Staff
Drum Major Instructors
Nikki Sanford has been part of PAC since 2012—starting as a high schooler from Traverse City attending the Drum Major Camp, and now proudly leading the very program. She joined the PAC staff as an RA, later becoming an instructor during her time as the fourth female Drum Major at Michigan State University (2017–2019). A proud graduate of MSU’s College of Music, she holds a degree in Music Education.
Now in her sixth year of teaching, she began her career as a band director in Birmingham Public Schools and currently serves as the Director of Middle School Bands at Mona Shores Public Schools. She had the honor of guest conducting the Mona Shores High School Band at the Michigan Music Conference in 2023 and joined them again for their performance at the Midwest Music Conference in 2025. A dedicated advocate for women in music education, she is a member of Women Band Directors International and serves on its mentorship committee. Her passion lies in student leadership development and creating strong, connected communities through music.
When she’s not teaching, she enjoys training for half marathons, golfing with her fiancé, practicing yoga, and channeling the energy of her spirited herding dog.
Craig Adams is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at Michigan State University where his principal instructor is Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole. Craig also holds the Master of Music degree in Band Conducting and the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he was a conducting student of Dr. Eric Wilson. While at Baylor, Craig was a drum major for the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band. Craig is active in all aspects of the band program and guest conducts the Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, and Concert Band. Prior to coming to MSU, Craig served as a marching technician for the Allen HS Marching Band.Craig is an active educator and adjudicator in the marching arts. He is an alumnus of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, and serves as the Brass Caption Manager at the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps.
Drew Barnhart has been part of PAC since 2020. After marching in the Spartan Marching Band (SMB), he then joined the PAC staff as a leadership and conducting instructor. During his time in the SMB, he served as trumpet section leader for three years and band president for two years, including during the SMB's 150th anniversary season. A proud graduate of MSU’s College of Music, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. He also holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. Now in his fourth year of teaching, he began her career as the band director for Perry Public Schools and currently serves as the Director of Bands at East Grand Rapids High School. When he's not teaching, he enjoys working out, disc-golfing, playing guitar, and traveling with his wife.
Samantha Barringer is a dedicated music educator and recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she earned her degree in Music Education. During her time at MSU, she was an active member of the Flute Studio and performed with the Symphony Band, Wind Symphony, and the Spartan Marching Band, where she proudly served as drum major for four years.
Now based in Dallas, Texas, Samantha serves as an Assistant Band Director at Mesquite High School. She leads the Concert Band, assists with the Mighty Maroon Marching Band, and directs the Color Guard. Her commitment to excellence and student growth was recently recognized with the “First Class Teacher” award, with her principal praising her exceptional leadership, strong relationships with students, and impactful teaching in her first year.
Samantha has a growing background in wind conducting, having studied with inspiring educators including Dr. David Thornton, Dr. Arris Golden, Dr. Brian Taylor, and Dr. Ceon Rumphs. She participated in the Michigan State University Conducting Symposium in 2022 and 2023, where she worked with Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Professor Jerry Junkin, and Dr. Emily Threinen. Most recently, she attended the 2025 Baylor Conducting Symposium, studying under Dr. Eric Wilson and Dr. Mallory Thompson.
Outside of teaching, Samantha enjoys working out and discovering new places around Dallas, always seeking fresh inspiration both in and out of the rehearsal room. Her favorite place to go is the Katy Trail.
Benjamin Horne is a conductor, composer/arranger, and low brass performer. Horne's works and arrangements span various styles. Horne has worked with and had music performed by musicians from the Chicago Symphony, Dallas Symphony, San Antonio Symphony (now reorganized as Philharmonic), Atlanta Symphony, Chicago Lyric Opera, Houston Opera, the President's Own US Marine Band, as well as other renowned instrumental soloists. Horne was a member of the Teal Sound and Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps including the latter’s 2016 Drum Corps International World Championship corps. Horne has worked with various ensembles as a guest conductor and educator including the Georgia Brass Band as well as several school ensembles and honor bands. Mr. Horne served as a middle and high school assistant band director at Holcomb Bridge Middle School and Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia where he also led the jazz program. He has also worked as an instructor and clinician across the United States teaching sectionals, private lessons, masterclasses, and marching band at all levels from beginners to university students. He was also a brass instructor for the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently a Doctoral Wind Conducting and Master’s Music Composition student at Michigan State University. He previously attended the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University (GA).
