Will Wells - drill & music design, program coordination & consulting
Will Wells is a full-time marching arts designer and clinician from Columbus, Ohio. He has worked with numerous high school programs around the country, including BOA Grand National finalists Blue Springs High School from Blue Springs, Missouri and Centerville High School from Centerville, Ohio. He previously worked as an assistant band director, designer and program coordinator at Port Isabel HS in Port Isabel, Texas, qualifying for the UIL State Marching Contest in each of his seasons.
Will studied music performance (tuba & euphonium) and education at The University of Akron. He has also earned a B.S. in Journalism from Kent State University and an M.Ed from The Ohio State University. In addition to teaching, he has also designed drill and arranged music for programs in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, Arizona, Missouri, Tennessee, New Jersey, as well as Lithuania. He has been an adjudicator for the Arizona Marching Band Association, New Mexico Pageant of Bands, Kentucky Music Educators Association, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, North Carolina Bandmasters Association and ATSSB in Texas.
Will is a current member of the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps brass staff, having previously served for four seasons on the visual staff (2012-2015). In 2016, he assisted with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, as well as Connexus Independent (WGI) from Columbus, Ohio.
His performance experience includes five seasons with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps on tuba and lead baritone. During his time with the corps, he served as tuba section leader and was a soloist on both instruments. Outside of the marching realm, Will has performed with the Billboard-charting band Company of Thieves on trombone, and can be heard on their live music video for the song "Talulah."
Will studied music performance (tuba & euphonium) and education at The University of Akron. He has also earned a B.S. in Journalism from Kent State University and an M.Ed from The Ohio State University. In addition to teaching, he has also designed drill and arranged music for programs in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, Arizona, Missouri, Tennessee, New Jersey, as well as Lithuania. He has been an adjudicator for the Arizona Marching Band Association, New Mexico Pageant of Bands, Kentucky Music Educators Association, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, North Carolina Bandmasters Association and ATSSB in Texas.
Will is a current member of the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps brass staff, having previously served for four seasons on the visual staff (2012-2015). In 2016, he assisted with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, as well as Connexus Independent (WGI) from Columbus, Ohio.
His performance experience includes five seasons with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps on tuba and lead baritone. During his time with the corps, he served as tuba section leader and was a soloist on both instruments. Outside of the marching realm, Will has performed with the Billboard-charting band Company of Thieves on trombone, and can be heard on their live music video for the song "Talulah."
Ryan Williams - arranger, composer
Dr. Ryan Williams first began composing music as a freshman in high school in Mechanicsburg, PA. Following this passion for more than 25 years, Williams has written many works for a variety of forces, both large and small, with a notable focus being on the wind band.
To flesh out his craft, Williams earned a Doctor of Music Arts from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Music from West Chester University. Throughout his study, Williams has composed under the tutelage of John Fitz Rogers, David Garner, Marc Sabat, Armando Bayolo, Robert Maggio, Adam Silverman, and Andrew Yozviak. Currently, Williams receives commissions for all levels of music, ranging from beginning students and middle school band to professional musicians and ensembles. His works, described as a part of the “American School” and bringing a sense of modernism, with perhaps a subtle nod to Aaron Copland, have been performed across the United States. Composer and conductor Mark Camphouse has remarked that his works are “sophisticated” and “a cut above the rest.” His portfolio can be previewed and works can be purchased at www.RyanJWilliams.net.
In addition to composition, Williams is a performer and technician. After five years performing with DCA and DCI drum & bugle corps, he enlisted into the Army Reserve where he served as an instrumentalist, arranger, and composer for 14 years. Since earning his Music Education degree, Williams has worked with dozens of competitive and non-competitive high school bands, college bands, and drum corps across the country. Williams has worked with the Hawthorne Caballeros, Reading Buccaneers, The Cadets, and the Boston Crusaders. Currently, he is the Assistant Brass Caption Head for the Blue Stars from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. As a writer and designer, he works with the Starriders Drum and Bugle Corps from Bad Münder, Germany. In addition to writing and teaching, Williams is active as an adjudicator, serving marching bands across the country.
