Featuring the Crystal Lake Strikers
February 22, 2025 @ 7p
A night of music featuring the best percussion and drumming groups around! Don’t miss this local fan favorite!
The Evening of Percussion features the performing ensembles of the Crystal Lake Strikers and some surprise guests. You’ll see performers ranging in age from seven to seventy. The Strikers will also award scholarships to local high school students including the Tim Althoff, William Laskey, and Aaron Shepley Memorial Scholarships.
The Crystal Lake Strikers was formed in the fall of 2007 when three area men sat in a local coffee shop imagining the possibility of forming an organization that would achieve the essential goals of providing a performing outlet for drummers of college-age and beyond as well as supporting and educating aspiring young performers. In the 17 years since the Strikers have performed in front of millions, creating seven ensembles for area students.
This event is sponsored by
An Evening of Percussion Program 2025
Crystal Lake Strikers 2025 Evening of Percussion
Produced and Directed by Jamie Haak and Craig Lescher
Equipment and Audio by Kendall Haak
Have Fun, Don’t Suck
The Crystal Lake Strikers
Everybody (Irish) Dance Now
Keigher Academy of Irish Dance
Just Like the Big Kids
Pinstripes
Jackson Bolos
Devin Dang
Augusto Fernandez
Lily Bowser
Lachlan Tucker
Sloane Tucker
Fletcher Wood
Evan Merideth
Matthew Bryant
Orson Reuter
Ryder Burke
Lucy Bean
Nora Bean
Dylan Bean
Nora Costa
Jillian Costa
Nora Marsett
Alex Sak
Colton Saxton
Evan Berchtold
Wesley Chaix
Diner’s Club
Nathan Link
Val Kundmann
Tom Kundmann
David Berquist
Tony DeFilippo
Brett Hopkins
Kingpins Dance Party
Kingpins
Eric S
Louis B
Henry R
Emmett K
Jasan D
James H
Anaka B
Annaliese O
Donovan W
Emmalee S
Colton H
Austin K
Josefina V
Dylan K
Brogan H
Grady H
Darby D
Sandy E
Conrad G
Stephanie K
Rachel T
Spencer P
Justin K
Kayla B
Blake S
Addyn W
Roberto O
Zach P
Danny O
To Hades and Back, My Love
Convergence
Hannah Andrae
Cece Brichta-Bachar
Zoe Bosonetta
Emma Carrillo
Anna Furman
Ashleigh Gilliam
Kyle Goldberg
Katherine (Kitty) Heath
Karly Klein
Sophia Kowitt
Madeline Lyons
Pauline Navarro
Stacy Sunderladge
The Architect
Crystal Lake Thunder
Anthony Hugunin
Lucas Hubert
Manuel Tamayo
Will Pierce
Zach Timonen
Angie Gutierrez
Colman Kennedy
James Sehata
Lucio Avila
Isaac McGee
Jake McDonagh
Jasmyn Fletcher
John Dorizas
John Farrell
Morgan Hoey
Summer McDonald
Victor Milanov
Brendan Schoneberg
Cary Lorentz
Isaiah Ramos
Joe Carlson
Joshua Ramos
Nolan Leegard
Chris Avila
D’Andrae Atkins
Jack Lyons
Alexys Girton
Charlie Miller
Maxwell Miller
Rachel Kaminski
Walk Like an Egyptian
Strike Force
Ben Kownacki
Korbin Tucker
Max Wondriska
Andres Pascual Pena
Rylan Shay
Kylie Tarrant
Natalie Gudeth
Harrison Reinhard
Tyler Marak
Matthew Diedrich
Nolan Duesterhaus
Madeline Sena
Tomas Pascual Pena
Victoria Gore
Miles Koegel
Brendan Cunningham
Avi Ojeda
Barrett Stechly
Unstoppable Together
Girls on the Drum
Brooke Kelley
Emma DeGeorge
Kylie Tarrant
Sadie Johnson
Imani Matula
Natalie Gudeth
Elliott Schmitz
Emily Bean
Maddie Sena
Lola Bowser
Marissa Mauger
Amelya Shapiro
Victoria Gore
Irelyn Origer
Joey Wapole
Maddie Hostler
Penny Tibbetts
Tessa Levine
Pop Girl Summer
All Stars
Cayden McLean
Jaxson Pfister
Austin Seegers
Connor Moran
Bree Abel
Sydney Carson
Isaac Kupfer
Victoria Gore
Lilith Myers
Jonas Torres
Cristina Druetta
Gabriella Kyobe
Gavan McLaughlan
William Sykes
Mason Loomis
Andrew Gudeth
Dylan LaPorte
Rebekah Butzow
Sydney Mattingly
Robert Zera
Caley Abbott
Nathanael Borkowski
Ciara McDermott
Spencer Link
Logan Kenty
None of this can happen without the most amazing support staff for each line:
Strikers Board of Directors
Brett Hopkins, Tom Kundmann, Val Kundmann, Dale Hallerberg, Dan Chamberlain, Doug Holck, Erin Arnold, Craig Lescher and Jamie Haak
Adult Line
Jamie Haak, Kendall Haak
Keigher Academy of Irish Dance
Holly McNichols
Pinstripes
Erin Arnold, Jessica Myjak, Bailey Schneyr, Marissa Mauger, Nina Bean, Emily Bean
Kingpins
Angela Krambeer, Sabrina Svitak, Doug Holck, Dan Chamberlain, Dave Pierce, Tami Pierce, Sydney Carson,
NISRA support staff, our wonderful Kingpin Families, and of course Natalie Virgil and Ashley Naskrent
Kingpins – Southwest Michigan
Doug Hallerberg
Bill Slider
Bryan Stewart
Wendal Tomes
Dave Marlett
Convergence
Val Kundmann , Lindsey Klotz, Payton Falco
Thunder
Bryan Jamison, Sam Shepard, Katie Klipstein, Craig Hatter, Josh Vezina, Isaac Frank, Tyler Stewart, Mikey McGuire, Issy Malic, Jazmyne Barnhill, Brandi McGee
Strike Force
Dan Chamberlain, Doug Holck, Andrew Gudeth, Cary Lorentz, Marissa Mauger, Tony DeFilippo
Girls on the Drum
