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Jennifer
Zwissler,
Director of Bands
Andrew Solomonson,
Low Brass/Visual Instructor
Gary Burcl, Woodwind Instructor
Justin Johnson,
Visual/Woodwind Instructor
EJ Dyce, High
Brass Instructor
Nicole Gary, Flute/Drum Major
Instructor
JC Thatcher, Percussion Instructor
Johnny Xa, Percussion Technician
Jordan Arnett, Percussion Technician
Cory Daniels, Front Ensemble Instructor
JENNIFER
ZWISSLER,
DIRECTOR
of BANDS
Jennifer
Zwissler is in her third year as Director of Bands at Cordova
High School. She started working with the Cadets in 2002 as the
flute instructor, while teaching general music at Dexter
Elementary, Crosswind Elementary, Alturia Elementary and at
Woodstock Middle School, as the Choir Director. She is
originally from Fairfield, Ohio, where she attended
Fairfield Senior High School. Jennifer was extremely active in
all band related groups during her high school career and was
named to the OMEA District 13 Honor Band from 9-12
grades….awarded first chair flute her senior year. She was a
member of TRI –M and also the “Fairfield Fantasy” Winter guard.
She was named the piccolo player for the Southwestern Ohio
Symphonic Band in 10th grade, one of only a small
group of high school students asked to be part of this
ensemble. Jennifer also participated in the University of
Cincinnati Preparatory Flute Choir.
Aside from music, she took horseback riding lessons for 25
years, showing in both English and Western disciplines and in
1998 was awarded the Cincinnati Reserve Grand Champion in Open
English Division and also in Dressage. She taught beginning and
intermediate riding lessons and was the office manager at the
Winton Woods Riding Center prior to
moving to Tennessee.
Jennifer
attended the University of Kentucky, and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music degree in Music Education in
December 1993. She was a member of the marching band, jazz
band, concert band, wind ensemble, Tau Beta Sigma, CMENC, NCAA
tournament Basketball Pep Band 1991-1993, 1993 NCAA Final Four
Tournament Pep Band, 1993 Peach Bowl participant, and spent two
years as flute/piccolo section leader. After graduating, she
returned to Fairfield, Oh
to become the Assistant Band Director at Northwest High School
(Cincinnati, OH) for seven years. Jennifer
also taught band at up to ten Catholic Schools per year and
taught general music for four years at Cincinnati area catholic
schools.
Jennifer
met her husband Dave in 1996, and they married in 1998. Their
first child was born in August 2001, and the family moved to TN
when Abbi was just two weeks old. Jennifer was hired to work
with Cordova in January 2001, and has been with them ever
since. The Zwissler’s second child came very soon after the
completion of band camp in 2003, Elizabeth “Libbi” is the
littlest Cadet! Jennifer is very active with the St. Francis
Church Adult choir, where she sings alto and plays flute. She
is also in the Ladies “Knights of Columbus” Auxiliary and the
PAC (Parish Activities Club) and is a member of the Arlington
Women’s Club. Until she was hired as Director at Cordova, she
played flute with the River City Concert Band and participated
with them in performing at the 2005 National Community Concert
Band Convention in Hot Springs, AR. Dave is a chemist…..and is
employed by The Alpha Corporation where he is a Gelcoat
Specialist Supervisor (resins division). He is living proof
that those hard calculus equations really are used after high
school or college!!!!
Jennifer has
a twin brother, Steve, who lives in St. Louis with his wife and
son, and a sister Michelle, who lives with her husband in
Chicago. Her much loved mother died in 2003 from cancer and her
father currently lives in Columbus, OH. She would like to thank
her family for ALL of their love and guidance throughout her
life, they were the driving force behind her musicianship with
their unending support!
She is very
excited to be continuing with the Cadets and thanks her staff
for their unending dedication to not just her, but also the
Cadets themselves! What an awesome group of students, parents,
alumni and staff which makes up the entire Cadet family!!!!!
Jennifer
would especially like to thank her husband Dave, for staying
home with their children while she fulfills her dream of being a
Band Director during the many rehearsals and performances. He
is so patient and is a wonderful father and husband!

ANDREW
SOLOMONSON,
DRILL DESIGNER/VISUAL INSTRUCTOR.
Andrew comes
to Cordova, originally, from Morton, Illinois. Andrew
graduated from the University of Kentucky, with a BA in Arts
Administration with a minor in Business. Andrew
marched and played throughout his high school years at Morton
High School, as well as with the University of Kentucky.
Andrew was a
four year member of Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, in
the Euphonium section and currently serves as a visual
technician for the corps. He is currently the Visual
Caption Head for the Memphis Sound Drum and
Bugle Corps and writes marching drill for many organizations.
He is the visual designer for the Cordova Independent A Winterguard,
as well as writing drill for Memphis Sound, Cordova High School,
The University of Memphis, among others.

