RCHS Marching Arts Program Staff

The Marching Arts Program at RCHS is the heartbeat of Cougar spirit! At the core of the program is our Band Director, who leads and inspires students both musically and personally. Supporting the director is a talented team of Color Guard Staff, Drumline Staff, Visual Staff, and Winds Staff—many of whom are proud RCHS alumni who return to share their passion and expertise with the next generation.

James Ana, Band Director

Mr. Ana was appointed Band Director at Rancho Cucamonga High School (RCHS) in 2022 and is now entering his 13th year of teaching—eight of which have been with the Chaffey Joint Union High School District. He holds a Master’s in Music Education from the American Band College of Central Washington University and a Bachelor’s in Music Education from California State University, Fullerton. Before joining RCHS, he served as Instrumental Music Director at A.B. Miller High School for four years and Montclair High School for five years.

Mr. Ana has been recognized with several honors, including the Outstanding Educator Award (2015, 2018) and Teacher of the Year (2017, 2024). At RCHS, he directs a thriving program that includes a competitive marching band, three concert bands, a jazz band, a nationally acclaimed color guard, and a winter percussion ensemble. Outside of teaching, Mr. Ana enjoys life with his wife, Jessica, and daughter, Amelia. Together they spend time camping in the desert, riding UTVs and dirt bikes, traveling, visiting Disney parks, and relaxing at the beach. Mr. Ana also enjoys road cycling with colleagues and friends throughout Southern California.

Gabe Escobedo

Guard Caption Head

Gabe began his teaching career at Palmdale High School and has since worked with programs across SoCal, Arizona, and Utah, including Riverside Community College Marching Tigers, Pacific Crest, and The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps.

From 2015–2018 he served as Color Guard Caption Head at The Academy, leading the corps to a DCI (Drum Corps International) Finalist finish in 2016. Gabe is also the President for the Executive Committee of WGASC, Winter Guard Association of Southern California.

Eric Shriver

Percussion Caption Head

Eric is a percussion educator and arranger, serving as Percussion Director and Battery Arranger for Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps (since 2023), Battery Arranger and Ensemble Coordinator for POW Percussion (since 2024), and Percussion Director at RCHS and Etiwanda HS (since 2022). He co-owns Front2Back Music, created
The Build-Up Method, and is affiliated with Zildjian, Remo, Yamaha, and Vic Firth. Eric is a member of SCPA's Classification Committee. To learn more about him, please visit his website at www.shriverpercussion.com.

Chris Schmitz

Visual Caption Head

Chris is a full-time drill writer, choreographer, and educator with performance experience in the Sacramento Mandarins and Blue Devils Entertainment. Originally from Northern California, he has spent the past three years working with Rancho Cucamonga HS, as well as other organizations including El Dorado HS, Etiwanda HS, and Sunny Hills HS. He currently serves as Visual Caption Head at POW Percussion and is on staff with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps. Chris lives in Placentia, CA, where he studies dance education at Fullerton College.

Alex Alonso

Music Caption Head

Alex is a professional musician and educator who studied trombone and percussion at the conservatories “Rafael Orozco” in Córdoba and “De La Rioja” in Logroño, Spain. He toured the US, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Africa performing with artists such as John Legend, Black Eyed Peas, and Justin Bieber. Alex has appeared in TV shows (e.g., Glee, Parks and Recreation, and The Office). Since 2016, he has served on the brass staff at Gold Drum & Bugle Corps. He is also a P.E. coach at McAuliffe Elementary in Riverside, CA. His teaching emphasizes pushing students beyond their limits while building strong musicianship, character, and work ethic.

Thalia Ortega

Guard Technician

Thalia discovered her passion for color guard in high school with the RCHS Marching Cougars and went on to perform with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, RCC Marching Tigers, and Fantasia. Since 2016, she has coached at RCHS and now teaches at multiple schools, including Serrano Intermediate, El Toro HS, and Ayala HS, as well as serving on the Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps guard staff.

Alongside her performing arts career, Thalia works at an insurance agency and is licensed in Life, Auto, and Home Insurance.

Jessica Rico

Guard Technician

Jessica performed with Ayala HS Band and Color Guard (2005–2009), Riverside City College, and Fantasia Winter Guard (2011–2014). She has taught numerous color guards across SoCal, spending eight years at RCHS, returning to Ayala, and serving as caption head at El Toro HS. A Cal State Fullerton graduate with a BA in Criminal Justice and a minor in Geology, she also runs a calligraphy business creating custom lettering for graduations, weddings, and more. Passionate about both art and choreography, Jessica continues to expand her creativity in and out of teaching.

Richard Diaz

Front Ensemble Technician

Richard has been an educator in SoCal for nearly 20 years, bringing extensive experience in percussion instruction and ensemble management. He serves as Front Ensemble Manager for Great Oak HS in Temecula, oversees the electronics and rhythm section for Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, and works as a technician at Rancho Verde HS. In 2025, he joins the staff at RCHS, where he looks forward to contributing his knowledge and passion for music education. Richard is excited to help students grow as musicians while fostering a positive and collaborative learning environment.