Peggy Casey, Erin Arnold, Jessica Myjak, Bailey Schneyr, Marissa Mauger, Caley Abbott, Rebekah Butzow
All-Stars
Dan Chamberlain, Doug Holck, Tom Kundmann, Brendan Schoneberg, Manuel Tomayo, Angie Gutierrez, Will Pierce, Tony DeFilippo
The Crystal Lake Strikers’ Cast:
The Strikers Adult Line – The original performing group made up of adult and student drummers who perform at events around the Chicagoland area.
The Strikers All-Stars – Since 2009, the All-Stars have provided a performance outlet for high school drummers in the same manner as the Strikers adult group.
Convergence Winterguard – Established in 2014, Convergence is a competitive winter guard on the Midwest Colorguard and WGI tours.
Girls on the Drum – Founded in 2015, GOTDrums uses lively tunes to teach music fundamentals and drumming basics to elementary school girls while building confidence and synergy among the members.
Crystal Lake Thunder – Starting in 2016, Thunder is the Crystal Lake Strikers entry in WGI competitive drumline circuit including an Independent Class A finalist showing in 2019.
Kingpins – Since a “Hey, I have an idea…” meeting in late 2018, the Kingpins have grown and inspired us with their performances in parades and standstills from Rockford to Joliet, Marengo to our hometown. And they have inspired others to start similar programs, with our own affiliated program in Southwest Michigan, and by others in western Cook/eastern DuPage counties, and beyond.
Strike Force – This group is for Middle School students who want to have fun and drum great!
Pinstripes – The newest ensemble in the Striker Organization! This educational percussion program is for students in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades.
About Crystal Lake Strikers Organization:
THE CONCEPT
In the fall of 2007, three area men sat in a local coffee shop imagining the possibilities of forming a drumline that would achieve two essential goals:
- provide a performing outlet for drummers of college-age and beyond
- support and educate aspiring young musicians
In assembling the group, the founders discussed the simple fact that there are so many people who started playing percussion at a very young age, stayed with it in the various bands and drum corps, then… nothing. The people who have an outlet for their musical training past high school and college are rare. We believe this drumline provides an outlet for those individuals.
THE REALITY
Within a matter of months following that meeting, the founders of the Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline, Aaron Shepley, Brett Hopkins and Thomas Kundmann, realized the first of these dreams when the line with the motto “have fun and don’t suck” stepped off in the Crystal Lake Gala Parade. In over a decade since the Strikers have performed in front of millions of people live and on national television. The group has grown to become one of the most popular entertainment groups in the Chicago area.
But the Strikers weren’t done with performing and entertaining. There was the second goal to be achieved. These past 17 years have seen the creation of 7 educational programs to support the performing arts in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Through these programs, the Strikers fund thousands of dollars in scholarships and education to nearly a hundred performers every year.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Paul
Board President
John Jacobsen
Vice President
Jerry Trachsler
Treasurer
Luanne Flavin
Secretary
John Green
Mike H. Johnson
Richard Kuranda
Jack Minsley
Rich Naponelli
Michelle Nowland
Sandra Pierce
Regan Shepley
Chuck Stevens
Steven Szalaj
Stacey McInerney
Volunteer Liaison
RAUE CENTER STAFF
Richard Kuranda
Raue Center CEO & Founding Artistic Director of Williams Street Repertory
Justin Wellington
Managing Director
Jenna Klaproth
Operations Manager
Meredith Schaefer-Flowers
Director of Marketing &
Institutional Advancement
Michele V. Knight
Marketing Manager
James Knight
Economic Development Manager
Rob Scharlow
Raue Center School for the Arts
Director of Education
Maribeth Ling
Front of House Manager
Chris Tumblin
Raue Center Director of Production
Lisa Giebler
Technical Director
Ryan Meadow
Raue Center Production Manager
James Mablin
Resident Music Director
Box Office Associates
Naomi Unverzagt
Max Powers
About Raue Center For The Arts
Raue Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 20 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available, and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor—Lucile Raue—Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination.
For additional information follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or visit rauecenter.org.
