Business Development Manager, Harmony Enterprises 

Mr. Lane M. Powell is the New Business Development Manager at Harmony Enterprises, a global environmental solutions company based in Harmony, MN.  A 1994 Magna Cum Laude graduate from the University of Iowa, (BM in Music Education and Trumpet Performance), Mr. Powell taught instrumental music in the public schools of Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota for twenty-two years. 

Bands under his direction consistently earned Superior Ratings in marching band, concert band, jazz band, and small ensembles.  In addition, his bands earned many regional and national awards, including multiple performances at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Convention and the Minnesota Music Educator’s Mid-Winter Clinic.  

Mr. Powell’s professional affiliations include Phi Beta Kappa, MENC, MMEA, Phi Beta Mu and Iota Kappa Lambda.  In 2002, he was awarded the NEIBA Award for Excellence in Teaching at the High School level.  In 2003, he received the State of Iowa Governor’s award for teaching excellence.  He received the Rochester Post-Bulletin “Teacher of the Month” award in 2009.   He has won the McKnight Award for composition both in 2012 and 2016, and multiple SEMAC and MSAB composition grants.  He was named the MSHSL Class A Girls Golf Coach of the Year in 2016.  He and his wife operate the Tri-State Judging Association, providing educational marching band adjudication and clinic services in 4 states.  He is an active adjudicator, performer, clinician, composer, and conductor.  He has publications for concert band under the C.L. Barnhouse and Powell Music labels.  Mr. Powell served on the Board of Directors for both the Minnesota State High School League and the Minnesota Music Educators Association.  

He resides in Harmony, MN with his wife, Jessica, son, Nicholas (Nashville, TN) and their two dogs, Ricky and Rex. 

Turner - is heavily involved in all aspects of the marching arts. B.S. University of Minnesota in Human Development: Youth Studies. M.Ed. University of Minnesota in Education Pedagogy. My goal is to use my wide ranges of experience to benefit marching arts organizations and ultimately the students whom are served therein.

Madison Scount Member 1987-'89. Madison Scounts Visual Instructor 1990-1997 & 2007, Capital Sound Drill Writer and Visual Caption Head 1998-2002, MSARP Member and Marching Instructor 2014 and 2020. President of Youth In Music since 2004. Stanbury Unifrom Regional Sales Manager since 2008. Active nationally as a visual judge, teacher and clinician. Chair of the Madison Scouts Alumni Association. FPA Board Member March 2018-January 2019 and January 2021 - Present.

Brass Instructor for William Mason High School & University of Cincinnati Marching Band

Mr. Mills is a native of Tennessee where he attended Bolivar Central High School and graduated cum laude from The University of Memphis in 1978.  As a music educator, Mr. Mills taught at Briarcrest High School in Memphis, Tennessee, Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and retired in June of 2012 after thirty years as Director of Instrumental Music at Kings High School.  Concert and Marching Ensembles directed by Mr. Mills consistently garnered Superior Ratings and won many competitions during his thirty-five year career.  Mr. Mills also conducted the Cincinnati Youth Brass Band for four years. That ensemble won two NABBA Championships in the youth division and was second place the other two years.

Mr. Mills is currently the Executive Director of the Central State Judges Association, President and co-founder of the Mid-States Band Association, past President of District 13-Ohio Music Educator’s Association, and a member of Phi Beta Mu.  In addition, Mr. Mills is a member of the Central States Judges Association Hall of Fame. Mr. Mills is currently a brass instructor for the William Mason HS Band and is the brass instructor for the University of Cincinnati Marching Band.

As a professional trumpeter, Mr. Mills has played with entertainers such as Bob Hope, Tony Bennett, Vicki Carr, Dianne Carroll, Roy Clark, John Davidson, Phyllis Diller, Barbara Eden, Peter Nero, Rich Little, Bob Newhart, Wayne Newton, Danny Thomas, Lou Rawls, Barry Manilow, and Sonny & Cher.  In addition, Mr. Mills has performed with the Memphis Symphony, Memphis Opera Productions, Holiday on Ice, Disney on Parade, and numerous musicals. 

Mr. Mills was a member of the solo cornet section of The Ohio Valley Brass Band for twenty-five years.  He is now in his sixth season as the conductor of the Ohio Valley Brass Band. 

Director of Colts Drum and Bugle Corps

Orwoll retired from the directorship of Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013 after a successful 32-year career. During his tenure, the organization grew from two to five programs and from 120 to over 300 participants in grade 3 through age 21.

