Our Staff
Our educational staff are among the best and most sought after educators from the Pacific Northwest, and around the country.
Our leadership and support staff have decades of experience managing the complex logistics of taking a full size World Class drum corps, all of their equipment, props, food and supporting staff on a 10,000 mile road trip. All of our staff are dedicated to ensuring the best possible experience for our members.
Leadership
View our teams
Michael Leone
Executive Director
Michael started as a baritone player for the Seattle Cascades in 1993 and then as a Visual and Brass Instructor. Michael then became a Visual Caption Head and Corps Director for the Oregon Crusaders and Program Coordinator and Corps Director for the Seattle Cascades. Michael has also served as a Contest Coordinator for Drum Corps International.
​
He graduated from the University of Washington while performing with the Husky Marching Band where he earned a Bachelor of Music, and a Bachelor of Music Education. He then taught band and choir at Hockinson High School. Michael has worked for several top marching bands in the Northwest including Century, Skyview, Columbia River, Snohomish, Hockinson and Beaverton High Schools.
​
Currently Michael Leone is a Sr. IT Project Manager for Tech Heads, Inc.
Ray Severns
Corps Director
Ray has over 30 years of design, arrangement, instruction and performance experience in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Prior to being named as Director of the Seattle Cascades, Ray was a Brass Instructor and Assistant Director for the Oregon Crusaders, a Brass Instructor for the Bluecoats, a Visual Instructor for the Northern Lights Summer Youth Band along with many high school bands in the Pacific Northwest and Texas and for the University of Oregon Marching Band
Ray was an award-winning member of the Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Devils and Marauders as well as the Argonauts Summer Youth Marching Band. Ray was the band director for the award-winning bands at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, Oregon and Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Oregon and a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Boston University.
Ray currently is teaching Math and Music at Oregon Virtual Academy and lives in Salem, Oregon with his wonderful wife Heather and has a daughter Courtney who is currently doing an internship with the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida.
​
Jeremy Bennett
Operations Director
From the Pacific Northwest, Jeremy holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Central Washington University and a Master’s of Arts degree in Conducting from Washington State University.
​
He recently completed his position as a graduate teaching assistant for the Washington State University Athletic Bands helping the Cougar Marching Band, two basketball pep bands, and one volleyball pep band. He was also Drum Major and Director of Basketball Bands at Central Washington University.
Jeremy has taught many scholastic programs in the Yakima and Tri-Cities area in Washington state. He currently is the Director of Instrumental Music for the Naches Valley School District. He performed with the Bands of America Tournament of Roses Honor Band, Central Washington University, and The Seattle Cascades and was a staff member of both the visual and brass captions. Jeremy has performed many different roles in the administration team including, administration assistant, tour director, and assistant director.
Cheryl Harris
Housing / Social Media Coordinator
Raised in Salem, Oregon and living in Portland, Cheryl holds her Bachelor of Music from Corban University, in Salem, Oregon and is finishing her Master's in Business Administration in business analytics at Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon. She also works as a contributing photographer for the local marching band circuit in Oregon with the photography company Open Your Eyes Visuals, based in Seattle, WA.
This will be Cheryl’s ninth season with drum corps. She performed with Seattle Cascades, and held admin roles with Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders, and Housing Coordinator at The Cadets.
Cheryl, works as an administration and accounting analyst for an HOA Management company in Portland, OR. She enjoys spending time volunteering at a local dog shelter, thrifting, and finding the best lunch or coffee spots. Even if she might not be on tour all summer, she is very happy to be back home where it all started fifteen years ago.
​
Devin Bretz
Tour Director
Devin Bretz is a Northwest based educator specializing in percussion. Devin is currently a percussion instructor for the University of Oregon Athletic Bands, as well as The Alan Keown Drum Camp, and has taught at several high schools throughout Oregon and SW Washington. He got his start in the marching arts as a student in Oregon, performed with the U of O marching band and began teaching drum lines while in attendance there.
While he did not get involved with the Drum Corps activity until recently, he has been a fan and supporter and has friends and family members that marched and taught in DCI and WGI over the years. Devin says, “tour management is in my blood”, since his father was the tour manager for Chick Corea and Return to Forever in the early 70’s.