Presently, Williams lives in Houston, Texas where he actively serves as a freelance composer/arranger, performer, clinician, and adjudicator while also maintaining a new enthusiasm for Topo Chico (with lime).
To flesh out his craft, Williams earned a Doctor of Music Arts from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Music from West Chester University. Throughout his study, Williams has composed under the tutelage of John Fitz Rogers, David Garner, Marc Sabat, Armando Bayolo, Robert Maggio, Adam Silverman, and Andrew Yozviak. Currently, Williams receives commissions for all levels of music, ranging from beginning students and middle school band to professional musicians and ensembles. His works, described as a part of the “American School” and bringing a sense of modernism, with perhaps a subtle nod to Aaron Copland, have been performed across the United States. Composer and conductor Mark Camphouse has remarked that his works are “sophisticated” and “a cut above the rest.” His portfolio can be previewed and works can be purchased at www.RyanJWilliams.net.
In addition to composition, Williams is a performer and technician. After five years performing with DCA and DCI drum & bugle corps, he enlisted into the Army Reserve where he served as an instrumentalist, arranger, and composer for 14 years. Since earning his Music Education degree, Williams has worked with dozens of competitive and non-competitive high school bands, college bands, and drum corps across the country. Williams has worked with the Hawthorne Caballeros, Reading Buccaneers, The Cadets, and the Boston Crusaders. Currently, he is the Assistant Brass Caption Head for the Blue Stars from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. As a writer and designer, he works with the Starriders Drum and Bugle Corps from Bad Münder, Germany. In addition to writing and teaching, Williams is active as an adjudicator, serving marching bands across the country.
Presently, Williams lives in Houston, Texas where he actively serves as a freelance composer/arranger, performer, clinician, and adjudicator while also maintaining a new enthusiasm for Topo Chico (with lime).
Scott Hartsfield - music consultant & clinician
Scott Hartsfield is a music consultant and clinician from Harlingen, Texas, having served 25 years as the Director of Bands at Port Isabel HS in Port Isabel, TX.
His high school marching band advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest every opportunity from 2000-2020, with multiple top-four finishes. His concert bands at both HS and JH campuses have been awarded consistent UIL Sweepstakes Honors every year, receiving both 1st Division Ratings on Stage and in Sight Reading.
Under Scott's direction, the Port Isabel High School Varsity Wind Ensemble has advanced to the Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band State Finals every opportunity since 2006, along with the Mariachi Plata ensemble advancing to State nine times since 2010. The number of individual young ladies and men who have attained Regional and Area honors are too numerous to mention. At the All-State level, there have been 114 PIHS band students place throughout his tenure.
His high school marching band advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest every opportunity from 2000-2020, with multiple top-four finishes. His concert bands at both HS and JH campuses have been awarded consistent UIL Sweepstakes Honors every year, receiving both 1st Division Ratings on Stage and in Sight Reading.
Under Scott's direction, the Port Isabel High School Varsity Wind Ensemble has advanced to the Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band State Finals every opportunity since 2006, along with the Mariachi Plata ensemble advancing to State nine times since 2010. The number of individual young ladies and men who have attained Regional and Area honors are too numerous to mention. At the All-State level, there have been 114 PIHS band students place throughout his tenure.
Geoffrey Sperling - aesthetics, program coordination & consulting
Geoffrey Sperling, originally from Detroit, MI, graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington with a Bachelor of the Arts. Geoffrey has been a performing member, and currently is an alumni of Interplay, Zydeco, and The Pride of Cincinnati Winterguards. In 2011, Geoffrey ended his 8 year DCI career as a performing member with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps where he was a part of the George Zingali "Best Color guard" award winning cast. Prior to that, Geoffrey was a marching member with the Cadets (2008-2010), Bluecoats (2007), Hawthorne Caballeros (2009), Capital Regiment (2006), Racine Kilties (2005-2006),and The Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps (2004-2005).
