We are fortunate to have strategic partnerships with these incredible educators and designers
Affiliates
Shannon Jacobs
Shannon Jacobs has been an active percussion instructor, clinician, arranger and adjudicator in the DFW area for over a decade. Shannon graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, TX, in 2004. From there he attended The University of Texas at Arlington. At UTA he was a member of the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, World Ensemble, and Samba Band.
Shannon has performed concerts with artists such as Ney Rosauro, John Riley, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez and others. In 2006, the UTA Drumline placed 2nd at the PASIC marching percussion festival in which he was a member of the snare line. Shannon also has performing experience with the Syracuse Brigadiers, Insignia Indoor Percussion Ensemble, Surround Sound Indoor Drumline, and The Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue Drum Line.
As an arranger and clinician, he has enjoyed working with dozens of schools in the DFW area, as well as groups in south Texas and as far away as Maryland. Shannon has been a part of the staff at Forney High School since 2007 where he has been the private lesson teacher, battery technician and percussion arranger. While at Forney, the percussion section has been extremely successful, winning high percussion awards at multiple marching band contests and receiving medals at both the HEB and Lonestar Drumline contests.
Percussion Arranger, Clinician
Andrew Werst
I'm Andrew Werst, a Dallas based audio professional and sound designer. I love being able to make a difference for educators and students through the work I do and am excited to continue growing Microphonic Designs.
In early 2013 I graduated with my Bachelor's of Science degree in the Recording Arts from Full Sail University. The skills and knowledge I acquired at Full Sail are the core of all the work I do: From the studio to the marching field.
As a performer, I spent the summers of 2013 and 2014 with the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps and aged out of the marching activity with Matrix Indoor Percussion Ensemble in 2015. My involvement with drum corps didn't end there, as I went on to work as the audio technician for Crossmen in the summer of 2015 and the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps the following year.
After the 2016 summer with Phantom Regiment, I moved to Dallas, TX and began working as the in-house audio consultant for Lone Star Percussion. Microphonic Designs was officially formed in early 2018 and in late 2020 became my full-time endeavor.
Away from the job, I enjoy spending time with my wife and son, Liz and Eli, and try to make it out to the skatepark as often as I can.
Electronic Design, Audio Retail
Casey Snead is a skilled program coordinator, drill writer, and choreographer based in Forney, Texas. Known for his creative and engaging show designs, Casey works with marching bands and pageantry ensembles nationwide, bringing concepts to life on the field and on the floor in the indoor circuits such as Winter Guard International (WGI).
Through Artistic Motion, Casey channels his love of the marching arts into a space for creativity and collaboration. It’s where he connects with fellow educators and designers who share the same passion for bringing ideas to life. Together, they create imaginative, high-energy productions that celebrate teamwork, artistry, and the joy of performing.
Casey resides in Forney with his wife and two young sons, Grey and Locklen. He remains dedicated to enriching the marching arts community, drawing on his diverse background to help ensembles achieve memorable performances and lasting success.
Program Coordination, Drill Writing, Choreography
Casey Snead
Zach Santos is the owner of Santos Creative Services and Standing O Marching. These companies focus on providing comprehensive services for the marching arts. He is also co-owner of The Band Blueprint, which is a virtual curriculum company that provides education for directors to elevate their marching programs.
Prior to founding his company, Zach taught for six years at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park, Texas. During his tenure, the Vista Ridge band earned numerous accolades, including the 2018 UIL 6A State Marching Band Championship, a finalist position at the 2021 BOA Grand Nationals, and an invitation to perform in the 2023 Rose Parade. His concert ensembles consistently received sweepstakes awards, and he conducted the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony. Zach has presented at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and the Midwest Clinic.
Throughout his career, he has held many positions, including serving as program coordinator for the Guardians, visual instructor for the Blue Knights, Phantom Regiment, and Rhythmic Force, as well as leading clinics for System Blue and Blue Knights Experience Camps. He is also the co-founder of the “Driven by Drum Corps” scholarship, which supports students aspiring to participate in DCI and desire to have a career in the marching arts.
Zach’s performance background includes marching with the Guardians (2013), Crossmen (2014), Blue Knights (2015-2016), and the Blue Devils (2017), where he was part of the world championship winning ensemble. Zach also facilitates SASI leadership camps, where he mentors students nationwide in leadership development.
Zach holds a Bachelor of Music Studies degree and a Trumpet Performance Certificate from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also earned a Business Minor from the UT McCombs School of Business. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western Governors University. Zach continues to perform as a trumpet player with the Cedar Park Winds, local churches, and the Austin Brass Collective. He resides in Leander, Texas with his wife, Kendall, their son, Ryder, and their dog, Hudson.
Program Coordination, Clinician, Choreography