Instructional Staff:

 

Brass: Abigail Iksic  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abigail Iksic is a senior at Slippery Rock University where she studies Music Education.  Her primary instrument is the trumpet.  Since studying at Slippery Rock University, she has been involved in several organizations and ensembles including serving as the President of SRU’s collegiate chapter of PMEA, Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band, SRU Marching Pride, SRU Honors Program, and other groups.  Abigail has a diverse background in the marching arts.  She has completed 9 seasons of marching band,  first at Mars Area High School and then in the Slippery Rock University Marching Pride.   In the Marching Pride she played held the position of trumpet section sergeant.  She has also completed 5 seasons of competitive indoor percussion. Abigail marched with Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013 as a featured soloist and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014.  She is competing in the inaugural season of WGI Winds with Rhythm X.  Abigail has worked with several marching band and indoor percussion programs in the area including Mars Area, Moon Area, and Orange County (Ohio).  Abigail has been fortunate enough to have many unique opportunities in music, one of which being travelling to Japan with Carolina Crown in the Fall of 2014 to perform for several marching arts festivals and participate in brass masterclasses for children in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Redd                                     

Bill is a recent graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in K-12 Music Education (2014).  Bill currently teaches instrumental music at Moon Area School District, a school recognized by the NAMM Foundation as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education.”

 

Bill is an active teacher and clinician in the Greater Pittsburgh area.  He has taught both indoor and outdoor ensembles including, Moon Area Marching Band—Assistant Director, Norwin Marching Band—trumpet instructor, Mars Marching Band (’13, ’14)—brass instructor and visual clinician, the General Butler Vagabonds Drum and Bugle Corps—brass caption (’14), Slippery Rock University Winterguard (’13, ’14)—visual, Moon Area High School Winterguard—visual, and North Allegheny Indoor Percussion—visual.  Recently, Bill has joined the visual staff of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Denver, Colorado. 

 

Bill is a freelance trumpeter in the Pittsburgh Area.  He also performs as a member of the Allegheny Brass Band.  In 2010 Bill and three friends founded Redemption trumpet quartet, which is active in performance and chamber brass clinics at local schools.  Bill has performed as a member of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and currently performs in the inaugural season of WGI Winds as a member of Rhythm X.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percussion: Jesse Sieff  

A dedicated participant, advocate, and teacher of the marching arts in the western Pennsylvania area, Jesse is eager to begin working with the 2015 General Butler Vagabonds. In addition to teaching private lessons and doing instructional work for Brentwood and Saltsburg HS, Jesse is approaching his 6th year on the percussion staff at North Allegheny HS for both the marching band and winter indoor percussion ensemble. Jesse has also marched and instructed for the University of Pittsburgh Marching Band, Indiana University of Pennsylvania “Legend” Marching Band, and Matrix indoor percussion ensemble. In addition to earning his B.A. in Music Performance from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in May of 2015, Jesse has also conducted extensive research for a project entitled Marching Arts Education, which he presented at the IUP Undergraduate Scholars Conference in April. Recently accepted into the 28th Division Army National Guard Band, and proud alumni of the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Jesse is excited and extremely grateful to have this opportunity to continue promoting and cultivating this activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color Guard: Christine Aley

Christine is a senior at Slippery Rock University, majoring in Middle Level Mathematics Education.  She is currently a Teaching Assistant in the Math Department for Applied Calculus. 

 

Prior to Slippery Rock, she attended Beaver Falls High School, where she was a member of the Color Guard for four years.  She served as Captain of that organization for three years, choreographing and teaching two shows for the Color Guard each year.

 

During her time at SRU, she has been an active member of the SRU Marching Pride’s Color Guard for four years, and is currently a Captain.  She also has been a member of SRU’s Winter Guard since its inception, and is entering her third year as Captain of the Winter Guard.  SRU’s Winter Guard participates in Color Guard competitions under the WGI, as well as the Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association (TRWEA), where during the past two years they have consistently placed first in their competition class.

 

In her spare time, she is also involved at SRU in the Musical Theater Society and the Women’s Choir, as well as Colleges against Cancer, Relay for Life, and Best Buddies.