Taylor LaPrairie Taylor LaPrairie currently serves as Assistant Director of Bands at Westlake High School in Austin, TX. Mr. LaPrairie instructs the Westlake Chaparral Marching Band, directs the Symphonic Band and Concert Band, and teaches beginning guitar classes. Mr. LaPrairie started teaching in Eanes ISD in 2019 as the Assistant Director of Bands at West Ridge Middle School before joining the high school staff in 2020. Taylor graduated from Michigan State University where he received his bachelor's degree in Music Education. While at Michigan State, Mr. LaPrairie performed with numerous concert ensembles, including the MSU Wind Symphony. He can be heard on 3 professional recordings by the Wind Symphony and was a part of the ensemble’s 2017 performance at the CBDNA National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. He was also a member of the Spartan Marching Band, MSU Trombone Choir, and the MSU Chamber Winds. Taylor has served as a brass instructor for the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps since 2018. Prior to joining the brass staff, Mr. LaPrairie marched baritone with Carolina Crown from 2014 to 2017. During his time with the corps, Mr. LaPrairie was the featured trombone soloist in 2016, baritone section leader in 2016 and 2017, was awarded the “Brass Member of the Year” in 2017, and served as the Horn Sergeant for the 2017 season.
Tom McGovern is a 2nd year drum major for the Spartan Marching Band going into his 3rd year at MSU. Tom was originally a baritone in the SMB and is a nursing student at Michigan State. He is originally from Rockford, MI where he went to school and played music for 7 years. Tom is very excited to teach at PAC and encourages all students to come and learn from some of the best teachers and staff from all across the country! He also encourages all students to keep music in their lives and continue to get involved!
Gabby Richmond just completed a bachelor's degree in Music Education at Michigan State University and will be student-teaching at MacDonald Middle School this fall. Hailing from Williamston, MI, she participated in PAC as a drum major in high school. Further, she was in the Spartan Marching Band for four years, serving as Band President and Alto Saxophone Section/Squad Leader, and was a member of the honorary band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi. In addition, Gabby is a bassoonist, most recently performing with the MSU Symphony Orchestra. Gabby has a strong passion for equity in music education, leadership and community-building, effective double reed education, and conducting, having taken advanced classes and private lessons in conducting at MSU and participating in the MSU Conducting Symposium. When she's not at the music building, Gabby enjoys taking barre classes, riding roller coasters, watching Gilmore Girls, and spending time with her friends, family, and cat named Persephone.
Ceon Rumphs currently serves as Instructor of Music at Lawrence University, where he is the conductor of the Wind Ensemble and teaches coursework in conducting and orchestration. A native of Texas, Dr. Rumphs began his career as a middle school and high school band director in Fort Worth, where bands under his instruction and leadership earned multiple Superior and Excellent ratings at contest. Dr. Rumphs is a graduate of Baylor University in Waco, TX, where he served as drum major of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band, and Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, where his principal conducting teachers were J. Eric Wilson and Kevin L. Sedatole, respectively.
Marissa Weller graduated from Michigan State in January 2019. While at Michigan State, Ms. Weller actively pursued supplemental coursework in advanced conducting and was a Big Ten Flag in the Spartan Marching Band. As a conductor, Marissa has been invited to participate in conducting symposiums at Northwestern University, UCLA, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, and Michigan State University.
Color Guard Instructors
Emily Rogers has marched with MSU’s Winterguard, State of Art, for three years and was selected as Flag Captain for her final year. As a member of the Spartan Marching Band from 2011-2015, she served as a squad leader for three years and as baritone section leader in her final year. Emily was voted band vice-president in 2015. Emily participated in individual flag competitions for the Michigan Colorguard Circuit from 2005-2011, earning one bronze, one silver, and three gold medals. During the summers of 2011-2015, she was also an instructor at Smith-Walbridge Drum Major Clinics in Illinois. Rogers does project management for the Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN). Emily has a bachelor’s degree from MSU in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on health and society.
