, CA.
Joe Paul
Director of Operations
Joe Paul has acquired a wealth of experience in the pageantry arts over the past 30-plus years. He was a performing member and staff member of both Avatar Winter Guard from Southern California and The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois. Since then he has taught a wide range of high school and independent bands, color guards, and drum corps.
Joe was the director of Allusion Winter Guard for 6 years and currently designs for several high school marching band and winter guard programs. Prior to joining Gold, Joe has served on the administrative team for The Cavaliers and as the Director of Operations for The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps.
Joe has been an active judge for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association, Utah Winter Guard Association and the Northwest Pageantry Association and is frequently called upon as a guest judge in various circuits across the country. He has also been a clinician for the Winter Guard Association of Southern California and the SCSBOA, and has served on the Executive Committee of the WGASC.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in Art from the California State University, Northridge. He currently lives in Los Angeles, CA where he works professionally as a Graphic Designer and Drill Writer.