Ryan Stratford

Visual Instructor

Ryan lives in Southeast Michigan where he is an independent visual coordinator, choreographer and educator. Ryan marched trumpet with the Blue Stars from 2014 through 2018 and joined the visual staff after aging out through the 2023 season.

As a drum corps instructor, Ryan has also had a variety of responsibilities with the visual teams at Seattle Cascades and Genesis.

He is excited to rejoin the team for the 2025 season!

Jason Schmidt

Visual Instructor

Jason Schmidt is a native to Granger, IN, and currently resides in Indianapolis, IN. He is currently the assistant director and visual designer of the Plainfield, IN Marching Band where he has been teaching since 2014, and the visual designer for Perry Meridian HS, IN for the 2025 season. He has also been the visual designer for various other Indiana-based ensembles in both fall and winter seasons.

Jason began his music journey in the Penn-Harris-Madison schools where he was blessed with an immense amount of opportunities, namely performing in the Midwest Clinic in 2008. He then obtained his B.S. in Music Education from Ball State University, and has since remained involved in the performing arts in many capacities. 

Jason was a performing member of the Blue Stars from 2010-2012. Aside from being in the ensemble, he also competed in the I&E competitions and was runner-up in 2011 and champion in 2012 on solo trombone. He then joined the Blue Stars admin team in 2013. More recently he taught on the visual staff at The Academy in 2023, Music City in 2024, and the Blue Stars in 2025.

Outside of the marching arts, Jason has been a trombonist with the Indiana Wind Symphony since 2021. He has enjoyed his experiences with the ensemble and having the opportunity to perform in the beautiful venue of The Palladium in Carmel, IN for the regular concert season.

Jason is thrilled to be returning to the Blue Stars in 2026!

Yukari Nakazawa

Visual Instructor

Yukari began her marching career as a tuba player when she was High school Student at Shijonawate Gakuen High School Burning Bravers. Afterwards she joined the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 2010-2013.

After aging out, Yukari start to teaching Shijonawate Gakuen High School Burning Bravers(Osaka,Japan) as Brass and Visual Staff.she is also a choreographer, and drill writer. Yukari has been instrumental in continuing to compete in All Japan Marching Band National Championship for over 10 years.

Adam Germ

Visual Instructor

Adam Germ is a pageantry arts educator and designer from Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is an alumnus of the Quakertown Community High School Class of 2019.

Adam began his performing career with his high school marching band, and after graduating, went on to perform with other ensembles such as The Cadets2 (2018) and the Blue Stars (2019-2022) drum corps. Since aging out of DCI, Adam has worked with, and designed for, a handful of high school programs around the PA/NJ area, most notably as the Ensemble Coordinator at Central Bucks South High School until 2024. He also taught previously on the visual staffs at the Bushwackers (DCI All-Age), Genesis, and the Blue Stars.

Currently, Adam heads the Visual Caption at North Penn for both their fall marching band and  winter percussion groups, who are now USBands and WGI Finalists respectively. He also heads the visual program at United Percussion 2, a WGI Open Class Finalist, where trains members in preparation for the United Percussion World ensemble. He also acts as the group’s drill and visual designer.

Adam is excited to return to the Blue Stars for another incredible season!

Hannah Kirby

Brass Team

Hannah Kirby is an assistant Band Director at Irons Junior High School in Conroe, Texas where she teaches two concert bands and beginner classes.

Hannah graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors in Music with a Teaching Certification. During her undergraduate studies, Hannah served as a Drum Major for the Bearkat Marching Band. She also performed in the SHSU Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra as principal French Horn during her time at Sam Houston.

Hannah marched with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from 2022 to 2024, serving as the Horn Sergeant for her age out year. Throughout college, she had the privilege of teaching with the Tomball Memorial High School marching band where she was a visual technician. Hannah also taught at Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps with the visual team during the 2025 season. Her love for the visual and performing arts has grown deeply and she is excited to give back to the activity and corps that helped shape her into who she is today.