Orwoll was elected to the Drum Corps International (DCI) Hall of Fame in 2008 and was Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Director of the Year in 1993 and 2003, and DCI Central Division Director of the Year in 2005.

He served on the DCI Board of Directors for 22 years and on the DCI finance committee member 14 years, including 2 as chair. He was chair of Drum Corps Midwest for 11 consecutive years and DCI Central Division for 3 years.

He has been active since 1975 as a clinician, consultant, or visual designer for numerous high school bands since 1975 and staffed the visual program for the U.S. Army All American Marching Band in San Antonio in 2011.

He has judged in sixteen states: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico. New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. 

Highlights include the Michigan State Championships, USSBA Regional Finals in Giants Stadium, Arizona State University Sun Devil Invitational, University of Kansas Championships, University of Missouri Finals, Indiana State District Championships, Kentucky State Championships, Arizona State High School Finals and New Mexico State Championships.

Clinician, Performer, Adjudicator, and Composer/Arranger for Marching and Concert Percussion 

Barry Peterson recently retired after 33 years of teaching. He taught the last 26 years at Black Hawk Middle School in Eagan, MN. In addition, he has been the percussion specialist at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley, MN since 2016. He continues to be active as a clinician, performer, adjudicator, and as a composer/arranger in the field of marching and concert percussion. He has written for, and instructed, many top percussion groups in the upper Midwest. He was the director/founder of the Eagan High School Winter Percussion Ensemble that competes in the Minnesota Percussion Association (MPA) circuit, as well as Winter Guard International (WGI). Under his direction, the Eagan High Percussion Ensemble earned 13 MPA Percussion State Championships between 1993 and 2006. While under his reign, the Eagan High Ensemble was a three time WGI Midwest Regional World Class Champion and earned WGI World Class finalist status in 2002 and 2003 at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. He also served as the percussion caption head for Minnesota Brass Incorporated Drum and Bugle Corps. He is a co-founder of the Minnesota Percussion Association in 1994, and in 2003 was inducted into the MPA Hall of Fame. Barry continues to be an active adjudicator for Tri-State Judges Association, WSMA, MACBDA, ADOBA, MPA, and as a freelance adjudicator. He is an educator endorsee with Innovative Percussion. He is a member of MENC, MBDA, and the Percussive Arts Society. 

Founder of Marching.com

Ken has been involved with virtually every facet of the marching activity — performer, instructor, event manager, journalist, clinician and judge. He pursued his passion for marching band from a young age, and produced his first full-blown community parade at the age of 16. His judging career spans more than 30 years. Ken has served on judging panels at parade and field competitions in 19 states and Canada, from Minnesota to Mississippi and from Oregon to West Virginia. His affiliations include Central States Judges Association (CSJA) and Tri-State Judging Association.

His work as a color guard designer for 11 years earned numerous top guard awards and brought him to distinguished events such as the Fiesta Bowl Parade and Tournament of Roses Parade. He marched with the DCI finalist Sky Ryders Drum & Bugle Corps and was on the founding board of directors for Music City Drum & Bugle Corps. Ken was the force behind the Vikingland Band Festival in Alexandria, Minnesota, helping develop it into the state’s parade marching championship.

In 1996 Ken founded the pioneering website MARCHING.COM, a popular source for marching-related events, links, resources, news and photos. The website and its social media channels provide a dedicated and positive voice for the marching arts. MARCHING.COM is a media partner with major events and organizations, including BOA, DCI and WGI, and is a frequent contributor to Halftime Magazine. Ken’s travel for MARCHING.COM keeps him abreast of current trends, regional variety and timeless artistry of the marching activity across the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Benedictine College
NMSU Alumni

Dr. Melissa Sawyer teaches music education courses, clarinet lessons, and directs the Concert Band for the department of Music. She is a native of Edomond, Oklahoma, and has taught at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels in Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, and New Mexico.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Oklahoma where she marched with the acclaimed Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band. She holds a Master of Arts in Conducting from New Mexico State University where she studied with Dr. Michael Mapp and Dr. Steven Smyth. Sawyer served as the Assistant Director of The Pride of New Mexico Marching Band, Roadrunner Revue Pep Band, Desert Winds Indoor Marching Arts, and Pete's Outlaws Pep Band. Sawyer taught courses in Music Education at the undergraduate and graduate levels and conducted the Symphonic Band. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting with Dr. Paul Popiel at the University of Kansas, where she served as the KU Volleyball Band Conductor.

In addition to her duties in the Benedictine College music department, Professor Sawyer serves as the Director of Athletic Bands, leading the Raven Regiment and Athletic Bands.