Geoffrey was an integral part of the design staff at Cedar Ridge High School (Round Rock, TX) from 2012-2013. During his time at Cedar Ridge the marching band made its inaugural appearance in the Bands of America Grand National Finals. The Winterguard received a Scholastic A bronze medal in the Texas Colorguard Circuit (TCGC), and made finals at all WGI regional appearances. From 2014-2017, Geoffrey directed and designed for the New Braunfels High School Band and Colorguard. During his time at New Braunfels, the winter guard was named the 2015 WGI San Antonio Regional A Class Champion, the 2015 T.E.C.A Regional A class silver medalists, and the JV was named the 2016 T.E.C.A novice class champions. In 2017, The New Braunfels Marching Band made UIL Area D finals (placing 7th in 6A) for the first time in school history, the program fielded 3 winter guards (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Cadet) which contained over 50 students, and The Varsity Winterguard made finals all WGI appearances (including the WGI Southwest Power Regional for the first time in school history). Outside of his involvement with scholastic programs, Geoffrey has served as choreographer for The Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps (2012), The Louisiana Stars Drum & Bugle Corps(2014-2015), Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps(2017), White Gold Winterguard (2012), Industry Independent(2015), and Spirit Independent Winterguard (2016-2018). Geoffrey has judged across the country at various local contests, as well as, for USBands since 2013. In 2018 and 2019 Geoffrey has been a member of the WGI Colorguard Advisory Board. Currently, Geoffrey lives in Austin, Tx where he serves as a co-director for Origins Colorguard (an Independent Open Class winterguard based out of Austin, Tx) and serves as a program coordinator and choreographer for schools across the state of Texas. His website can be found at SperlingDesigns.com.
Geoffrey was an integral part of the design staff at Cedar Ridge High School (Round Rock, TX) from 2012-2013. During his time at Cedar Ridge the marching band made its inaugural appearance in the Bands of America Grand National Finals. The Winterguard received a Scholastic A bronze medal in the Texas Colorguard Circuit (TCGC), and made finals at all WGI regional appearances. From 2014-2017, Geoffrey directed and designed for the New Braunfels High School Band and Colorguard. During his time at New Braunfels, the winter guard was named the 2015 WGI San Antonio Regional A Class Champion, the 2015 T.E.C.A Regional A class silver medalists, and the JV was named the 2016 T.E.C.A novice class champions. In 2017, The New Braunfels Marching Band made UIL Area D finals (placing 7th in 6A) for the first time in school history, the program fielded 3 winter guards (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Cadet) which contained over 50 students, and The Varsity Winterguard made finals all WGI appearances (including the WGI Southwest Power Regional for the first time in school history). Outside of his involvement with scholastic programs, Geoffrey has served as choreographer for The Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps (2012), The Louisiana Stars Drum & Bugle Corps(2014-2015), Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps(2017), White Gold Winterguard (2012), Industry Independent(2015), and Spirit Independent Winterguard (2016-2018). Geoffrey has judged across the country at various local contests, as well as, for USBands since 2013. In 2018 and 2019 Geoffrey has been a member of the WGI Colorguard Advisory Board. Currently, Geoffrey lives in Austin, Tx where he serves as a co-director for Origins Colorguard (an Independent Open Class winterguard based out of Austin, Tx) and serves as a program coordinator and choreographer for schools across the state of Texas. His website can be found at SperlingDesigns.com.
Manny Maldonado - electronics designer, percussion arranger
Manuel James "Manny" Maldonado is the founder, owner, and principal arranger of MJM Works, LLC. Bands playing his arrangements consistently make U.I.L. State, U.S.S.B.A. and Bands of America finals competitions. He has helped establish great programs such as Claudia Taylor Johnson High School and Cedar Park High School with his insight into the percussive arts, and now offers that same insight for other aspiring and inspiring programs throughout the United States.
Manny has either studied arrangements by or worked with arrangements from writers such as Michael Klesch, Key Poulan, Mark Higginbothom, Bret Kuhn, and Erik Johnson. Manny lives in Bulverde, Texas. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Candace, and their two children, Jameson and Owen.
