Seth Woodard
Seth Woodard: Creative Director, COMPOSER, FOUNDER
Seth Woodard enjoys a career that draws on his background as a performer, educator, and composer. Seth is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music (B.M. 2006) whose experience and schooling has included composition, arranging, orchestration, conducting, music editing, production, performance, teaching and self-publishing. Currently residing in Sierra Madre, CA, Seth is a freelance composer and arranger of music for Film/TV, having worked on projects airing on the Lifetime Network, WWE, and movie theaters worldwide. In addition to his work in modern media, Seth is the Owner and Founder of First Avenue Music - a music writing/publishing company dedicated to supplying Marching Bands and Percussion Ensembles with professional level Design, Composition, and Arrangements.
Seth began studying percussion at a young age with Dr. Steven Hemphill (Northern Arizona University). Around this same time, he was awarded several composition awards by the Arizona Music Educators Association and had the opportunity to play as lead percussionist in the Disney Youth Symphony Orchestra. This early exposure to music eventually led Seth to begin studying marimba with Nancy Zeltsman, which continued through his time in Boston. He has also had the pleasure of studying under Dr. JB Smith, Fumito Nunoya, Nanae Mimura, Klaus Badelt, Andrew Raiher, Eric Reasoner, Richard Davis, and Jon Klein.
Besides writing and directing Dark Sky, Seth has been directly involved with many successful groups over the years, including: Ayala HS (CA), North Shore HS (TX), San Marino HS (CA), Torrance HS (CA), West Shore HS, Williams Field HS, Mesa HS, Gilbert HS, Page HS (AZ), Fishers HS (IN), North Star Independent (ID), Elite Percussion, Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, and many more.
Seth proudly uses and endorses Innovative Percussion, Pearl-Adams, Remo, Roland, and Zildjian products.
Zach Carrasco
ZACH CARRASCO: VISUAL DESIGN
Zach Carrasco is a San Francisco Bay Area native who has become a full-time educator since living in Southern California. He has worked with numerous marching bands, drum corps, and indoor percussion ensembles as a designer, drill writer, choreographer, and visual marching/movement specialist. Graduating from California State University Long Beach, in 2017 with a Bachelor of Music degree in performance, has also allowed him to work as a freelance musician and private instructor. In 2023, Zach earned a Master’s in Education and a certified California Teaching Credential.
Zach currently serves on the visual staff at The Concord Blue Devils and RCC Indoor Percussion. He is the Visual Designer for Dark Sky Percussion and the Program Coordinator for the Vessel Drum and Bugle Corps. Zach also is the Visual Caption Head at Ruben S. Ayala HS (CA) and Fountain Valley HS (CA). Recently, he was the Visual Caption Head at the Blue Devils B Corps in 2017 and on the visual staff at The Sacramento Mandarins in 2018. Other ensembles Zach has worked with are: Pacific Crest (CA), POW Percussion (CA), IMPACT Percussion (WA), Vessel Indoor Percussion (CA), Motor City Percussion (MI), Lake Effect Percussion (MI), Velocity Independent (CA), UTRGV Percussion (TX), Blue Springs HS (MO), James Bowie HS (TX), Jenks HS (OK), James E. Taylor HS (TX), Lake Hamilton HS (AR), Katy HS (TX), North Mesquite HS (TX), Stratford HS (TX), Sullivan HS (MO), Eastwood HS (TX), Hanna HS (TX), Harrison HS (GA), Coronado HS (TX), S. H. Rider HS (TX), James Logan HS (CA), Homestead HS (CA), Etiwanda HS (CA), El Dorado HS (CA), Rowland HS (CA), and Sunny Hills HS (CA).
Zach’s performance background comes from the Concord Blue Devils in 2012-2015, Vanguard Winter Percussion in 2013 and RCC Indoor Percussion in 2016.
Zach lives in Chino, CA. This is Zach’s first year on the Dark Sky Design Team.
Darren VanDerpoel
DARREN VanDERPOEL: BATTERY ARRANGER/Show Design
Darren VanDerpoel resides in Chino Hills, CA and works throughout Southern California as a music educator. After graduating from Vista HS in 2005, he went on to perform with Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps, Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, Black Knights Indoor Percussion, Riverside Community College Marching Band, and RCC Indoor.
Darren earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management from Cal Poly Pomona in 2013. He currently serves as the co-director and performing member of Sidle Entertainment, who provide performing ensembles for special events and sports teams, such as Los Angles Clippers and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Darren has been an active percussion instructor in Southern California since 2005, working with several high schools and independent groups. In addition to Dark Sky, Darren currently works at Diamond Bar HS, El Dorado HS, and Ayala HS. Darren proudly uses Remo Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals and Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.
2024 will be Darren’s 7th season writing for Dark Sky.