Band Directors:
Meghan Muñoz
Meghan Muñoz is currently the Director of Bands at Fossil Ridge High School, where she teaches three concert ensembles, marching band, two jazz ensembles, and two Music Production & Technology courses. Prior to coming to Fossil Ridge, Mrs. Muñoz held teaching positions at Liberty High School in Colorado Springs and at Lesher Middle School in the Poudre School District. Mrs. Muñoz brings a wide variety of experiences and a passion for teaching to the Fossil Ridge Band staff. She adds “…No matter what level I have taught, I’ve found that a love of teaching and a love of students is my constant motivator.” Mrs. Munoz is a fourth-generation music educator – her great-grandfather, grandfather, aunt, and father were all band directors and her mother was a middle school choir director and elementary general music teacher. Mrs. Muñoz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Trombone Performance (2005) and a Masters Degree in Music Education (2011) from the University of Northern Colorado. While at UNC, Mrs. Muñoz performed in the top ensembles, including the UNC Wind Ensemble, UNC Symphony Orchestra, and the UNC Jazz Lab Band 1, and also taught undergraduate Music Appreciation courses. In addition to being a full-time teacher, Mrs. Muñoz is the mother of two beautiful boys, Sebastian and Nikolai, and wife to fantastic husband, Martín. Garrett Shryock
Administrative Assistant & Alumni Liaison Phone: (970) 573-6095 Email: gshryock@psdschools.org 
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.
|
Salvador Hernandez
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, as well as several of the local elementary school programs in the surrounding Westwood 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 is currently attending Colorado State University as a master student. Previously, he was the Assistant Director of Instrumental Music at Clovis High School (Clovis, Ca), and served as Director of Percussion Studies at both Clark Intermediate School (Clovis, Ca) and Clovis High School. |
Consultants:
|
Shilo Stroman
Percussion and Music Arranger 
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. 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! |
Gary Hall
Music and Visual Consultant 
Gary Hall is currently in his 45th year of teaching instrumental music. This includes serving for nine years as Coordinator of Instrumental Music at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming as well as a career spanning 35 years of teaching bands in Colorado. Currently Mr. Hall is teaching adjunct classes at the University of Northern Colorado and Morgan Community College, and assisting with sectionals for the wonderful students at Kinard Middle School and Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins.
Ensembles under Mr. Hall’s direction have flourished. His Jazz Ensembles have been invited twice to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, as well as receiving superior ratings at jazz festivals throughout Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Illinois, Texas, Nevada, and New Mexico. Since 1977 his high school symphonic bands have earned superior ratings annually at the both State CBA and CHSAA large group festivals. Marching bands have also been award winning ensembles both in Colorado and at numerous out of state festivals. Mr. Hall is a strong advocate for music education and constantly promotes the career of teaching of music as a possible avocation for his students. There are numerous music teachers throughout Colorado and beyond who had Mr. Hall as their high school or college band director. In recognition of his many years of service to the bands and their student members in Colorado, Mr. Hall was elected by the Colorado Bandmasters Association as their 2005 recipient to Colorado Bandmasters’ Hall of Fame and this year was awarded the Kappa Chapter of Phi Beta Mu “Outstanding Bandmaster Award” for 2019. Gary was born in Warrington, England. Both his dad and grandfather were teachers and band directors. Gary’s grandfather actually taught the State Champion Harmonica “band” from Moffat, Colorado during the early days of the 1900’s. At Adams State College, Gary met his wife Marci while they were both undergraduates in the music program. They just recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Gary and Marci have 3 grown children and Donald, Meghan and Rebecca were all members of “Dad’s” band. Marci and Gary currently reside in Loveland, Colorado. Ryan Unangst
Front Ensemble and Sound Engineer Consultant 
I grew up in Fort Collins and spent my entire K-12 life in Poudre schools. After graduating from Fossil Ridge High School, I moved to Greeley to attend University of Northern Colorado (GO BEARS!!!), where I studied Music Education. While I was there I participated in many of the Band, Marching Band, Orchestra, Percussion, and Salsa groups. Post college, I spent some time living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where my fiance (now wife) and I volunteered at a Girls' Orphanage. After returning, I taught Music at Cottonwood Plains Elementary School in Thompson School District.
