Ryan Scott

Director & Creative Director

A native of Richmond, VA, Ryan's time with the marching arts began with the award winning Mills E. Godwin High School drumline. In 2009 Ryan marched bass drum for United Percussion before marching with the George Mason University Indoor Drumline from 2010 - 2013 – winning the WGI Independent Open Class gold medal in 2012 and finishing 8th in their WGI World Class debut in 2013. From 2010 - 2012, Ryan also marched with the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, performing as a DCI Finalist in each of their last two seasons. 2015 saw Ryan serve as Bass Technician for Spirit of Atlanta and from 2014 - 2018, they served as Bass Technician for the George Mason University Indoor Drumline. In their time with the marching arts, Ryan has been fortunate to learn from many amazing educators including Benjamin Pyles, Mike Jackson, Chris Hestin, Shane Gwaltney, Joe Hobbs, Michael Madaio, Chris Martin and many more. 

In 2019, Ryan joined the Empyrean Performing Arts Association team, serving as the Creative Director for Empyrean Winds and now serving as the Director and Creative Director of Empyrean Percussion. 

Ryan is a graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University Psychology program with a minor in Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies and is the Operations Coordinator for a VR/AR company based in Ashburn, VA. Residing in Herndon, VA with their wife Lilianna and two cats, Remus and Tonks. Ryan likes to spend their free time playing video games, plane spotting and watching horror movies. 

Will Vinson

Assistant Director​

​Will started his WGI career as the bass guitarist for the George Mason University Indoor Drumline in 2016 and 2017. Following aging out in 2017, Will returned to GMUID serving in a variety of roles over the next 5 years including Associate Director and Operations Director with the drumline making World Class finals each year he was on staff.

Outside of the marching arts, Will received a Bachelor's in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a minor in Arts Management from George Mason University in 2017. Will currently works in Client Success for a tech company based out of Washington, DC and likes to spend his free time trying to train his unruly standard poodle, Fozzie.

Angie Estay

Education & Engagement Coordinator

​Angie started her marching career at GMUID and continued performing with the Front Ensemble from 2016 through 2019. Aging out on marimba, Angie was also a section leader and assisted as a student leader with the Green Machine Ensembles. Angie has been a member of the Reading Buccaneers, works as the Marketing Assistant with the Green Machine Ensembles, and teaches marching band and indoor drumline at Yorktown High School.
Prior to Empyrean Percussion, Angie served on the administrative team at GMUID.

​Currently, Angie teaches general and instrumental elementary music in Arlington Public Schools. In her spare time, Angie enjoys going to concerts, playing Switch, and trying new restaurants in Northern Virginia. 

Henry Williams III

Battery Arranger

A native of Virginia Beach, VA, Henry currently resides in Houston, TX and works as a percussion coordinator and instructor. Over the last 20+ yrs Henry has had the privilege to arrange, design and program for many indoor and outdoor ensembles around the country.

As a performer, Henry’s first summer marching DCI was during the summer of 1999. He spent that summer as a member of the Tarheel Sun Drum and Bugle Corps from Cary, NC. The summer of 2003 brought Henry’s time as a performer to a close as an age-out member of the Carolina Crown Drum Bugle Corps from Ft. Mill, SC.

After aging out from DCI, Henry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and became a member of “The Commandants Own; The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps”. Serving from 2005-2009, Sgt. Williams filled roles as an arranger and instructor for the battery and section leader for the bassline.

Following his time in the Marine drum and bugle corps, Henry transitioned into a combat logistics unit as a Team Leader with PRP Company, Detatchment (-), HQSVC BN, 4th MLG stationed in Anacostia, VA. This transition lead to Henry deploying to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010.

In 2013 Henry was a member of the percussion staff of the WGI PIW Finalist George Mason University Indoor Drumline from Fairfax, VA and in 2016 served on the percussion staff of the WGI PIW Finalist Cavaliers Indoor Percussion Ensemble from Rosemont, Illinois. In 2017 Henry was a member of the staff for the WGI PIO Finalist 5 Points Percussion from San Antonio, Texas. Since the 2018 WGI seasons Henry has been a part of the staff for WGI World Finalist Monarch Independent Percussion from Houston, Texas. Henry was also a design consultant for the WGI PIO Finalist, PI Percussion from Naperville, Illinois. 

Outside of teaching music Henry has a deep love and appreciation for medicine, public service and aspires to become a firefighter.

