Kevin Ronan

Brass Consultant

Kevin Ronan is a graduate of Arizona State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Performance degrees. While a student at ASU, he studied with Sam Pilafian, world-renowned brass pedagogue and co-author of The Breathing Gym. Kevin also served on the instructional staff of the ASU Athletic Band Department for five years, under the direction of James G. Hudson.

From 2007-2018, Kevin was a brass instructor for The Concord Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps. Prior to joining The Blue Devils staff, he marched in the hornline and served as tuba section leader. In 2019, Kevin joined the brass staff at Carolina Crown, a position he held until his departure after the 2024 season. 

In addition to teaching, Kevin works year-round as a music arranger, programmer, and consultant for the marching arts. On the field, bands performing his arrangements have been recognized as BOA Super Regional Champions and Grand National Finalists, as well as State Marching Contest Finalists and Champions. From 2012-2018, Kevin was a member of the instructional and creative staff for the Marcus High School Marching Band. In 2019, he joined the instructional and creative team at Hebron High School.

Currently, Kevin serves as Arranger and Brass Coordinator for The Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps.

Anthony Cruddas

Brass Ensemble Specialist

Anthony Cruddas currently serves as a brass ensemble instructor for the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps  from LaCrosse, WI. Previously, Anthony has been on the music education teams of the Boston Crusaders (Boston, MA), Crossmen (San Antonio, TX), Blue Knights (Denver, CO), Troopers (Casper, WY), Revolution (San Antonio, TX), Genesis (Austin, TX), and Trinity (Seguin, TX).

Anthony resides in Dallas/Ft. Worth where he works in management and business operations, and maintains an active schedule as an ensemble clinician and adjudicator for music programs in all classifications throughout the United States.

Joseph Gray

Brass Ensemble Specialist

Dr. Gray is assistant professor of trumpet at Mississippi State University. Before coming to MSU, he was associate director of bands at the University of North Alabama and a member of the music faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Dr. Gray currently serves as a noncommissioned officer and senior instrumentalist with the U.S. Army Music Program. During his military service, Dr. Gray was a member of the Army Material Command Band at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, and the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band at Fort Moore, Georgia.

Dr. Gray is principal trumpet of the Starkville Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with the Alabama, Huntsville, and Chattanooga Symphony Orchestras. He has performed with numerous orchestras across the country, including the New Mexico and Madison Symphony Orchestras, and held the position of Principal Trumpet with Opera Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Some of Dr. Gray’s recordings can be heard on the Beauport Press and Naxos labels and his performances have been featured on the nationally syndicated radio program “Performance Today”.

He has been involved in the drum corps activity for 30 years. As a performer, he was a member of the Velvet Knights and Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. As an educator, he has served as the brass caption head of Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps and as an educational staff member for the Academy and Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.

Dr. Gray completed his DMA in trumpet performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music where he was a recipient of the Eugene M. Bolz Fellowship. Dr. Gray completed his Master of Music at the University of New Mexico and his Bachelor of Music at the California State University, Long Beach.  

He currently resides in Starkville, Mississippi with his beautiful wife, Michelle, and their three children, Mia, Emmet, and Abigail. Dr. Gray is a vintage motorcycle enthusiast and avid home coffee roaster.

Adam Vernon-Young

Brass Ensemble Specialist

Adam Vernon-Young is the Director of Bands Laing Middle School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Prior to becoming the head director at Laing in 2022, he served as an Assistant Director at both Laing and Cario Middle School since the 2019 school year. Adam received his Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of South Carolina, where he also previously received his Bachelors in Music Theory, as well as an Undergraduate Performance Certificate in Bass Trombone.

Under his leadership, the program at Laing has seen consistent growth over the past four years. Students from Laing regularly place highly in Region and All-State honor clinics, and earn Superior ratings at State Concert Performance Assessment and Solo and Ensemble. The Bands of Laing have performed most recently at the Charleston Music Festival, Carowinds Festival of Music, and the SCBDA Junior State Concert Festival. This year the Laing Symphonic Band has been invited to perform as a featured ensemble at the South Carolina Music Educators Conference in Columbia, SC.