I do my best to facilitate learning for the students at Shepardson Elementary, not just to know about music, or to be musical children, but to be lifelong musical people. Although I'll see your kids for six years, I strive to do what's best for them for decades after they leave Shepardson. It is my belief that every adult in our society deserves to possess the qualities of being Tuneful, Beatful (I know it's a made up word), and Artful. You will see how the learning in my classroom manifests as your children grow up when they can sing in tune with a community or church choir, perform at a high level in a school ensemble, feel comfortable on a dance floor, love and appreciate the finer and more subtle elements of listening to and creating music, and eventually sing lullabies to their own children, and help to develop a culturally rich society for future generations. Interests & Hobbies: Obviously I love music and I've been striving to improve my craft since my Uncle first showed me a drum set as a child. Aside from my obvious vocation, I am an avid tabletop gamer, car enthusiast, and connoisseur of bad jokes. Of course you can't live in Colorado without getting out and taking a hike once in a while and fishing in a backwoods lake. It is my goal that everyone can learn and grow in some way as a result of me being a part of their life. |
Visual Staff:
|
Curtis Costanza
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 
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 
Jake Archibeque joined the Fossil Ridge Marching Band staff in the 2018-2019 school year and currently serves as a visual instructor. After graduating from Fairview High School in 2015, he is currently pursuing a degree in music education at the University of Colorado-Boulder. 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.
|
ElizaBeth Haan
Color Guard Tech 
Since beginning her color guard career at Arvada West High School, Liz has spun at the high school, collegiate and independent levels. She spun and taught at the University of Northern Colorado with the Pride of the Rockies Marching Band. During this time she also spun her only indoor season with Incognito Winterguard in 1999. After graduating college with a Bachelors of Visual Art degree, Liz continued teaching guard at Skyline High School, Ranum High School, Prairie View High School and is currently the color guard director at Horizon High School. She also started an independent guard based in the north metro/Brighton area in 2014. She loves to incorporate her artistic passion into the color/winter guard arena and is looking forward to working with Malachi’s talented members and staff this season.
|
Percussion and Technology Staff:
Michael Hamilton
Director of Percussion
Michael Hamilton is a percussion performer and educator originally form Grand Blanc, MI. He just completed his studies towards a Masters in Percussion Performance at Colorado State University, where he worked with Eric Hollenbeck and Shilo Stroman. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Central Michigan University, where he studied percussion primarily with Andrew Spencer and Dave Hall.
Hamilton’s performance experience includes the Baroque on Beaver Festival Orchestra, The Michigan Chamber Orchestra, Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, and Northcoast Academy Percussion Ensemble. Hamilton also plays with various jazz ensembles in the Northern Colorado area, and with Endless Earth, a progressive Rock trio that recently released their album, Blissentience. Recently, Hamilton was a featured soloist on the Colorado State University Percussion Ensemble’s showcase performance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. In addition, Hamilton has performed at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic, Michigan Music Conference, American Bandmasters Association conference, and the Elmhurst Jazz festival where he was awarded an outstanding soloist award. Michael also performed on the world premiere of David Maslanka’s Concerto No.3 “Do You Know My Name” for Piano and Wind Ensemble.
Hamilton has instructed numerous high school instrumental music programs across Michigan, as well as scholastic and independent percussion ensembles competing in the Michigan Color Guard Circuit. Michael is currently developing a freelance performance and education career in Northern Colorado. When not working, Michael enjoys biking, hiking, running, and cooking with fresh lime and cilantro.
Hamilton’s performance experience includes the Baroque on Beaver Festival Orchestra, The Michigan Chamber Orchestra, Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, and Northcoast Academy Percussion Ensemble. Hamilton also plays with various jazz ensembles in the Northern Colorado area, and with Endless Earth, a progressive Rock trio that recently released their album, Blissentience. Recently, Hamilton was a featured soloist on the Colorado State University Percussion Ensemble’s showcase performance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. In addition, Hamilton has performed at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic, Michigan Music Conference, American Bandmasters Association conference, and the Elmhurst Jazz festival where he was awarded an outstanding soloist award. Michael also performed on the world premiere of David Maslanka’s Concerto No.3 “Do You Know My Name” for Piano and Wind Ensemble.
Hamilton has instructed numerous high school instrumental music programs across Michigan, as well as scholastic and independent percussion ensembles competing in the Michigan Color Guard Circuit. Michael is currently developing a freelance performance and education career in Northern Colorado. When not working, Michael enjoys biking, hiking, running, and cooking with fresh lime and cilantro.
|
Chaz Bay
Front Ensemble Tech 
Chaz Bay is a former student at Fossil Ridge High School where he took as many music classes as he could possibly fit into his schedule. He marched with the Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps in DCI for both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. His 2017 season was on timpani, and his 2018 season he was center marimba and as a front ensemble section leader. Currently Chaz is a freelance musician, producer, and sound engineer. His primary instrument is percussion but he has experience several instruments including guitar, bass guitar, and piano. He is a front ensemble instructor for the FRHS Marching Band and currently helps instruct the FRHS Music Production and Technology courses.
|
Holden Whitney
Music Production and Technology Tech 
Holden Whitney joined the Fossil Ridge marching band staff for the 2018 season as a music and visual tech. He is a graduate of the FRHS music program and it was during his time at Fossil Ridge that he discovered his passion for music education. Holden has been studying at Colorado State University where he is pursuing a degree in music. Holden is currently taking a semester off school so that he can focus his time on a career in the music industry. Holden is excited to be returning for a third year at Fossil Ridge where he will be assisting the FRHS Music Production and Technology courses.
|