Band Directors:
Neal Titus
Neal Titus is an Educator, Percussionist, and Sound Designer from Denver, CO. He is currently the Director of Bands at Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, CO. Mr. Titus holds an Undergraduate Degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Masters of Music from the University of Denver. During his time in college, Mr. Titus was an avid percussion educator in Colorado working with groups such as: Air Academy HS, Fairview HS, Dakota Ridge HS, Chatfield HS, and Windsor HS. Prior to coming to Fossil Ridge, Mr. Titus held a position at Lake Middle School and was the Director of Bands for the BOA Grand National Semi-Finalist: Lawrence Township, in Indianapolis, IN. While in Indy, Mr. Titus had his ensembles perform at PASIC, BOA, WGI, ISSMA and Music For All. In addition, he has also written curriculum for classes like "Hip-Hop History and Theory" well as a "Music Production". In addition to being a music educator, Mr. Titus is also the owner and operator of Neal Titus Music Design. Titus is the Sound Designer for The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps (UT), Rise Percussion (CO), Avon High School (IN), and several others. His music production and sound design can be found in the pageantry arts (DCI/WGI/BOA), the 2018 & 2019 Indy 500, Fred J. Miller Promo/Product videos, skateboard/snowboard promo videos, current hip hop and pop artists, and several web series. Neal is a proud Educator Endorser of Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, as well as Mapex/ Majestic Percussion. He currently resides in Denver with this wife Taryn and dog, Stu. Mr. Titus is so excited to be joining the Performing Arts faculty at Fossil Ridge HS. “Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.” — CLAUDE DEBUSSY |
Aaron Herman
Aaron Herman currently serves as the Director of Bands at Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colorado. Mr. Herman received a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Furman University, and is currently completing a Master of Music degree in wind conducting at Colorado State University. While at CSU, he served as a graduate assistant with the CSU Marching Band, Basketball Pep Bands, and the Presidential Pep Band. In addition, Mr. Herman was a guest conductor of the CSU Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. His conducting teachers include Dr. Rebecca Phillips and Dr. Leslie Hicken. Before relocating to Colorado, Mr. Herman taught middle and high school band in South Carolina. He began his career as Director of Bands at Walhalla High School. Mr. Herman then served as assistant band director at Boiling Springs High School, where he co-taught the wind ensemble and jazz band, and directed the symphonic band, concert band, and percussion ensemble. During his tenure, the Boiling Springs Marching Band was a Bands of America Regional Class AAAA Champion and participated in the 2016 BOA Grand National Championships. Most recently, Mr. Herman served as Director of Bands at R.P. Dawkins Middle School in Spartanburg, SC. He taught 5th grade beginning band at three elementary schools, coordinated a middle school band program of 250 students, and assisted with the Dorman High School Marching Band. The DMS Band Program was the recipient of the South Carolina Band Directors Association’s “Outstanding Performance Award” in 2018 and 2019. Ensembles under Mr. Herman’s direction have received consistent superior ratings at concert performance assessment, and his students have earned placement into Region and All-State bands. Mr. Herman has been an active member of the South Carolina Band Directors Association. Additionally, he holds professional affiliations with the National Association for Music Education, the South Carolina Music Educators Association, the Colorado Music Educators Association, the Colorado Bandmasters Association, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Herman currently resides in Timnath, Colorado with his wife Christina and two dogs, Annabell and Penny. |
Garrett joined the FRHS Bands staff during the 2018 marching season. He is an alum from Fossil Ridge and attended from 2011-2015. Some of Garrett's proudest musical achievements include being first chair Bass Clarinetist in the Northern Colorado Honor Band three years in a row, second chair Bass Clarinetist in the Colorado All State Honor Band, and being a section leader at Fossil Ridge during it's first and second CBA State Marching Band Championship years. Garrett continued to stay involved with music by playing Clarinet with the Boulder Concert Band and volunteering as a tech with several other bands. Garrett is heavily involved with all aspects of the Fossil Ridge Band program from marching band to concert band to organizing school events for the band. Additionally he works as a Music and Visual tech during the marching season.
