About Innovative Marching
Innovative Marching (established in 1998) is built upon the premise of providing world class music and drill design at a price that fits within the restrictions of today's tighter budgets. It is our goal to not only provide you with a marching band show, but also with a curriculum in which your kids can increase both their musicality and their enjoyment of musical activities.
Staff Bios:
Peter Connell - Chief Visual Designer and Composer
Peter Connell was raised in a small farming community in Northwest Iowa where he began studying piano and theory at the age of seven. He is the son of a band director, who was responsible for exposing Peter to a wide variety of music and immersing him in the world of band at a young age. Peter began his career as an arranger shortly after graduating from high school in 1998, and has since expanded into his Long Beach based publishing company, Innovative Marching. Peter has been commissioned by over thirty high school and university bands, spanning across nine different states. These commissions include works for concert band, jazz band, marching band, orchestra, and various chamber ensembles.
Peter is an active performer in a wide array of capacities, each uniquely developing him as a musician. Some of his performing hallmarks include: Marching with the 1999 Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Performing in the 2001 Disney Collegiate All-Star Band, and touring the United States and abroad with the production BLAST II: Shockwave.
Currently, Peter resides in Long Beach, California where he is a bandleader for the world famous Disneyland Band. He holds a Bachelors’ degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Iowa, and a Master’s degree in Trombone from Azusa Pacific University.
Professional Affiliations:
AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles)
AFM Local 7 (Orange County)
AFM Local 235 (San Diego)
ASCAP
Paul Connell - Battery Designer/Consultant
Paul Connell is currently the co-director of the Burnsville High School Marching Band and director of the Burnsville Winter Drumline. Under Paul's direction the Burnsville Winter Drumline won the Minnesota Percussion Association (MPA) Championships in Scholastic A class in 2009 and 2010. They also compete regionally and nationally in WGI competitions. Paul's playing experience includes four years on the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band Drumline playing snare and bass. Paul has been directing and teching with drumlines in the Midwest since 2003 and he has been writing for Innovative Marching since 2004.
Frank Chambers - Drill Design Consultant
Frank Chambers is the owner of Chambers Music, specializing in Drill Design and Marching Arranging. In addition to his creative efforts, Frank maintains a private studio of woodwind students in the North Houston area. Before setting out on his own, Frank was the Associate Band Director for Conroe High School. His tenure at Conroe was highlighted by a 2010 appearance in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA. From 2002-2004, Frank was a cast member of the Blast!. Inc. productions Blast II: Shockwave and Cyberjam. Frank holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree from the University of Houston, Moores School of Music. He makes his home in Spring, TX with his wife Samantha, and their four-legged children - Cleo, Sasha, and Chuy.
John Spellan - Guard Design
John brings a vast array of experience to innovative marching. He marched with 3 drum corps including the Americanos, Blue Star, and the Cavaliers. Following his stint with drum corps he became a member of BLAST touring the United States, England, and Japan where he served as the visual soloist.
John currently lives in Chicago and attends the Institute of Art where he is completing a degree in Visual Communications. He is part of the Fred J Miller summer teaching staff and also works with Blue Stars Drum Corps in addition to several color guards and winter guards throughout the midwest.
Fabio Spinella - Consultant
Fabio is an active clinician and adjudicator for marching band and jazz bands throughout the US. He received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Southern California and his Masters in Conducting from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University. He has been on faculty at Azusa Pacific University and is currently on faculty at Citrus College. Fabio is the former director of bands and the department chair for the visual and performing Arts at Workman High School.
Fabio has toured the US and the UK as a professional musician, most notably with the production BLAST! Currently he is an active musician playing in a wide variety of capacities throughout the Los Angeles area.
Past Clients
CA - Valencia High School
CA - Gladstone High School
CA - Covina High School
CA - Claremont High School
CA - Paramount High School
CA - Workman High School
CA - Mayfair High School
CA - Ontario High School
CA - Valley Christian High School
CA - South East High School
CA - Azusa Pacific University
IA - MOC - Floyd Valley High School
IA - Sibley - Ocheyden High School
IA - Saydel High School
IA - Waterloo West High School
IA - Dowling Catholic High School
IA - Southeast Polk High School
IA - Sheldon High School
IA - Gehlen - Catholic High School
IA - Winterset High School
IA - Clinton High School
IA - Sioux City North High School
IL - Glenbard West High School
MN - Burnsville High School
NC - North Carolina State University
NE - Millard South High School
SC - Athens Drive High School
SD - Woodbury Central High School
SD - Parkston High School
TX - Conroe High School
