Staff Bios

Zak Stillwell Visual Designer ZAK STILLWELL is a full-time visual designer, choreographer, instructor, and clinician based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently the visual caption head for the Blue Knights, a role he has held since 2019. Spanning more than two decades, Zak’s pageantry career includes credits as a performer with […]

Gilbert Nazari Bass Drum Instructor GILBERT NAZARI is a percussion educator and designer based in Southern California. His performance experience includes Dark Sky Percussion, RCC, Blue Stars, Mandarins, and Blue Devils. Since 2016, Gilbert has taken on teaching roles across Southern California at schools such as Burbank High School, Crescenta Valley High School, Arcadia High […]

Anthony Clark Visual Caption Head ANTHONY CLARK is a full time visual designer and educator based in Upland, CA. He has been involved in the pageantry arts for over 10 years as a member, educator, and designer. His marching experiences include Boston Crusaders (2009-2010), Blue Devils (2012, 2014), and Broken City Percussion (2016). As a […]

Peter Bement Visual Instructor PETER BEMENT is an educator, conductor, and French Hornist born and raised in Southern California. Currently in his first year as a graduate conducting student, Peter is pursuing a Masters of Music (M.M.) in Instrumental Conducting at California State University, Fullerton under the tutelage of Dr. Dustin Barr. Originally hailing from […]

Evan Perez Visual Instructor A native of Southern California, Evan Perez is a full-time visual instructor. His performance experience spans across a variety of ensembles such as the RCC Marching Tigers, RCC Jazz Ensemble, Dark Sky Percussion, and both the Blue Devils A and B Corps. Prior to aging out with the Blue Devils, he […]

Harrison Toma Visual Instructor HARRISON TOMA is a music educator based in Southern California. He started his drum corps career with Pacific Crest in 2014 as a marching member and went on to be a drum major with The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in 2015 and 2016. In 2020, he also served as […]

Trevor Stojanovich Visual Instructor TREVOR STOJANOVICH is currently Associate Director of Bands at Silverado High School in Las Vegas, NV. He earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2019. Trevor’s marching career began at Chaparral High School in 2010. His drum corps experience includes Gold Drum & Bugle […]

Mason Tanquary Visual Instructor MASON TANQUARY resides in Gilbert, AZ with his wife Alexa and his son Elias. Mason is the General Manager of a restaurant and continues his passion for the marching arts as a visual designer, instructor and adjudicator. Mason has been actively involved in the marching activity since 2010. He was a […]

Jared Seymour Visual Instructor JARED SEYMOUR is a middle school band and orchestra director residing in Southern California. He has been involved in the marching activity for more than 10 years as a performer and educator. He began his marching career at Glassmen in 2011 and finished with Bluecoats from 2013-2015. As an educator, Jared […]

Kira Pattinson Visual Instructor KIRA PATTINSON is a Washington State native currently pursuing a BA in History Education from Central Washington University. Kira was classically trained in ballet for ten years, having attended the Evergreen City Ballet and Joffrey Ballet School summer intensives before discovering a passion for the marching arts. Her marching arts career […]

Star Wasson Visual Instructor STAR WASSON is a French horn player based out of Redlands, CA, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Music Performance at the University of Redlands. She began her performance career in Austin, TX and continued performing on the field with Music City Drum Corps (2015-2016) and The Bluecoats (2017). Although […]

Steven Vonderohe Front Ensemble Instructor STEVEN VONDEROHE is a musician, educator, and composer in the southwest suburbs of Chicago who is devoted to sharing and advancing the art of music and the percussive arts. Since receiving his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music, he has actively taught in a variety of […]

Aya Strauss Snare Instructor AYA STRAUSS is a marching percussion educator, arranger, and performer based in Torrance, California. She currently works at North HS (Percussion Director and Arranger), Mira Costa HS (Battery Caption Head), Gahr HS (Battery Instructor), and Gold Indoor Percussion (Snare Instructor). Her previous teaching and arranging experience includes Gold Drum and Bugle […]

Beckie Euson Private Lesson Instructor – French Horn BECKIE EUSON is a freelance French horn performer and private music teacher in Southern California. Beckie studied French horn as a Gluck Fellow with the Herb Alpert School of Music at University of California, Los Angeles, where she holds a Masters degree in French horn performance. She […]

