Sun City Open visual Staff
Kody Jones / VISUAL CAPTION HEAD
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 / MARCHING 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.
ALEX BRAUD / VISUAL Specialist
Alex Braud is a percussionist, educator, and designer based in El Paso, TX. He is currently the Director of Bands at Burges High School in El Paso, TX. Prior to his time in El Paso, he worked as an Assistant Band Director with Pecos High School and Howe High School. While at Howe, the band advanced to the UIL State Marching Contest and the Pecos Eagle Band is a consistent Bands of America Class A Region & Super Regional Champion.
He holds a Master of Music degree from Lamar University, and bachelor’s degrees in both Percussion Performance and Music Education from the University of Central Missouri. At LU, he studied Percussion Performance with Dr. Francisco Perez and assisted with instruction of the Showcase of Southeast Texas Drumline. While at UCM, Alex was a performer and later undergraduate staff member with the Marching Mules. His instructors at UCM include Dr. Michael Sekelsky, Dr. Alex Smith, Marcus Neudigate, and Amy Hearting.
As a performer in the marching arts, Alex was a member of Gateway Indoor and the Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, and performed as a part of the Kansas City Chiefs Rumble Drumline. His instructors include Dr. Chris Whyte, Luke DeDominces, Elyse Emerich, Ian Kerr, Amanda Loeffler, Keely Morrow-Judson, and George Stuteville. Since aging out in 2014, he has continued his involvement as a staff member of Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps, the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, Oregon Crusaders, and Compass Drum and Bugle Corps. Alex is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, the Texas Music Educators Association, and is a proud endorser of Salyers Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Beetle Percussion.
Shekinah Velasquez / Choreographer
Shekinah Velasquez is an El Paso, Texas native and graduated from Eastlake High School. She is in her 8th year performing in Color Guard. She currently helps teach at Eastlake for band and guard. She recently finished marching her first year of world class DCI with Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps. She also competed with Ethereal Winds as the dance soloist. Shekinah has also been on staff for Sun City Independent and Ethereal Winds serving as the lead choreographer.
Shekinah is currently completing her associates degree in Business Management at EPCC. Her plans are to then obtain a Bachelors in Business Administration at UTEP.
Shekinah is a big advocate of the fine arts, as dance is one of her passions. She hopes to share the knowledge that she has learned from all her performing experiences and guide students to express themselves through art.