2025 Team
Dr. Matt Jordan
Van Mathews
Van Mathews has been an active educator, consultant, program designer and adjudicator for more than three decades, instructing music and pageantry arts at the highest levels of achievement. Formerly Director of Bands at L.D. Bell High School, his ensembles there earned multiple Bands Of America Regional and Super-Regional Championship Titles, three Texas UIL State Marching Championship Medals and were BOA Grand National Finalists every year they attended. A Drum Corps International participant since 1984 performing with the Suncoast Sound and Madison Scouts. Van instructed with the Madison Scouts, World Champion Concord Blue Devils , earning the Jim Ott Best Brass Award at DCI World Championships on six occasions and the Boston Crusaders. He has designed and coordinated for DCI’s Madison Scouts and Crossmen. Van is a regular adjudicator for Bands Of Amerca Regional, Super-Regional and Grand National Championship events, Indonesia Drum Corps Association, Indiana State School Music Association, and various state championships includng Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina and Colorado. Prior to L.D. Bell, Van directed bands at Haltom, Lewisville and Lake Highlands High Schools. His concert ensembles consistently received the highest ratings at Texas UIL Concert and Sightreading contests performing university caliber literature and inspiring countless students to earn accolades and scholarships, many choosing to pursue musical careers. Van holds degrees from the University of South Carolina and University of Illinois and is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Gamma Beta Phi. 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
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
Zach Rogers
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
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