WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL
Big Show!
Hello and welcome! We Got the Beat is excited to show you all that we have been working on this year. Please take a moment to silence your phones, and enjoy the show!
Jump to:
The WE GOT THE BEAT Combo
Anna Jensen, Charley VonBerg, Katie Moreno,
Luke Jones, Milo Field, Timothy Wissner
Caravan
Juan Tizol & Duke Ellington
Cold Duck Time
Eddie Harris & Les McCann
A Regular Day
in Fresno, CA
The WGTB Combo
Them Changes
Stephen Lee Bruner AKA Thundercat
Do Right Woman
Chips Moman & Dan Penn
Monsters, Inc. Theme
Randy Newman
WE GOT THE BEAT – SECONDARY
Wipeout
The Safaris
Drum Set: Becky Longbow
Timbales: Raelynn York, Hayden Sthol
Congas: Rex Thomas
Bongos: Joel Shamoon
Solos: Nolan Lieder, Nathan Scholl, Raelynn York, Hayden Sthol, WGTB Drumline, Becky Longbow
DRUMLINE
OCTOPUS GROOVE
arr. Roman Rivera
WE GOT THE BEAT – ROOKIES
Now’s the Time
Charlie Parker
Introduction: Finn Gathright
Drum Set: Melanie Garcia
Solos: Julianne Howell, Rosie Hinojosa, Finn Gathright, Graham Wright
Watermelon Man
Herbie Hancock
Introduction: Rosie Hinojosa
Drum Set: Brenda Longbow
Timbales: Odin Zimmershead
Bongos: Julianne Howell
Solos: Melanie Garcia, Xander Field
BEYOND THE BEAT – ZOOMERS
Variations on
an Undertale
Toby Fox, arr. Roman Rivera
Drum Set: Joey Lai, Ainesh Bharati
Solos: Joey Lai, Owen Wright, Carson Bonds, Milo Field, Laurel Wright
WE GOT THE BEAT – SECONDARY
On Green
Dolphin Street
Bronisław Kaper, New Washington, Miles Davis
Drum Set: Stephan Guo
Timbales: Joel Shamoon
Solos: Leon Li, Becky Longbow
Chameleon
Herbie Hancock
Drum Set: Ana Nagy
Timbales: Leon Li
Solos: Nathan Scholl, Rex Thomas, Nolan Lieder, Becky Longbow
BEYOND THE BEAT – BOOMERS
Spain
Chick Corea, arr. US Air Force Airmen of Note
Drum Set: Timothy Wissner
Timbales: Charley VonBerg
Congas: Isla Cohea
Bongos: Samuel Carbajal
Solos: Charley VonBerg, Tyler Fenton, Luke Jones, Aileena Bisset
Thomas & the Trucks
Mike O’Donnell & Junior Campbell
Drum Set: Tyler Fenton
Timbales: Samuel Carbajal
Solo: Mateo Bojorquez
WE GOT THE BEAT – ROOKIES
Stereo madness
(from Geometry Dash)
ForeverBound, arr. Roman Rivera
Introduction: Odin Zimmershead
Drum Set: Graham Wright, Melanie Garcia
Batman THeme
(from the 1963 Batman cartoon)
Neil Hefti, arr. Brenda Myers
Introduction: Xander Field
Drum Set: Xander Field
Timbales: Melanie Garcia
Congas: Finn Gathright
Bongos: Julianne Howell
Solos: Drum solos over the form
BEYOND THE BEAT – ZOOMERS
Dance, Dance
Fall Out Boy
Drum Set: Joey Lai
Cerezo Rosa
Prez Prado
Drum Set: Ainesh Bharati
Timbales: Katie Moreno
Congas: Carson Bonds
Bongos: Logan Gruszczynski
Solos: Samuel Jones
BEYOND THE BEAT – BOOMERS
Silver Springs
Fleetwood Mac
Drum Set: Aileena Bisset
Solo Vocals: Charley VonBerg
Jazzy NYC ’99
(from Street Fighter III: Third Strike)
Hideki Okugawa
Drum Set: Anna Jensen
Solos: Mateo Bojorquez, Aileena Bisset
WE GOT THE BEAT – SECONDARY
Cachita
Rafael Hernández Marín
Drum Set: Joel Shamoon
Timbales: Hayden Sthol
Congas: Ana Nagy
Bongos: Io Rubio
Sir Duke
Stevie Wonder
Drum Set: Isaac Balista
Timbales: Leon Li
EVERYONE
Ze Do Caroco
Leci Brandão, honoring José Mendes da Silva
MALLETS
MELODY
Vibes: Samuel Jones, Becky Longbow, Raelynn York, Aileena Bisset, Tyler Fenton
Front Marimba: Andy Lai, Joey Lai
CHUNK
High: Leon Li, Mckenzie Fenton, Logan Gruszczynski, Owen Wright, Graham Wright, Xander Field
Low: Nathan Scholl, Isaac Balista, Ainsley Fenton, Laurel, Wright
BASS
Brenda Longbow, Tristan Ramirez, Cypress Ryska, Hayden Sthol, Laurel Wright
DRUMS
Drum Set: Leon Li
Caixa: Andy Lai, Ainesh Bharati, Hayden Sthol, Stephan Guo,
Timbau: Rex Thomas, Carson Bonds
Repinique: Samuel Carbajal, Melanie Garcia,
Chochalhu: Peter Olsen, Mateo Bojorquez, Tristan Ramirez, Samuel Jones, Joey Lai, Mckenzie Fenton, Drew Menke
Tambourim: Tessa Plumb, Moriah Olsen, Nolan Lieder, Aileena Bisset, Tyler Fenton
Agogo: Io Rubio, Carson Bonds, Elliott Vagim, Odin Zimmershead, Laurel Wright, Owen Wright, Ainsley Fenton
SURDO
High: Nathan Scholl, Logan Gruszczynski, Finn Gathright,
Low: Joel Shamoon, Remy Fleuridor
Eggs: Amelia Valdez, Julianne Howell, Rosie Hinojosa, Joann Gu
DRUMLINE
Snare: Katie Moreno, Timothy, Wissner, Kenneth Nelson, Luke Jones
Quads: Anna Jensen, Charley VonBerg
Bass: Frank Williamson, Ana Nagy, Amaru Burciaga, Milo Field
* = number of years in WGTB program
WGTB Rookies
WGTB Secondary
BTB Zoomers
BTB Boomers
Drumline
4 Year Medal Recipients
5 Year Trophy Recipients
Ainesh Bharati
Nathan Scholl
Senior Honorees
Charley VonBerg