Devin currently resides in Eugene Oregon where he and his wife, Michelle, own a social services business specializing in community support for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Devin and Michelle love to travel and spend time with their three dogs, Theo, Cadence, and Ahsoka.
Ryan McAlinden
Tour Assistant
Michael Lewis
Tour Assistant
Kat Chapman
Tour Assistant
Design
Nick Benson
Artistic Director
From Seattle, WA, Nick has been teaching, designing and consulting for award-winning marching programs all across the United States for the past 20+ years, specializing in movement training, drill/staging, choreography and program coordination/consultation. Nick is currently the Program Coordinator/Visual Designer for the Kamiak H.S. Show Band and Winter Percussion from Mukilteo, WA, since 2008.
Nick held the Visual Caption Head position for the Oregon Crusaders, the Seattle Cascades and the Troopers, helping them reach DCI Finalist status for the first time in 23 years, later becoming the Visual Designer in 2011. Nick was the Artistic Director and Visual Designer of the Seattle Cascades and the Visual Caption Head for the Siamyth Drum & Bugle Corps in Bangkok, Thailand.
Nick got his start with the Cascade High School Marching Band and marched with the Seattle Cascades and Blue Devils. While attending the University of Washington and Western Washington University, Nick studied Music and English and performed with numerous music ensembles.
Alongside Adam Oswald and Dylan Thompson, Nick co-authored a marching and movement program built for marching bands and drum corps. Creating a cohesive and holistic approach to movement and marching, both from an individual and ensemble standpoint. “Beyond the Basics” can be found at his website, nickbensondesigns.com
​
Nick currently lives at home in Bothell, WA with his wife, Andrea, his two sons, Sullivan and Foster, and their cat, Lilah.
Kurt Jull
Design Coordinator
Kurt has been actively designing, teaching, consulting, and adjudicating the marching arts for over 40 years. He founded the Every-Body/Northern Lights Winterguards and served on the Board of Directors for Winter Guard International. Designed and choreographed for the Yokohama Japan Inspires, Madison Scouts, Oregon Crusaders, and Seattle Cascades along with numerous scholastic organizations, winterguards and dance teams.
​
From Portland, Oregon, Kurt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interactive Media Design and is the Sr. UX Designer and Strategist with AVIBE Web Development, designing web applications for a variety of clients such as NASA, Nike, Converse and CHEF’STORE.
​
Brian Ward
Program Coordinator
Brian was raised in Philadelphia, PA, but now calls Portland, OR his home. He has built a career as a people manager, learning facilitator for training and development, and marching arts adjudicator. Brian is affiliated as a judge with Winter Guard International, Western Bands Association, Winter Guard Association of Southern California and the Northwest Association for Performing Arts.
​
His teaching and adjudication experience spans 28 years in all levels of performance, and is a proud alumnus of Alter Ego, The Patriots, The Black Watch and Carolina Crown. After working with the corps in 2019, his commitment to supporting the marching arts in the Pacific Northwest continues in his return to the Seattle Cascades.
​
Eric Yahrmarkt
Percussion Arranger
Eric Yahrmarkt is an accomplished percussion instructor, arranger, and teacher, performing and writing for a wide range of ensembles. His experience in the Pacific Northwest spans 20+ years of competitive percussion, private instruction, and performance. He received a Bachelor's degree in Percussion Performance under professor David Jarvis at Washington State University. Eric performed in the tenor line with the Seattle Cascades.
​
Eric’s teaching experience includes Seattle Cascades, Oregon Crusaders, OC Indoor, numerous high schools and an active private lesson studio. Currently he serves as the Percussion Director/Arranger for Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, WA.
Jeff Chambers
Brass Arranger and Composer
Born in Issaquah, Washington, Jeff Chambers grew up in eastern Washington and now composes and arranges music that is played and heard around the world. He is the owner and lead winds and percussion arranger for Jeff Chambers Music LLC. Studied composition with Dan Bukvich and Robert Dickow at the University of Idaho and upon graduating, made a full-time career in music composition and arranging. He specializes in marching arts music, musical theatre and film and media. One of his arrangements was recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as a "Mind-Blowing Cover". He has won numerous film score awards around the world and is actively collaborating with composer and playwright Jesse Sanchez on the music for two new musicals in New York City and Tucson, Arizona.