Bailey Hardigan is a dance teacher in the greater central Michigan area, teaching dance techniques and choreography to students aged 4-17. Bailey specializes in helping students learn body awareness and care, confidence, and teamwork. She has experience coaching competitive dance teams and helping plan dance concepts and costuming.
Percussion Instructors
Jon Weber has taught the Spartan Marching Band Drumline for the past 20 years. Dr. Weber also teaches applied percussion in the MSU College of Music. He has presented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention on creating a model drumline in the university setting and using rudimental drumming as part of the overall percussion curriculum. University marching bands across the country have performed his arrangements. Dr. Weber has also taught at Oklahoma State University and for the Detroit Pistons Drumline. His students have performed in Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cavaliers, Carolina Crown, The Cadets, Bluecoats, Madison Scouts, Blue Stars, Blue Knights, Rhythm X, Northcoast Academy, East Side Fury, Redline, and many other ensembles. He received his DMA from Michigan State in 2008. Jon Weber is a Yamaha Performing Artist, and a member of the Vic Firth Education Team.
Wayne Bovenschen has been the Associate Professor in Percussion at Oklahoma State University for 30 years. The OSU Concert Percussion Ensemble has been invited to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) twice in 1996 and 2014. The OSU Drumline has also competed in the PASIC Marching Percussion Competition seven times finishing as high as second in 2001 and 2012. Mr. Bovenschen has been active in Drum Corps International as a percussion instructor and arranger with Northern Aurora, Phantom Regiment, Suncoast Sound and Black Gold. Northern Aurora finished 1st in percussion at the 1988 DCI World Championships in Division II Finals. Mr. Bovenschen also performed as a snare drummer with the Cavaliers in 1982 and Phantom Regiment in 1983. Wayne is a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelors of Music Education in 1985 and Master of Music Performance in 1987 and served as section leader/teaching assistant for the Spartan Marching Band Drumline from 1983-1986. He is currently a member of the Vic Firth Education team and OSU is a proud sponsor of Yamaha Percussion, Remo Drumheads and Zildjian Cymbals.
Darrien Spicak is a music educator, performer, and composer who is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Percussion Performance at Texas Christian University. He completed a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education at Michigan State University in May 2019. He is originally from Corpus Christi,TX and has numerous experiences in teaching drumline in the South Texas area. Darrien was a member of the Spartan Marching Band Drumline for three years, spending every year performing on top bass. In 2017, Darrien was the section leader of the Spartan Bassline and was able to compose a bass drum ensemble that was performed at the Percussive Arts Society Marching Festival, earning a placement of 3rd. He also had the honor of receiving the Merritt Lutz award for leadership at the end of the 2017 season. In addition to the MSU ensembles, Darrien spent one summer marching with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps as well as performing with Matrix World Percussion Ensemble in the OIPA and WGI curcuits. He has served as the percussion instructor for numerous schools in Michigan and Texas, and currently serves as the Percussion Graduate Assistant at Texas Christian University. While being an avid performer and educator, Darrien also enjoys composing music. He has written the drum book for numerous high schools as well as for the MSU drumline. He is currently working on various projects involving marching band arrangements, percussion ensemble, and percussion solos.
Dr. Alex Smith is a musician, scholar, and technologist. He is the Associate Professor of Percussion at University of Central Missouri, where he also directs and writes for the UCM Marching Percussion Section, and teaches a graduate course in musicology-ethnomusicology. Smith received his D.M.A. in Percussion Performance at Michigan State University, where he also received his M.A. in Musicology-Ethnomusicology and M.M. in Percussion Performance. At MSU, Smith studied with Professor Gwen Dease and Dr. Jon Weber. Smith received his B.M. in Percussion Performance from East Carolina University studying with Dr. Jon Wacker and Mr. Chris Nappi.
