Crossmen Announce 2010 Color Guard Staff

Corps Director Mark Chambers announced today the 2010 Crossmen Color Guard Staff. The staff includes teachers and designers with great experience and diverse backgrounds.

“We are very excited about the team that we have assembled for the 2010 season. This staff is so creative and are experienced teachers”, said Chambers.

Wes Cartwright will serve as the Color Guard Advisor. Mykail Costner, Missy Thompson, Kayla Rhidenhour, Morgan Brockman, John Edders and Brandon Givens will complete the color guard instructional/design team.

Please read below for more informaiton on each staff member.

Wes Cartwright

Wes Cartwright is recognized as one of the top visual designers/instructors in the marching activity. Mr. Cartwright’s color guards have won 3 WGI Scholastic World Championships, the Drum Corps International World Championships, 13 Oklahoma Marching Band Championships, numerous Bands of America Regional Visual, General Effect and Color Guard captions and 3 BOA Grand National Finals Color Guard awards. Two of his shows are featured on volumes 1 and 2 of WGI’s "All-Time Fans Favorites." His units have appeared in the Rose Bowl, are 2-time Fiesta Bowl Grand Marching Band and Color Guard Champions and have earned WGI Scholastic World Silver and Scholastic A Bronze medals in addition to the 3 Scholastic World Gold medals. Mr. Cartwright is a graduate of the University of Tulsa, with degrees in Science, Biology/Health and Physical Education.

Mykail Costner

Mykail has been an instructor, designer, performer, and choreographer for 5-time WGI Independent World Class Champion Fantasia. He has instructed the Santa Clara Vanguard, the Crossmen, and the Glassman, as well as Logan High School (CA), Mt. Carmel High School (CA), Valencia High School (CA), and James Bowie High School (TX). He has worked with the Riverside Community College Marching Tigers, 2007 BOA Grand National Champion LD Bell High School (Hurst, TX), and 2006 BOA Grand National Champion Broken Arrow High School (OK). Mykail is currently on staff at Connally High School in Austin, TX. Mykail is often called upon as a design consultant and clinician for bands and guards across the United States.

Melissa Thompson

Melissa Thompson is currently studying Modern Dance at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where she will be graduating in December 2009. At Indiana University, she has had the opportunity to work with Bill Evans, Constance Dinapoli formerly of the Paul Taylor dance company, Sandra Kauffman formerly of the Martha Graham Company, David Hochoy, Liz Lerman and the Liz Lerman Dance exchange, David Parsons and many others.

Melissa began her Drum corps experience as a featured soloist for her role as “Marguerite” in Phantom Regiment’s 2006 production of “Faust”. She was also featured as a dancing soloist in Phantom Regiment’s 2007 production of “On Air”. Ms. Thompson marched with Ars Nova winterguard in 2007 and was a member of Zydeco World Colorguard in 2008 and 2009.

Melissa currently teaches and choreographs movement for Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, OK and L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, TX. Additionally, she has taught at Grapevine High School in Grapevine, TX and Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, IN. Melissa brings to the Crossmen her 13 years of experience in Gymnastics, strong training in Contemporary and Ballet technique and her love of Modern dance choreography to the table. Melissa Thompson is originally from Bedford, Texas and graduated from L.D. Bell high school.

Kayla Rhidenhour

Kayla Rhidenour has participated in the colorguard activity for several years. Kayla marched Insignia 2003-2004 and worked on staff for the guard in 2005. Kayla’s main teaching project is with L. D. Bell High School in Hurst, TX. For the past five seasons Kayla has been on the colorguard staff for L. D. Bell with Wes Cartwright.

Outside of colorguard Kayla is an active student. After earning her Master’s Degree in Communication Studies at the University of North Texas, she moved to Austin, TX this fall to began work on her PhD in Communication Studies in the area of Rhetoric and Language at the University of Texas at Austin. Kayla is thrilled to begin working with the Crossmen for the 2010 season, and is looking forward to a great season!

Morgan Brockman

Morgan Brockman graduated from Syracuse University in 2006 with a Bachelors in Music Education.

He marched with the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps from Nashua NH from 1999-2003, the Empire Statesmen in 2004, the Boston Crusaders in 2004, the Cavaliers in 2005, First Flight Winter Guard in 2007, and the Phantom Regiment Winterguard in 2008. He was on the color guard staff for the Cavaliers from 2007-2009. He has taught multiple high schools in North Carolina and currently instructs the guard and is a band director at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, TX.

John Edders

John will be returning for his third summer with the Crossmen as a color guard technician. He is an instructor and choreographer for Illinois indoor and fall marching band color guards. John has worked with many Independent and Scholastic groups including Independence Open, Lake Park HS, Lincoln Way East HS, Lockport HS, Waubonsie Valley HS and Victor J Andrew High School. He currently writes and teaches for is Lincoln Way North. All the groups John has worked with have been successful in Bands of America, Winter Guard International, Midwest Color Guard Circuit and Illinois State events. In addition to his teaching experience, he was a performing member with Independence Winterguard Onyx World, and Capital Regiment Drum and Bugle Corp. John was a student at Northern Illinois University and now works in merchandising. He resides in Chicago, Illinois. John is excited for the 2010 season!

Brandon Givens

Brandon Givens was a member of the The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corp Color Guard for six years, where he served as Guard Sergeant for two years. He has worked with several color guards through out the Oklahoma City and Tulsa area. He is also on staff for the Pride of Broken Arrow marching band. He currently attends the University of Oklahoma where he studies Microbiology.