Jeff has composed and arranged over 130 new marching band shows and has received national recognition as a prominent and emerging marching arts designer. His shows have competed at all levels of BOA, USBands, Tournament of Bands, Cavalcade of Bands and Texas UIL. This year 145 marching bands across the country performed his music, 22 of which performed brand new commissions. He currently serves as the co-brass arranger and music coordinator for the Columbians, co-brass arranger for the Caballeros, Music Arranger for Phoenix and was the percussion arranger for the Eruption Indoor Percussion Ensemble. He also composes and arranges indoor winds and indoor percussion shows for programs across the country.
His work is published through Marching Show Concepts and on his website, www.jeffchambersmusic.net His work in the world of film, theatre and media can be heard on his site, www.jeffchamberscomposer.com.
​
Jeff currently lives in Puyallup, Washington with his wife Karissa, daughter Oakley, son Ryker and their two spoiled pups.
Tim Mitchell
Sound Designer
Tim Mitchell is a Pacific Northwest native and resident with a freelance career in the marching arts. Tim is an alumnus of the Kamiak High School Showband and winter percussion programs in Mukilteo, WA.
Tim is currently an Audio Engineer for the 21-time world champion Blue Devils A corps. He brings additional experience from his time engineering for current and former PNW corps Columbians, Seattle Cascades, and Oregon Crusaders.
​
Tim brings creative experience from his career as a freelance Sound Designer, serving over 150 scholastic programs locally and nationally through published arrangements with Jeff Chambers Music LLC in Puyallup, WA. He continues to serve independent PNW programs as Sound Designer for the Columbians and IMPACT Percussion.
​
Tim learned audio engineering through broadcast production at Central Washington University, creating and co-producing nationally-awarded content under the mentorship of seasoned radio veteran Travis Box. During his time at KCWU-FM, the station was recognized and awarded at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conference in New York City and the College Broadcasters Incorporated conferences in Seattle and Philadelphia.
As an Audio Engineer in the film industry, Tim worked on the production team for Discovery Channel’s Amanda to the Rescue - recipient of the Humane Society's Genesis Award for Outstanding Reality Series. He interned at REX Production and Post in Portland, Oregon, assisting with a variety of documentary projects, short films, and independently produced music recordings. Tim served as Production Assistant and Audio Field Recorder for Behind the Bullet - recipient of the Oregon Independent Film Festival’s “Best Documentary” award.
Megan Sellman
Movement Choreographer
Megan grew up on Bainbridge Island, WA, where she received her formal dance training at Bainbridge Ballet Dance Studio and participated as an active member in her high school percussion ensemble, jazz band, marching band, and winter guard. Megan has performed with the Seattle Cascades, serving as the color guard captain in 2016, Rhapsody Winterguard, and the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps.
Megan earned her Bachelor's degree in Education, Communities, and Organizations, with honors in Dance at the University of Washington where she presented her senior thesis, The Role of Dance Training in Color Guard Educational Programs, at the Mary Gates Research Symposium. She has since built her pedagogical approach based on her research findings with great success.
Megan is the Color Guard Director and Visual Choreographer for Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, WA. She has choreographed and instructed for various pageantry organizations including Rhapsody Winterguard, Dawson Glenda High School, Kamiak Winter Percussion, and the American Dance Institute.
In her professional dance career, she has performed and/or collaborated with The Guild Dance Company, MALACARNE Dance Company, Brian Brooks, BANDALOOP, Ashley Menestrina, Rachael Lincoln, and Jeff Schick, among others. She assisted the Chamber Dance Company in their 30th anniversary season, which included works by Doug Varone, Camille A. Brown, Joe Goode, Shaprio & Smith, and Zvi Gotheiner. In 2021 Megan was awarded the Flight Deck Dance Residency, where she and her collaborator, Ieva Braciulyte, produced a dance film that was later awarded best duet in the 2022 Dancecentric TV Film Festival.
Megan is thrilled to be returning to her home drum corps as the movement choreographer, and is looking forward to building an outstanding experience for the members.