Andrew Barone Private Lesson Instructor – Saxophone ANDREW BARONE is a music educator in Southern California. He is currently finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Communications as a student at Cal State University Fullerton, where he played in many music ensembles including the Fullerton Jazz Orchestra on Lead Tenor Saxophone. Prior to CSUF, Andrew graduated from […]

Tonya Grenda Health Team TONYA GRENDA grew up in a small town in Utah, where she learned to love all of Utah’s distinctive seasons. An active sports enthusiast, she enjoys any outdoor activity, but especially running marathons, hiking, mountain biking, and skiing. Tonya is a Certified Nursing Assistant with over ten years experience as a […]

Stephen Oetinger Health Team STEPHEN OETINGER has been an NREMT since 2020 and a Navy corpsman since 2018. Stephen was deployed in response to COVID-19 from September 2020 to May 2021 and was assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego to conduct medical screenings and treatments for recruits. At his home unit, he […]

Amber Cameron Health Team AMBER CAMERON joined the Pacific Crest family in 2017 as a trumpet player. After taking a year off in 2018 to finish college, she returned in 2019 as Drum Major. After only two years away from the corps, she is returning to Pacific Crest as a member of the Health Team. […]

Wendy Larragoitiy Health Team WENDY LARRAGOITIY lives in Brigham City, Utah. She is a Registered Nurse with 15 years of experience as a Home Care and Hospice nurse. In her spare time, she enjoys boating, snorkeling and traveling, as well as making wall hangings using an art form known as diamond painting.

Stephanie Dee Color Guard Instructor STEPHANIE DEE has been involved in the marching arts for over 15 years. After falling in love with color guard in middle school, she continued her training at La Mirada High School and became captain her senior year. After graduating, she performed with Pacific Crest in 2010, 2011, and 2013, […]

Hector Brambila Color Guard Instructor HECTOR BRAMBILA has been involved in the performing arts since 2003. His love for music and art started at a young age and was fully realized under the guidance of an inspiring music director at Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CA. He went on to perform with such groups as […]

Mary Griswold Trumpet Instructor MARY GRISWOLD is currently the Assistant Director of Instrumental music at Cypress High School in Cypress, California. During the summer and fall she is charged with working full time with the Marching Band. In the spring semester she works as the Jazz Ensemble Director, the Orchestra Club coordinator, the Concert Band […]

Shannon Canchola Private Lesson Instructor – Flute SHANNON CANCHOLA is a versatile flute performer from Southern California who has performed in a variety of different ensembles, including the Redlands Symphony, California Philharmonic, Kaleidoscope Orchestra, Los Angeles Sinfonietta, Desert Symphony, Valley Opera & Performing Arts, and NUMI Opera Orchestra. She has recorded and performed with many […]

Marvin “Smitty” Smith Professional Studio Series Drum Set Instructor MARVIN “SMITTY” SMITH was born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). “It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums,” says Smith, known by many as Smitty. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin Sr., […]

Hunter Dugie Movement Instructor As a Texas native, HUNTER DUGIE attended the University of Texas in Austin to study Interpersonal Communication. He is currently a full time drill designer and choreographer working with groups across the nation. He has also worked as a technician for Vandegrift High School and Westlake High School. His drum corps […]

Nicole Casino Percussion Co-Caption Head (Battery) NICOLE CASINO performed with a number of award-winning DCI and WGI ensembles, including Pulse Percussion (2011-2013), RCC (2014-2015), Bluecoats (2011), and Blue Devils (2012-2013). She served as section leader for Pulse Percussion in 2013 and was the first female center snare for the Blue Devils that same year. Nicole […]

Joshua-Guerrero Martinez Drum Major Camp Instructor JOSHUA ADAM has been a part of the percussion community since 2001. He is currently the Captain Head at West Covina High School, and has been a musician with the Disneyland Resort since 2011. His marching experience is with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps in 2008 & 2009 […]

Eric Briggs Drum Major Camp Instructor ERIC BRIGGS began playing percussion at an early age, continuing his music education while attending Hoover High School in Glendale, CA. During his time at Hoover he performed in multiple ensembles including the marching band, concert band, symphonic orchestra, and jazz band. While in the marching band he played […]

