2025 Corps Staff

Nicole Salas (she/hers) has been an instructor at RCR Winter Guard since 2019, and is beyond excited to join the team at Minnesota Brass this summer. She began performing in high school with the 728 Cadets and River Valley Winter Guard. Once out of high school, she was a member of the world class winter guard, Lux Independent, and is a charter member of River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps. Nicole marched with MBI Winter Guard in 2017, taking home a silver medal at WGI in Independent A Class.

Nicole has taught at River Valley Winter Guard, 728 Cadets, Eastview High School Marching Band and RCR Winter Guard. When not at guard, Nicole enjoys reading, bowling, skiing and spending time with her husband and their three dogs.

Andrew Sims (he/him) first joined Minnesota Brass (MBI) as a volunteer driver in 2023. With several years of experience providing professional driving services for Minnesota performing arts programs, including Eden Prairie Bands, River City Rhythm, and MBI. Andrew is now stepping in as the Operations Manager at MBI. His passion for the performing arts began at Brownsburg High School as a performer and continued through his involvement with the University of Kansas Marching Jayhawks.

Andrew has also contributed as a brass and visual tech for Pike High School Marching Devils, Franklin Central Marching Flashes, Del Rio Marching Rams, and Eden Prairie Eagle Marching Band. Outside of the marching arts Andrew serves in the United States Air Force Reserves as a C-130 pilot.

Katie Langer (She/hers) earned her undergraduate degree from the College of Saint Benedict and her Master’s and Specialist degrees from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She currently serves as a school psychologist in North Branch, Minnesota, supporting students from birth through age 22.

Her percussion journey started in 2011 at River Valley Percussion Theatre. She has performed with Minnesota Brass for four summer seasons, most recently in 2024 where she was named Member of the Year for the percussion section. She has over a decade of experience teaching high school front ensembles across Minnesota, including Sauk Rapids-Sartell, Minnetonka, Champlin Park, and River Valley Percussion Theatre.

Eric Darrington (He/Him) is a regular in the Minnesota Music scene, marching with MBI Indoor Percussion from 2019-2023 and teaching the Winter of 2024, and now representing MBI as the Marketing Manager! Eric spent a season with the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line as well. After studying in Mankato, Eric has his bachelor’s degree in Music Industry, and has spent the past year working as a professional Media Coordinator and Content Producer. He is super excited to bring a new set of eyes and perspective to Minnesota Arts, and assist his peers and friends of many years!

Mike Palmer (He/Him) joins MBI for the 2025 season supporting logistics and equipment management, leveraging together his extensive marching arts career with his experience as a seasoned trainer and team lead in distribution center operations.

Getting his start through a comprehensive marching career with Burnsville HS and River City Rhythm competitive drumlines, Mike also pursued a passion in education alongside his logistics career, supporting marching arts instruction at both Chops Percussion Indoor as well as SoWashCo Indoor and local high school ensembles.

Alexis Miller (She/Her) is a percussionist and trumpet player who has marched with Minnesota Brass for six seasons. She played trumpet with Minnesota Brass’s DCA Corps in 2017 and also performed with the Govenaires in 2018. The following years were primarily filled with MBI Indoor
Percussion where she was a front ensemble member from 2019-2023. Alexis performed two more seasons on trumpet during this time with the Troopers in 2019 and MBI Soundsport. She spent her 2023 summer with the Madison Scouts in their front ensemble. That same winter, she moved to Texas and spent her final marching season with Monarch Independent Percussion.
While living in Minnesota, Alexis spent her time instructing with the Andover Marching Band, River Valley Percussion Theater, and Dassel Cokato Drumline.

Dr. Kara Metzger (She/her) is originally from Waukesha, WI and currently serves as the Director of Bands at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. At CMU, Kara teaches marching, concert, and jazz band. She also teaches applied trombone and courses in music education. She has earned a bachelor’s in music education and a certificate in adaptive music from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Kara earned graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota Duluth (MM-Music Education) and the University of Iowa (DMA-Wind Conducting). Whilst earning her graduate degrees, Kara was a teaching assistant within both schools’ band departments, teaching/conducting concert bands, assisting with the athletic bands, and performing many other supportive roles at both institutions. Throughout her time at the University of Iowa, Kara also served as Director of Symphonic Band at Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA.

Matt Hahn (He/Him) is an active designer and percussion educator in the Dayton, OH area. Matt is currently the Front Ensemble Designer for the Madison Scouts Drum And Bugle Corps. In 2012, Matt founded Resonant Music Design, a company specializing in marching arts design and education of all kinds. You can view samples of his work at www.resonantmusicdesign.com. 