Brass
Greg Hall
Music Ensemble Coordinator
Greg Hall's illustrious career in music education spans decades, marked by his unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation. As the Director of Bands at Sunset High School, he has cultivated a program that stands as a beacon of musical achievement, earning acclaim on both national and international stages. Under his guidance, ensembles such as the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and Electric Band have flourished, providing students with opportunities for artistic growth and expression.
​
Prior to his tenure at Sunset High School, Mr. Hall distinguished himself as the Director of Bands at South Eugene High School in Eugene, OR. His educational journey began at North Texas State University, where he earned a degree in Music Education, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.
​
In addition to his roles in secondary education, Mr. Hall has previously served on the Horn Staff of the renowned Concord Blue Devils and held the prestigious position of Brass Caption Head for the Denver Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. Through his leadership and mentorship, he helps shape the next generation of elite musicians, instilling in them a passion for excellence and a commitment to musical artistry.
​
Beyond his direct work with students, Mr. Hall's impact extends far and wide as a Clinician and Adjudicator. His expertise is sought after across various domains, including Concert Bands, Jazz Bands, Marching Bands, and Drum Corps International. From Canada to the East Coast, from the Midwest to the West Coast, his adjudicating and clinic engagements have left an indelible mark on countless students and educators alike.
​
Mr. Hall's professional affiliations reflect his deep-seated commitment to the advancement of music education. He is an active member of esteemed organizations such as the Music Educators National Conference, Oregon Music Educators Association and the National Association of Jazz Educators, where he continues to contribute his knowledge and expertise for the betterment of the field.
Joey Riordan
Brass Caption Manager
Joey grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has been involved in the marching arts since attending Hanford High School in Richland Washington. Joey joined the Seattle Cascades for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He also performed with the Boston Crusaders, Madison Scouts, and Minnesota Brass. Joey joined the staff of the Seattle Cascades in 2012 as a visual and music instructor. He taught the tuba section from 2012 to 2018. In 2019 he served as Brass Caption Head. Joey was very thankful for the opportunity to help the corps return to the field in 2023.
​
Joey attended Central Washington University and Washington State University where he played in various music ensembles. He recently completed his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Eastern Washington University. He currently works as a special education teacher in Richland Washington and also works as an instructor for the Kamiakin High School Marching Band.
​
Steve Menefee
Brass Caption Supervisor
A native of Virginia, Steve received his music education degree at Radford University.
After performing with The Cadets from 1991-94 and working as a brass tech in 1996, he relocated to WA where he has been the band director at Ferndale High School ever since.
Steve has frequently worked with the Cascades brass team since 1998.
Joseph Ready
Low Brass Lead Teacher
Since moving back to Oregon in 2018, Joe has been an active performer and educator in the greater Portland area. He currently teaches low brass at Pacific University and maintains a private teaching studio. Joe is the Principal Tubist with the Portland Opera and has performed with the Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene Symphony, Vancouver Symphony (WA), Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Coast Music Festival, Oregon Ballet Theater, and Oregon Symphony.
​
Joe earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Tuba Performance from the University of Oregon, his Master of Music degree in Tuba Performance from Bowling Green State University, and his Professional Diploma in Orchestral Studies from Roosevelt University. While in Chicago, he was an Associate Member with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Joe has performed with orchestras in the Midwest including the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Toledo Symphony, Elgin Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
​
Joe marched baritone with the Oregon Crusaders in 2005 and 2006. He marched euphonium with the Colts in 2007 and 2008. He finished his DCI career marching tuba with the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2009. Joe joined the Seattle Cascades Brass Staff in 2023 and is excited to return for the 2024 season.
Patrick Hunninghake
High Brass Lead Teacher
Patrick Hunninghake is an active educator, performer, and consultant in the Seattle area. He is currently the director of bands at Kamiak High School and head director of the Kamiak Show Band.
​
Prior to moving to Seattle, Patrick held positions in Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago, Illinois. He has performed as a regular member with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Peoria Symphony and currently performs with the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra, and Harmonia Seattle.
​
Patrick earned his masters degree in trumpet performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Prior to working with the Cascades, Patrick spent five years on the staff of the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.
