Jonathan Probst
Director of Instrumental Music
Jonathan Probst is an accomplished professional in the field of music education, currently serving as the Director of Instrumental Music at Chino Hills High School. With a Masters Degree in Education emphasizing Critical Thinking, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, Jonathan blends both his knowledge of music and visual arts to create a well-rounded and cohesive learning experience for his students. Prior to his position at Chino Hills High School, he distinguished himself as a respected educator within the Drum Corps International community, having worked with esteemed groups such as Pacific Crest and Phantom Regiment. Jonathan’s commitment to fostering musical excellence and cultivating critical thinking skills has earned him a reputation as a dedicated and influential figure in music education.
Jonathan is a highly regarded individual known for his skills in visual design and choreography. Recently, he has taken on the role of visual designer for POW Percussion, showcasing his talent and expertise in the field. His invaluable contributions have also played a crucial part in leading the Chino Hills Winter Drumline ensemble to WGI Finals, resulting in the achievement of two silver medals. In addition to his work with POW Percussion and Chino Hills High School, Jonathan also collaborates with various other scholastic and independent winter drumline ensembles across the country, providing them with customized drill design, captivating visual choreography, program coordination, and educational consultation. Through his unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation, Jonathan crafts performances that are truly unique and tailored to the strengths and needs of each ensemble he works with.
Jonathan Probst District email: jonathan_probst@chino.k12.ca.us
Ramiro Sanchez
Co-DIrector of Instrumental Music
Mr. Ramiro Sanchez is excited to begin his first year as Co-Director of Instrumental Music at Chino Hills High School, and 9th year as a music teacher. Prior to his appointment at Chino Hills High School, Mr. Sanchez was a Director of Bands at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, CA from 2019-2023 and Christopher High School in Gilroy, CA from 2016-2019. Mr. Sanchez also taught in the Alvord Unified School District from 2023-2024. Mr. Sanchez received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from California State University in Northridge. After receiving his degree from CSUN, he went on to the University of Redlands. At the University of Redlands, Mr. Sanchez received his Master of Arts degree in Education in the Spring of 2016.
As a Southern California Native, Mr. Sanchez marched and traveled across the world performing with the world famous Riverside City College Marching Tigers Band, under the Direction of Mr. Gary Locke. Mr. Sanchez performed in the Bands of America Grand National Championships (2008 and 2010), the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (2009 and 2010), BandFest (2009), and the London New Year’s Parade (2011). Mr. Sanchez also served as Principal Clarinetist in the Riverside City College Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, under Mr. Kevin Mayse. After transferring to California State University in Northridge, Mr. Sanchez was in the CSUN Wind Ensemble and was Concertmaster in the CSUN Wind Symphony on Clarinet under Dr. Lawrence Stoffel. Mr. Sanchez also performed in various concert ensembles, including The Masters University Wind Ensemble in Newhall under Dr. Stephen Opfer and the Moreno Valley Wind Symphony under Dr. Stephen Razo.
As a performer, Mr. Sanchez studied clarinet under world-renowned Clarinet professor and soloist Dr. Julia Heinen at Cal State Northridge. He also studied under Margaret Worsley, Dr. Rong-Huey Liu (oboe), Evangeline Bradley, and Doug Tornquist (Tuba).
Ramiro currently resides in Riverside, California
Ramiro Sanchez’s district email: ramiro_sanchez@chino.k12.ca.us
John Mapes
Program Coordinator, Battery and Visual Designer
John Mapes has been on the percussion staff at Chino Hills High School since 2005. This is John’s 17th year on the design team and staff with Pulse. John is a full-time percussion educator, arranger, visual designer, program coordinator, clinician and adjudicator based out of Southern California. He received his Bachelor of Arts in percussion from California State University Long Beach in the spring of 2000. He currently has 15 years of drum corps teaching/design experience and 25 years of indoor percussion teaching/design experience with an unprecedented 43 WGI medals since 2005. He also wrote and produced a routine for America's Got Talent with Pulse Percussion in 2023.
He has been the Percussion Director at Chino Hills HS since 2005 and was director of percussion at Pacifica HS from 2000-2011. John designed for the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps as the battery arranger from 2013-2016, the Blue Devils B Corps as the percussion arranger from 2007-2012 and was the Battery Arranger/ Percussion Caption Head for the Esperanza Drum & Bugle Corps from San Diego, CA from 2002-2006.
John is a Vic Firth Signature artist, a Yamaha artist, a Remo artist, a Zildjian artist and a WGI Percussion Steering Committee/Advisory Board member. He is also a co-founder of Box-Six.com, a website compiling original indoor percussion and marching band shows with fellow composer Ian Grom
Ian grom
Music composer and arranger
Ian Grom has been in the percussion staff at Chino Hills High School since 2009. This is Ian’s 17th year on staff with Pulse. He is a composer and educator based out of Southern California. Ian received his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from California State University Long Beach, where he specialized in drum set, marimba and composition.
