Meet the Team!

Our 2025 Staff includes these familiar faces from 2024, and MORE! Additional staffing announcements coming soon!

Aaron Morton
ARTISTIC / PROGRAM director

Aaron J. Morton is a full time film composer, music producer, and marching arts designer. He is the lead designer at the Pride of Bixby (2012-Present), the lead composer with Soundbooth Theater, and the Artistic Director of Zephyrus Arts Institute. Aaron marched in the 2008 Colt Cadets and 2010 Seattle Cascades. He has written the scores for numerous feature films, audio productions, and educational programs.

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BRASS

Oscar Ban
Brass Caption manager and Arranger

Oscar Ban is a composer, arranger, and music educator based in Tulsa, OK. Currently serving at the Brass Curriculum Coordinator for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Oscar previously has worked with a variety of different Indiana and Texas band programs including serving as the Associate Director of Bands/Director of Jazz Bands for Guyer High School in Denton, TX. He has also served as a high brass instructor at both Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Oscar marched with Carolina Crown from 2015 – 2017, and marched for four years in the Indiana University Marching Hundred. As a composer and arranger, Oscar began by serving as the Carolina Crown Small Ensemble Arranger in 2016 and 2017 and now arranges for marching band, indoor winds, and completes many original commissions for concert and chamber ensembles through RWS Music Company and his own publishing company, ORB Music. Oscar is a graduate of Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana and received his Bachelors of Music Education with an Instrumental Band and Trumpet focus from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

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Francisco Lopez
Brass caption head

Francisco Lopez is an Assistant Director of Bands for McAlester Public Schools. Mr. Lopez serves as the 6th Grade Band Coordinator, director of the jazz ensemble, and the director of the brass choir. He is from Houston, Texas where he graduated from Heights High School in 2013. He earned an Associates Degree in Music from Blinn College and a Bachelors of Instrumental Music Education degree from the Greenwood School of Music at Oklahoma State University. During his time at Oklahoma State University Mr. Lopez was an active member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha music fraternities. He has also held membership in many professional organizations including the National Association for Music Education, the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, and the Oklahoma Music Educators Association. 

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PERCUSSION

Garett Dwyer
percussion coordinator / Front Ensemble Arranger

​Garett Dwyer is a percussionist, arranger, composer, and educator located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Currently, Garett is the Percussion Director at Union Public Schools and teaches with many different organizations such as Zephyrus Drum and Bugle Corps, Resistance Indoor Percussion, and Music City Drum Corps. He performs with various jazz groups around Tulsa and frequently records for various projects. Earlier in his career, Garett graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, marched two seasons with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and spent time studying at The Juilliard School. Garett has worked with notable artists such as Bootsy Collins and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. In his free time, Garett loves to DJ and spend time with friends and family.

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Mike Hill
Battery Coordinator / Arranger

Mike Hill recently graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) with a degree in Music Education. He attended Union High School and graduated in 2018. Mike was a snare drummer for the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps in 2020 and 2021. He was also a performing member of the OKC Thunder Drummers for the 2018-2019 season. His teaching experience includes being the battery tech for Edmond North High School, Piedmont High School, Putnam City North High School, Deer Creek High School, and has had student teaching experience at Bixby High School for the fall of 2023. Mike has also composed and arranged for the UCO Marching Band and Oklahoma Baptist University. Mike is now currently the Percussion Director for Collinsville High School in Collinsville, OK.

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VISUAL

Travis Smith
C0-visual Caption Head

Travis has been a part of the Union HS Renegade Regiment band
staff since 2011, holding the position of Visual Coordinator in 2021 and 2022, and Battery Coordinator since 2011. He was previously on staff at Broken Arrow HS (2002), Edmond North HS (2000) and Edmond Memorial HS (1999). Travis has worked with the Union Indoor Percussion Ensemble since 2016 where they finished 2nd place in the 2022 WGI Scholastic Open Class.

Travis was a member of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, marching snare in 1998 and 2000, highlighted by a final’s performance in Orlando, FL in 1998. He was also a member of the Black Gold Indoor Drumline in 1996. Travis went to college at Oklahoma State University being a member of the Cowboy Marching Band from 1998-2002 and a part of the OSU Indoor Percussion Ensemble in 1999. Travis attended Union HS in Tulsa, OK, marching in the Renegade Regiment from 1994-1996 and was a member of the Union Indoor Percussion
Ensemble in 1994 and 1997. Additionally, Travis has performed at P.A.S.I.C. with the Union Percussion Ensemble, marched at the Indy 500 Parade and the Disney’s Magic Kingdom Parade. Travis holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration and was the sole owner of Freestyles Sports Bar in Winter Park, CO for 10 years.

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Gavin Strickland
C0-visual Caption Head

Gavin Strickland is a marching music educator from Tulsa, OK. Gavin is in his last semester of a bachelor's degree in music education at Northeastern State University. 2025 will be is his second year with Zephyrus. He spent last year with the brass staff and is moving to the visual team for the upcoming season. He has also spent two seasons with Union High School as a technician.

