Veritas 2027 Design Team
Chris Murphree : Music Coordinator/Front Ensemble Arranger
Chris is currently a freelancing percussion specialist in Indiana, primarily working with Brownsburg High School where he serves as an arranger, designer, and instructor for the group throughout the school year. He received his Master’s degree from Indiana University, and his Bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, where he also served as an Adjunct Professor of Percussion. During his time at IU he served as the associate instructor for the Marching Hundred Drumline.
Chris’ marching career includes Spirit of Atlanta, The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, and Music City Mystique. His past drum corps teaching experience includes Troopers, Phantom Regiment, Madison Scouts, and most recently the Blue Knights where he served as front ensemble arranger. Chris is very excited to continue his work as a Creative Director for 317 Performing Arts. He has written for and consulted with several high schools and universities throughout the Midwest. He is proud to be endorsed by Innovative Percussion Inc.
Andrew Fortuna : Program Coordinator/Battery Arranger
Andrew has been involved in the world of marching percussion for the better part of two decades. Andrew started his marching career in 2002 in 7th grade and marched all the way into 2012, aging out with The Boston Crusaders and United Percussion.
Andrew has had the privilege of working with a number of groups in the past including: The Boston Crusaders, Madison Scouts, The Blue Knights, Phantom Regiment, and Carmel High School. He currently teaches at Brownsburg High School, Avon High School. He also serves as Battery Arranger for a number of different high schools across the country including Brownsburg High School and Noblesville High School.
Andrew has been writing for the ensemble since 2023 and has served as Program Coordinator since 2025. He is excited to continue to work with the amazing team that has been assembled for the 2027 season!
Andrew currently lives in Brownsburg, IN with his wife, Jamie Fortuna and 2 children.
Jamie Fortuna : Production Lead/Choreographer
Jamie Fortuna has been involved in the marching arts since 2004. She has worked with numerous marching programs throughout the Midwest. Jamie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from University of Southern Indiana, and a Secondary Education License through Ball State University.
As a member, Jamie performed with O2 winterguard 2010-2011 and Onyx World 2012-2015, serving as a captain her final season. Jamie has worked with Onyx World 2016-2018, as well as Music City Drum and Bugle Corps 2011-2013 and Boston Crusaders 2014-2016. She has taught multiple Indianapolis area high school marching programs as a color guard instructor, visual choreographer and technician. Jamie has been involved with Veritas as a designer and choreographer since 2019.
Jamie resides in Brownsburg, IN with her husband, Andrew Fortuna, and their two kids.
Ryan Ellis : Visual Designer
Ryan Ellis is a visual designer, music arranger, program coordinator, and educational consultant specializing in marching bands, indoor drumlines, and drum corps.
Ryan served on the instructional staff of the Crossmen during the 2018 and 2019 seasons as Snare Technician and Battery Coordinator. From 2020 through 2023, he served as Battery Arranger and Percussion Caption Head for the Madison Scouts. In 2024, he continued with the organization as Battery Arranger and currently serves as Program Facilitator for The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps.
In the WGI activity, Ryan is an active designer and educator, collaborating with both Scholastic and Independent programs across the country. He currently serves as Visual Designer for Rhythm X.
Ryan is proud to endorse Evans Drumheads and Promark Drumsticks. He resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife, Kayla, and their two sons, Theo and Louie.
Connor Smethers : Visual & Drill Coordinator
Connor Smethers lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and works full-time in the marching arts as a visual designer, choreographer, and educator. He has been on staff with several Drum Corps, including Legends, Troopers, Music City, and Crossmen where he is the choreographer.
In the fall, Connor designs choreography for a number of high schools throughout the Midwest. His recent work includes work with Homestead, Carroll, East Noble, Huntington North, and Angola in the Fort Wayne area.
Connor also stays active in the WGI circuit, where he works as a drill writer, visual consultant, and choreographer for ensembles across Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Texas. His recent clients include Cap City Percussion, Cap City 2, Redline Percussion, Veritas, Pi Percussion, Carroll High School, Homestead High School, Dakota High School, and many others.
This will be his third year at Veritas, and first year on the design team. Connor is looking forward to contributing to the ensemble’s continued growth and success.
Matthew Black : Sound Designer
Matthew Black is Associate Director of Bands and Director of Percussion at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. He has served as Director of Percussion at 7-time BOA Grand National Champion Marian Catholic High School and has been on the educational staff of Phantom Regiment, Blue Stars, Veritas Indoor Percussion, and Cavaliers Indoor Percussion.
His sound design credits include serving as Sound Design Assistant for Rhythm-X Indoor Percussion and as Lead Sound Designer for both the Crossmen and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, where he also held the role of Audio Caption Manager. Matthew has presented clinics nationwide on percussion pedagogy and electronic music production, and he is the Division Coordinator for the Percussion Specialist Academy at the Music for All Summer Symposium.
Matthew is a Yamaha Performing Artist and endorses Evans drumheads, Vic Firth/Balter sticks and mallets, and Zildjian cymbals.
He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern Illinois University and lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his daughter Julia.