He currently teaches, designs, and composes for the Chino Hills HS percussion ensemble and has been there since 2010. He also instructed Pacifica HS from 2006-2011 and Los Alamitos HS from 2005 – 2011. In the summer of 2009, Ian was brought on as the electronics consultant/arranger with the world famous Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and worked there from 2009 to 2012. Ian joined the design team for the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps as the front ensemble and Co-Brass arranger from 2013-2016. He also composes original marching band shows for several HS programs around the country.
Ian is a Signature Vic Firth artist, a Yamaha artist, a Remo artist, a Zildjian artist and a WGI Percussion Advisory Board member. In the summer of 2008, he launched Box-Six.com, a website compiling original indoor percussion and marching band shows with fellow composer John Mapes.
Noe Gomez
Drill designer
He is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California and prolific educator and designer within the marching arts. He has over seven years of performance experience, including Impulse, Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets, and half of a decade with the Santa Clara Vanguard, where he served as drum major from 2012 to 2015.
Noe is immersed in the upper echelons of the marching arts, as he is a full time visual designer, judge, and clinician for both high school bands and independent programs. Noe served on the visual and drum major education team of the Santa Clara Vanguard, worked with the Phantom Regiment in 2023 and is currently the Drill designer for the Blue Knights Drum Corps. He is on the design team at POW Percussion, Arcadia HS and several other quality programs around the country. Noe also serves as an advisor to the Color Guard Alliance of the Philippines and Impulso Marching Latino America.
Learn more at: noegomezproductions.com and on Instagram: @noegomez.productions
Trent GronewoLd
Front ensemble caption head
TRENT GRONEWOLD is a full time percussion arranger and educator from Southern California. He is the Front Ensemble Arranger and Sound Designer for POW Percussion, Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, Thesis Indoor, and Élan Percussion. Trent is the Front Ensemble Caption Head at Chino Hills High School. Trent has run the percussion program at Gahr HS since 2017, and has been on staff at Pulse Percussion since 2022. Previously, he was the Front Ensemble Arranger for Gold Drum and Bugle Corps from 2020-2022, helping earn the corps their first ever silver medal in DCI Open Class.
Trent has been working behind the scenes for Box Six since 2016 assisting with front ensemble arranging. Recently he began writing Indoor Percussion shows with John Mapes for Box Six. In addition to Box Six, he has his music published on Front2Back music and Standing O Marching.
His marching experience includes the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps (2015-2016), Santa Clara Vanguard (2018), and Pulse Percussion (2016-2020), where he served as section leader for his last 3 years. During this time he has won a WGI Championship, a DCI Championship and a Fred Sanford High Percussion Award. Trent is also a member of the Vic Firth and Zildjian Educational Team.
Chadd Hartman
Color Guard DirecTOR
CHADD HARTMAN was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, where he attended Las Vegas High School and the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Hartman began his pageantry career with the Crossmen, where he was a performer with a variety of roles from 2009-2012. He then went on to perform with the Independent World group Fantasia Winterguard in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017.
In his teaching career, Hartman has worked with a plethora of scholastic groups in the Southern California area as a director, designer, choreographer, and graphic artist. He worked as a technician and choreographer for The Academy from 2015-2017, and spent his 2018 summer with Carolina Crown. In 2019, he joined the Pacific Crest family as a choreographer on the design team and on the color guard technical staff.
He is currently the Director of Color Guards at Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, CA and has been with the program since 2018, while also serving as the Director of Color Guard at Gahr High School in Cerritos, CA since 2021.
Mr. Hartman is excited for his new role with the Pacific Crest family, and is looking forward to this new adventure.
Carla Hernandez
Co-Color Guard Director
CARLA HERNANDEZ’S color guard career began in 1999 at Ramona High School in Riverside, CA. After graduating in 2003, Carla became an active member of the Riverside Community Colleges Marching Arts Program. She performed with the RCC Marching Tigers from 2003-2006, where she became captain in her later years. She also spent countless hours as a part of RCC’s Independent World class winter guard, Fantasia, in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011. While fulfilling her dream of marching Fantasia, she earned two WGI World Championships titles and gained life-long friendships.
Carla’s DCI experience as a performer includes: Yamato Drum and Bugle corps from Osaka, Japan in 2004, and Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps in 2006.
Carla began her teaching career at a young age by helping with a local middle-school feeder program while still in her senior year of high school. It was there she fell in love with teaching, and where she gained experience in instruction, choreography, and design. This continued on with many different high schools and middle schools across Southern California, most recently with Etiwanda High School, Riverside Poly High School and Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps. She also spent two summers with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, from 2017-2018.
Carla resides in Riverside, CA, and works as Project Coordinator for an architectural and electrical engineering company.