Henry is a proud sponsor of Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets and Zildjian Cymbals. 

Matthew Hernandez

Front Ensemble Arranger

Matthew is currently the Percussion Director at Klein Collins HS in Spring, TX.

As an educator, Matthew has had the great privilege to work at some of the most nationally recognized percussion programs in the country including Ayala High School, Vista Murrieta High School, Los Alamitos High School, and Woodbridge High School. His ensembles have consistently ranked at the top of some of the most competitive circuits around the country including Bands of America, Southern California Percussion Alliance and Winter Guard International. He has also served many roles at the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps since 2013, including front ensemble manager, caption head, and arranger. Matthew also has served as an instructor at RCC indoor percussion since 2015.

Matthew’s writing credits include Ayala HS, Vista Murrieta HS, Eden Prairie HS, STRYKE Percussion, Blue Stars Drum and Bugle corps and numerous other ensembles across the US. While he mostly focuses on music for percussion , he enjoys writing music for other idioms such as WGI Guard, having written and produced music for ensembles such as Mirage Performance Ensemble, Diamante and Malachi Winter Guard. Matthew has also been an employee of Wunderpit Music (www.wunderpitmusic.com) as a contributor and editor since 2011.

With an extensive tenure in Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International, Matthew has performed with some of the very best ensembles in the country. He was a member of the Crossmen (05,06), Colts (07-09) and Blue Devils (10,11) Drum and Bugle Corps and RCC Indoor Percussion (11,12).

Matthew proudly endorses Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, and Evans Drumheads.

Matt Hartwell

Drill Writer 

Matt is the current Staff Coordinator & Visual Caption Head for Pulse Percussion and on visual staff for the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps. Matt has marched with Capital Regiment, The Cavaliers, and Aimachi Marching Band. He taught the Santa Clara Vanguard starting in 2010 and served as the visual caption head from 2017 to 2022. In 2010, he had the extreme honor of designing a production for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said’s Royal Guard of Oman Marching Band. Matt spends his month of May working as the Show Director for a Drum Corps style stage show called "Mix It Up" at Busch Gardens theme park in Williamsburg, VA. Matt is a full-time visual designer and instructor based out of Anaheim, CA.

Guy Mavinga

Battery Co-Caption Head

​Guy Mavinga is a highly active percussion educator who has taught and arranged for many performing ensembles in Central Virginia. He has always had a strong passion for percussion and rhythm even before any formal music education. In the early stages of his career, Guy spent his time rehearsing with the Liberty University marching band and indoor drumline as both a snare and quad player. Afterwards, he went on to march for several world class DCI and WGI organizations such as Carolina Crown and George Mason University Indoor Drumline. 

In the past, Guy has taught and arranged for schools like Brookville High School and Liberty University. He worked with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps as a Battery Visual Technician and has consulted for groups like the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps. Guy currently runs the 434 Drumline summer camp held at the Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg, VA and works as the Drumline Coordinator and Percussion Arranger for Jefferson Forest High School.

Nate Fuerst

Battery Coordinator

​Nate is an educator and performer who resides in the DMV area. He is currently a second-year DMA candidate in percussion performance at the University of Maryland-College Park where he studies with Jauvon Gilliam. Before that, Nate received a masters in Percussion Performance from UMD and a degree in Arts Administration from Butler University. He was the battery caption head at Jersey Surf for the 2022 season and also taught quads in 2019. Before teaching, Nate marched quads at Legacy World in 2018 and Veritas 2019, where he was the section leader.

Jabrond “JB” Gamble

​Audio Engineer and Front Ensemble Technician

​Jabrond is a freelance Musician and sound engineer and currently resides in the greater Richmond, VA area. Jabrond is an active consultant, clinician, and instructor on the east coast. His skills learned by engineering venues, concerts, and various outdoor events have proved invaluable in the marching arts and beyond.

Jabrond is an audio engineer with The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and has held that position since 2021. He is also the Assistant Director at Powhatan High School in Powhatan, Virginia and has been the Front Ensemble Coordinator and Sound Designer for the award winning Indoor Drumlines there since 2012. In addition, he is in charge of all things audio for the entire district.