Band Staff:
Alex Hinds
Percussion Director
Percussion Director
Alex Hinds is a percussion specialist born and raised in the Chicago-land area. He has grown to become a leading educator, clinician, and performer throughout the United States as well as Asia and Central America.
Between DCI and WGI Alex has an extensive marching career spanning 9 seasons. He spent his time with various ensembles including Pioneer Indoor (2010-2013) where he was the battery section leader and ensemble leader from 2011-2013, Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps (2011) where he was the section leader, Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (2013-2014), and Gateway Indoor (2014-2015) where he was the battery section leader and ensemble leader for his age out in 2015. Throughout his percussion career Alex has been very grateful to have had the opportunity to grow and develop while studying under many greats in the music world. In his time at VanderCook College of Music Alex studied under the instruction of Professor Kevin Lepper and Bret Kuhn. Other greats that he has studied with include Adam Hill, Shane Gwaltney, Huei-Yuan Pan, Mike McIntosh, Taha Ahmed, Ben Pyles, Rob Ferguson, Derrick Shannon, Chris Murphree and many more. In addition to teaching, Alex is a designer, arranger, and consultant for outdoor and indoor marching ensembles throughout the United States. He is the founder and owner of A. Hinds Designs, a company that create custom arrangements and productions for all areas of the marching arts. Aside from his business, Alex is currently on staff with Rise Percussion as the battery caption head and designer for Rise World, the designer and arranger for Rise Open, and is working with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps as an Ensemble Specialist. Alex currently resides in Westminster, Colorado and is very excited to join the renowned Fossil Ridge High School Fine Arts faculty as the Percussion Director and continue his close working relationship and friendship with writing partner Neal Titus. Alex proudly endorses Pearl/Adams instruments, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Remo Drumheads, and Beetle Percussion.
Between DCI and WGI Alex has an extensive marching career spanning 9 seasons. He spent his time with various ensembles including Pioneer Indoor (2010-2013) where he was the battery section leader and ensemble leader from 2011-2013, Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps (2011) where he was the section leader, Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (2013-2014), and Gateway Indoor (2014-2015) where he was the battery section leader and ensemble leader for his age out in 2015. Throughout his percussion career Alex has been very grateful to have had the opportunity to grow and develop while studying under many greats in the music world. In his time at VanderCook College of Music Alex studied under the instruction of Professor Kevin Lepper and Bret Kuhn. Other greats that he has studied with include Adam Hill, Shane Gwaltney, Huei-Yuan Pan, Mike McIntosh, Taha Ahmed, Ben Pyles, Rob Ferguson, Derrick Shannon, Chris Murphree and many more. In addition to teaching, Alex is a designer, arranger, and consultant for outdoor and indoor marching ensembles throughout the United States. He is the founder and owner of A. Hinds Designs, a company that create custom arrangements and productions for all areas of the marching arts. Aside from his business, Alex is currently on staff with Rise Percussion as the battery caption head and designer for Rise World, the designer and arranger for Rise Open, and is working with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps as an Ensemble Specialist. Alex currently resides in Westminster, Colorado and is very excited to join the renowned Fossil Ridge High School Fine Arts faculty as the Percussion Director and continue his close working relationship and friendship with writing partner Neal Titus. Alex proudly endorses Pearl/Adams instruments, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Remo Drumheads, and Beetle Percussion.
Curtis Costanza
Drill Writer (Vancouver, WA)
Drill Writer (Vancouver, WA)
Curtis Costanza is a middle school teacher in Vancouver, Wash. He has extensive judging experience with Drum Corps International (DCI), Winter Guard International (WGI), Bands of America (BOA), Winter Guard Association of Southern California, Florida Federation Color Guard Circuit, and is the current chief judge administrator for WGI and the Northwest Association for Performing Arts. His pageantry experience includes consultant, designer and instructor for various high school marching bands and color guards throughout the country for the past 30 years. Curtis has been a clinician for Northwest Pageantry Association, Western Carolina University, North Texas Color Guard Circuit, Gulf Coast Color Guard Circuit, Southeast Color Guard Circuit, Florida Federation Color Guard Circuit, Northwest Marching Band Circuit, Colorado BandMasters Association, Winter Guard Association of Southern California, Drum Corps Japan, and BOA.
