Michael Lentz Joins Colts Design Team

The Colts are pleased to announce that long-time color guard instructor, designer and DCI visual judge Michael Lentz has joined their design team for 2009.

"We are thrilled to make this announcement about Michael joining our team", said Greg Orwoll, Colts Executive Director. "He brings years of experience and success with him, plus a passion about the drum corps activity and specifically the Colts."

Michael Cesario, Colts Program Consultant, adds, "Mike Lentz has proven himself an extraordinary designer of contemporary color guard. I’m delighted he’s already begun to add his unique vision and inventiveness to the Colts program. Mike embodies a modern perspective and fresh outlook that will be immediately apparent in this year’s presentation."

Michael Lentz has been involved in the Colts fall design meetings and will be directly involved in much of the teaching as well, joining Carla Burgess-Tomsa who will continue as caption head, in charge of all aspects of the Colts color guard program.

BIO: Michael Lentz is the director and designer for 23-time WGI Finalist Onyx Color Guard and is an alumnus of the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and the Steel City Ambassadors Sr. Corps. Recently, Michael served as the Education Director for the Tri-State Circuit for the Pageantry Arts and as a member of the Mid-East Performance Association Board of Directors.

Currently, a member of the WGI Color Guard Advisory Board, WGI Steering Committee and the WGI Board of Directors, he also serves as President of the Ohio Indoor Performance Association (OIPA). Michael is currently a designer/consultant for Sycamore HS in Cincinnati, OH, Fairborn HS in Dayton, OH and Ben Davis HS in Indianapolis, IN.

Having been an adjudicator since 1988, and recently joining the DCI judging ranks in 2005, he will be taking a leave from adjudication while assuming his new position with the Colts.

The first audition for the 2009 Colts is December 19-21, 2008 in Dubuque, Iowa.