Matt was a member of Rhythm X from 2005 – 2008 and was a staff member from 2009 – 2015. Matt also was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 – 2007 in the front ensemble, and was a staff member from 2009 – 2012. Matt graduated from Miami University (OH) in 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music Education degree. 

Rebekah Salas(Nguyen)(She/Her) brings a background in color guard from the Pacific Northwest. She started teaching in 2002 at her alma mater then various high schools throughout the Puget Sound. During those years, she also performed with the Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps, Full Circle of the Sound, and Rhapsody Winterguard. In 2014, she moved to Minnesota, where she began teaching after taking a hiatus. Although, she has had the privilege to teach/direct at multiple schools/organizations throughout the Midwest, she has dedicated most of her time to RCR Winter Guard and is excited to join the design team this summer with MBI.

Joel Matuzak (He/Him) has degrees from St. Cloud State University and Concordia University Saint Paul. He has been the Director of Instrumental Music at Highland Park Senior High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota since 1997. Joel was the Program Coordinator for Minnesota Brass from 2003-2019, and Percussion Caption head from1997-2021. During his time with MBI, the corps won four Drum Corps Associates Percussion titles, and was the 2011 DCA Open Class Champion. Joel was the Design Coordinator for the MBI winter percussion ensemble, an Independent Open Winter Guard International 2011 Silver Medalist and 2012 WGI World Class finalist. Joel is also the Director of the Sköl Line, a Drumline for the Minnesota Vikings NFL franchise, and the Minnesota Wild Stickhandlers Drumline.

Justin Mons (He/Him) is an Arizona native, and has been involved in the marching arts for 16 years as an instructor, adjudicator, and visual designer. After marching 7 years at The Arizona Academy, he joined the visual staff at the Mandarins. Justin served the Mandarins as a field tech in 2013, Assistant Visual Caption Head ’14-’16, and ‘17-22 returned back to a lead field tech position. Justin also spent a part of the 2015 summer on visual staff for the Academy. Most recently in the 2024 season, Justin was on the visual staff for the Blue Knights, and was the Drill Designer for the All Age Class A champions, Govenaires.

In the world of indoor percussion, Justin served as Visual Caption Head and was a designer for Vision Percussion 2017-2020. During his time with Vision he helped them grow from Independent A to Independent Open, and became WGI San Bernadino regional Finalists in both the A and Open. During his time with Vision, they also took Winter Guard Arizona (WGAZ) gold in A class 2016, Open class ’17, ’19 and silver in Open ’18. Justin has also been a visual analysis judge for the WGAZ circuit from 2018-2020 and MPA from 2021-2024

Michael Finney (He/Him) is a Twin Cities-based percussion educator and program development consultant with more than 10 years of success in building and empowering Minnesota communities through music education. Michael got his start in the marching arts through highly competitive programs at Coon Rapids HS, from which he gained the skills needed to march four consecutive years at Minnesota Brass Drum & Bugle Corps, MBI Indoor Percussion, and spend a partial season with ‘Academy’ Drum Corps. 

Madelynn Hotchkiss, or Madi, (they/she) is in their second year of teaching with MBI Drum and Bugle Corps as the front ensemble coordinator. They are excited to be back with MBI to continue to grow for the 2025 season.

As an instructor, Madi has previously taught at Grove Area Percussion (2023-2024), Maple Grove Marching Crimson (2022-2023), River Valley Percussion Theatre (2022), and Eagan Drumline (2020-2021).

They began their marching career with Brookings HS marching band in 2011. Madi went on to march five years of drum corps (RCR DBC 2015-2017, Spirit of Atlanta 2018-2019), and three years of indoor drumline (Groove Pursuit 2017, RCRi 2018, MBI Indoor 2019). 

Ryan Matuzak (He/Him) has been involved with the marching community in Minnesota and beyond for over a decade. Starting drumming as soon as he could hold a pair of sticks, Ryan then went on to march at South St. Paul High School from 2012 to 2016. During high school, Ryan also joined Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps for three years as a marching member. During his senior year of high school, Ryan joined MBI Indoor Percussion and stayed with that group until the 2020 season. After High School, Ryan marched with MBI Indoor, Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, The University of Minnesota Marching Band, and Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps. Ryan’s teaching experience includes Andover High School, Grove Area Percussion, and Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps.

Kory Esterberg’s music career began while taking piano lessons throughout grade school. His love of music led him to join band in 6th grade, where he learned about the marching arts. He joined his high school drumline, River Valley Percussion Theatre, in 7th grade. After his high school years, Kory attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. There, he founded the Blugold Indoor Drumline, which provided college students with an opportunity to play, teach, and design drumline shows.

Kory has taught a number of front ensembles in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Most recently, he has been working with the Minnetonka Marching Blue and River Valley Percussion Theatre. He also just finished a season as a director of Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps.