Arturo Castro Leadership Camp Instructor ARTURO CASTRO joined the Pacific Crest family in 2012 as a member of the color guard section. After aging out, he served the Pacific Crest admin team from 2015 to 2018. In addition to working with Pacific Crest’s administrative team, Arturo has previously worked as a staff clinician for the […]

Robert Rodriguez Color Guard Instructor ROBERT RODRIGUEZ has been involved in the pageantry world at all scholastic levels, including elementary school, middle/junior high school, and high school. Since he began teaching in 2005, his groups have been recognized locally and regionally for their attention to detail as well as the quality of their performances. Some […]

Alyssa Lambert-Garcia Color Guard Instructor ALYSSA LAMBERT-GARCIA began her color guard career in high school in 2005. After graduating, she continued to perform as a member of the ASU Sun Devil Marching Band Color Guard and The Academy Winter Guard. She also was a member of the The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps from 2008-2012 […]

Catrina Sanfilippo, ATC Health Team CATRINA SANFILIPPO hails from Franklin Park, Illinois, 20 minutes outside of Chicago. She graduated in May 2019 from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training. Catrina began her career working for ATI Sports Medicine as a part time Athletic Trainer in May of 2019, and has […]

Albert Godinez Movement Instructor Currently based in Corona, California, ALBERT GODINEZ was a member of Pacific Crest from 2009-2012. He marched trumpet from 2009-2010, mellophone in 2011, and aged out on baritone in 2012. For the past ten years, Albert has taught multiple high school marching programs in different counties across Southern California, including Downey […]

Taylor Rock Brass Instructor TAYLOR ROCK is an educator and designer based out of Lexington, KY, where he earned his degree in Music Education from the University of Kentucky. Taylor began his marching career as a contra player with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013, and aged out in 2016. He is […]

Jessica Rico Color Guard Instructor

Mike Collins Brass Instructor MIKE COLLINS graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Cal Poly Pomona. He has completed all coursework for his Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California (USC). He studied trumpet under the tutelage of Larrie Dastrup, Claude Gordon, Ashley Alexander, Dave Evans and George Graham, […]

Timmy Moriarty Bass Drum Instructor TIMMY MORIARTY currently resides in Long Beach, CA. He graduated from Chino Hills High in 2015. His marching experience includes POW Percussion (2016-2017), Mandarins (2017-2018), and Pulse Percussion (2018-2019). His teaching experience includes POW Percussion 2020, Chino Hills High School (2017-present), and Gahr High School (2019-present).

Albert Avelar Cymbal Instructor ALBERT AVELAR’s marching experience began at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, CA where he played tenors all four of his high school years. His cymbal career did not begin until his sophomore year of college, when he marched with POW Percussion in 2015. Albert then returned as section leader […]

Austin Collins Tenor Instructor AUSTIN COLLINS graduated from Tahoma High School in 2015. Born and raised in Maple Valley, WA, he moved to his current home in Chino Hills, CA in 2017. His teaching experience includes Tahoma Senior High School and Eastlake High School, as well as assisting with a percussion clinic held by the […]

Savannah Moua Cymbal Instructor SAVANNAH MOUA currently resides in Chino Hills, CA. She graduated from Chino Hills High School in 2015 and is currently working on her Bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of California, Riverside. Her performance experience includes POW percussion 2016 and Pulse Percussion 2017-2019. This will be her first year in […]

Whitney Taylor Front Ensemble Instructor WHITNEY TAYLOR graduated from La Quinta HS in Westminster in 2015 and has performed with Pulse Percussion, Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, and the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps. She teaches mainly in Southern California; some of her experiences include being on the front ensemble staff at Temple […]

David Lopez Movement Instructor DAVID LOPEZ was born and raised in Downey, California. He graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in Music Education. He is currently the Director of Bands at Ross Middle School and Niemes Elementary in Artesia, CA. David began his drum corps career in 2012 at Impulse. He went […]

Trent Gronewold Front Ensemble Instructor TRENT GRONEWOLD is a full time percussion arranger, designer, and instructor based in Southern California. He is currently the Front Ensemble Arranger and Sound Designer for Gold Drum and Bugle Corps. Trent teaches at Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps (Diamond Bar, CA), Gahr HS (Cerritos, CA), La Quinta HS (Westminster, CA), […]

