David Maccabee is the former Director of Bands at United Township High School, East Moline, Illinois, a position he held from 1986-2016. Mr. Maccabee also served as Associate Director of Bands at Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas from 2016-2020, as well as Associate Director of Bands at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts from 2020 until his retirement in 2024.

During his 30-year career at United Township High School, his bands earned numerous awards in both the areas of concert and marching band. The UTHS Marching Panthers earned the distinction of having been named a finalist at the State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championships every year from 1996-2007, and again in 2010. During that time, they were Class Champions on 6 different occasions. Mr. Maccabee’s bands also have been named Bands of America regional finalist, as well as Grand National Semifinalist. In the fall of 2024, Mr. Maccabee will be inducted into the State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championship Hall of Fame.

Under Mr. Maccabee’s direction, the UTHS Symphonic Band earned numerous state and national awards. They performed at the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State music festival on three occasions, 5 times as a featured performer at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, and twice at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. The UTHS Symphonic Band performed for the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in 1998. In addition, under Mr. Maccabee’s direction, the UTHS Symphonic Band performed on numerous occasions at the prestigious University of Illinois Super State Band Festival, where they were named Honor Band in 2015.

Maccabee is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association, and the Illinois Chapter of Phi Beta Mu honored Maccabee as their “Bandmaster of the Year” in 2014. He also has received numerous citations of excellence from the National Bandmasters Association, where he served as State Chair for both the states of Illinois and Nevada. He is a frequent conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for marching and concert events throughout the country.

Gary Swanson has been involved in the marching arts for over 40 years. His credits include color guard instruction and visual design with many groups over the years, his longest running affiliation being with the Irondale High School Marching Band and Color Guards in MN since 2990. Gary has led the Irondale program to many local and national awards including 26 State Winter Guard Championships, several WGI National Scholastic Finalists and even the WGI Scholastic Open Class World Champions in 2002. Gary has instructed and designed for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps and Minnesota brass, Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps. Helping the Blue stars move back into World Class and leading MBI to a national championship where a few of his highlights with these groups. Hi is the Past President of the North Star Color Guard Circuit in Minnesota. Gary continues to be involved in the marching arts activity through adjudication, consulting, and special event choreography both locally and nationally. Gary was inducted into the Minnesota Youth in Music Hall of Fame in 2018 for hi smany years of contribution to the marching arts activity in the upper midwest. Gary has a BS in Apparel Design from the University of Minnesota and works at Mounds View High School as well as continuing his freelance design work. He resides in Minneapolis, MN.

Jeff Ausdemore has experience performing, teaching, adjudicating, and writing for all levels of percussion education. Whether it is judging a DCI/WGI show during the competitive seasons, giving a clinic with a percussion ensemble, and yes, even consulting with band and percussion directors all over the country, Jeff has established himself as a highly sought after individual.

Jeff currently serves as President and Co-Founder of Stryvemind.com, a revolutionary online educational platform that impacts students and educators around the world. Prior, Mr. Ausdemore was the Director of Music at Grapevine-Colleyville’s iUniversity Prep. In this expanded role, Mr. Ausdemore oversaw all music curricula, including music theory, music history, music composition/arranging, as well as applied music for all primary and secondary level students. In addition, Mr. Ausdemore created the iMusic Club, a club dedicated to enriching the lives of all students enrolled at iUniversity Prep.

Learn more

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.

Kyle Miller's experience with performing arts began at an early age. During high school and college he participated as a marching band and drum corps member, allowing his love for pageantry to grow. He's continued to refine those early experiences and has proudly served as a Drum Corps International, Winter Guard International, & Music For All evaluator for many years. Currently he's in his fourth year as the visual caption facilitator for DCI, and serves as Midwest Color Guard Circuit's Judge Liaison. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, he's passionate about blending curriculum with fine arts. Kyle teaches Language Arts while advising both Speech and Debate and Yearbook activities. 

