2023 Team
Jodie Rhodes
Jodie Rhodes has been in music education for the past 28 years teaching at both the middle school and high school levels. In addition, she has served as a clinician, consultant and program coordinator for several marching bands, drum corps and concert bands around the country.
Her groups have been frequent finalists at Music for All/Bands of America Regionals, Super Regionals and Grand Nationals. Ms. Rhodes is also a frequent adjudicator of drum corps, marching and percussion contests.
Program Coordinator
Ryan George
RYAN GEORGE currently resides in Austin, Texas where he is active as an arranger and composer. His work, ranging from music for the concert stage to music for marching ensembles is performed regularly throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Ryan is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. He is an ASCAP artist, a member of TMEA, and the American Composer's Forum. His wife Sarah is a producer and talent buyer for internationally recognized music festivals and they are the proud parents of Sophia, Nyla, and Teller.
For a full bio, please click here.
Wind Arranger
Mark Moreno
Mark Moreno performed as a member with Liberty Winter Guard, Fantasia Winter Guard, Millenia Winter Guard, Revolution Drum & Bugle Corps and Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mark began applying his skills in the marching arts in all areas of visual design including program coordination, drill design, color guard designer and graphic design. Mark works with several high school programs across the country and has also designed for Oregon Crusaders and Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps.
Mark’s “concept to reality” is what makes his work exceptionally unique.
Visual Designer
Peter Beckhart
Peter Beckhart's performing experience includes six years of DCI, aging out with the Blue Devils. Peter also performed with the Riverside Community College winter drum line.
Peter currently designs for Ayala HS, Harrison HS, James Martin HS, Leander High School, RCC winter percussion, Dark Sky Percussion, and many others.
Peter taught the Blue Devils ‘B’ in 2012 and has been on the visual staff of the Blue Devils since 2013. He is also the drill designer for the Mandarins Drum Corps. Peter is humbled to have opportunities to work with some of the best programs and students in the world and is always striving to be a better instructor and designer. He lives in Anaheim, CA.
Movement Designer
Justin Shelton
Justin Shelton is an audio consultant, composer, and electronics designer who resides in Austin, Texas. He studied at the University of Texas at Arlington, receiving a Bachelor of Music in Music Production Technology. While there, he worked as a recording engineer for the Aspen Music Festival and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Justin has received awards from Downbeat Magazine and Audio Engineer Society. He works with many groups around the United States, including the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Cedar Ridge High School, Southlake Carroll HS, Wakeland HS, and Homestead HS. In addition to the marching arts, Justin’s music can be heard on Discovery Channel, TLC, and the Syfy Channel.
Electronics Designer
Van Matthews
Van Mathews has been an active educator, consultant and adjudicator. Formerly Director of Bands at L.D. Bell HS, Van led the marching band to earn multiple BOA Regional and Super-Regional Championships, State Marching Championship Medals and were BOA Grand National Finalists every year they attended. Van has instructed with the Blue Devils and is currently on staff with the Boston Crusaders. Van is a regular adjudicator for BOA Regional, Super-Regional and Grand National Championship events, Texas UIL State and Colorado State Championships.
Van holds degrees from the University of South Carolina and University of Illinois. He lives in North Richland Hills, Texas, with his wife and two children.
Clinician
Aaron Hicks
Aaron Hicks is a fourth year music education student at the University of North Texas with a concentration in Horn. The last two years he taught for the Burleson High School Spirit of the Elks, and he currently teaches for the World Class Indoor Drumline at Burleson Centennial High School.
Aaron is passionate about the marching arts and is excited to join the amazing staff at Southlake Carroll, so he can share his knowledge and wisdom with as many students as possible.
Marching Tech
Lauren Hanifan
Lauren Hanifan is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University. She is an oboe player in the TCU Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony, and participates in the TCU Horned Frog Band as a member of the Color Guard.
Ms. Hanifan has previously been a member of the Lone Star Youth Wind Orchestra and Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony. She currently serves as an active member in Music Educators Organization, Woman Band Directors International, and Kappa Kappa Psi. Ms. Hanifan is a graduate of Hebron High School where she performed in the Wind Symphony and on Alto Saxophone in the marching band.
Marching Tech
Julia Wong
Julia Wong is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with focus in International Business & Entrepreneurship, along with a Chinese Minor. During her time at UNT, she was a member of the Green Brigade Marching Band, Chinese Culture Club, and Women in Business. Since 2018, she has been working as a marching band tech for numerous successful programs in DFW, including Coppell HS, L.D. Bell HS, Centennial HS, Byron Nelson HS, and Boswell HS.
Ms. Wong was a trumpet player with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps and was contracted as a Blue Devil for the cancelled 2020 season.
Marching Tech
Troy Harkcom
Troy Harkcom is a music education major at Texas Christian University and performs with the marching band and the symphonic band.
Troy marched his first year of drum corp at Carolina Crown on euphonium for the 2021 season and is contracted to march again for the 2022 season with CrownBRASS.
Troy went to Burleson Centennial HS and performed with the marching band, world class indoor winds, and various wind ensembles. He was also a part of the Fort Worth Youth orchestra for two seasons. Troy has previously teched at Burleson Centennial and most recently the Coppell High School marching band.
Marching Tech
Zach Rogers
Marching Tech
Sarah Grindal
Sarah Grindal is currently a biology major at the University of North Texas, minoring in chemistry and education. She marched with the Bluecoats in 2022 and plans on marching until her age out in 2025.
Sarah went to Obra D. Tompkins high school in Katy, TX and marched with the Green Brigade as well as the UNT winter guard. She is currently marching winterguard with ménage.
Color Guard Tech
Tia Chernow
Tia Chernow is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University. She is a clarinet player in the TCU Marching Band, Clarinet Choir, and Symphonic Band.
Previously, she has been a part of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, and currently serves as an active member of both the Music Educators Organization and the Young Band Directors of Texas.
In the 2022 season, she has held a position on the visual and music staff for Joshua H.S.-based WGI group, Spirit Winds.
Marching Tech
Melissa Medal
Melissa is a graduate of the University of North Texas where she earned her bachelor in business marketing. Melissa went to Coppell High School and marched with the Blue stars during the summer of 2018, 2019, and was contracted for the cancelled 2020 season. During the winter Melissa marched with CGT Dallas from 2019 throughout half of the 2020 season due to the pandemic outbreak. Currently, Melissa is marching with Mirage for the 2024 winter season
Color Guard Tech