Peyton Green (She/her)  is a Twin Cities-based percussion instructor with a degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Peyton marched cymbals in the Gopher Marching Band and performed with the RCR Indoor Front Ensemble. In addition to marching band, Peyton also has experience with orchestral percussion, jazz, and global music, including steel pans and timbales. 

Peyton currently teaches elementary school music and co-directs Lakeville Area Percussion, the district’s indoor drumline. Peyton is dedicated to inspiring creativity and musical excellence in students of all ages.

Olin Edwards is an active performer and educator across the Twin Cities area. A recent graduate from the University of Minnesota, he studied percussion while getting his undergraduate degree in music education. Throughout his time at the U of M, he performed with all of the university’s top ensembles, including four years with the Pride of Minnesota Marching Band.

Currently, Olin is teaching in South Washington County where he is the director of the Woodbury High School Winter Drumline and Percussion Ensemble and an Assistant Director of the Woodbury High School Marching Band and SoWashCo Indoor Percussion. He also performs and teaches steel pan through the pan programs at Chops, Inc. where he is the director of the Tin Cups Steel Drum Band and Assistant Director of the Pan-Handlers Steel Drum Band.

Sheldon has been an active member of the marching arts community in the Twin Cities area since 2008. His first steps outside of his high school’s marching program were with Minnesota Brass Indoor in 2011 and Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps the same year, earning a DCA Championship win and a percussion caption award in 2013. He has also performed with the Timberwolves Drumline 2013-14 and Minnesota Vikings Skol Line from 2015 to 2022.

Sheldon has instructed as a tenor technician at various high schools and organizations throughout the area. Among these include his alma mater, Champlin Park HS, along with Baldwin-Woodville HS,  Phoenix Drumline,  River ValleyPercussion Theatre, Chops Percussion Indoor, Chops Drum and Bugle Corps,  MN Brass Indoor, and currently Eden Prairie HS and East Ridge HS. 

Kevin Kleindl (He/Him) has been serving as the Director of Bands at Minnetonka High School since 2022 where he is in charge of 4 Concert Bands, 2 Jazz Ensembles, coaching Jazz Combos, and Directs the Minnetonka Marching Blue. He is an active MSHSL Music adjudicator throughout Minnesota and is the Brass Caption head for MBI Drum Corps. He also served on the MMEA Board of Directors representing all AA schools in region 1-2. He is a member of MBDA, MMEA, & NAfME.

Prior to being appointed the Band Director at Minnetonka HS, he taught in Hutchinson, MN (9 years) where he directed 3 Concert Bands, 2 Jazz Bands, Marching Band, Pit Orchestra, Pep Band, and implemented a rigorous Music Theory Curriculum. He also taught in Parkston, SD (5 years) where he directed all bands grade 4-12.

Kyle Ballou (He/Him) is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education and, has a certification in Orff Schulwerk from the University of St. Thomas. He is now currently an elementary music teacher in the Anoka-Hennepin district at Ramsey Elementary and Wilson Elementary.

On the side, he works with the 728 Cadets marching organization as a horn technician with the summer marching band and the winter group known as River Valley Sound. Kyles’s marching experience consists of marching with the 728 cadets high school marching band, Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, and River City Rhythm drum and Bugle Corps.

His goal as a marching educator is to give the best marching experience to my members while also pushing them to be the very best they can be.

Dallas St Hilaire (He/Him) is a music educator with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Saint John’s University. Over the years, he has worked with several marching ensembles, including the Anoka High School Marching Band, Sauk Rapids-Rice Marching Band, River Valley Sound, and Minnesota Brass. As a performer, Dallas was the Principal horn of the CSBSJU Wind Ensemble for 3 years, and was a member of Minnesota Brass from 2019 to 2023, playing the mellophone.

Currently, Dallas teaches 6-8 band at Big Lake Middle School in Big Lake, Minnesota, where he enjoys working with students and helping them develop their musical skills.

Dallas is excited for another year to work with MBI and help them take the next step back into all-age competition!

Keegan Greene (He/Him) is a trumpet player and marching arts instructor from the Twin Cities. He began his drum corps career with Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps in 2012 where he marched for two years before performing with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from 2014 until his age out in 2016. Keegan has also occasionally played with a few local contemporary bands as a trumpet player.

Keegan is entering his second year as an instructor in the marching arts and first season teaching with MBI Drum and Bugle Corps. Keegan first joined the MBI instructional staff with MBI Winds for the 2024/2025 season and has been teaching with the Fridley High School marching band since the winter of 2024. Keegan is currently working as an EMT in North Minneapolis while studying in pursuit of a degree in music education.