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 Claremont, 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

VISUAL DESIGNER

Zach Carrasco is a San Francisco Bay Area native who has become a full-time educator and designer 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 Degree in Education and a certified California Teaching Credential.

Zach currently serves on the visual staff at The Concord Blue Devils and RCC Indoor Percussion and is the Visual Designer for Dark Sky Percussion. He is also the Program Coordinator and Visual Caption Head at Ruben S. Ayala 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 The Blue Knights (CO), The Madison Scouts (WI), Pacific Crest (CA), POW Percussion (CA), IMPACT Percussion (WA), Motor City Percussion (MI), Lake Effect Percussion (MI), Velocity Independent (CA), UTRGV Percussion (TX), Blue Springs HS (MO), L.D. Bell HS (TX), James Bowie HS (TX), Jenks HS (OK), James E. Taylor HS (TX), Lake Hamilton HS (AR), Westlake HS (UT), Cedar Valley HS (UT), 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), Fountain Valley HS (CA), Homestead HS (CA), Etiwanda HS (CA), El Dorado HS (CA), Castro Valley HS (CA), Portola 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. 2025 will be Zach’s 2nd year on the Dark Sky Design Team

Darren VanDerpoel

BATTERY ARRANGER / SHOW DESIGN

Darren VanDerpoel resides in Chino Hills, CA and works as a music educator throughout Southern California. After graduating from Vista HS in 2005, he performed 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 the Los Angeles Kings 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 Ayala HS and El Dorado HS.  Darren proudly uses Remo Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.

2025 will be Darren’s 8th season writing and instructing for Dark Sky.