ProShop
Mr. J.W. Koester, a long-time educator, consultant, adjudicator, pageantry professional & percussionist, is currently employed as a Project Engineer with a semi-conductor capital equipment company in Fremont, CA.
A Percussionist since 1967, he has performed with such groups as the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps (during which time the Corps won 3 DCI World Championships & 5 Best Percussion Section Awards), the San Jose’ State University Marching Band, and the West Valley College Wind & Percussion Ensembles, as well as numerous Community Theater Musical Productions.
In his 30 plus years as a designer, instructor & consultant he has worked with several top Drum & Bugle Corps, including the Santa Clara Vanguard, The Phantom Regiment, the Glassmen, the Mandarins and the Vanguard Cadets, as well as numerous Marching Bands, Winter Guards & Winter Percussion Ensembles throughout the United States.
Mr. Koester has over 30 years experience as an adjudicator of Marching Band, Drum & Bugle Corps, Winter Guard and Winter Percussion Festivals & Competitions throughout the United States.
Mr. Koester has also served in the capacity of Director or Manager of such well-known pageantry organizations as the 7-time World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps (including the 1999 DCI World Championship Corps), the 2 time World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (including the 2008 DCI World Championship Corps), the World Champion DCI Open Division Vanguard Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps (including the 1991 & 1993 Division II finalist corps), the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps, the 6-time World Champion San Jose’ Raiders Winter Guards and with Drum Corps International as the national coordinator for the Division II & III corps.
Mr. Koester is currently the Corps Director for the Sacramento Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps. He also serves as Lead Instructor for the Price Charter School Winter Percussion Ensemble and music consultant for Oak Grove High School Marching Band and Winter Percussion Ensemble.
