The Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps is pleased to announce the return of Chris De Leon, Robert Barfield, and Kevin Ford to lead its visual program for the 2010 season. De Leon and Barfield are returning for their second seasons, and Ford will be back for his third season with the corps.

"I am very pleased to announce the return of these three excellent teachers and designers," said Executive Director Brad Furlano. "Chris De Leon and Bob Barfield made great strides in establishing a visual identity for the corps last season, and Kevin Ford continues to do amazing work for the corps from design conception to delivery of the final visual product."

"The drum corps activity is very special," said Corps Director Howard Weinstein. "I have had the honor of working with both Kevin Ford and Bob Barfield as colleagues for the past twenty-four years. What is even more special is we met and performed within the activity. Taking that to the next level, Chris De Leon is a past student of mine, and I am so proud to watch him continue his marching arts career within the Blue Stars' organization. We are very fortunate to have Chris, Kevin and Bob's expertise and dedication to our drum corps."

About Chris De Leon

Chris De Leon is returning to the role of Visual Caption Head for the 2010 season. He brings with him more than 8 years of experience as a visual clinician/consultant and instrumental specialist for several nationally acclaimed band programs across the country. he groups under Chris' instruction have received top visual honors at regional and national BOA and WGI events. Some of the more recent groups include Lawrence Central High School, Tarpon Springs High School and Northmont High School.

De Leon's drum corps teaching career began immediately follow his 4 years as a member of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps where he aged out as Drum Major in 2003. He spent the 2004-2007 season as a member of the Visual staff with Boston, serving as Assistant Visual Caption Head during the 2007 season. Chris accepted the position as Visual Caption Head for the Blue Stars in the fall of 2008.

Chris received his Bachelors of Music Education, with a minor in Jazz Studies, from The Ohio State University. He is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Hagerty High School in Oviedo, FL.

"The 2009 season was the most fulfilling of my entire teaching career," said De Leon. "The amount of improvement that I witnessed from the members was both inspiring and humbling. I look forward to working along side my mentors and friends, Kevin and Bob, as well as the great members that make up this incredible organization."

About Robert Barfield

Robert Barfield is currently in his 17th year of teaching in the state of Florida public school system, and is in his 11th year at Tarpon Springs High School. He is currently the Associate Director of Bands for the Tarpon Springs High School Leadership Conservatory for the Arts. The Marching Band is a 5-time Class AA National Champion at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. The Wind Ensemble has performed at Carnegie Hall twice, Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center, the National Wind Festival in San Francisco, the Washington DC Band Festival at the Kennedy Center, and the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis. Under Mr. Barfield's direction, the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Bones Combo have performed at the University of North Texas Jazz Festival twice, and most recently at the Savannah Music Festival "Swing Central" Jazz Competition. Mr. Barfield will be conducting the Maine All-State Jazz Ensemble in January of 2010. His responsibilities at Tarpon Springs High School include teaching the Marching Band, directing the Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Combos, Assistant Conductor of Wind Ensemble I, Wind Ensemble II, Brass Pedagogy, Music Theory and Technology, and overseeing the Solo and Ensemble process. In addition, Mr. Barfield teaches the Music Leadership course, which is required of all freshman enrolled in the Leadership and Music Conservatory at Tarpon Springs High School.

Mr. Barfield is also a director of the community youth Jazz Ensemble at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Performing Arts Center in Clearwater, Florida. He is a teacher in their jazz preparatory course, which meets weekly and includes students from all over the Tampa Bay area.

Mr. Barfield graduated Summa cum Laude form the University of North Florida with a Bachelors of Arts in Music Education. He is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the International Association of Jazz Educators, the Florida Music Educators Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Pinellas County Music Educators Association. In addition to his duties at Tarpon Springs High School, he enjoys an active schedule as an adjudicator, drill designer and guest clinician throughout the country. Mr. Barfield has been recognized several times in the "Who's Who Among America's High School Teachers".

Mr. Barfield has been involved with the drum and bugle corps activity for twenty-seven years, currently a Visual Consultant for the Blue Stars Crum and Bugle Corps, and recently as the Visual Caption Head for the DCI World Championship Finalist Boston Crusaders, a position he held from 2000 - 2007.

"I am looking forward to continuing my role as a visual consultant with the Blue Stars," said Barfield. "It is exciting to watch the growth of the corps and to see the members evolve into world class performers."

About Kevin Ford

Kevin Ford is the Director of The Leadership and Music Conservatory at Tarpon Springs High School and brings to the Blue Stars Drum Bugle Corps his 20 years of experience as a nationally accomplished show designer and music educator. Consistently recognized for his creativity, work ethic, and his continued commitment to excellence in music education, He is presently in his fourteenth year of teaching in the public school system, all of which have been spent as the Director of Bands at Tarpon Springs High School. His responsibilities there include directing the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Marching Band, Winter Guard, serving as Solo and Ensemble Coach, and developing the curriculum for the Conservatory Student Leadership Courses.

Mr. Ford received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Florida, and is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Pinellas County Music Educators Association, and the Phi Kappa Psi Honor Society. In 2004 Mr. Ford was selected as Who's Who Among Teachers and in 2005 was selected for the prestigious Who's Who Among Americans award. In addition to his duties at Tarpon Springs High School, Mr. Ford enjoys an active schedule as a leadership speaker, guest clinician, and adjudicator throughout the country and is nationally renowned for his creative abilities as a show designer, drill writer, and consultant for the musical and visual arts.

He is currently the show designer for numerous high schools, the 5- time Bands of America AA National Champion Tarpon Springs High School Marching Band, and has been the visual designer for 4 different top 12 drum and bugle corps throughout his 20 year career. He is also the Co- founder of Inspire .Music and Entertainment Production Company. He currently serves as a member of the prestigious Bands of America Educational Advisory Board. Most notably, Mr. Ford was hired as the Artistic Designer for The Opening Ceremonies to The 2002 FIFA World Cup Soccer Games in Daejeon Metropolitan City, South Korea.

I am looking forward to watching the Blue Stars continue their growth as an organization and the privilege to again design with Michael and Frank," said Ford. "The addition of Tom Aungst and Neil Larivee will allow us to explore even more unique opportunities in regards to total show design."

2010 Auditions

Auditions for the Blue Stars' 2010 season will be at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, IN from November 20-22, 2009. Audition registration is now open. For more information, visit http://www.bluestars.org/audition/signup.php.