Promotion formalizes role held since last season; new programs director also joins executive team of Santa Clara-based performing arts organization.
SANTA CLARA, CA – August 23, 2016 – The Santa Clara Vanguard, one of the world’s top rated drum and bugle corps and youth performing arts organizations, today announced two new executive hires as the organization prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017. Current acting executive director Charles Frost will be promoted to full time Executive Director and new hire Shaun Gallant will join the organization in the role of Programs Director.
“Charles is the type of leader that exemplifies the ideals and mission of the Santa Clara Vanguard. This is an organization with a 50 year tradition of excellence in our community and across our performing arts programs, and we are thrilled to have Charles guiding us as we prepare for an exciting year,” said Kevin Brooks, Board Chair, Santa Clara Vanguard.
As executive director, Frost will be responsible for the overall strategic and operational responsibility for the Santa Clara Vanguard’s staff, programs, growth, and execution of its mission. He is an educator and a musician as well as an alumnus of the organization he now leads. After spending two years with Santa Clara Vanguard in the early 2000s, he continued his music education at Texas State University majoring in Trumpet Performance. After college he worked as a professional musician in Phoenix, AZ, where he also spent four seasons working with the Arizona State University 
Marching Band.
Frost rejoined Santa Clara Vanguard for the 2013 season as Tour Director and quickly moved to California to create Vanguard Performing Arts, a community-based music education and performance program affiliated with Vanguard that provides low-cost private music lessons and consists of the Santa Clara Big Band, a youth brass ensemble and the Vanguard Brass quintet.
Frost stepped into the role of acting Executive Director last year and guided the flagship program, Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, to a strong 4th place finish at the Drum Corps International World Championships.
As programs director, Shaun Gallant will work closely with Frost to oversee the education, operations and performances of the Santa Clara Vanguard’s multiple performing arts programs. He will also focus on the daily operation of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps.
Gallant, a native Californian, is the founder of a successful New York-based performing arts and entertainment company. He is also a
Vanguard alumnus with more than eight years of experience as member and staff with the Vanguard Cadets and Vanguard A Corps. He earned his B.M. in Music Performance from Morehead State University and his M.M. in Music Performance from New York University.
“To come back to the Santa Clara Vanguard in this role is a true honor. My experience at Vanguard laid the ground work for almost every aspect of my life. This is an exciting time for us as an organization and I look forward to continuing the long standing dedication to excellence.” Shaun said upon accepting this position.
About the Santa Clara Vanguard:
The Santa Clara Vanguard was formed in 1967 in Santa Clara, California. The entire SCV organization strives to create a positive atmosphere where young people can grow and mature into responsible young adults; succeeding both as individuals and as members of a tightly woven group. Over the years, the Santa Clara Vanguard has developed a long-standing reputation for dignity and excellence.
Media Contact:
acorps@scvanguard.org