Colt Cadets Announce 2019 Design Team And Caption Heads

January 11, 2019

The Colt Cadets are excited to announce their design team and caption heads for the 2019 season. A combination of new and old faces, many of whom are veteran educators with the Colt Cadets, will create a strong and dynamic team for the corps. Leading the team as program director, percussion supervisor, and front ensemble arranger will be Alex Albertson. Alex Albertson is an alumnus of the Colts, having aged out in 2011 as a member of the front ensemble. Alex has been on Colt Cadets staff since 2012, and is currently a music teacher at Logan-Magnolia Community Schools in Logan, Iowa, as well as director and designer for Railmen Indoor Percussion, based in Omaha, Nebraska

Returning to the brass team will be Terry White, brass arranger, and Kara Metzger, brass caption head. Terry is entering his eighth year as brass arranger for the Colt Cadets. A retired music educator, Terry currently resides in Maine, where he is an active arranger, composer, and performer for several groups in the area, including the Portland Jazz Orchestra. Many of his publications have been selected for J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s Choice list annually, and his music is published through Alfred (Belwin Jazz), Hal Leonard, Grand Mesa, Ludwig Masters, and Jalen/Matrix Music. Outside of composing, he is an active adjudicator and festival conductor. Kara is also an alumna of the Colts, having spent five years with the group as both a baritone player and drum major, and is entering her fourth year on staff with Colt Cadets. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Kara is currently the director of bands at Whitman Middle School and associate director of bands at West High School in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

New to the design team for 2019 will be Jake Esterberg, battery arranger, Steve Lyons, visual designer, Dalton Stout, color guard caption head and designer, and Samantha Adrales, color guard designer. Jake Esterberg was a member of the Colts in 2016 has is entering his third year on staff with Colt Cadets. Jake is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in music education. Steve Lyons has been involved with the drum corps activity as a performer, educator, and designer since 2001. He currently lives in Connecticut and works with several high school and indoor programs as a designer and brass and visual instructor. Dalton Stout is entering his second year with the Colt Cadets, having spent 2018 as a color guard technician. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is an elementary music teacher with Columbus City Schools. Samantha was a member of the Colts from 2012 to 2014, and is entering her fourth year on staff with the Colt Cadets. As an active dancer, performer, educator, and designer, Samantha brings with her a wide background in the performing arts.

"I'm really excited to continue working with this fantastic team of educators and designers," said Corps Director Andrew Eaton. "The amount of educational experience really sets our corps up for a strong season educationally, both for the entire group and for the individual students. It's always a pleasure working with staff who truly care about the student's success and overall member experience."

"The team we've assembled for this season brings so many strengths from so many different areas of the arts," said Program Director Alex Albertson. "Seeing the growth in the corps the past seven seasons has been incredible for me, and I'm looking forward to continuing to provide a great experience for our students through a committment to high quality deisgn and a solid educational approach."

You can view the full bios of the 2019 Colt Cadets design team and caption heads online here.

Colt Cadets 2019 Membership Information

Information for the 2019 Colt Cadets season will be avilable soon! Rehearsals will start in mid-Febraury on Sunday afternoons in Dubuque. Students interested in being a part of the Colt Cadets should submit an Information Request. To learn more about the Colt Cadets program, click here. Students with questions about Colt Cadets should email Colt Cadets Director Andrew Eaton at andreweaton81@gmail.com.

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