Sun City Open music Staff
Armando Torres / Program Coordinator & Music Caption Head
Armando Torres is an El Paso, Texas native percussionist and music educator. He will be completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at the University of Texas at El Paso this school year. While at UTEP, he has performed in many ensembles, including the Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Pantastics steel band, the UTEP Dinner Theatre and the UTEP Marching Miners, both as a member and Undergraduate Teaching Assistant.
His performance experience includes two years at Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps, one year at Monarch Independent, and two years at Sun City Independent all on snare drum.
As a proud advocate of the marching arts, Mr. Torres has taught at numerous high schools throughout West and Central Texas and is currently on staff at Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps as a battery specialist and is serving as the percussion arranger for the Eastlake High School marching band.
Kody Jones / Battery Specialist
Kody Wayne Jones is currently the Percussion Teaching Assistant at the University of Texas at El Paso where he runs the drum line under the direction of Dr. Andrew P. Smith. At UTEP, he has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and has been involved in the Percussion Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, Dinner Theater, and the Marching Miners, both as a member and on staff. He has also led the UTEP steel pan group Pantastics.
Kody has experience in DCI in both open and world class with the Guardians, Phantom Regiment, and The Boston Crusaders. Over his 6-year DCI career he was taught under amazing percussion pedagogues such as Rob Ferguson and Colin McNutt. He is continuing his career in DCI as a teacher now at Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps and Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps both as a Quad/Battery Tech. He is also an alumnus of Sun City Sound and is excited to continue contributing to the organization.
Sean Robinson / Battery Specialist
Sean Robinson is an El Paso, Texas native musician. Currently, he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Music Education at New Mexico State University.
He is a proud alumnus of Sun City Independent having marched in its 2022 season. During his career, he has been taught by percussion pedagogues such as Fred Bugbee and Matt Savage.
As a proud advocate of the marching arts, Mr. Robinson has taught at numerous high schools in the El Paso area for five years. He is currently serving as the battery technician at Coronado High School and Andress High School in El Paso, Texas.
Gabriel Gonzalez / Battery Specialist
Gabriel Gonzalez is an El Paso, Texas native percussionist and music educator. Having graduated with a Music Education degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, he performed with the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, UTEP Orchestra, Pantastics Steel Pan Band and the Marching Miners.
Gabriel has taught at various 4A, 5A and 6A high schools in the El Paso area. Currently he is in his first year of teaching with the Ysleta High School Band and Drum Corp where he oversees all percussion matters within the feeder pattern.
Gabriel recently completed his first DCI season with the Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corp as a member of the battery staff.
Jesus perez / Front Ensemble & Sound and Equipment Specialist
Jesus Perez is a percussionist and Music Educator in the El Paso, Texas. He recently obtained a Master’s in Music Performance from the University of Texas at El Paso where he serves as Percussion Studio Teaching Assistant. At UTEP he leads the Marching Miners and their Drum Line. He has performed with all major UTEP ensembles including Symphony Band, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, UTEP Percussion Ensemble, Marching Miners and the UTEP Pep Band. Jesus has performed with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra on multiple occasions and is currently on staff with the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra as the percussion sectional coach.
Jesus is well involved in the marching arts and is a proud alumnus of Sun City Independent. He also marched with Horizon Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016. He has been involved with local marching bands for 7 years and has served on staff for multiple state qualifying bands. He is currently an assistant band director at Eastlake High School.
Sarah Vasquez / Front ensemble Specialist
Sarah Vasquez is a percussion performer and educator from El Paso, Texas. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education at Texas A&M University - Commerce and returned to El Paso to pursue a Master's degree in Music Performance at UTEP. Her marching percussion experience includes performing with the Academy, Crossmen, and Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps. She has been teaching in the DFW area for the last four years and is extremely excited to have the opportunity to be back in the El Paso community!
Anthony Yrigoyen / Front Ensemble Specialist
Percussionist, performer, and educator, Anthony Yrigoyen has performed across the nation with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013 and 2014 and began his pageantry arts with Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps in 2011. Throughout his time in college, Anthony performed with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, to include an international performance with the El Paso Opera and is currently a member of the El Paso Winds. He was also invited to perform many shows with the UTEP Dinner Theater.
Anthony is the Front Ensemble Coordinator at Arsenal Drum Bugle Corps, and on staff at Sun City Independent. His experience working with percussionists in the community include: Montwood High School, Coronado High School, Eastlake High School, Jefferson / Silva High School, El Paso High School, and Pebble Hills High School. He completed his student teaching at Socorro High School and Socorro Middle. Anthony holds a B.S in Music Education from The University of Texas at El Paso, while in the percussion studio under the direction of Dr. Andy P. Smith. Anthony Yrigoyen is currently the Associate Director of Bands at El Dorado High School in El Paso, Texas.