Jennifer Carrasco
Visual Design Coordinator / Director of Color Guard
Visual Design Coordinator / Director of Color Guard
Jenn spun with Pomona High School (Arvada, CO) from 1990-1994. Her high school career culminated with a WGI gold medal win with “On the Pulse of Morning”. She performed with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 1993 and 1994, Speakeasy Winterguard in 1996 and 1998, and St. Ann’s World in 1999. Since aging out, Jenn taught color guard at Northglenn HS, Ponderosa HS, Eaglecrest HS, Arvada West HS, Overland HS, Estes Park HS, Rampart HS, Evergreen HS, Columbine HS, and is currently at Pomona HS (a 2015 WGI Scholastic Open semi-finalist). In 2007, Jenn launched Malachi Independent Winter Guard. She envisioned a place where performers could be themselves and develop a passion for color guard. Malachi Independent was a WGI Independent Open 5th Place Finalist in 2016 and 8th Place in 2017.
Jake Archibeque
Marching Band Visual Caption Head
Marching Band Visual Caption Head
Jake Archibeque joined the Fossil Ridge Marching Band staff in the 2018-2019 school year and currently serves as the Visual Caption Head. Jake also doubles as a Brass Instructor and Leadership Team mentor. After graduating from Fairview High School in 2015, he began pursuing a degree in music education at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Currently he is continuing to pursue a degree in music education at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. In addition to performing in his high school and college marching bands, Jake has performed with the Blue Knights and the Blue Devils in Drum Corps International's world class division, and Rise Percussion in WGI's world class division.
Andy Blomfelt
Conducting Instructor
Conducting Instructor
Andy Blomfelt joined the Fossil Ridge HS Band Staff in 2019 as a conducting instructor. After graduating from Fossil Ridge in 2016, Andy received a bachelor's of music composition and computer science in 2019 from Colorado State University, and currently writes freelance chamber music, electronic music, and works in software development at Encompass Technologies based in Fort Collins. Andy's large ensemble compositions have been premiered by the Colorado State Wind Ensemble, as well as chamber works premiered by Dr. Christian Smith of the University of Utah, Kylie Howard of the Utah Wind Ensemble, and other chamber works conducted by Kevin Poelking. Prior to joining the Fossil Ridge team, Andy served as drum major for the inaugural four years of The Battalion Drum & Bugle Corps, two of which serving as head drum major. His time with The Battalion has honed his skills in conducting, as well as developing positive student-led cultures and managing leadership teams.
Consultants:
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Shilo Stroman
Percussion and Music Arranger and Consultant 
A versatile performer, Mr. Stroman’s credits range from playing triangle in symphony orchestras, electric bass in salsa bands, drums in funk bands and flower pots in chamber groups. Performing Stroman originals, Red Hot Chili Pepper covers and the occasional country tune, Shilo's contemporary jazz quartet, Square Peg, released their first recording, “Searching" in 2013. In 2006, he commissioned and performed the world premiere of “Sticks and Stones” variations for drumset and wind ensemble by Jim Bonney. Shilo can also be heard on various Jazz and singer/songwriter recordings. Clinic presentations have also been a large part of Shilo's career including several Percussive Arts Society 'Days of Percussion' and most recently the 2014 Percussive Arts Society International Convention.
Shilo is Special Assistant Professor of Percussion and Jazz at Colorado State University where he teaches lessons, freshman percussion ensemble, drumline, Jazz Pedagogy, Percussion Pedagogy and is charge of the Jazz combo program. Mr. Stroman is also very active in the marching arts and is currently the Artistic Director and Front Ensemble Caption Head/Arranger for The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps (Salt Lake City, UT), Composer for the 2016 WGI Concert Open Class World Champion Dakota Ridge High School (Littleton, CO) and arranger for Fossil Ridge High School (Ft. Collins, CO) Loveland High School (Loveland, CO). He also writes and consults for several other schools nation wide. Shilo is a Yamaha Performing Artist and proud endorser of Sabian, Promark and Evans products. Shilo's main avenue for composition is as show designer for top marching bands and WGI percussion ensembles. From percussion arrangements to full original wind and percussion compositions, Shilo is a versatile composer. His arrangements/compositions have been performed by: Colorado State University, Texas A&M Kingsville, Fossil Ridge High School, Loveland High School, Dakota Ridge High School, The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps and many other high schools around the country. He also loves to compose for his Jazz Quartet, Square Peg as well as the NOCO Artists chamber ensemble. Ryan Unangst
Equipment and Technology Specialist & Consultant 
Ryan Unangst joins the team again this year, lending his pedagogical and technological wizardry, as well as his world-class, facepalm-worthy puns to the Fossil Ridge Marching Band.