Nick Ro

Bass Technician

​Nick is very excited to join the team at Empyrean Percussion! He began his journey in marching percussion as a charter member of the Woodbridge Senior High School Indoor Drumline in 2012. After graduating high school, he attended Christopher Newport University, earning a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts in Teaching. While at CNU, he made his WGI debut with Forza East Independent Percussion during the 2014 season. After that, he marched with the Bushwackers during the 2015 DCA season. Nick made his World-Class debut with the George Mason University Indoor Drumline in 2016, returning for his age-out in 2017. 

Since aging out, Nick has been an active educator in the marching arts. He has served many ensembles in a variety of roles including bass tech, battery coordinator, and visual designer. Nick has worked with many high schools across Virginia, the Liberty University Indoor Drumline, and Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps. 

Currently, Nick is based in Woodbridge, Virginia where he works as the director of bands at Forest Park High School. He looks forward to showing the world what Empyrean has in store!

Andrea Kunde

Bass Technician

​Andrea Kunde is a graduate of James Madison University where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching, Bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and minor in Music. While at JMU she was a member of the Marching Royal Dukes, Percussion Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble. Andrea marched bass drum with The Jersey Surf in 2012 and George Mason University Indoor Percussion in 2013. She has been teaching various high school drum lines since 2016.

Andrea was a fifth grade teacher at an arts-integration school for five years before switching careers. Currently, she is a project manager in brand creative at Capital One. During her free time she enjoys tending to her houseplants and vegetable garden, cooking new recipes, and baking delicious treats!

Steven Barnett

Snare Technician

​Born and raised in Fairfax, Virgina, Steven began playing at South County High School, performing in WGI finals in open class. Steven found passion for the marching arts, he went on to perform on snare drum with Hawthorne Caballeros, George Mason University Indoor Drumline and Carolina Crown. 

He started teaching with Open/World class WGI finalist South County High School in 2018 as a snare technician/battery technician, remaining as a technician still. Steven also works with Fusion Core as the battery coordinator/snare tech, this is his first year with the corps.

Steven is thankful to have learned from educators such as Grant Butters, Marc Garside, Glenn Fitch, Travis Petermen, Dan Schack, Frankie Cummings, Mike Windish, Matt Penland, Sean McElroy, Paul Nalesnik and Oliver DeLotto.

Josh Sheppard

Snare Technician

​​Josh started his marching career as a member of the Powhatan High School Marching Band and Indoor Drumlines from 2013-2018. While in school, he also marched with Carolina Gold (2016-2017) and the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band (2018). After graduating, Josh went on to perform with Shadow DBC (2018), George Mason Indoor Drumline (2020), Phantom Regiment (2021), and Matrix World (2021-2022). 

Outside of the marching arts, Josh is currently double majoring in Music Education and Music Performance while pursuing a minor in Theater Performance at George Mason University. Alongside his studies, he works as one of the Music Librarians at GMU. In his free time, he enjoys longboarding, cooking, and spending time with his family.

Kaitlynn Olewnik

Tenor Technician

​Kaitlynn began her marching career in high school in her hometown of Prince Frederick, MD. In 2017, she started marching for the Mighty Sound of Maryland for 4 years, where she served as a quad squad leader and drumline section leader. Her drum corps debut began in 2018, where she marched at Jersey Surf. Since then, she has marched at Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2019 and Imperial Dynasty for their 2019 and 2020 indoor seasons, serving as quad section leader in 2020.

Mateo Segura

Cymbal & Visual Technician

​Hailing from the Detroit area, Mateo has performed and taught with groups all across the Eastern half of the United States, as well as Wyoming. Beginning with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2016 to 2018 and aging out with Carolina Crown in 2019, he has spent over a year with a tuba in hand. In addition, he has flipped and crashed cymbals with Eclipse ‘18, Inov8 '19, Atlanta Quest ‘20, and finally George Mason in 2022. 

He is excited to bring his diverse knowledge to the VA area to help students achieve their ambitions and grow as individuals. When not teaching he likes to think about band, read, and dabble with hobby electronics.

Rianne Connelly

Front Ensemble Technician

​Rianne Connelly started playing mallet percussion on a whim when she was 11 years old. What started as an easy grade and a middle school hobby in a small Pennsylvania town has grown for over a decade to form Rianne’s marching career. Competing in an independent ensemble seemed like a goal out of reach to her, but one college friend’s encouragement landed her a contract with Imperial Dynasty in 2017 where she would march for two seasons. Rianne then continued on to be a member of George Mason University’s Indoor Drumline during the 2019, 2020, and 2022 seasons. Rianne has also been a member of the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps and the West Chester University Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band which is the University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies.

