Elise Hawkes

Brass Team

Elise Hawkes is excited to join the Blue Stars brass team this summer. She marched with Crossmen Drums and Bugle Corps, as well as The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, and has spent several summers teaching various world-class groups.

Elise resides in Fort Worth, Texas, works as a medical music therapist, and spends her free time running.

Jonny Zollo

Visual Caption Consultant

With over 32 years of experience in visual instruction, I have dedicated my efforts over the years shaping young performers in both drum corps and high school marching bands.  For the past 22 years, I have served as the Lead Visual Coordinator for the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts, where I focus on developing innovative visual programs that inspire students to achieve their fullest potential.  

Throughout my journey, I have had the privilege of working with prestigious drum corps, including Spirit of Atlanta, Colts, Boston Crusaders, Blue Stars, Carolina Crown and The Cavaliers.

My professional career spans the last 28 years, helping clients and small businesses navigate their financial journeys and build lasting wealth.  I am a managing partner in a generational Wealth Managment practice and a practicing Certified Financial Planner

Brad Donoris

Visual Caption Consultant

Brad Donoris has been an active educator of the marching arts for over 20 years at the scholastic and independent level. Some of his previous educational endeavors include: Jersey Surf, Lehigh Valley Knights, Teal Sound, The Magic, The Academy, Boston Crusaders, and The Crossmen

Brad is also an active visual designer, consultant, and adjudicator. He has written for various outdoor and indoor ensembles throughout the country, most recently as the drill designer for Pecos High School, (TX). He is currently the Visual Manager for WGI finalist United Percussion, and in addition, serves as the Visual Designer & Coordinator for United Percussion 2.

This is Brad’s 7th season with the Blue Stars.

Daniel Bartley

Brass Team

Daniel Bartley is currently a student at the University of Arkansas, pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Education and Music Composition. Additionally, he has spent the past two Fall semesters teaching marching band at Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Daniel has also worked with the marching bands at Grand Saline High School and his alma mater, Canton High School, as a choreographer and visual instructor.

Daniel began his DCI journey with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018 and 2019 as abaritone member. He then was a member of the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from 2020 to 2023. From 2021 to 2023, Daniel was a baritone soloist for the Blue Stars, while serving as Horn Sergeant in 2023.

The time Daniel has spent as a performer in the marching arts is something he will always cherish. Daniel is thrilled to be on brass staff for the Blue Stars in 2025.

Tom Santiago

Brass Team

Tom Santiago is currently the Band Director at Riverview Middle School in Huntington, Indiana. In addition to this, he also teaches marching band at both Huntington North High School and Carroll High School.

Prior to teaching at the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, Tom graduated from Ball State University in 2023 with a degree in Instrumental Music Education. At Ball State, he performed with the Ball State Wind Ensemble as principal Euphonium, the Ball State Jazz Ensemble 1 in the trombone section, the Ball State Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble, and the Ball State Trombone Choir. Tom currently plays in Old Crown Brass Band as Assistant Principal Euphonium.

Tom was a member of the Blue Stars in the 2021 and 2022 seasons and is ecstatic to be joining the Brass Staff for the 2025 season.

Jacoby Taylor

Movement Coordinator

Jacoby Taylor’s marching arts career started at Klein Collins high school in Spring, TX. Following graduation, Taylor continued to develop his education and pursue his passion for the activity by performing with various independent groups. He also spent four summers with the Madison Scouts, three of them as the captain of the color guard.

Jacoby has worked with various programs throughout the state of Texas as a director, designer, choreographer and clinician. He currently is the colorguard director at Cypress Springs High School and Paetow High School. He is also the founder and director of Undaunted an independent open colorguard based in Houston.

 Taylor continues to reside in Cypress, TX with his two dogs and along with his color guard career, is studying for his realtors license.

Doug Hall

Performance Coach/Visual Instructor

Doug Hall was a marching member with the Blue Stars, 2002-2004. He continued his involvement with the Blue Stars as a visual tech 2005-2008 and 2015-2022. Doug was also active with high school marching band and winter drumline programs in Indiana, including Tri-West High School, Franklin Central High School, Ben Davis High School and Center Grove High School.

Outside of the marching arts community, Doug is a full-time performer at Walt Disney World, performing in multiple shows and parades. He attributes his success at the "Happiest Place on Earth" to the mentality and work ethic he gained from being a part of the Blue Stars.

"I have been a part of the Blue Stars family in some capacity since 2002 and am thrilled to be a part of the 2022 visual team. I look forward to providing a positive experience for our current members and to instill the values and work ethic that this organization has taught me! FCO."

Chris Hardesty

Visual Instructor

Chris Hardesty is in his 11th year as a music educator and is currently the Band Director at Northwest Cabarrus High School. Prior to this appointment, Chris taught at Marvin Ridge Middle School where he co-directed the 6th-7th-8th grade bands and other performing ensembles offered within the band program. He was also an assistant director with the Marvin Ridge High School Band.

Chris graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) from East Carolina University. Expanding his instructional opportunities, Chris has worked as a technician/consultant with several notable bands throughout North Carolina including: Croatan High School (Newport), East Carteret High School (Beaufort), Green Hope High School (Cary), Northwest Cabarrus High School (Concord), and Butler High School (Matthews).

During his drum corps career, Chris marched with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2005) and the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2007). Chris has previously taught as a visual technician with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps and is excited to start another year with the organization.

Matt Katafiasz

Visual Instructor

Matt Katafiasz joins the Blue Stars visual staff after many years of involvement in the marching arts. His performance experience includes Plymouth Canton Educational Park Marching Band, the Eastern Michigan Marching Band, and four seasons with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. 

