Director: Bill Farwig
Bill Farwig formed Portico Performing Arts of Chicago with Brian D. Robbins, after realizing the need for a positive organization for individuals dedicated to the advancement of community arts programs. Because of his love for color guard, he formed the Venice Effect Senior Guard and is dedicated in providing an environment for those individuals that have a love and desire to continue to learning the art form.

Bill is an accomplished musician and spends his free time performing with several community music ensembles as well as also becoming an accomplished arranger for brass groups. As an avid drum corps fan, he can usually be found during the summer months traveling around the Midwest for drum corps shows.

In his professional life, Bill and his partner, Dana, formed and run a highly successful real estate business. Bill is a dedicated dad to a highly active 4 year old, Jonah, who already loves the arts. At his tender age, Jonah loves color guard and is the “apple of every eye” on the guard.

Director: Brian D. Robbins
Brian D. Robbins has been in the color guard world for more years than he cares to admit. (As he says, “I’ve been around the block more than once, but we don’t need to say how many times!” He has dedicated many years on football fields and gym floors teaching and writing guard work.

Brian started as a dancer and spent many years with the Gwen Davis Dance Ensemble in New York City before attending Michigan State University; ultimately graduating with a Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan, but he says that his blood actually still “bleeds green” for the beloved Spartans!

After many years away from the sport, Brian is excited to be back involved teaching adults who want to learn this unique art form. He finds it inspirational to work with individuals that truly love the activity and have a desire and drive unique to adult learners.

Brian has a passion for any art form; and therefore, with his dear friend, Bill Farwig, formed Portico Performing Arts of Chicago and the Venice Effect Senior Guard in order to offer performance opportunities for adult performers. Brian’s positive attitude, upbeat teaching style, and unique design vision has defined who the Venice Effect Senior Guard is today and who they will continue to be in the future.

In his professional life, Brian spent many years working in HIV social services before being lured into the corporate world. He currently works with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Global Services. As a confirmed bachelor, Brian enjoys spending his free time attending drum corps and winterguard competitions, and during the off season, is an avid reader, love playing euchre and is a closet reality show junkie. His is a dedicated Chicago Cubs fan, only proving his loyalty (in all areas of his life) is indominable.

Assistant Director: Jill Herrick
Following her big sister into the Americano’s Drum & Bugle Corps, Jill Herreck started her color guard career at the very tender age of 12. Her previous dance training made her a natural for the color guard and she was determined to learn as much as she could; as fast as she could.

Jill Herreck marched with the Americano’s for 6 years, serving as CO her last two years. Jill was honored to be a part of the 1994 Championship season of the Americano’s being the gold medallist in their division at Drum Corps Midwest, North American Open, and the gold medallist at DCI Championships. Jill marched winter guard with Sundowners and Tapestry.

Jill enjoys sharing her talent with people and hopes that she can help them enjoy every minute of their experience. “All I wish for in the guard is that everyone have the same fun that I do spinning, and Venice Effect has given me the chance to perform again.”

Outside of color guard, Jill attends DePaul University in Chicago, majoring in child psychology. Jill is a “gym rat”, and will gladly give anyone advise on how to improve their work out regiment (and if you need to feel guilty for the bowl of ice cream...Jill will provide it gladly). Jill still enjoys taking dance classes; dotes on her nephew; and lives with her dog.

Business Manager/Recruiting: Jennifer DiCosola
Jennifer first discovered colorguard right before her freshman year in high school and ever since then she has been hooked! Marching four years with her marching band's colorguard and two years with her high school's winterguard and then moving to an independent winterguard.

Once colorguard grabbed a hold of her, she moved right into drum corps and marched 3 years with the Americano's and her last year with the Bluecoats.

Outside of guard Jen is a loving mommy to her two spoiled dogs Bailey and Bella. She also likes drag racing, reading, painting and music.







Section Leader: Brooke Bogner
Brooke Bogner was a member of Reeths-Puffer Color Guard in Muskegon, Michigan. She was captain her senior year, had put herself through beginning dance classes, spun rifle and sabre, and was voted in to the 100% Club by the Michigan Color Guard Circuit for demonstrating dedication, enthusiasm, motivation, and for encouraging unity among her peers.

Upon graduation from High School, Brooke went on to teach her own color guard in Muskegon, MI at Orchard View H.S.  It was her success here, and the subsequent job offers that came for her to write and teach for other schools in West Michigan, that motivated her to pack up and move to Chicago to study dance and choreography at Columbia College. Dancing was a dream she had had since she was a little girl, and so she decided to finally follow it.

She was well past the “age out” age and thought she would never get another opportunity to do what she truly love again… and then she found Venice Effect.  Brooke is also working with Rolling Meadows H.S color guard.




Section Leader: Billi Duvalier
Billi Duvalier has been involved and around the Winter Guard and Drum Corps areas for most of her life. She has designed silks, taught and written work for Drum Corps and Winter Guard, performed indoors and outdoors, in parades and all of the other places since middle school. For Billi the best part of the activity are the lifelong friends and fabulous people she has been honored to meet via the activity.

She has been with the group from the beginning, as one of the few remaining members of the original group that followed Bill and Brian in the creation of Venice Effect. Billi came to this group because she lost a bet with a long time color guard friend Kurt Uptegrove. Having the chance to perform with an old friend and former corps member makes that bet, “the best thing that I think that I have lost in a long time!”

Billi is looking forward to a strong and successful year for Venice Effect and is proud to be on staff for the 2009 season.


Webmaster: Joe Gross