Brass

Oscar Escobar has over 25 years of experience as a musician and clinician in the marching arts.

He marched Mellophone in the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps from 1998 to 2000. 

He was on Staff with the 2002 Division 2 world Champion Magic Of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps. Oscar was also on brass Staff with Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps from 2008-2009. He was also a member of The Sun Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013 and became the Brass Caption head in 2014.

Oscar has worked with bands and indoor ensembles around Florida as a full-time clinician and show designer. He currently works as the Brass and Marching instructor at Vero Beach High School and is the program coordinator for Port St Lucie High School in Port St Lucie Florida.

For over 20 years Oscar has been a professional musician performing with various symphonies and ensembles.

Oscar currently lives in Vero Beach Florida with his wife and Children. He is the director of bands at Oslo Middle School and is a full-time member of the Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra and the Treasure Coast Wind Ensemble.

A Florida native originally from Jacksonville, and now currently in the Ft Myers area.

Jordan started his drum corps experience with Spirit of Atlanta (AKA Spirit from Jacksonville State University at that time) in 2006 and aged out in 2007, playing trumpet.

He has taught both visual and music at St. Augustine HS, Fleming Island HS, Estero HS, Naples HS, and Blue Valley Southwest HS.; high brass at Tampa Bay Thunder drum corps 2012, and taught/performed with Sun Devils drum corps 2013 (mellophone) & 2014 (head drum major).

Jordan is currently at the FFCC indoor/outdoor circuit as one of their announcers.

Russ is originally from northern Alabama, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music from the University of North Alabama, where he was a leader in the Marching Pride, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Studio Lab Band, Brass Ensemble, and Shoals Symphony. He was also a soloist with Tampa Bay Thunder in 2012 and 2013. He has been on staff with marching bands in Alabama and Florida, and currently teaches brass and visuals for Plant City High School. He is also the principal trumpet player for the Florida Wind Band and consistently a guest performer with the Florida College Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. He lives in Plant City with his wife and two daughters.

David Flores is a Floridian born and raised who is very excited about the addition of a new Drum Corps in the state. David started his marching career as a tuba player for the Boston Crusaders in 2010 and was a member through 2011, 2012, and  2014. In addition, David has also spent time performing in the DCA circuit with the Sun Devils and Solaris.

David studied music at FSW State College and has taught locally at several ensembles throughout the state and composed for some. Professionally, David has performed as a part of multiple Brass Quintets and the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra.

 David is excited to bring his expertise to the Fusion Core low brass section this summer.

Alex Rucker, located in the Indian River County area, has been teaching, coaching, and consulting since 2020 at multiple high schools in central and south Florida, including Sebastian River High School, Jensen Beach High School, and Coral Glades High School. He also offers private lessons in the Palm Beach County area.

His marching experience includes Nemesis Winds, Stryke Winds, Crossmen, Cadets, and Boston Crusaders.

Alex is excited to join the Fusion Core team and share his years of experience with our members.

Sami Mackeed has been involved with the music activity for several years. He marched the Boston Crusaders in 2009 and 2011 and was the Contra Bass section leader in 2012. In 2015, he was a member of Solaris, based out of Florida. Sami is a Lake Howell High School graduate where he found his initial love of marching band and for the last four years, has been teaching marching band at Blue Valley Southwest High School.

Sami can't wait to get on the opposite side of the field, teaching the members of Fusion Core Brass, and looks forward to being part of their inaugural Florida season. 

Frank Ponzo started his Drum Corps career in the North Bellmore Flames Drum and Bugle Corps from North Bellmore, NY as a Baritone player in 1978.  In 1982 he joined the Long Island Sunrisers as a 4th Soprano player and won his first DCA Championship that year. He quickly worked his way up the ranks and became an Asst. Brass instructor under Mike Longdo, and Soloist in the Sunrisers production of Fiddler in the Roof in 1986 and stayed with the Sunrisers until 1989 as a soloist and brass instructor.

In 1990, Frank went to the Hawthorne Caballeros and was a brass instructor and soloist from 1990 - 2014, and was instrumental in the success of the Caballeros Alumni Corps as a Charter Member and instructor from 1994 thru to 2008.

Frank was also a member of the West Sayville Golden Eagles in 2004 when they won the DCA Mini Corps Championships, and became Brass Caption Head in 2005. In 2007, Frank lead the Golden Eagles to the short lived Mini Corps Association Championships in its First year.

Frank was the DCA Soloist of the year in 1994 and again in 1997 and was part of a trio who won the DCA Best Showmanship Award in 2000. In 2016 Frank went back to the Long Island Sunrisers as a Brass Consultant and in 2017 was on the Brass Staff of Fusion Core.

Frank was inducted as a Charter Member of the Buglers Hall of Fame in 2005, was inducted into the New Jersey Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2006, and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2014. After the 2017 season, Frank retired from Drum Corps and moved to Orlando Florida in 2018, where he is enjoying his “retirement”.

But wait, there's more. Fusion Core is very pleased to have Frank as part of the team for our inaugural season here in the Sunshine State.