Charley VonBerg joined the We Got the Beat program in the fall of 2015 and has spent the past eleven years as one of its most dedicated members, helping to make WGTB feel like home for countless students along the way. Over the last three years, she has served as WGTB’s hand drum teacher and as one of the program’s main assistants, sharing her love of music while mentoring the next generation of performers. This fall, Charley will continue her journey at Fresno City College, where she plans to pursue a degree in Music Education. We are so proud of all she has accomplished and can’t wait to see where her path of performing, teaching, and helping others takes her next.
Mateo Bojorquez
Mateo Bojorquez has been a dedicated member of the We Got the Beat program for nine years, distinguishing himself as one of its most passionate and reliable students. His commitment to excellence extends well beyond music: he graduated as valedictorian of Yosemite Valley Charter School and has earned admission to Fresno State, where he will continue his studies. Tonight, WGTB is proud to recognize Mateo’s years of dedication, growth, and leadership within our program.
Samuel Carbajal
Samuel Carbajal has been a part of the We Got the Beat program for ten years, participating in nearly every WGTB ensemble at some point throughout his journey. Samuel has shown the program what it truly means to stay dedicated through struggle—facing every challenge head-on and persevering all the way to the finish. His commitment, resilience, and love for music have left a lasting mark on WGTB. This fall, Samuel will continue his education at San Jose State University. We are incredibly proud of everything he has accomplished and can’t wait to see where his next chapter takes him.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR INCREDIBLE AND GENEROUS SPONSORS.
CLICK ON THEIR LOGOS TO VISIT THEIR SITES AND SUPPORT THEM!
WE COULDN’T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT!
A BIG THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS:
Agustin Rivera
Susanne Bertz-Rosa
The Moreno Family
The Rivas Family
The Bharati Family
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR? WANT TO MAKE A DONATION TO OUR PROGRAM?
We Got the Beat is a fun, interactive, hands-on, musical experience for students in 1st to 12th grade from the greater Fresno/Clovis Metropolitan area. Led by local musicians and educators, Roman Rivera and Brenda Myers, WGTB is made up of eight distinct programs: Adventures in Drumming, Summer Drum Camp, We Got The Beat Youth (Rookies and Secondary), Beyond the Beat (Zoomers and Boomers), Drumline, and our Jazz Combo.
Since 2000, the mission of WGTB has been to provide a comprehensive musical experience for children that enriches both the individual and the community. Our vision is to develop music appreciation, performance skills, and proficiency on diverse percussion instruments while providing life skills that will take children well beyond their WGTB experience. We promote creativity through improvisation and composition while teaching responsibility, cooperation, leadership, and teamwork through instrument care, practice, solo, and group performance.
Brenda Myers
Founder & Managing Director
A Music Performance degree holder from CSU Fresno (1981), Brenda Myers became a skilled percussionist and teacher. Her career included freelancing, orchestra performances, and teaching in Fresno and Clovis Unified School Districts. Inspired by Afro-Cuban and Brazilian drumming, she earned a Masters in West African/Caribbean Music (2006). Founding We Got the Beat Youth Percussion Band in 2000, Brenda’s innovative aural teaching style earned them recognition. They performed at numerous events and adapted to virtual teaching during the pandemic. Now boasting an all-WGTB teaching staff, Brenda’s passion continues to inspire students, leaving a lasting impact on the music community.
Roman Rivera
Executive & Artistic Director
Roman Rivera is a multifaceted musician, performer, and devoted music educator whose impressive career began with the drums at age seven. A magna cum laude graduate of CSU Fresno with a BA in Music Education, Roman has earned numerous prestigious accolades, including top placements in California PAS competitions, a 2016 SJVCGPR snare drum solo championship, and a 2015 DCI Open Class gold medal. After touring with various projects, they launched the solo endeavor “roman around,” releasing two critically acclaimed albums, earning features on Spotify’s Fresh Finds and KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” and securing a sync placement on Hulu’s Good Trouble. Deeply committed to fostering the Fresno music scene, Roman currently teaches songwriting, live sound, and audio technology at Clovis Community College, while also advising the Clovis Crush Records club to actively support and elevate local artists.