Gavin recently aged out at The Blue Devils in 2023, securing their 21st championship and 9th undefeated season. He also marched with the Madison Scouts in 2021 and 2022 serving as a mellophone soloist. Gavin started his DCI journey in open class with the Guardians in 2019.

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COLOR GUARD

Caitlyn Fowler
Co-Color guard caption head

Caitlyn has performed for multiple world class organizations in Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International. Her experiences include performing for The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, and Black Gold World Winter Guard.

Caitlyn is the Director of Color Guard Activities for Bixby High School, and has been a guard technician for Broken Arrow, Union, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, and Collinsville Public Schools.  Additionally, Caitlyn choreographs for the Union Indoor Percussion team, as well as Resistance Indoor Percussion. 

This is will Caitlyn’s 4th year as the co-caption head of color guard for Zephyrus Drum & Bugle Corps. 

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AnTonio Palacios
Co-Color Guard Caption Head

Antonio has performed with multiple World Class organizations. He recently finished his last season with the Boston Crusaders, ending the season in 2nd place in World Class finals, winning the Zingali award for Best Color Guard.

Antonio has also marched Zephyrus Winter Guard and Mirage Winter Guard. He has worked as a technician at Union High School and Newcastle High School. 

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Robert Jordan
Color Guard CHOREOGRAPHER

​Robert Jordan is a passionate colorguard instructor, designer, and choreographer with over a decade of experience in cyber marching arts. Having had the opportunity to perform with renowned organizations such as Fantasia Winterguard and The Blue Devils Drum Corps, he has since devoted his career to sharing his expertise with students and instructors from all around the world.

Previously based in Southern California, Robert directed a multitude of programs, refining his skills in design, choreography, and technical program development. Now residing in St. Louis, Missouri, he works as a designer, choreographer, and consultant, collaborating with programs across four countries to make the marching arts accessible to students of all levels and backgrounds.

With a dedication to supporting both experienced performers and beginners, Robert is enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge and experience in various settings. He is committed to helping students improve their skills, establish consistency in their technique, and elevate their overall performance.

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Advisory / CLINICIANS / CONSULTANTS

Alan Mueggenborg
Marching Arts Advisor

Alan Mueggenborg has been involved 40+ years in the Marching Arts as a performer, instructor, visual designer, director, manager, visual coordinator, clinician and adjudicator for some of the most successful programs in the US. Under his design and leadership, these groups have won numerous state, regional and national awards, including 3 BOA Auxiliary and 4 WGI Championship titles. Alan has previously served on the boards of WGI, DCI, Texas Color Guard Circuit and Winter Guard & Percussion of Oklahoma. Alan founded FLASH Visual Media in 2014, providing top-quality printed products for marching arts groups throughout the US. He is currently the Western US Sales Manager for BandToday.com which is a full-service band and color guard supply company.

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Dan Potter
masterclass / LEADERSHIP

​Drum Major of the Geneseo Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 1979-1981, Dan was also on the staff of the Glassmen and has taught or consulted high school marching bands in Indiana, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. Dan is also the recipient of the National Association of Broadcasters 2015 Marconi Award for Medium Market Personality of the Year.  Dan is on the news team for KRMG Radio in Tulsa, and in his personal time, announces for various marching arts events throughout the US.

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Instructional staff:

BRASS
Blake Birmingham
Genevieve Clarkson
Kyle Hamrick
Caleb Jones
Shelby Kifer
Matt Urbanek
 
PERCUSSION
Jack Johnson, Battery
Jason McIntyre, Battery
Micah Strauss, Battery
Chase Gulliver, Front
Shelby Huffman, Front
Devon Johnson, Front
Nathan Siegel, Front

VISUAL
Andrew Thorne

GUARD
Dustin Wilkerson

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MEDICAL

Joseph Aguero - DNP, APRN-CNP

Joseph is a dedicated healthcare professional with a strong foundation in adult cardiovascular care and a passion for advancing health and safety in both clinical and performing arts settings. Known to many corps members as "nurse Joe"  He is a registered nurse of several years since graduating from Tulsa Community College in 2017, and recently earned his APRN credential in adult-gerontology acute care from The University of Tulsa in 2024. Since 2019, he has intermittently served as the camp nurse for Zephyrus Arts Institute’s Drum & Bugle Corps, advising and shaping the Corps health and safety policies.

Joseph also contributes nationally as a new member of DCI's Marching Arts Safety and Health (MASH) group—an initiative of healthcare professionals dedicated to promoting wellness, injury prevention, and safety standards across the marching arts.Though with no background in music, as he often says " the only instrument I know I can play is the Kazoo". He has grown to greatly admire the music over the years and all the physical effort that goes into putting on a marching arts show saying "These corps members aren't just musicians, they are true athletes and should be treated as such." Joseph combines clinical expertise with a unique role in the performing arts community bringing a compassionate, evidence-based approach to every role he takes on for Zephyrus and continues to bridge healthcare and the arts through advocacy, education, and service.

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