During his time at Carolina, Adam accumulated numerous performance and teaching credits, including playing with the USC Wind Ensemble, conducting one of the University Bands, and serving as a Graduate Assistant for two seasons with the University’s Marching Band. Other performance credits include being a finalist at the American Trombone Workshop National Solo Competition, and two years marching baritone with Carolina Crown.

Adam is a regular instructor, consultant, adjudicator and guest conductor with various groups across the Southeast, working with high school marching and concert programs, as well as University ensembles. In addition to his duties at Laing Middle School, he serves on the staff of the Bands of Wando High School, assisting with their fall marching season. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, and both alumni and honorary membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity. He resides in Charleston, SC with his wife Natalie, and their cat Leopold.

Adam has been with the Blue Stars brass staff since the 2018 season, and is looking forward to continuing to work with the other fine educators and performers that make up the organization.

Christopher Agwu

Brass Team

Christopher Agwu is music educator, conductor, and clinician from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex currently pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and working as Interim Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Arkansas. Christopher recently served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for his teacher and mentor Steven D. Davis. Prior to attending UMKC, he received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas where he studied trumpet with John Holt and Keith Johnson and his Master of Musical Arts at Texas Tech University where he studied conducting with his teacher and mentor Dr. Sarah McKoin. 

Between receiving his Bachelor’s degree and his Master’s degree, Christopher taught in the North-Texas area at Plano Independent School District and Lewisville Independent School District. Christopher has stayed active in the marching and pageantry arts since marching with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003 and the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in 2006 and 2007. The ensembles he has worked with or led have been finalists and/or champions in WGI, BOA, and DCI regional and national competitions. 

Christopher strongly believes in the power that music has in creating community among people from all walks of life. Through this belief, he strives to use his love for creating music with others as a way of positively developing himself, developing the ones he creates music with, and developing the ones who get to experience music as audience members. 

Alex Askew

Brass Team

Alex currently serves on the brass staff as a brass technician. He was born and raised in Greensboro and attending Ragsdale High School. Afterwards, he attended UNC Greensboro and received his undergraduate degree in music education in 2016. He taught at Cuthbertson High School from 2016-2018, East Forsyth High School from 2018-2024, and currently works in Needville ISD as a band director. He currently lives in Beasley, TX with his wonderful wife, Emily AsKew.

Alex has performed in many different kinds of groups- collegiate orchestras and bands, brass quintets, chamber ensembles, brass bands, and marching bands. He performed with the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle corps from 2010 to 2013, and won back to back DCI Championships with the Concord Blue Devils in 2014 and 2015. He also worked at High Point University with the marching band, conducted the Triad Area Medical Orchestra, conducted the Wachovia Winds Youth Wind Ensemble, and conducted the Winston Salem Community Band. Alex is also a regular brass and visual clinician, judge, and honor band clinician around the United States.

Daniel Bartley

Brass Team

Daniel Bartley is currently a student at Southern Methodist University, pursuing a Master’s of Music Composition degree while serving as a Graduate Assistant for the SMU Mustang Band.

He recently graduated from the University of Arkansas in the spring of 2025 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Education and Music Composition. Additionally, Daniel spent the falls of 2023 and 2024 on the Fayetteville High School marching band tech team in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He has also worked with Texas marching bands at Anna High School, Canton High School, and Grand Saline High School as a choreographer, visual instructor, and music technician.

Daniel began his DCI journey with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018 and 2019 as a baritone 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. He also was part of the Blue Stars 60th Anniversary Alumni Corps in 2024. The time Daniel has spent as a performer in the marching arts is something he will always cherish.

Daniel is thrilled for his second year on the Blue Stars brass team in 2026.

Caleb Brigham

Brass Team

Caleb Brigham is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at Roy J. Smith Middle School in Killeen, Texas. He teaches the Symphonic Band, beginning brass classes, and the jazz band.  Before he was at Roy J. Smith Middle School, he was the assistant director at Kitty Hawk Middle School in San Antonio, Texas, where he taught for 2 years.