Juan Bradford
Low Brass Tech
Amber Vosk
Trumpet/Mello Tech
Anastasia Canfield
Mellophone Tech
Kat Conaway
Low Brass Tech
Emily Monson
High Brass Tech
Stephen Grindel
Trumpet Tech
Don Newman
Tuba Tech
Christian Stephanos
Mellophone Tech
Colin Taylor
Low Brass Tech
Thomas Wheeler
Baritone Tech
Jacob Greer
Trumpet Tech
Visual
Nick Benson
Visual Caption Supervisor
From Seattle, WA, Nick has been teaching, designing and consulting for award-winning marching programs all across the United States for the past 20+ years, specializing in movement training, drill/staging, choreography and program coordination/consultation. Nick is currently the Program Coordinator/Visual Designer for the Kamiak H.S. Show Band and Winter Percussion from Mukilteo, WA, since 2008.
Nick held the Visual Caption Head position for the Oregon Crusaders, the Seattle Cascades and the Troopers, helping them reach DCI Finalist status for the first time in 23 years, later becoming the Visual Designer in 2011. Nick was the Artistic Director and Visual Designer of the Seattle Cascades and the Visual Caption Head for the Siamyth Drum & Bugle Corps in Bangkok, Thailand.
​
Nick currently lives at home in Bothell, WA with his wife, Andrea, his two sons, Sullivan and Foster, and their cat, Lilah.
Shea Pierce
Visual Caption Head
Shea Pierce is a freelance trombonist and private lesson instructor in the Northwest Arkansas Area. For the past 12 years, Shea has been a sought-after Marching Band Instructor, Visual Clinician, and Designer in West Kentucky, The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Michigan, and most recently, Northwest Arkansas.
Shea’s drum corps career began in 2012 with Carolina Crown, winners of the John Brazale High Visual Award, the Jim Ott High Brass Award, and the Silver Medal. In the years following, Shea worked as a Visual Technician at Legends Drum and Bugle Corps for several years. He’s also spent time with the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps instructing in their virtual summer academy.
While in Northwest Arkansas, Shea has assisted in teaching the Bentonville West High School Marching Band to a state runner-up title, in only their second year of existence. For the past 6 years, he has been serving as the Visual Caption Head and Band Choreographer for the Bentonville High School Marching Band, a consistent Bands of America Super-Regional Finalist, 5-time consecutive Arkansas State Marching Champions, and most recently, a Bands of America Grand National Finalist.
Shea currently lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, with his wife, Emily, and their new baby boy, Sonny.
Matt Barnes
Visual Assistant Caption Head
Matt is currently in his first year as an assistant band director at Union Public Schools in Tulsa, OK. Previously, he served as head band director at Morris High School in Oklahoma for 10 years. Since graduating college from Oklahoma State University in 2013, he has been actively involved in the marching arts educational community in Oklahoma.
Matt marched with the Troopers in 2011 playing euphonium and has written visual programs for guards, marching bands, and indoor drumline groups since then. His ensembles at Morris received numerous OSSAA awards, and his band was crowned OBA Grand Champions in 2013 and Class Champions in 2019, among other significant accolades.
Matt is a clarinet and bass clarinet player by trade. He loves tall cups of black coffee, his wife Beth, their four dogs and two cats, and exploring the natural beauty the world has to offer when he isn't teaching seven days a week. Overall, Matt believes that the musical arts have incredible power to communicate in ways beyond words and that arts education has the potential to transform lives.
Megan Sellman
Movement Director
Megan grew up on Bainbridge Island, WA, where she received her formal dance training at Bainbridge Ballet Dance Studio and participated as an active member in her high school percussion ensemble, jazz band, marching band, and winter guard. Megan has performed with the Seattle Cascades, serving as the color guard captain in 2016, Rhapsody Winterguard, and the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps.
Megan earned her Bachelor's degree in Education, Communities, and Organizations, with honors in Dance at the University of Washington where she presented her senior thesis, The Role of Dance Training in Color Guard Educational Programs, at the Mary Gates Research Symposium. She has since built her pedagogical approach based on her research findings with great success.
Megan is the Color Guard Director and Visual Choreographer for Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, WA. She has choreographed and instructed for various pageantry organizations including Rhapsody Winterguard, Dawson Glenda High School, Kamiak Winter Percussion, and the American Dance Institute.