 He also has extensive experience as a DCI, WGI and Scholastic Visual Instructor. Some groups he has instructed recently include Northcoast Academy, Monarch Independent Percussion, Genesis, Guardians, Troopers, and the Lake Orion Marching Band. 

Aaron Spiegel

Visual Instructor

Aaron Spiegel joins the visual staff after several seasons as a marching member of the Blue Stars. Originally from St. Louis, and he currently resides in Charlotte where he is completing his collegiate work at The University of North Carolina, Charlotte, where he will graduate with his BSBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management in May, 2022. Additionally, he is in his third year assisting with the marching band and indoor programs at Northwest Cabarrus High School. Aaron marched with the Blue Stars from 2017-2021 and he is excited to enter his first year on the Blue Stars Visual Staff.

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.

Josh Guttveg

Lead Audio Engineer

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. 

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.

Matthew Hurtado

Visual Instructor

​​Matthew Hurtado is an active performer, judge and music educator in Asia. Hurtado most recently worked as a trombone entertainer at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka with the Hello Kitty Happiness Brass Band, winner of the IAPPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) 2022 "Brass Ring" award for outstanding show in its category amongst all major theme parks in the world. Hurtado is also a music teacher at international schools and often plays with various groups ranging from classical euphonium ensembles to pop/jazz bands. Hurtado was a judge in 2019 and 2022 for the Thailand World Music Championships in Thailand. In 2017 he was cast in "One Piece: Oto Utage", a "blast-like" stage adaptation of the popular anime "One Piece" as a trombone performer.

Prior to moving to Japan, Hurtado was a band director and private instructor in his home state of Texas. Hurtado was on the Crossmen visual staff for their 2019 season and he marched Crossmen from 2009-2011 and Blue Devils from 2012-2013 as a baritone/euphonium player.

"I'm looking forward to a great season! よろしくお願いします"

Cheyanne Dougherty

Movement Specialist

​​Cheyanne Dougherty is a performer and marching arts educator from Palm Desert, California.

As a performer, Cheyanne was a colorguard member of The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2018-2023), Fantasia Winterguard (2020), and The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps (2017) as well as a visual soloist for POW Percussion (2022). She has served for 4 years as an instructor for multiple marching band and colorguard programs around Southern California, including her alma mater, Palm Desert High School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School.

Cheyanne is a current student at The University of California, Los Angeles and is working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

Adara Joiner

Movement Specialist

Following her graduation from Klein Oak High School, Adara Joiner studied at Sam Houston State University for a B.S. in Health Care Administration and a minor in Dance. 

She is the Color Guard Director at Patricia E. Paetow High School in Katy, TX and concurrently a technician at Friendswood HS. Along with that she techs and choreographs at various schools throughout the Houston area. 

Adara has competed in the Scholastic A and Scholastic Open classes in which she has obtained a gold medal and made Open Class finals in the annual Winter Guard International championships, respectively. Adara has performed with various Independent Winter Ensembles including Undaunted Open and Origins World.  Her World Class Drum Corps experience comes from her time with the Phantom Regiment, in which she served as captain in one of two years of membership.

Jorden Charles

Visual Instructor

With a passion for movement cultivated since childhood through dance, Jorden Charles embarked on her journey in the world of marching arts as a trumpet player at Oviedo High School in 2007. Following her graduation, Jorden's dedication led her to assume the role of visual technician at her alma mater, where she flourished from 2011 to 2018, ultimately serving as the visual caption head from 2015 to 2018.

Expanding her influence, Jorden extended her expertise to various institutions, including University High School, Olympia High School, Windermere High School, and Infinity Percussion I and II. Her commitment to excellence earned her a place in the prestigious Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps in 2012, where she honed her skills as a trumpet player until 2015.

Jorden's journey as an educator and mentor continued to evolve as she joined the Infinity II visual staff in 2016, progressing to the visual staff of Infinity I in 2019. Her exceptional leadership qualities led her to assume the role of visual caption head at Infinity II for the 2020 season. Despite a brief hiatus to traverse the Atlantic, Jorden returned to Infinity I as the Visual Ensemble Coordinator, further enriching the program with her expertise.

Presently, Jorden's influence extends across multiple platforms, as she dedicates herself to nurturing talent at Infinity Percussion I, Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and Windermere High School. Through her unwavering dedication and passion for the arts, Jorden continues to inspire and shape the next generation of performers and educators alike.

Will Carroll

Visual Instructor

Will Carroll is a brass musician and educator hailing from Dallas, Texas, where he currently imparts his passion for music as a middle school band director in the Plano Independent School District. Prior to his tenure in Plano, Will served as a middle school band director in various schools within Dickinson ISD.

Will's journey in music began at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he pursued a degree in Music Education. There, he had the privilege of studying under the mentorship of Dr. Charles Gavin. During his time at Stephen F. Austin, Will actively contributed to several ensembles at the University, including the Wind Ensemble, Orchestra of the Pines, and Opera Orchestra.

Beyond the academic realm, Will Carroll extended his expertise as a music and visual technician to various schools in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. His journey has been marked by excellent achievements as a performer. Before entering the Drum Corps scene, Will performed with the Hebron High School marching band and Wind Ensemble. After, he dedicated five summer tours to the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle corps, contributing to three top-three placements and a coveted World Championship title in 2016. His musical journey also took him across international boundaries when he performed with the Bluecoats international ensemble, embarking on an unforgettable experience in Hong Kong in 2017.