Tony Lymon Creative Designer TONY LYMON is the former Assistant Director of Bands at Petal High School in Petal, Mississippi and current co-music arranger/show designer for the Petal High School marching band. Tony is the director and show designer for the Petal Indoor Percussion Theatre, a national WGI Percussion Scholastic World Finalist. He has twice […]

Hunter Dorman Movement Instructor HUNTER DORMAN was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He is currently a student at the University of Houston pursuing a degree in music education. His teaching experience includes Langham Creek High School, Creekside Intermediate, Crosby High School, and The Woodlands High School. Hunter marched the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps […]

Andrew Fresquez Visual Instructor and Drum Major Camp Staff ANDREW FRESQUEZ spent his drum corps career at Pacific Crest, playing baritone from 2014-2016, and moving on to take the role of assistant drum major in 2017 and served as the Head Drum Major during his age-out season in 2018. He also served as a Drum […]

Emma Yonkers, MAT, ATC, CES Health Team EMMA YONKERS is a state licensed and board certified athletic trainer with a master’s degree in Athletic Training from Saint Louis University. During college, she studied abroad in both Spain and New Zealand. She recently completed her corrective exercise specialist certification through NASM to further understand biomechanics. Emma […]

Helen Turner Health Team Consultant HELEN TURNER served as the Lead RN for The Cavaliers from 1981 to the present, and is a co-founding member of The Cavaliers Medical Group, which started in 1996. In 2010, Helen met Jim Olea during his time with The Cavaliers, and since then has been a mentor and friend […]

Dr. Kevin Kloesel, PhD, Meteorologist Health Team University Meteorologist, OU Office of Emergency Preparedness Associate Professor, College of Atmospheric & Geographic Sciences B.S., Engineering Science, University of Texas at Austin, 1984 M.S. and Ph.D., 1990, Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University KEVIN KLOESEL is responsible for providing weather forecast and weather safety information to the OU Office […]

Mike Turner, EMT/Paramedic Health Team CPR Consultant MIKE TURNER was a member of The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps in the early eighties. He has served many years as a police officer and firefighter with the Village of Rosemont, Illinois. Mike currently operates his own business, CPR Stat, which teaches CPR to corporate and local […]

Jill Podsiad Health Team JILL PODSIAD comes to Pacific Crest from Santa Barbara, Ca. She has been a full time Surgical Technologist for the last 10 years, as well as a medical and physical therapy assistant (and hopefully, by the time we hit tour this summer, you can add massage therapist to her repertoire!). She […]

Dr. Craig Bales, MD Health Team Consultant DR. CRAIG BALES is a co-founding member of The Cavaliers Medical Group, which started in 1996. Dr. Bales served as lead physician with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from 1996-2014, and was nominated as an honorary Cavalier in 2009. He currently works with the University of Houston […]

Taylor Johnson Health Team Taylor received her Associates of Science in Nursing from Elgin Community College (2014-2015), a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Purdue University Northwest (2016-2018), and a Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (2008-2012). She is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

Alan Chrzanowski Movement Instructor ALAN CHRZANOWSKI was born and raised in Arlington, Texas. He received his bachelors in Music Education from The University of Texas at Arlington and is currently a high school band director at South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, Texas. His first drum corps experience was in high school, but […]

Anthony Gilleland Front Ensemble Consultant ANTHONY GILLELAND is an instructor, performer, and arranger based in Southern California. He currently teaches at Pulse Percussion as well as three high school ensembles, including Woodbridge, Chino Hills, and Gahr, and has been teaching since private lessons since 2012. In 2019, Anthony taught the front ensemble at Carolina Crown. […]

Nathan Carroll Private Lesson Instructor NATE CARROLL is returning for his second year as Percussion Co-Caption Head at Pacific Crest. He also serves as Percussion Caption Head at Gahr HS. Nate graduated from Chino Hills HS in 2014 and began his teaching career straight out of high school. He was a member of Pulse Percussion […]