JUSTIN
JOHNSON, VISUAL/WOODWIND INSTRUCTOR
Justin Johnson is currently studying
instrumental music education at the Rudi E Scheidt School of
Music located at the University of Memphis. There he is a member
of the University Wind Ensemble and Southern Comfort Jazz
Orchestra. He is a student of Allen Rippe and Dr. Jack Cooper.
Mr. Johnson is currently the Visual Caption Head for the Mighty
Sound of the South Marching Band at the University of Memphis.
He serves as a freelance visual designer throughout the
mid-south region and has worked with Bolton High School (TN),
Bartlett High School (TN), and Dyersburg High School (TN).
Mr. Johnson’s marching background includes four years with the
University of Memphis Marching band, and membership in both the
Delta Brigade and Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. 2007 will mark
his third year as a member of the visual and brass staffs for
the Memphis Sound organization.
GARY BURCL,
WOODWIND INSTRUCTOR
Gary was a member of the
Cadets for the duration of his high school years
and graduated in 2002. In addition to marching for the
Cadets, Gary was
involved in the Beta Club, Tri-M Music Honor Society,
All-West and the
Cordova Wind Ensemble.
Gary Now attends THE University of Memphis where he is
studying Journalism
with a concentration in Public Relations. While at
Memphis, Gary has been
involved all over campus. A member of The Lambda Chi
Alpha Fraternity,
Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, Public Relations
Student Society of
America, Society of Professional Journalists, Student
Activity Council, U of
M Mighty Sound of the South, the U of M Symphonic Band,
Wind Ensemble and
Clarinet Quartet on Music Scholarship.
After gradating in the Spring of 2007, Gary hopes to
obtain a career in
sports marketing and eventually move back to his native
home of Florida. For
now, he is enjoying his last year as a student and likes
to go out with
friends, road trip to the lake, the color blue, meeting
as many people as
possible, the 80's weekends on 94.1 the Buzz and of
course Memphis Tiger
Sports...GO TIGERS GO!!!... cant forget my Noles though.
JC THATCHER,
PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR
JC Thatcher is
a returning member of the Cadets staff having taught the
2001-2002 drumline and the 2002 production of Encore. He is a
2004 graduate of The University of Memphis with a degree in
business and is currently seeking an MBA from Christian Brothers
University. While attending The University of Memphis he spent
four years as a member of the Mighty Sound of The South drumline,
served as captain of the tenor line for two years, and marched
in the 2003 PASIC Line. From 1997 to 1999 JC was the tenor
captain for The Americanos Drum and Bugle Corps in Appleton,
Wisconsin. In addition to having instructed at Cordova, he has
also served as an instructor for the Bartlett High School Band,
Bartlett Indoor Drumline, and the Mason High School Drumline.
A native of Mason, Ohio, JC enjoys his adopted land of Tennessee
and is working as the Development Manager for Youth Villages, a
nonprofit organization that helps children and families live
successfully.
JC currently lives in Oakland with his wife Elle and their two
dogs Lola and Tony. When not working, studying, or drumming he
can be found cheering on the greatest team in professional
sports…The Cincinnati Reds.
JOHNNY XA, PERCUSSION
INSTRUCTOR
Johnny Xa's
marching experience includes: Bartlett High School Marching
Band for four seasons, Bartlett Indoor Percussion for four
seasons, University of Memphis PASIC for two seasons,
Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corp for one season, Colts Drum
and Bugle Corp for one season, The Mighty Sound of The South
Drumline for two seasons, and Gateway World for one season.
His teaching most heavily involves visual and snare drum
techniques. He currently teaches the drumline at Bartlett
High Scool, Munford High School, and will begin teaching at
the University of Memphis this season. He is happy to be
back on staff and looks forward to another great year!
CORY
DANIELS, FRONT ENSEMBLE INSTRUCTOR
Cory joins
the percussion staff from State College, Pennsylvania. In
the spring of 2006, he traveled to New York twice with the
State College Area High School Jazz Band to compete for East
Coast and National honors. The second trip was to the
Essentially Ellington competition and festival hosted by
legendary jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. The Festival
included only 15 of the top high school jazz bands in the
United States.
In the
summer of 2006, Cory traveled overseas with the SCHS Jazz
Band and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in
Switzerland, Jazz A’ Vienna in France and at several private
gardens in Paris.
For the
past 5 years, Cory was the principle timpanist/percussionist
for the Central Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra. He attended
the Birch Creek Percussion and Steel Band summer program two
years in a row in Egg Harbor Wisconsin. Through music, Cory
was an active member in the SCHS Thespians, Symphonic Band,
Percussion Ensemble, Orchestra and Concert Choir; all of
which received superior ratings and 1st place
respective ratings in competition since 2002. He is also a
member of the Tri-M Music Honors Society.
He has
studied privately with Vicky Daniel (no relation) of
Appleton Wisconsin, Dr. James Latten of Juniata College and
currently with Dr. Frank Shaffer at the University of
Memphis.
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