Josh Guttveg

Audio Caption Manager

Josh Guttveg is an arranger, sound designer, and all-around audio specialist, having worked with and designed for numerous groups across the state of Florida and beyond for both indoor percussion and outdoor marching programs. Josh has been involved in the marching arts for over 15 years, assuming multiple responsibilities and positions over the years. He started his indoor marching career with Stryke Percussion, playing synthesizer from 2011 and then 2013-17. In 2013, he also started his DCI career with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps as their assistant conductor for the 2013-14 seasons. Josh would then earn the position of synthesizer with the world championship organization Carolina Crown, spending 2 years with them and aging out in 2016.

After aging out, he returned to Crown as their Audio Intern in 2017, launching his career in marching audio and becoming one of their Audio Engineers in 2018 and Lead Audio Engineer for the 2019 season. He would also return to Stryke Percussion after his age out to become Audio Caption Head for both the World and Open groups from 2018-present, also consulting with the championship-winning ensemble Stryke Winds throughout the years.

This will be Josh's third year as Audio Caption Manager, and he is excited to continue tributing to the Blue Stars and helping elevate their production through his and his team's audio program!

David Nekula

Lead A1

Since 2018, David Nekula has been active in the art as a fan, educator, and audio engineer. David has served as a music and visual tech, as well as audio tech, at Broadneck High School in Annapolis, MD. In 2023 he was an A3 at the Cadets and later that year started working on the audio team with George Mason University Indoor Percussion, with whom he has been working with since. In 2024, David joined the Blue Stars as A1 audio engineer and has continued that work in the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

David marched in 2018 with Jersey Surf and aged out with the Blue Stars in 2022.

David graduated with a B.A. in Music Technology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He currently works at Studio 39 in Annapolis, MD as the recording studio manager and touring audio manager.

Douglas Stevens

A1

Douglas Stevens is an A/V Production and Installation Technician and percussionist from Kernersville, NC. He graduated from Guilford Technical Community College in May of 2023 with degrees in Recording Engineering and Concert Sound and Lighting.

Douglas has worked as an audio engineer with multiple groups including; the Blue Knights DBC, Civitas Independent, and Northwest Guilford HS. Outside of the marching arts, he also works at Imagine Design & Production Services, the NC Folk Festival, Fountain of Life Church, and Joymongers Brewing. He has previously done stagehand work with I.A.T.S.E. along with several other positions in the A/V field.

Douglas is also a tenor drummer and marched with multiple DCI/WGI ensembles. He marched DCI with the Vanguard Cadets in 2022 and the Watchmen DBC in 2018. He also marched WGI with Civitas Independent in 2022,2023,2024 and CATALYST Percussion in 2020.

Leo Hall

A2

Leo Hall is a student in audio production and technological music composition. They attend CU Boulder in Colorado where they play in several groups on multiple instruments. 

Leo currently works for the CU school of music in auditoriums such as Mackey and Grusin Hall, recording, mixing and mastering performances of all kinds. 

In their work they prioritize creative innovation for electro-acoustic music and pushing the boundaries of classical performance. 

In the marching arts, Leo has marched the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble and now works at local Colorado high schools doing marching arts sound design. 

Brendan Murphy

A2

Brendan Murphy was born and raised in Stratford, Connecticut and studied Music and Sound Recording at the University of New Haven. Brendan has nearly 10 years of experience with the pageantry arts as a performer and educator, and is excited to start his first year as an A2 for the Blue Stars.

Brendan performed as a trumpet player for 5 years of middle and high school, 4 years at New Haven, and the Madison Scouts in 2022, 2023, and aged out in 2025. He currently is a visual technician at the Francis T. Maloney High School Marching Band and is a visual tech, drill designer, and A2 for their Winter Percussion program.

Since the beginning of college, Brendan has worked in various roles in the audio space. He was a Stagehand for the Music Industry Club assisting in both lights and sound. He also briefly co-hosted a weekly radio show on the campus radio station 88.7 WNHU.

Brendan has mainly found work in musical theater as a Board Operator and various stagehand roles. He hopes to pursue a career in professional theater spaces in New York City.

Julian De Leon

Audio Engineer Intern

Julian De Leon is an audio-visual technician based in Anaheim, California. He has recently earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theater with an emphasis in Technical Design and Production and seeks to gain experience in live audio engineering. He currently works for Encore AV, where he provides technician work across lighting, video, and audio areas for corporate event productions and aims to elevate to the touring events industry.

His marching experience consists of the Tournament of Roses Honor Band, Pasadena City College Lancer Marching Band, and aged out with Meraki Percussion for their first year competing in Percussion IW. He has also served as an audio consultant for Glendale High School and Herbert Hoover High School.

Julian is super stoked to be joining the Blue Stars team as the Spring Training Audio Intern, where he can continue his passion for the marching arts while advancing his career goals!