In her professional dance career, she has performed and/or collaborated with The Guild Dance Company, MALACARNE Dance Company, Brian Brooks, BANDALOOP, Ashley Menestrina, Rachael Lincoln, and Jeff Schick, among others. She assisted the Chamber Dance Company in their 30th anniversary season, which included works by Doug Varone, Camille A. Brown, Joe Goode, Shaprio & Smith, and Zvi Gotheiner. In 2021 Megan was awarded the Flight Deck Dance Residency, where she and her collaborator, Ieva Braciulyte, produced a dance film that was later awarded best duet in the 2022 Dancecentric TV Film Festival.
Megan is thrilled to be returning to her home drum corps as the movement choreographer, and is looking forward to building an outstanding experience for the members.
Mason Bathurst
Instructor
Mason Moore
Instructor
Ray Swanick
Instructor
Shiloh Daricek
Movement / Instructor
Tanner Jones
Instructor
Andrew Askew
Instructor
Kira Pattinson
Movement / Instructor
Kyle Kostelecky
Instructor
Mitch Degrace
Instructor
Morgan Peters
Instructor
Evan Chivers
Movement / Instructor
Keegan Bosch
Instructor
Percussion
Micah Brusse
Education Director / Percussion Caption Manager
Micah Brusse is a marching percussion specialist in the Pacific Northwest who currently resides in Oregon City, OR. He has been the Percussion Caption Supervisor for the Oregon Marching Band (University of Oregon) since 1998 and has held the same title with the Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps since 2017.
​
Micah’s previous teaching experience includes percussion instruction with the Blue Knights, and the Blue Devils as a Snare Technician. He has also worked with the Oregon Crusaders and OC Indoor as Battery Coordinator and Arranger, respectively, in addition to working with Evergreen High School in Vancouver, WA.
​
As a performer, Micah was a member of the Oregon Marching Band and the Blue Devils. Micah is a proud endorser of Remo, Vic Firth, Yamaha, and Zildjian.
Josiah Nelson
Percussion Caption Head
Biography Coming Soon.
Ryan Burnett
Front Ensemble Coordinator
Ryan Burnett began his percussion career in high school. After graduating, he continued to perform as a member of Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps and the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. In the off-season, he performed with the Vegas Vanguard front ensemble.
Ryan has been an active front ensemble instructor and percussion coordinator since graduating from high school. He has worked with multiple high schools in the Las Vegas valley including Arbor View High School, Sierra Vista High School, and Pinecrest Academy Cadence. He recently moved to the Pacific Northwest, working as percussion director and front ensemble designer for Southridge High School. This is Ryan’s second year on staff with the Seattle Cascades.
Outside of the pageantry arts, Ryan obtained his Bachelors of Arts in Percussion Performance from UNLV and currently works with Tapspace Publications in a variety of roles.
Thomas Wharton
Front Ensemble Tech
Zach Shaw
Front Ensemble Tech
Russ Berger
Tenor Tech
Bobby Chrisodoulopoulos
Front Ensemble Tech
Oscar Torres
Front Ensemble Tech
Ben Strever
Snare Tech
Layne Wellman
Tenor Tech
Adam Chasteen
Front Ensemble Tech
Cody Renouf
Cymbal Tech
Paul Zacarias
Bass Tech
Guard
Anthony Riederer
Guard Caption Supervisor
Anthony Riederer has served as a technician, choreographer, consultant, designer, and caption head for scholastic and independent organizations in the Midwest, Intermountain West, and Pacific Northwest.
​
He co-founded Cascadia Winter Guard and currently serves as the Guard Designer at Century High School (Oregon). Anthony also serves as an adjudicator for a number of marching band contests and winter guard circuits nationwide. Previously, he was the Judge Coordinator and an appointed member of the Board of Directors for the Heartland Winter Arts Association.
​
Anthony holds a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Urban Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation and Community Planning. Currently, he manages the Community Development Code for the City of Hillsboro, Oregon. In this role he seeks to support predictable development outcomes which drive forward Hillsboro's values of being a proactive, well-designed, sustainable, and business-friendly community. Though a Wisconsinite at heart, he is grateful to live in among beauty and splendor of the Portland-area.