Manny has either studied arrangements by or worked with arrangements from writers such as Michael Klesch, Key Poulan, Mark Higginbothom, Bret Kuhn, and Erik Johnson. Manny lives in Bulverde, Texas. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Candace, and their two children, Jameson and Owen.
Oscar Ortiz - visual consulting & choreography
Oscar Ortiz is an El Paso Texas area native who has been actively involved in the marching arts since 2009. His drum corps career includes 5 years as a performer in World Class corps including the 2013 DCI World Champion Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, The Academy (2012), Blue Knights (2010-2011) as well as Memphis Sound (2009). In 2015 Oscar served as performing member of The Blue Devils International Corps, traveling across Europe and performing at the Basel Tattoo in Basel, Switzerland and the Chiayi music festival in Taiwan. He was also a soloist for the Busch Gardens stage shows "Mix It Up" and "The Oompah Band!" Oscar served as the Brass Caption Head for Horizons Drum and Bugle corps in Sound Sport in 2016, and has also performed with multiple professional ensembles including the El Paso Wind Symphony, The El Paso Symphony Orchestra, and The Orquesta Sinfonia de Juarez.
Oscar has been actively involved with programs in Texas, New Mexico and Virginia since 2010, serving as musical/visual clinician, choreographer and program consultant for numerous Texas State-qualifiers and Area Finalists including Bel Air High School, Port Isabel High School, Rivera High School, as well as The University of Texas at El Paso.
He also a member of the nationally recognized musical fraternity Phi Mu Alpha.
Oscar has been actively involved with programs in Texas, New Mexico and Virginia since 2010, serving as musical/visual clinician, choreographer and program consultant for numerous Texas State-qualifiers and Area Finalists including Bel Air High School, Port Isabel High School, Rivera High School, as well as The University of Texas at El Paso.
He also a member of the nationally recognized musical fraternity Phi Mu Alpha.
Brian Dutton - color guard, choreography
Brian Dutton has been involved with the marching arts activity for more than 15 years. He grew up in the pageantry arts through the L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band program in the early 2000s as a trumpet player. After graduation, Brian furthered both his instrumental and color guard educations at Sam Houston State University, as well as with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, where he marched trumpet in 2004 & 2005, and then performed in the color guard in 2006 & 2007. Brian has also been a marching member with four different Winter Guard International World Class Finalist organizations throughout Texas, including Are Nova World (06-07), Code Black World (08-09), Cypress Independent (10-13) and Black Gold (15). With over twenty different pageantry seasons on his resume as a performer, Brian prides himself on using his experience to understand what the activity has been, where the activity is going, and how to keep expanding the limitations as time evolves.
Brian currently serves as Color Guard Caption Head with The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps. He was previously the Director of Color Guards at Bentonville HS in Bentonville, AR. He has had the fortune of working with many great mentors in the guard activity while serving as an instructor at Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps Corps (GA), Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps (TX), Eclectix Independent (OK), Avidity Independent (MO), and Spring High School (TX). With significant experience in all facets of both guard/dance & music education as a choreographer, caption head, technician, and director has made Brian uniquely well rounded in all aspects of the pageantry arts, whether working movement with guards, winds or percussion.
Brian received his Bachelors of Science in Mathematics in May of 2011 from Sam Houston State University. Brian has been a high school math teacher in Texas and Arkansas ever since. He graduated in December of 2016 with his Master’s Degree in Special Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
Brian currently serves as Color Guard Caption Head with The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps. He was previously the Director of Color Guards at Bentonville HS in Bentonville, AR. He has had the fortune of working with many great mentors in the guard activity while serving as an instructor at Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps Corps (GA), Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps (TX), Eclectix Independent (OK), Avidity Independent (MO), and Spring High School (TX). With significant experience in all facets of both guard/dance & music education as a choreographer, caption head, technician, and director has made Brian uniquely well rounded in all aspects of the pageantry arts, whether working movement with guards, winds or percussion.
Brian received his Bachelors of Science in Mathematics in May of 2011 from Sam Houston State University. Brian has been a high school math teacher in Texas and Arkansas ever since. He graduated in December of 2016 with his Master’s Degree in Special Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
