top of page
Introduce the judges

Jimmy Wong / Supervising Judge

Jimmy Wong has been actively involved in the development of marching bands in Asia for the past 25 years and has brought many local and international accolades to the bands under his direction, more so with the Victoria Institution Cadet Corps (VICC) Band from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has actively participated, adjudicated and consulted in various international marching band competitions and festivals over the years in countries like Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, The Philippines, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, Italy, and Canada.

Mr. Wong was also the main coordinator, instructor, and choreographer for the Mass Band displays during the 1998 Commonwealth Games, the 2001 SEA Games, and the 50th Malaysia’s National Day Grand Celebrations in 2007. He has successfully organized the Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band Competition from the year 2007 till 2010. In the year 2011, he organized the WAMSB World Championship of Marching Show Bands 2011, and in 2012 and 2013, Mr. Wong has successfully organized the 1st and 2nd Hong Kong International Youth Marching Band Competition, acting as its Festival Director and Chief Technical Consultant. Present, Mr. Wong sits in the Board of Directors of the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) and the Executive Board of Directors of the Asia-Pacific Bands’ Association (APBA). Mr. Wong has also established the WAMSB South East Asia affiliate chapter and holds the position of its first President. He is also currently still active in teaching and consulting for bands in Malaysia, China and Hong Kong.

Al DiCroce / Captions:General Effect

Al DiCroce is an internationally known educator, music arranger, program coordinator, artistic & managerial consultant, adjudicator, and clinician. A master motivator, he has an extensive background in the music pageantry activity, possessing a true passion for making a difference in people’s lives.

Mr. DiCroce received his B.M.E at Hunter College, studied brass performance and composition at New York’s finest conservatories, and has completed numerous professional development, and postgraduate studies to further his education enrichment. His professional experiences include serving as an advisor to school boards, education institutions, ministries and International music organizations, administrating and directing a multi-level performance arts organization in Ontario Canada, serving as a program director for a full service resort and entertainment center and serving as an adjudicator and clinician at numerous International Music Festivals and Competitions in Europe, Asia, and throughout the America’s.

KATSUMI  OKAWA / Captions:General Effect

Beginning his music and marching career in the mid 1970s as a soprano bugle player in Soka youth drum & bugle corps.  He also did drum major and brass arrangement in the corps.
In Soka University, Okawa was a member of Royal Kilties drum & bugle corps (now it’s called Pride of Soka).
During that time he was a soprano bugle player, brass arranger and drill designer as well.
After graduate Soka Univ. he studied under Mr. Raymond Kotwika at the Berklee College of Music in Boston MA. and the Cadets, Star of Indiana and Boston Crusaders through their tour and training camps from 1992 to 1997.
After came back to Japan, Katsumi has been working for many bands as a program coordinator, music arranger and drill designer.
Since 2001 he's been band director of Shonandai High School "White Shooting Stars" which were awarded the gold prize every year since 2005. and won Grand Prix (national champions) titles in 2008, 2012, 2013.
Okawa has been also working as a adjudicator and a clinician for many organizations across the country and Taiwan. He is vice chairman of Judging committee of Drum Corps Japan and has judgement experiences in Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Kasem Thipayametrakul / Captions:Music

Mr.Kasem Thipayametrakul is one of the most versatile and sought after percussionists in Thailand. He is known as father of drumline of Thailand.

Kasem was studied percussion at Wat Suthiwararam school. He continues study percussion and keyboard percussion withMr.Nattawat (Sunthorn) Yodsrithong, Mr.Brian Johnson, Prof.Jeff Moore and Prof.Mark Ford. Kasem marched with Madison ScoutsDrum & Bugle Corps in 1999-2000 (Front Line) as well as participated and achieve high rank in Solo Marimba and Ensemble for DCI (I&E) and PASIC. When returned from USA, Kasem served as a Percussion Caption Head and Percussion Arranger for Siamyth Drum & Bugle Corps from 2006-2010. Kasem has recorded Marimba solo with Guitar in music name “Songwad”, composed by Sakchai Lekwongsderm, in the Album “Yawaraj” in year 2010. Also in 2015 He has Solo Marimba Concerto with Bangkok Symphony Orchestra in new piece “Marimba Concerto Mahamongkol by Kitti Kuremanee, as well.