Caleb graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelors in Music Education. Caleb started and aged out his DCI marching years with the Boston Crusaders from 2016 to 2019. He taught Visual with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 2021-2022.

Caleb is excited to return to the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps for his 4th year on the brass staff. 

Christian Carichner

Brass Team

Dr. Christian Carichner serves as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Cyclone Marching Band at Iowa State University. He oversees all aspects of the Athletic Band program including the 350-member Iowa State University Cyclone Football ‘Varsity’ Marching Band, Men’s and Women’s Basketball bands, Volleyball Band, Wrestling Band and State Storm. In addition to his athletic band duties, Christian also conducts the Symphonic Band, teaches the Marching Band Methods course and instructs the applied Tuba and Euphonium studios.  Previously, Christian served as Assistant Director of Bands at ISU in addition to instruction of the low brass studios, teaching low brass methods, and directing both the Concert and Campus bands. 

While serving as director of the Cyclone Marching Band, the band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy - the highest honor bestowed upon a collegiate marching band in the United States. 

Christian attended Ithaca College where he earned degrees in music education and performance while studying tuba with Dave Unland and brass pedagogy with Alex Shuhan, as well as conducting studies with Stephen Peterson, Jeffery Grogan and Janet Galvan.  After Ithaca, Christian earned a Master of Music degree in Tuba Performance from Arizona State University where he studied with acclaimed Tubist and pedagogue Sam Pilafian. Christian also studied tuba with Patrick Sheridan, Charles Villarrubia and Matt Good.  Most recently, Christian completed a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree with Dr. Albert Nguyen at the University of Memphis in Wind Conducting

Currently, Christian also serves as artistic director and conductor of the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble, a professional community band based out of Des Moines, Iowa.

Christian has performed or taught in 47 states and 12 different countries across the globe. Recently, he was a clinician/presenter at The Midwest Clinic, the CBDNA Athletic Band Symposium and a performer/clinician at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference.  Christian has also performed with the Arizona Musicfest Orchestra, the Tampa Tradewinds, the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, Conway Symphony, Pinnacle Brass, Rhythm and Brass, Proteus 7, Salt River Brass and has performed with the national tour of the hit Broadway musical Chicago. 

Christian served for many years as Brass Caption Head for the Phantom Regiment and The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as a lead brass instructor for the Aimachi Marching Band from Nagoya, Japan.   Currently, he is in demand as a guest clinician, judge and show designer/arranger. 

Christian is a member of CBDNA, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, Iowa Bandmasters Association and the International Tuba Euphonium Association.  He is an honorary member of both Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma and Phi Mu Alpha. Christian is also the first marching brass artist for Pearl/Adams where he consults on the design of their marching brass instruments and is also an Adams Custom Brass artist.

Jacob Carpenter

Brass Team

Jacob Carpenter is a native of the Cincinnati, OH area. Carpenter graduated from the University of Kentucky with his degree in Music Education. While in Lexington, he spent several years as marching band instructor for several Central Kentucky bands. After his time in Lexington, he moved back to the Cincinnati area and spent 3 years as a band director with the Milford Exempted Village School District. While in Cincinnati he played horn in the Fillmore Wind Band (a performing ensemble at the 2017 Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL).

After his time in Cincinnati, he returned to graduate school full time to pursue his Master’s Degree in Music Education at Bowling Green State University. During his time there he served as one of the graduate assistants with the band program. He now lives in Kingsport, TN and is the Assistant Band Director at Dobyns-Bennett High School. 

In addition to his scholastic achievements, Carpenter began his drum corps career with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps from LaCrosse, WI in 2010 as a member of the mellophone section. He continued as section leader and aged-out as Drum Major in 2014. He joined the corps as a brass and visual instructor for the 2015 season and has remained on staff since.

