Mark Figueroa

Mark Figueroa is a seasoned music educator, arranger, composer, and designer from Allentown, Pennsylvania. Over the last 14 years, Mark has spent time teaching at every level K-12, and currently works as an elementary school band director and high school Music Theory and Music Production teacher in the Parkland School District (Allentown, PA).

Mark’s musical journey started in Jackson, NJ, under the tutelage of Mr. Bud McCormick. Bud is an alumnus of the Santa Clara Vanguard and Reading Buccaneers, and an award winning Band Director. Mark grew up in an environment that highlighted the rich history of the marching arts in New Jersey, and that awareness helped to shape his future journey through the activity.

After leaving New Jersey, Mark went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he studied under Andrew Yozviak and Jonathan Fowler. Mark’s passion for the marching arts was further cemented during his time performing in, and eventually instructing, the West Chester University Golden Rams Marching Band. While at West Chester Mark had the opportunity to meet some current and former members of the Crossmen hornline and his passion was further ignited.

The history of the Crossmen in the southeast PA/NJ region is rich, and the reputation the drum corps had was one of mystique, passion, and “cool.” Seeing the Crossmen live during this time was an experience like no other, and getting a chance to audition for the corps, let alone earning a contract, was surreal. Mark earned a contract from the Crossmen in 2005, and remained with the corps through 2008, where he served in the role of Horn Sergeant.

Mark is one of the select few veteran members of the corps who stayed with the Crossmen through their move to Texas. The passion and pride that the membership had for the organization, learning from the likes of Aaron Goldberg, Adam Farley, and the late Bill Kellerman and Joe Kempf, built an incredibly strong connection to the history and heritage of the Crossmen.

After aging out from the Crossmen, Mark started his professional career in Music Education, serving as a Band Director in the Toms River Regional School District in Toms River, NJ. He spent the first nine years of his career there, before moving back to Pennsylvania. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, Mark worked in the Muhlenberg School District for four years, before accepting his current position in the Parkland School District.

Mark’s passion for the marching arts has kept him involved in the activity in many ways. Mark is an active arranger, composer, and designer for marching bands around the country, whose company, New Wave Marching Productions, has gone on to design numerous award winning shows. Mark began teaching drum corps in 2010 and 2011 as a Visual instructor at the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, before ultimately returning to the corps as the Brass Caption Head, a position he held from 2015 - 2018. The opportunity to teach at a corps in his home state, and give back to the marching community that gave him so much during his formative years, was an honor and a privilege.

Now, Mark is primed to return home to the Crossmen. To say that the opportunity is an honor is an understatement. The Crossmen have produced some of the most talented music educators in the activity and to be able to join a lineage that includes the likes of Dean Musson, Bill Kellerman, Steve Mason, and Aaron Goldberg, among many others, is an privilege that Mark will treat with the care and respect that it deserves.

Mark resides in Allentown, PA with his wife Allison and two crazy pups, Ollie and Ruby.