Chris Creswell (Owner, Chief Designer) is an accomplished trombonist, composer, visual designer and educator currently living in his hometown of Jacksonville, FL. Chris has enjoyed the privilege of performing and recording with many of today’s top pop and jazz artist including Mariah Carey, John Pizzarelli, Maceo Parker, Tom Kubis, Arturo Sandoval, and many more.
In 2001 while living in Los Angeles, CA Chris started writing marching band drill design, custom arrangements, and original compositions for high school and college bands across the United States. The business took it’s formal name “Chris Creswell Music and Design” after his move back to Florida in 2005. Chris is a past staff designer for Marching Show Concepts and currently designs for Creative Solutions.
As well as writing and performing, Chris has directed bands at The Orange County High School of the Arts in Santa Ana, CA (2000 – 2005), his Alma Mater Orange Park High School in Orange Park, FL (2005 – 2008) and Fleming Island High School in Fleming Island, FL (2009 – 2012). In 2012 Chris began serving as Artist in Residence and Director of Athletic Bands at Jacksonville University.
Chris still remains active as a trombonist in the southeastern music scene performing at festivals, corporate events, and with various jazz and chamber ensembles. He has also composed numerous original compositions and arrangements for jazz ensemble including a commission for the 2008 Jacksonville Jazz Festival, and arrangements published by Jalen Jazz.
Chris is a graduate of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and The Manhattan School of Music in New York City where he received his BM and MM degrees respectively in trombone performance and jazz studies. Chris is currently ABD earning a DMA in Music Education at Boston University studying social identity theories and their effect on band director motivation and group-identity. Chris is an alumni of the Disney All American College Band, The Epcot Grammy Collegiate Jazz Ensemble, and The Henry Mancini Institute. Chris is a member of ASCAP, NAfME, CBDNA, and FMEA.
Email: Chris@ccmusicdesign.com
Rob Sullens (Production Manager) is currently the Drumline Specialist for the Boise State University Blue Thunder Marching Band, Percussion Director at Eagle High School, and serves on the Board of Directors for Monarch Independent percussion ensemble in Houston, TX. Recently, Rob created Bandology LLC based in Boise, Idaho to help foster the growth of percussion, leadership, and music education in the Pacific Northwest through summer camps and other educational outreach programs.
Before moving to the Treasure Valley he was the Assistant Band Director and Director of Percussion for the Tomball High School feeder pattern in Tomball, Texas from 2013 – 2020. Tomball’s Winter Percussion Ensemble was the 2017 WGI World Championships Percussion Scholastic Concert Open Champions and a 2019 WGI World Championships Percussion Scholastic Concert World Finalist. Under his direction, the Tomball Marching Band attended the UIL 5A State Marching Contest for the 3 consecutive years it was eligible. Rob was the Ensemble Director for the Monarch Independent Percussion Ensemble 2015 (7th in PIO WGI World Championships) and 2016 (4th in PIO PIO WGI World Championships).
Some of Mr. Sullens’ past experiences include serving as on the WGI Percussion Advisory Board 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021, held the position of Texas Color Guard Circuit (TCGC) Vice President of Percussion from 2019 – 2020. Mr. Sullens was also the President of the Northwest Association for Performing Arts (NWAPA) in Beaverton, Oregon. Earlier in his career, Mr. Sullens was the Director of Percussion for the Tarpon Springs High School Band program from 1995 – 2000. Other experiences include marching with the Spirit of Atlanta and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mr. Sullens holds a Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia, South Carolina. While attending the university, he was the Percussion Coordinator for the USC Marching Band. Rob is an Innovative Percussion Artist, a member of NAfME, PAS, and is a sought-after marching band and winter percussion arranger, music ensemble consultant, leadership clinician, and adjudicates for various band and percussion circuits around the country and the world.
For CMMD Rob handles schedule coordination between designers and assistants as well as being a customer service liaison for directors and the design staff. Rob is also one of our staff percussion arrangers.
Email: Rob@ccmusicdesign.com
Additional Staff
Scott Friedberg (Drill Assistant – pyware set-up, music sync, score analysis) is the Director of Orchestras and Assistant Director of Bands at East River High School. Originally an Orlando native- Scott graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s in Music Education in 2016. He began his teaching career at East River High School in 2013 as a member of the marching band staff and has been employed as a clinician and a contractor for visual design. Scott began his drill writing career in 2021 and has written for East River High School from Orlando, FL, Lake Minneola High School from Minneola, Fl, and Collins Hill High School from Suwannee, GA. In 2023, two of his compositions were performed at the FMBC State 4A Finals and were awarded Most Creative concept at the University Classic.
Deron Jimmerson (Drill Assistant – pyware set-up, music sync, score analysis) is a band director in Cedar Rapids, IA, where he co-teaches 7th and 8th Grade bands, jazz bands and lessons. Previously he was the Associate and Co-Director of Bands at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School, and Director of Bands at Waseca, MN. Over the past 20+ years, ensembles under his direction have excelled with state and regional-level recognition in concert, jazz, and marching band festivals, including a 2nd Place finish (Class A) at the BOA St. Louis Super Regional Championships and a BOA Iowa Regional Finalist (Class AA).
Aaron Stone (Drill Assistant – adjustments and number rewrites) After ten years of being a high school and middle school band director, Aaron Stone is currently a Managing Partner for OrlandoFest, where he runs music events for students to get an educational experience while in Orlando, Florida. Aaron holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education as well as a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Aaron has been involved in the marching activity for over 25 years. As a band director, his marching bands have won back-to-back FMBC State Championships and have earned the top visual score eight times. His experience includes six years of marching with the Magic of Orlando and the Glassman Drum & Bugle Corps. After aging out of Drum Corps, Aaron has taught some of the top 12 corps in DCI as well as being the Visual Caption Head for the Magic Drum & Bugle Corps and the Staff Coordinator and Corps Director for the Tampa Bay Thunder Drum & Bugle Corps. Aaron writes drill for numerous bands around the country and is the Visual Caption Head for the Timber Creek High School Marching Regiment in Orlando, Florida.
Eric Kruse (Percussion Arranger, Mainstage, Sound EFX) is a professional percussion educator, composer and audio engineer. For the past 15 years, he has composed and arranged for percussion and electronics. Eric has always been drawn to the harmony of natural and synthetic sounds, and with his curiosity and creativity, he builds unique soundscapes that leave audiences captivated. Eric currently serves as the Drumline Coordinator at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, IN.
Dorman Pantfoeder Jr. (Percussion Arranger, Mainstage, Sound EFX) is a percussionist, composer, and educator from Jacksonville Florida. A graduate of Jacksonville University, he has enjoyed touring as a professional percussionist, a former member of the Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, a former member of the Jacksonville Jaguars Drumline, and is currently the Director of Bands at Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School.
Aleksso Rojas (Percussion Arranger) is a music performance major in percussion at Jacksonville University. He has arranged for Chris Creswell Music and Design since 2021, and has also arranged for the Jacksonville University Marching band. Aleksso was the front ensemble instructor for Oakleaf High School Golden Regiment in 2023, where they placed 4th in the FMBC finals circuit. Aleksso continues to seek opportunities to grow his playing and arranging skills.
Dr. Jamie Wind Whitmarsh ((Percussion Arranger, Wind Book Editor) has been teaching and writing for the marching arts since 2007. He utilizes his experiences as a composer, performer, and educator to produce high-quality and imaginative arrangements for groups around the country. Dr. Whitmarsh lives in Oklahoma City with his wife and two cats.