In addition to his work with the Fossil Ridge Music programs at large, Ryan works as an Educational Technology Specialist with Romeo Music, where he works with administrators and educators to develop solutions for classrooms and labs in schools. Prior to this, Ryan spent 5 years teaching K-8 general music in both Thompson and Poudre School Districts. Ryan has his degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado (GO BEARS!!!), where he performed with the Pride of the Rockies Marching Band, as well as the top Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Percussion Ensembles. While at UNC, Ryan also participated in multiple seasons with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and Percussion Ensemble as both a performer and instructor. Being fiercely committed to Fossil’s program, Ryan often cites his experience being Fossil’s first Pit section leader as the moment he got started on his life’s path. |
Nick Peterson
Music and Visual Consultant 
Nick Peterson was a school counselor at Fossil Ridge High School until 2019, and has helped teach music and marching for the band since 2008. He is now a counselor at the Poudre School District Futures Lab. He also has written portions of our drill up to 2018 and has been involved in the show design process for many years.
Prior to joining the team at Fossil Ridge, Mr. Peterson was an assistant band director at Loveland High School. He has a bachelor of music education and a masters of school counseling from UNC and continues to play euphonium with the Fort Collins Wind Symphony. Mr. Peterson was a performing member of the Santa Clara Vanguard drum and bugle corps (Santa Clara, CA) in 2003 and 2004. He later taught on the brass staff of The Cadets drum and bugle corps (Allentown, PA) from 2005-2011. During those years Mr. Peterson also did some teaching for the Blue Knights (Denver, CO) and the Santa Clara Vanguard. Most recently, he was fortunate to perform with the Blue Knights in their historic trips to Taiwan in 2014 and Bahrain in 2017. Outside of school/band, Mr. Peterson enjoys running, being outside, reading, cooking, travel, yoga, biking, and quality time with friends and family. He also judges for marching band competitions around CO and other states, as well as writes the drill for a few other bands in different competitive classes. Lastly, a fun fact- Mr. Peterson student taught the first year Fossil Ridge opened (2004-2005), when there was only one band with less than 25 students total! Salvador Hernandez
Music and Visual Consultant 
Salvador Hernandez received his Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles where he had the distinct pleasure of working with Dr. Travis J. Cross and Lecturer of Tuba and Euphonium, Mr. Aubrey Foard. During his undergraduate studies Salvador had many opportunities to work with several marching bands in the Southern California area.
While in Southern California, Sal was involved with several groups who participated in the highly competitive indoor percussion scene that So Cal has quickly become a powerhouse for; both as a performer and as an instructor. Sal has also had several opportunities to perform in the area as a member of the Southern California Brass Consortium, an elite group of brass and percussion musicians who are constantly expanding the repertoire available to the brass ensemble community. Additionally, Sal’s career in the pageantry and marching arts scene is highlighted by his involvement with the now eighteen-time world champion Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, where he was a part of two championship seasons; including a historical record breaking season (2014), and being a featured soloist (2015). Sal’s passion for music education is unquestionable and throughout his career he has strived to create opportunities for young and local musician to improve their craft. One of his most recent accomplishments was co-founding the Yosemite Brass Consortium (Clovis, Ca), now renamed the Clovis Brass Consortium, a performing ensemble the provides young musicians an opportunity to perform a variety of brass ensemble repertoire alongside local professional and college musicians. The ensemble is open to students of all ages, with its target age group being junior high and high school aged students, and has continued to grow since being founded. Sal was also on the instructional staff with the Blue Devils ‘B’ Drum & Bugle Corps during the 2017 season as the euphonium instructor, and during the 2018 season he had 6 of his former students make the Blue Devils ‘A’ Drum & Bugle Corps; making up 25% of the ‘A’ corps euphonium section for the season. Sal’s former indoor percussion students have also now moved on to perform with some of Southern California’s premier indoor percussion ensembles such as RCC, Pulse Percussion, and Broken City Percussion. When Sal moved to Fort Collins, he had the pleasure of working with the Fossil Ridge High School music team as the Visual Caption Head, where he was a part of the school’s 2018 championship season in the Colorado State Marching Band circuit. Sal recently graduated from Colorado State University as a master student. Previously, he was the Assistant Director of Bands at Fossil Ridge High School. |
Area Feeder Middle School Directors:
Andrea Hollenbeck is in her 21st year of teaching band and has been teaching at Preston Middle School since 2004. Andrea earned a Master’s of Music in Education degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama.