Austin Cilone

Brass Team

Austin Cilone moved to Arizona in 2006 and graduated from Mountain Pointe High School in 2009. Cilone went on to receive both his Undergraduate Degree in Music Education and Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting from Northern Arizona University.

Throughout his time at NAU, Cilone maintained principal positions in the schools top ensembles, held consistent placements in the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and won the Northern Arizona Concerto Competition in 2018. While earning his degree, Austin served as the interim director of athletic bands for the University to instruct the college ensembles.

A true lover of everything education and marching band, Austin Cilone has committed time to Arizona’s premiere DCI group (where he marched), The Academy, as a brass technician from 2015-2020, the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 2022, and the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2023. Austin has served brass educator with the Blue Stars since 2024 and is proud to return for another season with this incredible organization.

Previously, Austin Cilone worked in Mesa teaching at Franklin at Alma Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Pomeroy Elementary, and held the Assistant Band Director position at Dobson High School. Now the band director of Sandra Day O’Connor High School since 2020, Mr. Cilone has maintained the high expectation of the O'Connor Band Program by focusing on building great humans and musicians. The Concert program has received top rankings in their concert festivals and the Marching Band continues to receive top placements in the competitive Arizona circuits and as finalists in Bands of America Arizona Regional competitions. Austin Cilone is also a current performing member of the Tempe Wind Ensemble, Salt River Brass, principal horn for the Arizona Wind Symphony, and maintains small ensemble opportunities and a private lesson studio.

Brandon Clark

Brass Team

Brandon Clark (he/him) started his music journey at 8 years old, taking piano lessons from a local teacher. It wasn’t until experiencing middle school band as a trombone player when his love for the performing arts really took off. Brandon switched to tuba his freshman year of high school, further fueling his passion for playing and performing. He currently resides in Mesa, Arizona as he starts his first year as a band teacher for Kerr and Eisenhower Elementary Schools.

Brandon has been lucky enough to receive a wide variety of performance opportunities. While in high school, he performed with the school’s top concert band, jazz band, and marching band, earning superior ratings as well as a championship title and multiple music caption awards. He recently ended his marching career, having been a performing member with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from 2020 to 2023, with the group being Drum Corps International World Championship Finalist both competitive seasons that he was a member. During his time with the Blue Stars, Brandon acted as section leader for his last season and was a performing member when the organization received its highest score in corps history. Brandon also performed frequently with the ASU Wind Symphony and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. 

As a young music educator, Brandon aims to make the performing arts as valuable and enriching for his students as it was for him. He has had the privilege of teaching for multiple award-winning schools/groups in and around Phoenix, including Foreword Indoor Winds, Millennium High School, Sandra Day O’Connor High School, Basha High School and Desert Ridge High School (2023 State Champions and Music Caption winners). In 2024, Brandon was invited back to the Blue Stars as a tuba technician where he continues to teach at the world class level.

When not busy teaching or working, Brandon loves to read, attend live music and performances, and spend time with his friends and family.

Olivia Dumouchelle

Brass Team

Olivia Dumouchelle is a freelance musician and music educator based out of the northern Virginia area, having a private lessons student of 10 students.

Her drum corps experience lies deep within tradition, marching trumpet with the Cadets Drum and Bugle corps from 2021 to aging out in 2023. She was a featured cornet soloist in the production titled “Atlas Rising,” showcasing her diverse musical abilities, meshing together drum corps and British style brass band. After her age-out, she was a part of the brass team at the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle corps for their 2024 season. 

Olivia is at the finish line for her degree at James Madison University obtaining a Bachelor’s of Music Performance. At her time at JMU, she was an active performer playing in the British style brass band, Wind Symphony, Symphony, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Royal Dukes, and an NTC qualified trumpet ensemble. 

She is absolutely thrilled to be a returning to the Blue Stars team for their 2026 season! 

Jordan English

Brass Team

Jordan is in his 7th year teaching public school high School band. He is the Director of Bands at Amon-Carter Riverside High School in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jordan is a graduate of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX where he received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education. While at WTAMU Jordan performed with the WT Symphonic band at the TMEA State Convention in 2016 and the CBDNA National convention in 2017.

