16213 NW US Hwy 441 (MLK Blvd)
Alachua, FL 32615
Office Phone: (386)462-1125 ext. 254
Fax: (386)462-1711
Santa Fe High School Website
Raider Regiment Band Staff
Mr. Nate Bisco was born and raised in Buffalo, NY where he graduated in the top 10 at Iroquois High School. Early percussion instructors included Jack Brennan, formerly of the Buffalo Philharmonic and Tony Miranda, former percussion professor at the University of Buffalo. While living in Western New York, Nate performed as the principal percussionist of the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra, Southtowns Youth Orchestra, and the All-New York State Wind Ensemble.
In 2002, Bisco graduated cum laude from the Honors Program at the University of Miami with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. While at UM, he studied percussion with Fred Wickstrom and Ney Rousaro and conducting from Gary Green. He performed in numerous ensembles including 3 years in the award-winning Wind Ensemble. Bisco also donated many volunteer hours with local band programs and elementary schools where he gave free percussion lessons to students in low-income areas.
After graduating from the Frost School of Music, Mr. Bisco was hired as the music teacher at Paul W. Bell Middle School in Miami. While there, Bisco taught a full 6-period schedule of symphonic and beginning bands, chorus, and keyboard classes. The program tripled in size to over 300 students in his 4-year tenure. He was an FCAT math tutor and wrote and directed the annual school recruitment videos. Nate was nominated Paul Bell's Rookie Teacher of the Year and was runner-up for Teacher of the Year in his first year of eligibility.
In 2006, Nate moved to Gainesville to begin graduate studies at the University of Florida. While at UF, he performed with the Wind Symphony, Sunshine Steelers, and the Guatemalan Marimba Ensemble. Bisco studied conducting with orchestra director, Dr. Raymond Chobaz, receiving the opportunity to conduct several rehearsals and concerts. Nate was also the assistant to the Director of Music Admissions and Advising.
After graduating with a Master's Degree in Music Education, Mr. Bisco was hired as the director of bands at Santa Fe High School. While at Santa Fe, Bisco has helped the Raider Regiment Marching Band earn its 7th and 8th State Championships, plus two consecutive seasons with two Regional Grand Championships. The symphonic band and jazz band have given many Superior performances. Mr. Bisco also revived the chorus at Santa Fe, earning them Superior and Excellent ratings in only its second year performing at MPA. Nate was chosen as the 2011 Santa Fe High School Teacher of the Year. In 2016, he was again selected as Santa Fe's Teacher of the Year and also went on to becoming the High School Teacher of the Year for all of Alachua County. Nate served as the FBA District 4 Chairman for 2013-15.
Professionally, Nate has performed as principal percussionist and timpanist of the Central Florida (Ocala) and Alhambra Symphony Orchestras. As a composer, he has had pieces premiered by the Amherst Saxophone Quartet and the University of Miami Chorale. He also been the musical arranger of the Raider Regiment for the past four years. Mr. Bisco is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Vocal Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Golden Key Honor Society.
Color Guard Director: Paula Alfonso
Percussion Director: Jeremy Lee
Originally from Pennsylvania, Joshua has spent the last ten years cultivating his musical and creative lifestyle in Gainesville, Florida. Graduating from his alma mater in 2009, Joshua has since worked diligently to help progress the arts and participating ensembles towards a creativity fused future.
On the football field, Joshua has served marching bands in various capacities for 7 years. He has enjoyed playing multiple roles for ensembles, including serving as brass/visual caption head for the 8 time state championship awarded Santa Fe High School. In the same role, he played a heavy hand in the growth of Nease High School in Jacksonville, which led to perennial state championship performances as well as multiple regional grand champions. Currently, Joshua is the visual caption head at Westwood HS in Austin, Texas. He is an active visual clinician and design consultant for various programs throughout the southeast.
Joshua's artistic talents extend into the indoor arena as well. Most recently as the program coordinator and director of the Nease High School indoor percussion. With his guidance, Nease Percussion was a back to back WGI Orlando regional champion, WGI Spartanburg regional champion, and a two time FFCC Gold Medalist in Scholastic Open class. Nease was also a 2015 and 2016 finalist at the Wgi World Championships in Dayton, Ohio and was the recipient of back to back Fan Favorite awards. In 2016 Joshua was part of a team that established a new Independent A class percussion ensemble based out of Gainesville, Fl under the moniker "Unity Percussion". In their inaugural year they enjoyed a top ten finish at Wgi finals.
Body design and choreography are one of Joshua's absolute favorite hobbies and perhaps what he is more known for recently. He has been lucky to contribute movement design to successful programs such as the Phantom Regiment, Cedar Park HS (2015 Texas 5A State Champions), Stryke Wynds (2016 WGI Open Class Champions), Westwood Hs (BOA Atlanta finalists), and many more.
Joshua is excited to once again join the "Raider Regiment" as program coordinator for the 2016 season.
Visual/Low Brass Instructor: Jason Beverung
Jason Beverung is currently enrolled at Santa Fe College majoring in Hospitality Management. In his musical career he has attended many summer music camps including the FSU Honors Jazz and Concert camps and the Eastern US Music camp in upstate New York. Jason has performed in many prestigious venues such as the Midwest Clinic and Carnegie Hall. He has also performed with many talented artists like the Dallas Brass and Col. Michael J. Colburn (Conductor, Director, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band). In the summer of 2010 he toured the country with the Boston Crusaders Dum and Bugle Corps marching Euphonium. In 2012 Jason auditioned and made the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps on Euphonium as well. Jason has taught at many great high schools including Trenton High School, Buchholz High School, and Santa Fe. He has been teaching at Santa Fe for the past 4 years as the Low Brass instructor and a Visual Instructor, helping them earn their record setting 8th State Championship.
Visual/High Brass Instructor: Sean Barr
Percussion Instructor: Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller was born in Louisville, Kentucky and lived there for 9 years until he moved to Newberry, Florida. He attended Newberry High School for 4 years, and in his junior year, he joined Group 352 Indoor drumline where he performed for two years. During Ryan's senior year the Newberry High School Band of Pride placed 2nd at FMBC State Championships making finals for the first time in school history. Also in his senior year, Group 352 received the bronze medal at FFCC State Championships in the AA division. Ryan is currently attending Santa Fe College majoring in music and will be transferring to the University of Florida in the near future. Since performing in High School, Ryan has performed 1 year in Project Arts World Independent Winds where they received the bronze medal at WGI World Champs, and also performed 1 year with Unity Percussion who, in their first year received 8th place in the Independent A class at WGI Percussion World Championships Finals. Ryan has taught at Williston High School (Percussion Tech), has taught 2 years at Group 352 Indoor Percussion including this most recent reason where Group 352 won the Silver Medal at FFCC State Champs. (Front Ensemble Tech) and is now going into his second year teaching percussion at Santa Fe High School.
Color Guard Choreographer: David Hanseter
David Hanseter was born and raised in Jupiter, FL. He attended Jupiter High School, where he did marching band and color guard, and was the color guard captain. David then attended the University of Florida, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. Currently, he lives in Tampa and is employed by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, & Conservation department
as a Recreation Therapy Aide, working with children with disabilities. David has marched under such winter guard programs as Gainesville Independent and USF Winter Guard. He has also marched with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps. David has taught both winter guard and marching band programs at Jupiter High School, Freedom High School Tampa, Gainesville High School, and Santa Fe High School. ~"Champions are made when the stands are empty."~
2016-17 University of Florida Student Interns: Ben Grier
