Jack Pantaleo

Media Manager

Jack is a performing arts content creator and media professional based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

His past work has involved brands such as: DCI, WGI, UDB, TromboneTimo, Christopher Bill, Midwest Clinic, TMEA, TBA, Fem Forte, Meet The Bus, and The Breakdown Camp, amongst others. 

Jack has been involved with The Blue Stars since 2017- spending the first three years as a performer before transitioning to a staff role in 2021.

He also attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he participated in the marching band, varsity band, concert band, and university band.

Introduced to the video industry at a very young age through his late father’s family business, Jack spent many school nights and weekends learning the fundamentals of production while also being afforded opportunities such as operating a camera for concerts and gripping on small-scale shoots. 

Jack’s primary goal during the summer and throughout the year is to create something that inspires a sense of belonging, identity, and pride for any musician, artist, or performer. 

Tara Brazel

Media Lead

Tara is a performing arts photographer based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her previous work includes acting as the Marketing and Social Media Manager for the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as serving as an official event photographer for clients such as WGI, TRWEA, Box 5, and Cavalcade of Bands.

Outside of the marching arts, Tara is a concert photographer, previously working under notable artists like Porter Robinson and Melanie Martinez. She has worked in media, community management, and merchandising on regional and national tours for a number of musical artists.

Tara has been a part of the Blue Stars organization since 2020, where she was a member of the mellophone section for three years before joining the administrative team in 2023. She transitioned into being a photographer for the corps in 2024 and 2025 and is very excited to return to the Blue Stars as the Media Lead.

Taylor Holmes

Photographer

Taylor Holmes is a Missouri-based photographer and content producer.

She creates compelling imagery and multimedia content for high-energy performance organizations, capturing both the artistry and emotion of every moment.

She currently works as a content producer for OneBeat Dance Brands as well as a photographer for Blue Stars. Her work also includes collaborations with Mizzou Athletics, Marching Mizzou, FloMarching, Jupiter Instruments, Music for All, and WGI Sport of the Arts, among others.

Taylor earned her Bachelors of Journalism from the University of Missouri in December 2024. She previously worked as a reporter and producer at KOMU 8 News, where she honed her storytelling skills and ability to produce high-quality content under tight deadlines.

Her work emphasizes performance-driven storytelling, capturing authentic moments and creating content that elevates the artists and organizations she collaborates with.

Josie Santiago

Photographer

Josie Santiago is a graphic designer and currently works in marketing in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is a Ball State University alum, where she studied Media Design & Development and Studio Art. Josie spent three years marching with the Blue Stars on mellophone, and is excited to be on the Blue Stars media team for the second year!

Outside of the Blue Stars, Josie has also worked as a photographer with the Blue Knights in their 2025 season, and with WGI in 2026 at various regionals and at both Color Guard and Percussion Championships.

In addition to being a marching arts photographer, Josie is also a visual educator. She has been working with The Academy since their 2025 season, with Homestead Indoor Percussion for their 2026 season, and will be working with the Homestead Spartan Alliance Band in the fall.

Maddy Heintz

Photographer

Maddy Heintz is a creator and student at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where she is pursuing a degree in Music Education. She is currently the main photographer for the University of Miami's Marching and Pep bands, and she takes headshots and recital photos for students within the Frost School.

She has been in the drum corps world since 2022, having worked with a number of renowned drum corps over the years – the Boston Crusaders, The Cadets, and most recently the former head drum major of the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2024. Outside of drum corps, she is a music and visual tech at both Gene Tomas High School in Richmond, Texas, and Coral Reef High School in Miami, Florida.

Introduced to photography at a young age, Maddy has had many years to develop the skill of telling stories through visual mediums. She is devoted to showcasing the intricacy of drum corps through her work, communicating the unique stories and experiences within it.

Makayla Lockhart

Photographer

Makayla is a DFW-based photographer. She began her drum corps journey as a photographer with the Crossmen in 2022 and joined the Blue Stars media team in 2023, where she has met her favorite people in the world!

She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photojournalism with a minor in Music from the University of North Texas in 2022. During her time at UNT, she marched cymbals with the Green Brigade for two seasons and served as Student Administrator of Media Management in her final two seasons. She also marched cymbals for 2 seasons with Vigilantes Indoor Percussion, a Fort Worth-based WGI group.

Makayla is also the founder of a real estate media business called Lockhart & Lens, serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Chloe Johnson

Videographer

Chloe Johnson (@finalflagproductions) is a creative video producer specializing in sports and the marching arts. She is excited to be joining the Blue Stars for her second season in drum corps media.

Chloe worked with Phantom Regiment as the media team’s primary video producer in 2025. She is currently the lead creative video producer for the Mighty Sound of Maryland marching band and a content producer for the Old Line Performing Arts indoor ensembles.

Originally from Frederick, Maryland, Chloe graduated from the University of Maryland in 2024 with degrees in Cinema and Media Studies and English. She performed in the Mighty Sound of Maryland in the color guard and served as drum major in her final year. She also interned with the Maryland Athletics creative video department, producing content for the university’s field hockey, wrestling, and baseball teams. Chloe currently works as a Game Presentation Production Associate for the Baltimore Orioles and does freelance videography and broadcast production work in the Baltimore/DC area.

In addition to her production work, Chloe has worked with several color guard programs across Maryland as an instructor and choreographer and studies music part-time on the alto saxophone. She is a life member of Tau Beta Sigma and enjoys baking, traveling, and cheering on her Terps.

Amelia Kannon

Media Intern

Amelia currently resides in Tulsa Oklahoma and is currently one of the Assistant Directors at Jenks high school. She was recently a Color guard member of Ménage in Mirage performance ensembles in 2024 and 2025.

This is Amelia’s first year with the Blue Stars but her 6th year involved in DCI. Amelia was a captain of the Madison Scouts color guard in 2020-22 and then aged out with the Mandarins in 2023. Since marching she has been a part of the Mandarins Admin team in 2024 and 2025 assisting the corps along the road.

Amelia has always been interested in creating media, playing with cameras since she was a young girl. She fell in love with photography using her pets as her models and even created a stop motion youtube channel. She is very excited to spend a portion of her summer creating with the Blue Stars!

Eli Watkins

Media Intern

Eli is an Arlington, Texas-based photographer and former color guard performer whose work is rooted in a deep passion for the marching arts. They began their performance journey in 2019 and have since performed with the Academy Drum & Bugle Corps (2023) and Mirage Performance Ensembles as a Menage cast member for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. These experiences on the field have shaped Eli’s artistic perspective and continue to influence their visual storytelling behind the lens.

Eli discovered photography in 2020, initially exploring landscape and portrait work before naturally gravitating toward documenting color guard and marching arts performances. With a performer’s perspective and an artist’s eye, their goal is to capture the breath, energy, and passion behind every moment, preserving the emotion and intensity that make each performance unforgettable.

They have worked as a photographer with Nova Independent Winterguard and Richland High School’s color guard programs, building strong connections within the community and a growing portfolio dedicated to the activity they love. Eli is excited to continue blending performance experience with creative vision as they learn from and contribute to the Blue Stars media team.