Kasem was and still teach in several leading university such as Chulalongkorn, Kasetsart, and Assumption University as well as many school in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and USA. Moreover, he has condensed his teaching experience into educational literature exercise book “Drumline Exercises 2004-2008 Vol.1”.

Presently, he is Director of Bangkok Society Drumline and served as Principal Percussionist of Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and Keyboard Leader of Fanatic Percussion. Kasem also was invited to become member of WMC (The World Music Contest) and WAMSB (World Association of Marching Show Bands) Judge Panel. Kasem is the official endorser of Majestic Mallets, Pearl Drum, Sabian Cymbal, Evans Drumhead, Vic Firth mallet & drumstick as well as Percussion Designer and Artist for Percussion House.

Jun Kumagai / Captions:Music

Jun Kumagai studied music composition and trumpet at Tokyo Conservatoire Shobi and San Francisco Conservatoire of Music, and he is known as a program coordinator/arranger for competitive marching bands in Japan including Hoshino High School, Kashiwa HS, Minokamo HS, Rissho University Shonan High School, Noda Nanbu Junior HS, Okuda Junior HS and many other groups. Kumagai is also known as an official Judge of Drum Corps Japan. Judging experience include Japan Marching Band Association Championships, many regionals and DCJ competitions.

Masashi Fujii / Captions:Visual

Beginning his music and marching career in the early 90's as a color guard member in Bay max Drum & Bugle Corps in Yokohama. In University, Fujii continued to be a member of Bay max Drum & Bugle Corps for three years. During his studies he trained in America with the Carolina Crown & Pride of Cincinnati Drum and Burgle Corps and colorguard. Returning to Japan he began writing choreography for Tokyo Phoenix Drum and Bugle Corps and Heian Marching Band.

After graduating university, he continued teaching choreography and colorguard to multiple marching and drum corps groups.

In 2004 Fujii returned to America to further is education and training with the Pride of Cincinnati. Since 2001 he has been head colorguard instructor of Shonandai High School "White Shooting Stars"which were awarded the gold prize every year since 2005 and won Grand Prix (national champion) titles in 2008, 2012, 2013. Fujii has been also working as an adjudicator around Japan and a clinician in Taiwan.

Yoshito Ebisawa / Captions:Visual

Yoshito Ebisawa currently resides in Kanagawa, Japan. He studied music at UCLA in the USA. He took Drum Major training from Mr. Tom Peacock. While in the USA he was a staff of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Corps. After returning to Japan he became a Japan Marching Band Association Certified Instructor and has been teaching and consulting for various marching bands throughout Japan. He teaches 'The Gryphons' marching band in Kyoto, and several school bands ranging from elementary school through high school and university as well as community bands in Japan. He has been an adjudicator and clinician at events in Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, Singapore and Indonesia.

He also teaches united bands at All Japan High School Athletic Festival, the All Japan High School Cultural Festival and the National Culture Festival. He has been in charge of Japan Associations color guard and drum major courses in their annual central camp and a Certified Instructor Test Commissioner. Additionally, he is an active marching coordinator for the Japan Air Self Defense Force Central Band and was cited for his accomplishments at the 50th anniversary of the band in 2011.

Jaudz Liu / Captions: Color Guard General Effect, Color Guard Movement

Born and raised in Taipei Taiwan, Jaudz Liu has over 20 years of designing and teaching experiences among marching band, drum corps, dance and color guard activities.  Lots of her students have now become wonderful instructors in the related field.  Jaudz has worked with various bands and color guards in Taiwan, China and US.She has traveled with the groups for national and international festivals and competitions in Australia, throughout Europe and in North America.

As a marching member, instructor, dancer, choreographer and marching show coordinator, Jaudz continues her passion through show designing and judging. After moving to Colorado, Jaudz joined the RMCGA (Rocky Mountain Color Guard Association) judge panel in 2013. 
Jaudz currently lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where she also works as a Mandarin Chinese teacher and Pilates instructor.  She dances in Steamboat Dance Theater.

bottom of page