Dalia Berman

Front Ensemble Technician

​Dalia Berman is a percussionist and music educator with over a decade of performance and teaching experience. She specializes in sharing her knowledge of concert, marching, and world percussion at schools and programs around the country. Some programs she has worked with include Blue Stars, Mandarins, Pacific Crest, Dark Sky Percussion, and Instinct Percussion.

​As a performer, Dalia has been a member of Pulse Percussion, Phantom Regiment, The Academy, Mandarins, Velvet Knights, and Full Force Percussion. Dalia received her Master’s degree in World Percussion from California Institute of the Arts and her Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from California State University, Northridge. 

Ricky Nuñez

Front Ensemble Technician

​Ricky Nuñez is an active music educator and performer in the Northern Virginia area. Having begun his instructional career in 2014 with the Stonewall Jackson Marching Band in Manassas, VA, Ricky has gone on to serve as an instructor for several ensembles including the DCI Soundsport group Sonus Brass Theater and Woodbridge Viking Indoor Percussion in Woodbridge, VA. Most recently, Ricky has begun focusing on building up the percussion program at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, VA after their inaugural season in 2021. 

Ricky’s competitive performance credits include marching with the George Mason University Indoor Drumline in WGI, Shenandoah Sound in DCA, and Sonus Brass Theater in DCI Soundsport. Having attended both James Madison University and George Mason University, Ricky has also performed with several ensembles at each school including the JMU Marching Royal Dukes and the GMU Percussion Ensemble.

Ricky holds a Bachelor in Music from George Mason University and currently teaches Elementary General Music in Manassas, VA. When not focusing on percussion, Ricky enjoys cooking at home and dancing with the Azúcar: Latin Dance Club at GMU.

Katharina Lehmann

Front Ensemble Technician

Katharina first got in touch with the marching arts in 2014/2015, when she played drumset for the Powhatan High School Band and Indoor Drumline. A couple years later she decided to switch to mallets and played Vibraphone for the Sacramento Mandarins in 2019.

​She is currently pursuing a double major (Music Education And Music Performance, Percussion and Drums) in Münster, Germany. On top of that she works as a freelance musician, educator and composer/arranger and is involved in projects all over Europe. Her favorite instruments to play are Marimba, Vibraphone, Xylophone and Timpani.

Stephen Patterson

Visual Coordinator

Stephen Patterson, a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, has been performing and teaching in the marching arts since 2008. He is an alumnus of both The Cadets and The Cadets2 organizations where he marched trumpet. He was a member of the inaugural year of Cadets2 in 2012, and continued to perform with the organization in 2013. After taking a year off to study and teach, Stephen completed his age-out with The Cadets in 2015. Stephen returned to The Cadets2 for 2017 and 2018 Seasons as  Visual Technician and served in the same role for George Mason University Indoor Drumline from 2017 through 2020.

Scholastically, Stephen proudly served as the Visual and Percussion Caption Head at Spotsylvania High School from 2013-2018. This fall he is returning home to Massponax High School and continues to work with James Madison High School where he has been since 2016.

During indoor season, he serves as the Visual Caption Head for Diesel Co Indoor, a collective of Spotsylvania County schools that combine resources to create a great educational experience for their percussion students. 

During the day, he substitutes for band, orchestra, and chorus teachers in Spotsylvania County and maintains a roster of private lesson students.

At night and on the weekends, Stephen is a freelance trumpet player.

Zach Sellers

Visual Coordinator

Zach Sellers has been heavily involved with the marching arts beginning his Drum Corps experience in 2013 in the Baritone section at Cadets2, then The Cadets in 2014 aging out with the corps in 2015. He was also a cast member with Rhythm X Winds in 2017.
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In addition to Zach’s performance career he has served on the visual staff with multiple DCI corps including Blue Stars, 7th Regiment, Music City, and The Madison Scouts as well as working with GMUID for a number of years on both the visual and administrative staff. Zach is also currently the Co-Visual Caption Head at James Madison High School in Vienna VA where he helped guide the program to their first ever BOA Grand Nationals Semifinals performance as well as a BOA Regional Championship earlier in the 2019 season.