As a performer, Jordan was a member of the Blue Knights in 2014 and The Cadets in 2016. In the summer of 2022, the Carter Riverside Band Placed 7th at the TMEA State Honor Band Contest for class 4A under the Direction of Jordan English.

Jordan looks forward to his third season working with the Blue Stars Brass!

Cora Gilreath

Brass Team

Cora Gilreath (she/her) is a freelance music educator and marching arts designer based in Fort Collins, Colorado. She spends part of her time teaching private tuba & euphonium lessons at Loveland and Fossil Ridge High Schools, as well as serving as the Visual Caption Head of the Loveland High School Crimson Regiment, a perennial Colorado State Champion and BOA Regional Medalist. Cora also coordinates shows, writes drill, and choreographs for multiple bands in the Colorado Marching circuit.

During the winter season, Cora serves in the Visual Caption Head and Lead Educator roles at the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble. In addition to her teaching experience with the aforementioned groups, her performance experience as a member of the Phantom Regiment (2013-16) and Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2017) keeps her in high demand as an educator of the marching arts.

Cora holds degrees from Iowa State University (B.M. Tuba) and the University of Texas at Austin (M.M. Tuba). Her primary teachers are Christian Carichner, Charles Villarrubia, Steve Vaughn and Benjamin Vasko.

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.

Ian Hoffman

Brass Team

Starting his musical journey singing with the Dreaming Summit Honor Choir in the 4th grade and the Arizona State Choir the very next year, Ian has a deep seeded connection and passion for music and the arts.

He has been a trumpet player through and through from his first day of middle school band. Fast forward to the present, he now has over a decade’s worth of trumpet playing experience and going on six seasons instructing winds at AzMBA Grand Champion and two time division 4A high music award winning Millennium High School, as well as the Millennium and Sandra Day O’Connor Jazz Bands, he has a plethora of knowledge and experience in the areas of jazz, marching brass, and trumpet pedagogy respectively.

As a performer, Ian spent two summers with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps as a multiple year soloist and section leader in 2022. He has had the opportunity to share the stage with world renowned trumpet players such as Wayne Bergeron, Jens Lindemann, Michael Martin and José Sabaja and carries this experience into his teaching endeavors.

Ian maintains a private trumpet studio in Phoenix and continues to teach brass sections across the state. He is the director of consecutive WGAZ Champion, Foreword Winds, the premier independent winds group in Arizona as well as serving as WGAZ Winds Advisor. He is starting his first year as assistant director at Millennium High School and plans to help take the program to new heights.

He is looking forward to getting after it with the Blue Stars Brass!

Calvin Householder

Brass Team

Calvin Householder has been the Assistant Band Director at L.C. Anderson High School in Austin, TX since 2024. He is currently in his third year on the Brass Staff with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps.

A graduate from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelors in Music Education, Calvin studied trombone with Professor Paul Compton, and served as Baritone Section Leader and Drum Major for the Cowboy Marching Band. He performed in the OSU Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band.

Calvin marched with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps as a member of the baritone section from 2018 to 2019, and as a Drum Major from 2020 to 2021.

Calvin is excited to return for another season with Blue Stars Brass.

Jared Kaufman

Brass Team

Jared is a native of Atlanta, GA and is currently serving as the Associate Director of Bands at Alpharetta High School in Alpharetta, Ga. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Brenau University as well as a Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Florida. 

He has been involved in the drum corps activity since 2002, starting as a performer with Court of Honor Drum & Bugle Corps, Alliance Drum & Bugle Corps, and The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. Jared has since been an active eductor in the activity serving on staff with Music City Drum & Bugle Corps, Alliance Drum & Bugle Corps, and Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps where he served as the Assistant Visual Caption Head, Brass Caption Head, and ensemble coordinator among a number of roles with the organization over 5 years before joining the brass faculty at the Blue Stars.

Mr. Kaufman holds membership in the Mu Phi Epsilon Music Honors Fraternity, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education.  

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.