Mark Hoskins (Marietta, Georgia) recently retired as Director of Bands at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, after 19 years and his 25th year of service in the Cobb County (Georgia) School District. He oversaw the entire band program, consisting of three concert bands, marching band, jazz ensemble, jazz combo, woodwind and brass choirs, winter guard, and percussion ensembles. He was the founder and director of the District 12 Honor Jazz Ensemble, created in 2018. A graduate of East Tennessee State University (ETSU), he is in constant demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and conductor in the marching band, jazz, and concert band arena. His program at Wheeler was regionally and nationally recognized in those fields as well, consistently receiving superior ratings and best-in-class awards. While at ETSU, Hoskins had the opportunity to perform with many of the jazz greats of our time, including Jon Faddis, Ed Shaughnessy, Allen Vizzutti, Dick Oatts of Flim & The BB’s, and Ernie Watts. He is a music and brass adjudicator for both Bands of America and Drum Corps International, as well as a member of Phi Beta Mu Honor Music Society (2020), the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Jazz Education Network, and a founding member of the Minority Band Directors National Association. He was born in Norton, Virginia, and grew up in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, attending Powell Valley High School.

Associate Professor & Director of Athletic Bands at Southern Utah University

Mr. David D. Torres serves as Assistant Professor, Director of Athletic Bands/Trumpet at Southern Utah University. Mr. Torres teaches applied trumpet lessons and conducts the Symphonic Band, Brass Choir, and the director of the Thunderbird Marching Band & Sound Machine Basketball Bands. Founded in 2022, the Thunderbird Marching Band has become a staple in the region for its innovative show design and high energy performances, and is known as “The Sound of Southern Utah!” SUU's Athletic Bands and Independent Winterguard have performed throughout the region and nationally, performing at regional marching invitationals, UMEA State Marching Championship, NCAA March Madness, The WAC Tournament in Las Vegas, and select WGI regional's. As trumpet teacher, SUU's students have received invitations to multiple International Trumpet Guild Conferences and were recently honored as a quarterfinalist at the 2024 National Trumpet Competition.

A renowned performer, educator, and arranger, Mr.Torres enjoyed a multifaceted career as a professional musician prior to his teaching appointments. Broadway & Touring credits include; Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast”, "Drowsy Chaperone", and the “Producers” among others. In addition, Torres performed for 5 years as trumpet soloist with the Tony award-winning production “Blast!” and “BLAST II MIX”, and was one of the last trumpet/conductors to lead the live band for the famed Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, “The Greatest Show on Earth”. Originally from Florida, Mr. Torres got his start playing trumpet at Walt Disney World, and is a proud Alumni of the Disneyland All-American College Band. Before moving to Utah, Mr. Torres was Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Director of Athletic Bands at Southern Arkansas University. At SAU, the Marching Band grew into one of the largest collegiate marching bands in the state of Arkansas and his trumpet students succeeded immensely; earning graduate positions at top programs, winning positions at summer festivals/world class drum corps, and employment in military bands. The SAU Trumpet Ensemble was invited to numerous ITG Conferences, and also advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Trumpet Competition. Additional performance credits include the Tuachann Center for the Arts Orchestra, Southwest Symphony, Orchestra of Southern Utah, Texarkana Symphony, South Arkansas Symphony, Tampa Bay Symphony, Las Cruces Symphony, Texarkana Jazz Orchestra, DFW Brass, British Brass Band of Louisiana, UNLV Faculty Brass, Paso Del Norte Big Band, NYGASP, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and PaperMill Playhouse (Tony-Award Winner).

Mr. Torres holds dual Master of Music degrees (Trumpet, Wind Conducting) from New Mexico State University and received his Bachelor of Arts degree (Music Performance) from the University of South Florida School of Music. His primary trumpet teachers include Jay Coble, Pancho Romero, Charley Davis, and William Adam. Mr. Torres is currently a part-time instructor and Doctoral student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he studies Brass Pedagogy. Further professional affiliations include: ITG, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Fraternity, Utah Music Educators Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and The American Federation of Musicians (Las Vegas #369). Mr. Torres is an endorsing artist of B.A.C. Custom Musical Instruments, Hercules Stands, and ChopSaver lip balm. He lives in Cedar City, Utah with his loving wife Anna, and their dog Lola.