Noah Weule
Visual Caption Head
This is Noah’s 4th year on staff with Pulse. He has been teaching in Southern California since 2018 and runs the Visual Programs at Chino Hills and Arcadia High Schools. He is currently a full time designer and consultant for many groups across California. Noah spent 4 years performing with the Santa Clara Vanguard and marched in the Visual ensemble for Pulse Percussion in 2019. He has also spent the last two summers teaching visual at The Phantom Regiment
Zach Wilson
Battery Caption Head
ZACH WILSON began his marching career with Chino Hills HS from 2014-2017. He went on to march with the Blue Stars 2017, Pulse Percussion 2018-2022, and Bluecoats 2018-2021. In addition, through Pacific Crest, he was involved in leading the Marching Vlogs Drumline during the summer of 2020, helping the organization and the City of Industry to raise money and donate to a local food bank.
For the past six years, Zach has run the Townsend Jr. HS drumline program and served as battery manager at Chino Hills HS and Gahr HS, running the full percussion ensemble and coordinating the visual package year-round. Apart from these programs, he has begun designing the show, drill, and music for Hoover HS as of the 2024 indoor season.
Zach joined the Bluecoats battery staff in 2022 and has been with Pulse Percussion since 2023. His responsibilities at Pulse include snare arranging, visual detailing, and teaching the battery (with a snare focus). His responsibilities at Bluecoats include visual detailing, teaching the battery (with a snare focus), and running the percussion ensemble throughout the season.
Timmy Moriarty
This is Timmy’s 2nd year teaching Pulse after 3 years working with POW. He graduated from Chino Hills high in 2015. His marching experience includes POW Percussion 2016 & 2017, Mandarins 2017 & 2018, and Pulse Percussion 2018 & 2019. His teaching experience includes Chino Hills High School from 2017 - present.
Jacob Wetzel, Battery
He marched with Impulse in 2017, Odyssey Indoor in 2018, Vanguard Cadets in 2018, the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2022, and performed in Pulse from 2019 to 2023. Jacob is currently attending Cal State Fullerton for his bachelor’s in Music Education (percussion focus).
Jacob is currently the bass technician for the Phantom Regiment, and his responsibilities at Pulse will include arranging, visual detailing and teaching for the bass drum section.
Christian Ogata, Cymbal tech
Christian started playing cymbals during his senior year at Chino Hills HS in 2016 before marching POW 17/18, and Pulse in 2019. He would’ve aged out in 2021 but stopped marching to pursue his current career 👮🏻♂️
Throughout the years, he’s held clinics at various DCI/WGI ensembles and has taught multiple high schools in the area that include: Alta Loma, Colony, Etiwanda and Chino Hills HS.
He currently teaches Chino Hills HS and lives with his girlfriend (Pulse alumni)- Savannah. They have a cat named Juice.
Garret Lopez, Visual
GARRET LOPEZ has been involved with the marching activity for over 25 years as a musician, color guard performer, clinician, and educator. He has been part of the visual education staff at Pacific Crest for almost a decade and is excited to be part of this program once again.
An alumnus of Chino High School, he performed on clarinet, baritone, oboe, and saxophone. Garret began teaching at his alma mater in 1997 and continued to work there as an educator for 14 years, with 12 of those years spent as visual caption head. He has worked with various other high school programs in the region and is currently in his 12th year on staff with the Chino Hills HS marching band.
Garret spent five summers as a baritone player with the Santa Clara Vanguard from 1997-2001, winning a DCI Championship in 1999. In addition to his experiences as a musician, he also honed his color guard skills performing with Solution Performance Ensemble World Guard in 2001 and Fantasia World Guard in 2002, 2003, and 2006, winning two WGI gold medals.
Most recently, he earned his MBA with a concentration in Healthcare I.T. and is now working towards a degree in clinical informatics. He is a currently an employee at Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and resides in Azusa. Garret enjoys cooking, traveling, staying healthy, and volunteering his time to give to those in need, and is an advocate for suicide prevention and education and helping those that struggle with their mental health.
Visual Staff (not pictured):
Jay Mackin
Nicklaus Chau
Alani Magana
Nathaniel Olivas
Nathan Linares
Woodwind Music Staff:
Shyanne Crocker (Clarinet/Woodwind Head)
Claire Bryant (Flute)
Ripley Swingle (Saxophone)
Brass Music Staff:
Kevin Truong (Brass Head/Low Brass)
Jorge Felix (Trumpet)
Seth Shumate (Mellophone)
Ryan Osbourne (Tuba)
Percussion Staff (not pictured):
Abby Castillo
Jhonny Crespo
Sean Tsui
Ryan Ward
Color Guard Staff (not pictured):
Dulce Congo
Niko Matsumara
Sirena Alvarado
Gabe Escobedo