Directors
Mark Lortz, Ph.D.
Director of Music and Bands
Dr. Mark Lortz has earned accolades in every facet of his music career as a composer, performer and educator. In the fall of 2011, he was appointed as the Director of Bands at Stevenson University (Stevenson, MD). Prior to his appointment Dr. Lortz was the Fine Arts Department Chair and Band and Orchestra director at Westminster high school (Westminster, Maryland) from 1996-2011. Dr. Lortz earned a Ph.D. in Music Education from Temple University and received a Boyer College of Music and Dance Fellowship. He has earned degrees in percussion performance, music education and music composition from The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.
Gordon Hicken, D.M.
Assistant Director of Bands/Percussion Coordinator
Dr. Gordon Hicken is Assistant Director of Bands and Coordinator of Percussion at Stevenson University outside of Baltimore, Maryland where he teaches Marching Percussion, the Basketball Band, and Introduction to Music History courses. In addition to his duties at SU, Dr. Hicken is a member of the percussion faculty at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. Prior to his appointment at Stevenson, Dr. Hicken served on the faculties of Midwestern State University, Angelo State University, and the University of South Carolina.
Designers
Bobby Jones
Drill Designer
Bobby Jones is a freelance Visual Designer and Program Consultant for a number of marching bands, winterguards, indoor percussion ensembles and drum and bugle corps across the country. For more than 20 years he has designed shows for an extensive number of groups throughout the country, many of them earning championship awards.
Colorguard
Katie Greco
Colorguard Coordinator & Designer
Considered one of the mid-Atlantic’s premier colorguard designers and educators, Katie Greco has been involved with award winning high school and collegiate marching bands, drum and bugle corps and winter guards for more than fifteen years. Having begun her performance career with the nationally acclaimed Westminster high school marching band, she has also performed with the World Champion Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle corps. Currently she is the colorguard coordinator and designer for Calvert Hall High School-College, Chopticon High School, Liberty High School, Westminster High School and the Stevenson University Marching Bands.
Katie lives in White Marsh, MD, and enjoys spending time with her 3 wonderful nephews.
Dance Line
Alexandra Palmer
Dance Line Coordinator
Alex grew up in Howard County, and earned a B.S. in Communication, with a focus in Public Relations, from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 2012. She began dancing when she was 3 years old. She started dancing competitively at the age of 7, and continued through her high school years. In addition, Alex was a part of her high school’s Senior Dance Company, while also playing basketball and lacrosse.
As a freshman, Alex was selected to the University of Maryland Dance Team. She went on to be a member all 4 years of her college career, and was chosen captain of the team her senior year. After graduating from Maryland, she continued to be involved with the Maryland Dance Team – performing duties as assistant coach. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, traveling, and watching the NFL and college basketball.
Instructional Staff
Selena Maytum
Wind and Marching Technician
Prior to joining The U.S. Army Field Band, Staff Sergeant Selena Maytum was a band director at Loveland High School in Loveland, Colorado and Spartanburg High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Brian Thompson
Wind and Marching Technician
Brian Thompson has over 20 years of experience in the marching activity at various levels. As an instructor or designer, he has been part of accomplished ensembles that include two Tournament of Bands championships, one Bands of America Regional championship, and two Drum Corps Associates world championships with the Reading Buccaneers. Brian is a full-time elementary school instrumental music teacher in Carroll County Public Schools and was a 2017 finalist for Carroll County Teacher of the Year. His degrees and certificates include a B.S. in Music Education from Towson University, a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College, and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in School Administration I from McDaniel College.
Nick Franck
Wind and Marching Technician
Nicholas Franck holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Towson University. Nick is currently an elementary instrumental music teacher with Anne Arundel County Public Schools. In addition to his work in the classroom, Nick served on the brass staff of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2019 DCI season. Nick is also an alumni of The Cadets, having marched from 2014 to 2017.
Alex Crowley
Front Ensemble Technician
Alex Crowley has more than 20 years of experience in music, including performance, education, arranging, and production. Originally a cello player focusing on orchestral music, he discovered the marching arts in high school and went on to play percussion in the front ensemble for the Cadets of Bergen County for five years from 1994 through 1999, including 1998 when the corps won its 7th DCI World Championship.
Student Leaders
Keira Billings
Band Leader & Saxophone Section Leader
Jacqi Thomas
Asst. Band Leader, Student Work Coordinator & Trumpet Section Leader
Kayura Gwynn
Flute
Meredith Bedzek
Clarinet
David Hopkins
Mellophone
Rowan Brooks
Low Brass
Michael Middleton
Battery
Sam Ryan
Front Ensemble
Shannon O'Hara
Color Guard
Yoriam Laboy Alvarado
Color Guard
Morgan Simard
Emeralds
Khyecia Hudson-Temple
Emeralds