Brooke Winsor
Guard Co-Caption Head
Brooke Winsor has been involved in the marching arts for over 12 years. She has been a DCI Finalist with the Crossmen and WGI finalist with The Pride of Missouri State. Brooke has taught at various programs in the Midwest over the last 7 years and currently teaches in the Omaha, NE area where she serves as the winter guard director at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
​
After receiving her degree in graphic design and illustration from Missouri State University, Brooke currently works as a Graphic Artist for G2 Performance.
Grace Batchelor
Guard Co-Caption Head
Grace Batchelor is from Albuquerque, NM and currently resides in Phoenix, AZ. Spending over 10 years in the marching arts activity, Grace began her drum corps career in 2015 with Seattle Cascades going on to march The Academy in 2016, Crossmen in 2017, finishing her drum corps career with The Blue Knights starting in 2018, serving as Color Guard captain there in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Grace also marched a season of WGI with FeniX Independent World in 2018.
​
Her teaching experience includes serving across sixteen different high school productions as a weapon technician, choreographer, and design consultant. Grace spent her first season teaching drum corps with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2022. After learning what it meant to be a part of Seattle Cascades in her rookie year of drum corps. Grace is thrilled to return and continue the organization's growth.
Sarah Smith
Instructor
Tori Farias
Instructor
Henry Price
Instructor
Ryson Casupang
Instructor
Zach Dye
Choreographer
Emily Kaman
Instructor
Paige Haskins
Choreo/Instructor
Audio
Tim Mitchell
Audio Team Manager
Tim Mitchell is a Pacific Northwest native and resident with a freelance career in the marching arts. Tim is an alumnus of the Kamiak High School Showband and winter percussion programs in Mukilteo, WA.
Tim is currently an Audio Engineer for the 21-time world champion Blue Devils A corps. He brings additional experience from his time engineering for current and former PNW corps Columbians, Seattle Cascades, and Oregon Crusaders.
​
Tim brings creative experience from his career as a freelance Sound Designer, serving over 150 scholastic programs locally and nationally through published arrangements with Jeff Chambers Music LLC in Puyallup, WA. He continues to serve independent PNW programs as Sound Designer for the Columbians and IMPACT Percussion.
​
Tim learned audio engineering through broadcast production at Central Washington University, creating and co-producing nationally-awarded content under the mentorship of seasoned radio veteran Travis Box. During his time at KCWU-FM, the station was recognized and awarded at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conference in New York City and the College Broadcasters Incorporated conferences in Seattle and Philadelphia.
As an Audio Engineer in the film industry, Tim worked on the production team for Discovery Channel’s Amanda to the Rescue - recipient of the Humane Society's Genesis Award for Outstanding Reality Series. He interned at REX Production and Post in Portland, Oregon, assisting with a variety of documentary projects, short films, and independently produced music recordings. Tim served as Production Assistant and Audio Field Recorder for Behind the Bullet - recipient of the Oregon Independent Film Festival’s “Best Documentary” award.
Zach Ohara
Audio Engineer
Zach Mullis
Audio Engineer
Wellness
Natalie Ligtenberg
Health and Wellness Team Lead
Natalie is passionate about making sure everyone’s needs are met to the best of her ability. “The admin team and I are working diligently to put a team together to best serve the needs of the members”. She loves to teach people exercises to take care of their body and make them stronger. She also enjoys doing “cupping” therapy for her athletes to decrease pain and soreness.
She marched color guard with the Cascades in 2016 and aging out in 2017. In 2018 she toured with the Cascades as an undergraduate Exercise Science Student. She also spent 4 years in Idaho State’s Bengal Marching Band spending a few years as a captain and soloist.
Natalie Graduated from University of Kansas Medical Center with a Masters in Athletic Training in May of 2023 earning several service awards. Natalie is dually licensed in Kansas and Washington. Full time Natalie works as an Athletic Trainer at Ottawa University in Kansas covering Football and Men’s and Women’s wrestling. The football team she works for won the division championship and made an appearance in the national tournament.
Gwyneth Phillips
Athletic Trainer
Jael Hudson
Athletic Training Student
Julie L. Plamer
Volunteer Nurse
Anastasia Canfield
Mental Health Consultant
Dan-Nhi Huynh
Sports Science Intern
Jael Hudson
Athletic Training Student