Ryn Duong

Choreographer

Ryn Duong is beyond thrilled to join Empyrean for the 2023 season. Their passion for the marching arts was sparked in high school where they marched outdoor and indoor colorguard. After high school, Ryn marched outdoor guard with The Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps(2014), JMU’s Marching Royal Dukes(2015-2017), and The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (2018 World Class Finalist). His indoor guard experience includes JMU Nuance Purple (2015, 2016 A Class Finalist, 2017 A Class Finalist, 2018 A Class Bronze medalist), JMU Nuance Open (2019 Open Class Finalist), Mason World (2020-2022). 

Ryn began their teaching career working with various high schools in Virginia in 2016. They also began choreographing for JMU Nuance winterguards in 2021. Currently, they are a colorguard technician at Freedom HS in northern Virginia and at the Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps. Outside of colorguard, Ryn can be found snuggling with his dog while binge watching shows or reading fan fiction.

Guy Groves

Choreographer

​Guy Groves is an award winning Colorguard Director who teaches primarily in Northern Virginia. Guy is currently the Colorguard Director at Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia (2015 – Present), and Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia (2020 – Present). He is also the head weapon choreographer at the Jersey Surf World Class Drum Corps (2019 – Present). Guy is beyond excited to share his love of visual production, expanding to the indoor drumline scene, and is looking forward to being part of an amazing production team!

Lucas Smith

Cymbal & Visual Consultant

​Lucas Smith began his cymbal education in 2014 at Chantilly High School, where he continued to march until graduating in 2017. He continued in WGI as a member of the George Mason Indoor Drumline from 2018-2022, serving as cymbal section leader for his last two in-person seasons marching. Lucas also marched on the Madison Scouts Cymbal Line in 2018.

Lucas has been teaching cymbals since 2018 at Woodbridge HS, Freedom HS, and most recently, Jersey Surf. In addition, he offers private lessons online with the hopes of building cymbal education along the East Coast. Lucas graduated from George Mason University in 2021 with a B.A. degree in Marketing and is the Creative Strategist at MtoM Consulting in Falls Church, VA.

Garrett Chruchey

Bass Consultant

​Garrett is a Maryland native, currently residing in Frederick. With a beginning in music playing saxophone and bassoon, he began his drumming endeavors in high school, and music has driven and steered him in his hobbies and career ever since. Garrett has performed across all levels of the marching arts activity, having been a member of The Windsor Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (DCA) from 2011-2012, Chesapeake Percussion (WGI) 2012, George Mason University Indoor Drumline (WGI) 2013-2014, and Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps (DCI) 2013-2014. 

In May of 2015, Garrett began Marine Corps basic training in Parris Island, South Carolina. After earning the title of United States Marine, Garrett reported to Marine Barracks Washington, DC to begin his career as a percussionist within "The Commandant's Own", The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. From 2016-2020, playing bass drum was Garrett's primary duty and during that time he held additional duties such as battery arranger, section leader, and music instructor. While still serving as one of the ensemble's battery percussion arrangers, since mid-2020 Garrett has transitioned away from playing bass drum and now serves in a non-performing role as the unit’s supply chain and financial manager, overseeing purchasing operations and ensuring that the ensemble has all needed equipment and supplies to discharge daily duties and effectively prepare for performances within the nation and abroad.

Since 2013 Garrett has designed, arranged for, and taught at multiple high schools in the Western Maryland area, and from 2016-2018 he served on the staff of the George Mason University Indoor Drumline. Garrett is also an active adjudicator in various Mid-Atlantic-based marching band and indoor percussion circuits and served on the percussion staff at Jersey Surf in 2019 and 2020.

Justin Ratcliff

Consultant

Justin is an active adjudicator, clinician, arranger and consultant for many programs along the east coast. He currently serves as an arranger, consultant and drill designer for programs throughout Virginia and the United States. Justin’s programs consistently earn success in the activity of the marching arts. Justin’s show designs have earned over the past 10 years over 80 superior ratings at state marching assessment, and countless caption and grand champion awards including finals performances in Bands of America Regional competition including high caption awards in Overall Effect.

Justin is currently the Head Director of Instrumental Studies at Rock Ridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia. The Rock Ridge Bands in its short inception have earned the distinction of being a Virginia Honor Band every year since inception of the school. This means that all ensembles earned a superior rating at state and district assessments. The Rock Ridge Bands were honored by the 2016 Virginia senate with joint senate-house resolution SJ328. In 2014 Mr. Ratcliff was nominated for the Loudoun County Public Schools "Teacher of the Year" Award from Shenandoah University.