When USA Cheer takes the stage at ICU their presence and skills steal the show, but what's a routine without a cheer music mix that's just as impressive? The Coed and All Girl Premier U.S. National teams are about to debut their 2017 performances, and we've got the deets on the music behind the most skilled routines in America.

During USA Cheer training in Georgia we were lucky enough to bump in to the man behind the music, Patrick Avard. He's been involved in cheerleading for years in many capacities, and has found his niche in crafting some of the best (and some would say very best) custom cheer mixes in the world.

His journey into the cheer world began while cheering at Florida Atlantic University where coaching all star cheer soon followed. The teams he was coaching needed music mixes, so Patrick purchased the equipment he needed to get started and the rest was history!


Tony Nash addresses the All Girl U.S. National team at the LakePoint training center in Georgia.

Since his start in 2003, Avard has been in the music biz and he's created music for programs like the University of Kentucky, Stingrays, Cheer Athletics, World Cup, and now the U.S. National Teams. Patrick told us his thoughts when he was approached by the USA Cheer coaches.

When LeRoy and Tony asked me to create USA Cheer's music it was one of my highest honors; to represent the U.S. in using my craft and my talent to bring their routines to life.

2016 was the first year Avard took on creating USA's music, and when you listen to the tracks you can hear the quality and time that was invested in the arrangement. When we met him at the 2017 team's training, he was watching the routine very carefully as they walked through to counts. We asked how he came up with the music and theme.

I watch the routine and look for parts that are visual and will stand out with sound effects and voiceovers. It's like creating the soundtrack for a movie, but it's the sound track for a cheerleading performance.

Listen for Patrick's musical masterpieces April 27th-28th as the USA Cheer teams compete at ICU in Orlando. For more information about Patrick and his music, visit newlevelmusic.com.

Watch the US Coed National Team claim its gold medal at the 2017 ICU World Cheerleading Championship!