Staff 2007-2008 Bill Sucha Director Bill Sucha (pronounced sue-ha) is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, River Falls with a BME in Music Education. His primary instruments are saxophone and voice. He has been instructing bands, orchestras, or choirs with the Mounds View District music staff since 1996 – He is currently the Director of Bands at Irondale. He has been the Marching Knight director since his arrival at Irondale and supervises all marching activities. He has been the recipient of several awards or honors including: Marching band adjudicator for the Fiesta Bowl, the 2001 Minnesota representative for the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” feature in the School Band and Orchestra magazine, presenter for the Nebraska Band Directors Association Convention, and a 2000 WCCO Radio Good Neighbor. He has been on the North Star Circuit, Minnesota Percussion Association, Royal Guard Drum and Bugle Corp, and Minnesota Brass Senior Drum and Bugle Corp executive boards in addition to many years of colorguard experience. In addition to his Irondale curricular and co-curricular activities he is the assistant director of the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corp from Lacrosse, Wisconsin and is pursuing his Masters in Education at St. Thomas University. Chad Friesleben Associate Director Chad is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Prior to law school, he taught high school vocal music and marching band in Iowa for five years; one year at Hudson High School and four years at Dallas Center-Grimes High School. At DC-G, he directed the color guard, as well as arranged the horn book. Chad also spent five years on the visual/musical staff of the Valley High School Marchmasters in West Des Moines, Iowa. He is a graduate of the Drake University School of Music, and remains an active clinician for instrumental and choral ensembles, with a special emphasis on vocal jazz choirs. Andy Combites Visual "AC" has been working with Irondale since the fall of 1998 and with its winter programs since 2001. He played trombone in the Iowa State University "Varsity" Marching Band and spent three seasons in their winter drumline on cymbals and bass drum. He played baritone with the Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from Geneseo, IL and euphonium with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. AC was on the design team for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 and 2005. AC has been member of the North Star Judges Guild since 2002 and judges many local and regional competitions. AC currently is an Associate Director of Interactive Marketing at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. In his spare time, AC plays husband to wife Diane and dad to daughter Taylor. Gary Swanson Color Guard Gary is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Apparel Design. He has been the director of Irondale's extensive color guard programs since 1990. His credits include color guard instruction not only at many scholastic levels but also with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps and Minnesota Brass, Inc Drum and Bugle Corps. Gary is also involved in adjudication, consulting, and special event choreography both locally and nationally for the pageantry arts. Gary was a one of 7 choreographers for the 1992 Super Bowl Halftime. Gary marched with Minnesota Brass, Inc Drum and Bugle Corps, Minnesota Brass Winter Guard, Crosstown Hwy Winter Guard and the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Gary works at FamilyMeans, a non-profit, family service organization in Stillwater, MN. Jessica Kracl Color Guard Jessica is a 2002 graduate of Irondale High School and has worked with the program since her graduation. Jessica was captain of the guard her senior year and was part of the 2002 WGI Scholastic Open Class World Champion team. Jessica is currently finishing up her BA in Sociology and Anthropology at Gustavus Adolphus College. She will be heading off to Law School at Hamline University in the fall of 2006 where she will be specializing in health care and welfare law. Rachel Goldsmith Color Guard Rachel is a 2005 graduate of Irondale High School and has been working with the program since that time. Rachel was a freshman member of the 2002 WGI Scholastic Open Class World Champion team and also a member of the 2003 WGI Scholastic World Class Finalist team. She was captain her junior and senior years. Currently Rachel is attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee pursuing a History degree. Paul Weber Drumline Paul is a 1998 graduate of Irondale, and has been on staff of the Marching Knights ever since. Paul marched with the Madison Scouts from 1998 to 2001, and was the Drum Corps Midwest multi-tenor champion in 2001. Weber has also been on the percussion staff of the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps since the 2002 season. Paul is the President of the Minnesota Percussion Association and a member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board. Shelcy Olsen Drumline Shelcy is currently a junior at the University of Minnesota majoring in Music and Visual Art. She graduated from Eagan High School in 2003, played in the front line of the winter drumline there for five years, and participated in jazz ensembles and pit orchestras. This spring, she will be studying in Florence, Italy to further pursue her art degree. Shelcy's favorite musical is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Brian Schutta Visual/Design Staff/Drumline Brian was a graduate of Irondale in 2001. He has marched with two world class drum corps including the Madison Scouts from Madison, WI and the Blue Devils from Concord, CA. Brian has taught as a visual instructor for the Irondale Marching Knights for 5 years. He also taught as a visual instructor for the Minnesota Brass senior drum and bugle corps for their 2005 summer season and will be teaching as a visual instructor for the Blue Stars drum and bugle corps for their 2006 summer season. Brian holds an Associates of Applied Science degree in Recording Technologies which he received from the McNally Smith College of Music in the summer of 2005. Brian is currently on his 4th year of instructing the drumline as both a bass drum tech and visual instructor Jon Kamrud Drumline Jon graduated from Irondale High School in 2002. While there he was in the band all four years both in the frontline and in the battery. After high school he marched for two years with the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently a paramedic for Allina Hospitals and Clinics and has been helping with the drumline since the fall of 2002. Ross Martin Drumline Ross is a 2002 graduate from Irondale. He was a trumpet player in the marching band from 1998-2001. He also did 1 year of winter drumline in 2000. After Ross graduated, he marched 4 years with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps where he played soprano/trumpet. He has been on staff since the fall of 2002 with the marching band and the winter drumline. He currently goes to school at Century Community College where he is finishing his generals, then has no idea where to go after that. And he also works for First Student where he drives your kids to and from school. Tyler Shipe Drumline Tyler, A.K.A "Shpanky", is a 2004 graduate of Irondale. He played trumpet in the Marching Band and was also in the Winter Drumline, where he played both cymbals and guitar. Tyler is a student at the U of M, pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering. He is also an employee at a local music store. As a staff member, Tyler serves as the both the "Soundsystem Caption Head" and as a fall visual tech. This summer will be his third year with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps in the mellophone line. Tyler is an avid disc golfer and known to have a mean Zoolander impersonation. Kevin Bohl Fall Visual Kevin is a 2003 graduate of Irondale High School. He played the saxophone and was section leader his senior year. Kevin was also an original member of horn guard and worked on rifle for parts of the shows in 2000, 2001, and 2002. He is currently attending the University of Minnesota pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering, Minor in Mathematics, and a Masters of Education in Mathematics. Kevin serves as a visual tech and assistant social director in the fall.