Christian Do Sound Engineer CHRISTIAN DO was raised in Fountain Valley, California. He began his marching career at La Quinta High School in Westminster, CA, and has since then taken interest in design and composition in the marching arts. Christian has performed with various Southern California ensembles including POW Percussion (2015), Pulse Percussion (2016-2017), and […]

David Ramirez Snare Instructor Based in Temecula, California, DAVID RAMIREZ is Battery Instructor at Great Oak High School, Vail Ranch Middle School, and Carlsbad High School. He also coordinates the percussion program at Fallbrook Union High School, and has previously spent time teaching at Chaparral High School. David’s performance experience includes Pacific Crest (2014-2015), POW […]

Anastasia Canfield Movement Instructor ANASTASIA CANFIELD originally hails from Texas, but has found a new home in Colorado since 2013. She is overwhelmingly grateful to be returning to the Pacific Crest staff for the 2019 season after a brief hiatus. Anastasia has overseen operations for the Pride of Windsor Marching Band in Windsor, CO during […]

Noah Oliver Brass Instructor NOAH OLIVER is currently a student at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, working towards a Bachelor of Music in Music Studies. At Texas State he is bass trombonist of the Symphony Orchestra and has performed in multiple ensembles, including the Trombone Choir and Jazz Orchestra. Noah marched with the […]

Zach Sheller Brass Instructor ZACH SHELLER is currently studying music education with a minor in business management at the University of Texas at Arlington. He is principal euphonium for the UTA Wind Symphony and was a drum major in the Maverick Marching Band in 2017 before serving as an undergraduate assistant in 2018. Zach started […]

Dan Blevins Brass Instructor DAN BLEVINS is an educator from Columbus, OH and is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. He marched with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps for four years and was a member of the brass staff from in 2017 […]

DJ Landoll Brass Instructor DJ LANDOLL is currently serving as Assistant Band Director at Penn High School in Mishawaka, IN. Previously, he worked as a graduate assistant with the band program at James Madison University, where he earned a Master of Music in Conducting under Stephen Bolstad. His teaching experience also includes three seasons on […]

Scott Oliver Brass Consultant SCOTT OLIVER is the Assistant Director of Bands at Marian Catholic High School where he assists with the marching band, conducts the Concert Band, and leads two jazz bands. He is also a staff member of the Drum Major Institute at the Bands of America Summer Symposium. Previously, Scott was the […]

Nathan Pratt Assistant Brass Caption Head NATHAN PRATT is excited to spend his 11th summer of DCI with Pacific Crest, having spent three seasons as a member of the Madison Scouts mellophone section and six seasons with the Madison Scouts brass instructional staff. Nathan has worked as a band and choir director at Tri-North Middle […]

Sean Conway Brass Instructor SEAN CONWAY is Director of Bands at St. Croix Central High School in Hammond, WI, where he has been since 2017, and is currently the music director for Fleurish Winds. Previously, he worked for six years as a trumpet technician for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps after marching there […]

Kaitlyn Thompson, ATC Health Team KAITLYN THOMPSON is the Head Athletic Trainer at Redlands High School in Redlands, CA. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of La Verne in California. Kaitlyn was a member of her junior high school and high school color guard teams, and is very proud to […]

Ericka Krefting, RN Health Team ERICKA KREFTING hails from Crystal Lake, Illinois. She is a registered nurse in the state of Illinois, and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s in Nursing. Krefting is currently a Patient Care Leader in the Emergency Department at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Illinois. She has 10 years […]

Conrad Alumia Front Ensemble Instructor CONRAD ALUMIA grew up in Murrieta, CA and currently resides in Los Angeles. He has been an active performer in the marching arts, having toured the country with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps (2017) and the Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps (2016). Additionally, he has competed in WGI […]

Francis Sefton Movement Instructor FRANK SEFTON was raised in Thousand Oaks, California, and attended Westlake High School. Frank’s six years of drum corps experience was spent entirely at Pacific Crest, where he marched the 2010-2015 seasons. While at Pacific Crest, he served as both the contrabass section leader and horn sergeant. He is honored and […]

Glen Crosby Program Coordinator and Director of Percussion GLEN CROSBY has been in the marching arts since 1980. Over that time, he has held various roles from a tenor instructor to program coordinator with numerous DCI, WGI and BOA groups. He has been extremely fortunate to work with some of the most influential cast of […]