Andrea continually works on optimizing happiness, being the best mom she can be by being an independent thinker and surrounding herself with people that make her a better person, keeping her body and mind strong, and taking risks. She excels at living in the present moment, being vulnerable, being genuine, open, and loving unconditionally. She spends her time writing poetry, her beloved and sacred book club, hiking and yoga. Her poetry was published in a magazine in the United Kingdom. Andrea currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado. Andrea serves as the Director for Poudre School District Solo and Ensemble, and coaches track and has coached football. Under Ms. Hollenbeck’s direction, her bands have earned Superior ratings at band festivals including Nordic Festival and Colorado Bandmasters Association Festivals. Preston Symphonic Band performed at Colorado Music Educator’s State Conference in 2020, 2017 and 2013 and was a clinician in 2012 and will be in 2020. She proudly plays clarinet in the Fort Collins Wind Symphony. Andrea is currently serving as the Northern Representative for Northern Colorado. Ms. Hollenbeck was a clinician in 2008 at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference. She was featured in the 2019 edition of SBO magazine. Andrea’s article on “Composition in the Classroom” was published in The Instrumentalist 2009 October edition. She earned a trip to Calgary, Canada for a week of SMART professional development in 2014. She was the Rotary Club Teacher of the Month in 2013. Her professional affiliations include CBA and NAfME. She has conducted a number of different honor bands throughout Colorado. Andrea previously taught elementary, middle and high school in the Chicago area and in Alabama. |
Mr. Perez is in his nineteenth year of teaching and is in his fourteenth year as Director of Bands at Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School in Fort Collins, CO. Mr. Perez previously taught for five years in the Thompson School District at Erwin Middle School and Loveland High School.
Mr. Perez graduated from Loveland High School and received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Colorado. While at CU, he studied percussion with Doug Walter, conducting with Allan McMurray and Rob Carnachan, earned a Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance award and was a concerto competition finalist on marimba. Mr. Perez received his Masters degree in Conducting from Southern Oregon University. As an assistant at Director at Erwin Middle School and Loveland High School, Mr. Perez's duties included assisting with four beginning bands, two seventh grade bands, clarinet choir, Wind Symphony II, and Marching Band woodwind caption head. Mr. Perez lead the Wind Symphony II to its first ever performance at the Colorado Bandmasters Association State Concert Band Festival (2004) and a superior rating (2005). As woodwind caption, Mr. Perez assisted in earning three straight marching band championships with the Loveland High School Crimson Regiment (2002, 2003, 2004). Mr. Perez’s duties at Kinard Middle School include three beginning bands, two intermediate bands, and symphonic band. The symphonic band performs annually at the Nordic Invitational in Fort Collins, and the Colorado Bandmasters Association Middle School Festival. Mr. Perez has had two master’s project published and featured in Band World Magazine (Oct. 2003 and April 2005). He is a member of the National Association of Music Educators and the Colorado Bandmasters Association. Mr. Perez is married to his wife, Jessica and has three children, Jackson (12), Sophia (11), and Micah (9). Mr. Perez keeps up his musicianship by playing drum set regularly at church in Loveland and being a practice partner with his three Suzuki piano children. |