Salina, Brown Selected to Lead 2018 Jersey Surf as Drum Majors

2018 Jersey Surf Drum Majors (from left)
Connor Brown and Dante Salina

With a combination of leadership skills and multiple years of experience as talented and passionate members of the Jersey Surf team, 2018 Drum Majors Dante Salina and Connor Brown will join forces to help propel the corps to new levels of achievement.

Dante Carl Salina has participated in Drum and Bugle Corps for three years. In 2015 he marched with Coastal Surge from South Carolina and the Raiders from New Jersey as a contra player for both organizations. In 2016, Dante joined Jersey Surf as a contra player and in 2017, he was a member of the Surf’s “Team Hands” and provided backfield and sideline conducting. For the 2018 season, Dante will serve as one of two Drum Majors for Jersey Surf.

Dante is from Cary, North Carolina and is studying International Relations and Japanese at Western Carolina University where he is also a member of the “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band as a sousaphone player and a band photographer. In April of this year, Dante became a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, Epsilon Lambda Chapter, where he serves as the Corresponding Secretary.

Dante follows a rich family tradition of the marching arts. His grandfather, both grandmothers, mother and father, have all been members of drum and bugle corps, as well as marching bands throughout the Northeastern, United States.

Dante states, “I love drum and bugle corps because I enjoy performing, making people happy and doing so through music.”

Connor Brown is entering his fourth season with the Jersey Surf. After spending three years in the euphonium section, he is excited to be a Drum Major for the upcoming season.

Connor hails from from Richmond, Virginia and is in his sophomore year at George Mason University where he studies economics and history. When not working on schoolwork, Connor enjoys reading, playing video games, relaxing with his dogs, and being disappointed in Redskins football.

He began playing trombone in the sixth grade after being inspired by his trumpet-playing father. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how the 2018 Jersey Surf comes together,” said Brown, “we have a great core of vets to support a talented group of rookies and will be able to reach new heights for the corps.”