Cascades Announce 2009 Guard Staff

The Cascades are excited to announce the appointment of Ben Adams to Guard Caption Head. Mr. Adams is a recent transplant from Florida, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at Florida State University. He has taught numerous guard programs including Paradigm winterguard and Mayflower from the U.K. and is currently the guard choreographer and jazz band teacher at Evergreen High School in Vancouver, Washington.

Also on the guard staff are; Jonathan Meader, Ryan Valencia, Patrick Elmore, Jon Brown and Andy Mroczek.

Jonathan Meader graduated from the University of Utah’s Department of Modern Dance in 2006 with his BFA after performing the work of world renowned choreographers such as Kathy Casey, Abby Fiat, Kaye Richards and Jose Navas. His choreography has been presented in fully produced concerts and he has danced at festivals in Salt Lake City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York City. Inside the drum corps and winterguard activities he was a marching member of the Seattle Cascades, Blue Devils and the San Jose Raiders. Jonathan’s teaching experiences include numerous high schools, the Blue Stars and most recently with the Phantom Regiment winterguard.

Ryan Valencia’s performing career includes Coast One winterguard, Ancient City Ensemble, Northeast Independent, Northern Lights and the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He has taught many high schools in North and Central Florida and is currently teaching Evergreen High School and Assistant Director of North by Northwest winterguard, formerly Cascades Independent, the 2008 WGI Independent “A” Class Champions.

Patrick Elmore is teaching the regionally famous Skyview High School Reign Dance Team and Colorguard. He has a long history of performing in organizations such as the Madison Scouts, Every-Body and the Northern Lights winterguard.

Jon Brown is actively involved with the best colorguards in the Seattle area. His main programs are Kamiak High School and Rhapsody winterguards. He has performed with the Seattle Cascades, Blue Devils and the Northern Lights winterguard.

Andy Mroczek is returning to the Cascades to design and choreograph. He is also a choreographer for the Santa Clara Vanguard drum corps and winterguard along with being the main choreographer for Skyview High School and North by Northwest winterguard. He has performed with the Madison Scouts, Blue Devils, Every-Body and the Northern Lights and has also taught such programs as the Madison Scouts, Northern Lights and James Logan High school.