Smith released his first album, Determined Volumes, with pfMENTUM in October of 2020. The album features mostly original compositions for percussion and technology that draw from a wide range of musical practices. One of these pieces, 816, received a Vic Firth “Artist Spotlight.” His second album in collaboration with Joe Basile, TrnslcntTkn, was released with Mother Brain Records in May 2022. Smith regularly performs his original works at the Missouri Experimental Sonic Arts Festival (MOXsonic), for which he is also a director. He is a published composer with Tapspace, and his piece The Building of Asgard was performed by the Michigan State University Percussion Ensemble at their 2017 PASIC performance as winners of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition. His Western classical percussion quartet Without Borders performs regularly, including in Japan, Taiwan, Michigan, Missouri, and as the invited guest artist at the 2020 McCormick Marimba Festival in Tampa, Florida. They will release their first album in Taiwan this year, for which he is also the audio engineer.
In 2005 and 2006 Smith marched with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and has since instructed marching ensembles at the high school, collegiate, and independent levels such as UCM Marching Percussion, the Michigan State University Drumline, the East Carolina University Drumline, Eastside Fury, Green Hope High School, and Okemos High School.
Steve Wulff is an active performer and educator in the Lansing area. He started his career at MSU, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance. As a member of the MSU Percussion Ensemble, Dr. Wulff was often a featured soloist. During his undergrad, he played snare drum on the MSU Drumline, the WGI group Northcoast Academy, and the Detroit Pistons Drumline. Dr. Wulff received a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of South Carolina. While there, he directed and arranged music for the USC Drumline, and served as a snare tech for Palmetto Percussion in WGI. Dr. Wulff earned his DMA degree from MSU. During that time, he assisted Dr. Jon Weber in teaching and arranging music for the MSU Drumline. Currently, Steven directs the percussion programs at both DeWitt and Grand Ledge high schools. He also teaches privately in the mid-Michigan area. You can often hear him play at the Wharton Center for musicals and other performances. Steven is a Vic Firth Artist/Educator and you can find his published music at Tapspace.com.
Amanda Watson is a marching percussion specialist and musician wellness educator. She is the founder of The Well Musician, a company that provides educational clinics on injury prevention, mental health, and inclusive leadership for the marching arts community. As a performer, Amanda has the distinction of being the first female center snare in the history of the MSU Spartan Marching Band, serving in the role from 2011-2012. Additionally, she marched one season with Phantom Regiment but unfortunately sustained a serious hip injury that cut her DCI career short. Combining over a decade of experience as a percussion instructor with her expertise as an occupational therapist, Amanda is skilled at providing high-quality percussion instruction tailored to students with diverse learning needs and skill levels. She is passionate about making the marching arts a safe and inclusive space for all students.
Jack Tallman is a music educator, performer, and composer hailing from Jackson, Michigan. Jack has been a percussionist since age 11, in addition to studying voice and drum set. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a minor in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University. While at MSU, Jack performed as a member of the Michigan State Drumline, Salsa Verde salsa ensemble, Spartan Brass, MSU Symphony Orchestra, University Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, Mbira Ensemble, and more. Jack has performed globally in Taiwan, where the MSU Taiwan Percussion Ensemble won the TPAA World Championship in 2019. Jack also traveled to Austria in July 2022 with the Spartan Marching Band to perform in the Mid Europe music festival. As a performer, Jack is currently a member of the Detroit Lions Drumline, Honolulu Boom. The Honolulu Boom "...are an elite group of high energy percussion artists that provide entertainment to 65,000 fans at Ford Field! The drumline also serves as brand ambassadors and role models to inspire youth within the community. Their mission is to lead fans with their top drumming talent and create an energetic and exciting atmosphere no matter where they go!" Jack is also a member of the Five Lakes Silver Band out of Royal Oak, MI serving in the percussion section. In their 2022-2023 season, the Five Lakes Silver Band won the 2022 US Open, 2023 Dublin Festival of Brass and 2023 NABBA Championships. Jack currently teaches percussion at Hartland Consolidated Schools in Hartland, MI. He serves as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Jackson College where he teaches the JC Drumline. Jack maintains a private lesson studio, and his students have gone on to perform in top ensembles such as the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, Michigan State University Drumline and Michigan State University Percussion Studio. Jack has a passion for educating students as artists and performers. Under his instruction, students build confidence and learn to make intelligent musical decisions. Jack is a proud member of the Vic Firth/Zildjian Education Teams, as well as the Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network.