Jonathan Zuniga

Arranger

Jonathan is an educator, composer, and arranger for the marching arts. Jonathan has worked Pulse Percussion, The Cadets, Blue Stars, and The Academy. He has also designed for such renowned groups as Pacific Crest (Artistic Director, Music Coordinator, Front Ensemble Arranger/Composer and Electronic Designer), George Mason University and Élan Percussion, as well as local SoCal high schools — Chino Hills, Los Alamitos, La Quinta, Sunny Hills, Cerritos, and Portola. He serves on the SoCal Percussion Alliance (SCPA) Classification Committee, and is an official artist for Vic Firth, Zildjian, Mike Balter, and Remo. He is a co-owner and designer at Front2Back Music (front2backmusic.com), a company that creates shows for marching bands and indoor ensembles.

Shirley Taylor

Front Ensemble Technician

Shirley is a piano pedagogue and percussion educator based in SoCal. She teaches front ensemble at Rancho Cucamonga HS, Etiwanda HS, and POW Percussion, and has run her private piano studio since 2018. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Cal State Fullerton. Her performance background includes Pulse Percussion (2019–2022), completion of all Certificate of Merit levels, and top honors in MTAC competitions, Bach Festivals, and state conventions. Shirley is also a member of the Vic Firth and Zildjian education team.

Andrew Wentz

Battery Technician

Andrew, an RCHS alumnus, has performed with Gold Drum Corps and Dark Sky Percussion, gaining valuable experience as both a performer and educator. He has previously taught at Upland HS and Etiwanda Intermediate School, working with students to develop strong percussion skills. For the past five years, Andrew has served as the bass drum technician at RCHS, where he is dedicated to helping students grow both musically and personally. His passion for percussion and commitment to education continue to make him a valued member of the program.

Miguel Perez

Clarinet Technician

Miguel has been teaching music for over seven years, working with students from elementary through high school across California. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Sacramento State, where he specialized in bass clarinet performance for five years.

In addition to teaching, Miguel is involved in local production work, bringing a well-rounded perspective to his musical career. He is passionate about fostering growth in his students while continuing to expand his own experience as an educator and musician.

Staff (Technicians)
Not Pictured

Anthony Clark - Visual Tech

Carlos Vazquez - Guard Tech

Fernando Montes - Saxophone Tech

Francisco Araiza - Guard Tech

Ryan William - Low Brass Tech

Star Wasson - Visual Tech

Nick Chau
Visual Technician

Nick is a visual coach and choreographer based in the Inland Empire. Since 2018, he has taught at various SoCal schools including RCHS, Chino Hills HS, and POW Percussion. His performance experience includes Gold Drum & Bugle Corps (2017), Mandarins (2018), and Pulse Percussion (2019–2022). A dedicated dance student, Nick trains in hip-hop, house, contemporary fusion, and freestyle at studios including LMNL Space, Movement Lifestyle, and Offstage by GRV, and is part of Voyage’s Training Division: Oasis. Nick also co-founded SoCal MVT, a dance movement workshop for the marching arts community.

Kayla Quach
Visual Technician

Kayla is a visual coach and educator from SoCal. She has taught at Huntington Beach HS, and Temple City HS, with 2025 as her debut year at Rancho Cucamonga HS. Her performance background includes four years with RCHS marching band and indoor drumline (2018–2022), plus independent seasons with Instinct Percussion (2023) and POW Percussion (2024–2025). Passionate about visual performance, Kayla is dedicated to helping students grow and fostering strong, positive ensemble experiences.

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Angel Abonza-Ruiz
Front Ensemble Technician

Angel is a percussion educator based in Ontario, CA. He has taught Colony HS (2014–19), Diamond Bar HS (2016–19), Etiwanda HS (2016–25), Vessel Drum & Bugle Corps (2019), and Dark Sky Percussion (2020). He currently teaches at Rancho Cucamonga HS, Patriot HS, and is front ensemble manager at Meraki Percussion. As a performer, Angel marched with RCC (2013–15), Gold (2014), Mandarins (2015), Pacific Crest (2016), and Dark Sky Percussion (2014–18). Outside teaching, he works as a Starbucks barista and enjoys coffee every now and then.

Alexis Zamora
Flute Technician

Alexis is a flutist studying under Eileen Holt at Riverside City College (RCC), where she serves as Principal Flute of the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. She is president of the RCC MTNA Collegiate Chapter and interns with Pacific Symphony as a librarian. In addition to her studies, Alexis teaches private lessons on weekends and plans to continue her education at a four-year university, pursuing both music performance and music librarianship.

Max Salce
Battery Technician

Max holds a degree in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and has marched with top percussion ensembles. He integrates his academic background into his teaching, emphasizing team building, emotional intelligence, and responsibility. Dedicated to fostering both personal and ensemble growth, Max creates a positive learning environment that supports students as musicians and individuals.

Jeanette Pun
High Brass Technician

Jen is a Southern California–based musician and educator. She holds a BA in Music from Cal State Fullerton, where she studied trumpet with Barry Perkins and Dave Pittel. A versatile performer, she’s worked in recordings, musicals, marching bands, and as a Disneyland parade musician. As an educator, she teaches privately and serves as a brass instructor for ensembles at Ayala HS, El Dorado HS, RCHS, Golden Empire Drum & Bugle Corps, junior highs, and directs a concert band at El Dorado HS.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA BAND AND COLOR GUARD

James Ana, Band Director