Crown Welcomes Clif Walker & Joe Hobbs to Creative Team

Carolina Crown is excited to welcome Clif Walker and Joe Hobbs to TeamCROWN! Focusing on Percussion design and orchestration, they will join other members of the Creative Team to design Crown’s next production. Clif and Joe are accomplished musicians and educators who bring a wealth of experience from across the marching arts and are ready to get to work!

“I am extremely honored and excited to join the team at Crown; it’s a dream come true. I have always been a fan from afar and consistently inspired by the quality, value, and substance they bring to the activity year after year. The energy, resources, and time dedicated to the membership's creative and educational experience is unparalleled. This is going to be very special," said Walker.

Clif Walker is an arranger, clinician, and composer with original works performed at PASIC, TMEA, DCI, BOA, and The Midwest Band Orchestra Clinic.  He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Missouri, where he teaches percussion and is the director of the Marching Mizzou Drumline. He was a percussion staff member and designer/arranger (2018-2024) with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, recipients of the 2023 DCI Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion Performance. 

Clif is a faculty member of the Music for All Summer Symposium and the BOA and WGI Adjudication Roster. He served as the director of percussion, design team member, and arranger for BOA Grand National Finalist Blue Springs High School (2011-2015), and director of percussion at Timber Creek High School in Orlando, Florida (2001-2008), who performed at the Percussive Arts Society International as the high school International Percussion Ensemble Competition winners in 2005. He’s in his fourth year as Program Coordinator of BOA Grand National Finalist Fishers High School from Fishers, IN, and is the front ensemble arranger for Carmel High School, Carmel, IN.

Clif holds a BSE from Missouri Western State University and an MME from the University of Central Florida. Clif is published with Musicon Publications and Tapspace. He proudly endorses Yamaha Musical Instruments, Evans Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, and Innovative Percussion Sticks, and Mallets.

“I am beyond excited to be joining the team.  Carolina Crown has such a rich tradition of excellence, and I am honored to be a part of this remarkable organization.  I can’t wait to work with the incredible design team and bring something special to the field!” said Hobbs. 

Joe Hobbs has been involved with DCI for over 20 years. Most recently, Joe was on the percussion staff for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. During his time there, The Bluecoats were awarded the Fred Sanford Award for high percussion in 2022 (the first in corps history), and they were the 2024 DCI World Champions. Joe was also the Battery Arranger for Music City Drum Corps from Nashville, TN from 2023-2024.  In 2023, the percussion section had its highest percussion placement in the corps history.  He served as the Percussion Caption Head for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2015-2018. Before joining The Cavaliers, Joe served on the percussion staff for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. He was also involved with Music City Mystique as a Battery Instructor from 2009-2011.

Joe is currently the Director of Percussion at Vandegrift High School in Austin, TX. Under his direction, the percussion section has seen national recognition and national competitive success. The group won the Dripping Springs Drum Line Contest in 2016, 2017, and 2019 and the Lone Star Classic in 2018.  The Vandegrift Drum Line was also invited to perform at the 2019 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis as a featured clinician. The Vandegrift Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2017 and 2024 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.

The band program at Vandegrift High School has also received national recognition since opening in 2009. Vandegrift was named the 2022 and 2023 UIL 6A Texas Marching Band State Champions. The group was also named the BOA Grand National Champion in 2019.  Other honors include the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 2021 Midwest Band and Orchestra Performing Ensemble, the 2020 Sudler Shield Recipient, the 2020 Sudler Flag Recipient, the 2021 UIL 6A Silver Medalist, and the 2018 UIL 6A Honor Band.  

Joe is a sought-after writer, clinician, and judge. Tapspace Publications published his snare drum methods book titled The Starting Line.  The book focuses on developing young snare drummers’ rhythmic comprehension and expanding rudimental vocabulary. His marching percussion arrangements have been performed by The University of Texas, The University of Alabama and The Phantom Regiment.  

His marching career began with the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps from 2001 to 2003. During his time at Southwind, he was named the 2003 DCI I&E Snare Drum Champion. From 2004 to 2006, he was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. While a member of the Cavaliers, Joe won two DCI World Championships (2004 and 2006), the 2006 DCI I&E Mixed Ensemble Championship, the "Cavalier of the Year Award," and the “Zildjian Award.” 

Joe received his Music Education degree from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. He is endorsed by Pearl Drums, Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals and Evans Drumheads. He currently lives in Austin, TX with his wife, Kara, and their daughter, Nina.