2026 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.

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.

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.

Anthony Gilleland is a performer and educator based out of Northern Kentucky. He is currently the Percussion Director for Ryle High School in Union, KY where he teaches percussion methods, lessons, and marching ensemble rehearsals. He also designs for many ensembles in the TriState area.

Anthony is currently on the front ensemble staff at the Mandarins. He has also been involved with groups such as Carolina Crown, The Cadets, Blue Stars, Pulse Percussion as well as the design team for George Mason University Indoor Drumline.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in percussion performance from California State University, Fullerton, and is an Educational Artist with Vic Firth and Zildjian.

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.