Michael Shapiro

Artistic Director, Color Guard Caption Supervisor, Designer

Michael Shapiro is returning to the Blue Stars for his eighteenth year as Artistic Director and Color Guard Caption Supervisor. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Michael currently resides in Dallas, Texas, where he serves as the Color Guard Director at Duncanville High School.

Michael was the founder, director, and designer of Corona Winter Guard in Los Angeles, California, and has been the creative force behind Mayflower Winter Guard in the United Kingdom since 2000. He has taught and designed for numerous programs, including Mirage, Ménage, West Broward High School, Tarpon Springs High School, Carroll High School, Crown Guard, and Carolina Crown.

Michael has been inducted into the WGI, WGASC, and Blue Stars Halls of Fame.

Jim Wunderlich

Music Coordinator, Brass Arranger, Sound Design

Jim has been the music coordinator & brass arranger for the Blue Stars since 2018. Prior to his arrival at the Blue Stars, he held the position of Front Ensemble caption head & arranger for the Blue Devils from 2006-2017, where he helped attain 7 DCI Championships and 4 Fred Sanford High Percussion awards.

Jim is the owner and primary composer of Wunderpit Music (ASCAP), where his arrangements & compositions are performed worldwide by marching bands & percussion ensembles of all ages. His arrangements have been played throughout the years by several BOA Grand National finalists.

In the indoor arena, Jim was the front ensemble arranger/music coordinator for multi-time WGI PIW champion RCC Indoor Percussion from 2004-2020. He has achieved several WGI PSW Championships with Mission Viejo High School and Ayala High School since 2001. Jim has been traveling to Tokyo, Japan since 2007, where he has been the Front Ensemble arranger for the multi-time JMBA champion Soka Renaissance Vanguard.

Jim is a member of the WGI Hall of Fame, and is a founding member of the Southern California Percussion Alliance (SCPA). He resides in Southern California with his daughter Chloe.

Kevin Ford

Drill Designer

Kevin Ford is the founder and Director of the Leadership Conservatory for the Arts at Tarpon Springs High School. He is presently in his twenty-sixth year of teaching in the public school system as the Director of Bands at Tarpon Springs High School. 

His responsibilities include directing the Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Solo and Ensemble Coach, supervising all Conservatory performance ensembles, and developing curriculum for the Conservatory Student Leadership Courses. 

In addition to his duties at Tarpon Springs High School, Mr. Ford is a Yamaha Master Educator and enjoys an active schedule as a leadership speaker and guest clinician throughout the country. Mr Ford was the MENC National Band Director of the Year in 2016 and was just recently elected into the Bands of America Hall of Fame. He is nationally recognized as an innovative show designer and has written for Disney’s BLAST, the Opening Ceremonies for the FIFA World Cup in South Korea, and is the creative director/ drill designer for the Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble. Mr. Ford is also the co-founder/owner of the Inspire.... Music and Entertainment Production Company.

Andrew Markworth

Percussion Composer & Arranger

Andrew Markworth is a composer, arranger, and consultant writing for marching bands, indoor percussion and winds groups and drum corps all over the world.

He is currently the music director for Rhythm X Percussion (3 time WGI Independent World Gold Medalist).   He was the Music Arranger/Coordinator for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from San Antonio, TX from 2015-2020 and the Front Ensemble Arranger/Coordinator for Carolina Crown from 2007-2014.  He is also currently the full ensemble music arranger for Vandegrift High School, Centerville High School and many others.

Andrew is a Yamaha Performing Artist and a proud endorser of Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Promark Drumsticks which produces his signature mallet collection.

He currently resides in Centerville, Ohio with his wife Kara, daughter Natalie, and son Brady.

Kris Galbreath

Choreographer, Movement Specialist

Kris Galbreath studied marketing at the University of North Texas and graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration in May of 2017. He started his Drum Corps career in the summer of 2010, marching with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. After graduating from Little Elm high school, he found a home with the Blue Devils during the summer of 2012 where he marched 4 years until his age out in 2015. 

 During the 2017 season, Kris worked with the color guard at the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. In Texas, has taught and choreographed for various high schools in the DFW area including Wakeland high school and Coppell high school. During the winter season, Kris teaches on staff at CGT Dallas where he has helped choreograph since their first year in 2015. Kris has been a choreographer for Blue Stars since the 2018 Season.