RYAN AGARD
Mr. Ryan Agard has been a successful high school band director for 18 years. He was the founding director of the Dawson High School Band in Pearland, Texas proudly serving the community for 11 years. In their inaugural year of 2007, Mr. Agard led the Dawson High School Wind Ensemble consisting of only 9th and 10th grade students to the prestigious Texas Music Educators Association’s Honor Band competition and were named 2nd runner up in the 3A division. They were also TMEA Honor Band finalists in 2011 and 2013 when the band was in the 4A division. Under his direction, the Wind Ensemble has received numerous superior ratings at music festivals and UIL contests, and was even invited to perform at Music for All’s National Concert Band Festival in 2010 and 2013. Mr. Agard has led the Dawson Eagle Marching Band to receive superior ratings at every UIL Marching Band Contest they have attended since the school’s opening and advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest each year eligible. Of significance, they qualified and advanced to the preliminary round of the 4A UIL State Marching Band Competition in 2009. In 2011 they finished eighth place in the finals competition and in 2013 they finished seventh place. Since moving to the 6A division, the band qualified for State in 2014 and 2016 proudly representing the Pearland Independent School District.
Prior to Dawson High School, Mr. Agard was the Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Texas for two years where he also led the Honors Band to perform at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2006 and 2010. Prior to this, he was the assistant band director for five years.
Mr. Agard completed his Music Education degree at the University of Houston. He studied the saxophone with Dr. Karen Wylie and performed in the Moore’s School of Music Wind Ensemble under the esteemed direction of Mr. Eddie Green. In addition, Mr. Agard was a member of the Catalyst Saxophone Quartet, winning several 1st place national awards including the Coleman Chamber Music Competition and the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.
Mr. Agard is a distinguished member in the Alpha Chapter of the International Bandmaster’s Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Band Masters Association, and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. In 2015 he was a presenter at the TMEA convention discussing high school woodwind tips and techniques. He is an currently an active concert band and marching band clinician and adjudicator in Texas. Just recently, he judged the Texas UIL State Marching Band Contest in 2018. After moving on from the Dawson High School Band, his primary focus and renewed passion is helping and mentoring other directors and students realize their vision of success through many consulting and clinics around the state of Texas.
MANNY MALDONADO
Manny Maldonado is the founder and artistic director of MJM Works, a national marching band design and publishing company. Bands performing his wind and percussion arrangements have advanced to Texas UIL State, USBands, and Bands of America finals.
He began writing for the marching arts in 1997 and developed his design approach through direct study with world-class arrangers and drill writers, building a style centered on pacing, effect, and clarity on the field. Manny taught band and percussion at Cedar Park High School and Claudia Taylor Johnson High School, where he helped establish highly successful programs and gained firsthand experience in what makes productions work at every competitive level.
Manny launched MJM Works in 2007 and transitioned to the company full time in 2015. Having spent years in the band director trenches, he understands the financial, instructional, and competitive realities directors face and designs accordingly.
He also serves as a leadership facilitator for SASI, speaking each summer to hundreds of student leaders on building strong, sustainable band programs.
Manny resides in Bulverde Texas, with his wife, Candace, and their two sons, Jameson and Owen. When not working, he enjoys vacationing in Port Aransas, Texas, camping, hiking, and fishing.
GEOFF SPERLING
Originally from Detroit, MI, Geoffrey graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington with a Bachelor of the Arts. Geoffrey has been a performing member, and currently is an alumni of Interplay, Zydeco, and The Pride of Cincinnati Winterguards. In 2011, Geoffrey ended his 8 year DCI career as a performing member with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps where he was a part of the George Zingali "Best Color guard" award-winning cast. Prior to that, Geoffrey was a marching member with the Cadets (2008-2010), Bluecoats (2007), Hawthorne Caballeros (2009), Capital Regiment (2006), Racine Kilties (2005-2006),and The Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps (2004-2005).
After moving to Texas, Geoffrey became an integral part of the design team at Cedar Ridge High School from 2012-2014. During his time at Cedar Ridge the marching band made its inaugural appearance in the Bands of America Grand National Finals, the winter guard made finals at all WGI regional appearances, and medaled in their local circuit. Following his time at Cedar Ridge, Geoffrey directed and designed for the New Braunfels High School Band and Colorguard. During his time at New Braunfels, his design contribution helped lead the band to their highest placement, still to date, within Area D 6A. The winterguard grew to 3 performing ensembles, and was awarded multiple accolades in TECA, TCGC, and WGI (including making finals at the WGI Southwest Power Regional for the first time in school history). Outside of his involvement with scholastic programs, Geoffrey has served as choreographer for multiple drum and bugle corps and winterguard programs across the country. Currently, Geoffrey is one of the executive directors of Origins Winterguard. An Indepencent Open & World program based out of Austin, Tx. Geoffrey serves on the WGI Steering committee and has been a member of the WGI Colorguard Advisory Board since 2018. As a freelance designer, Geoffrey has had the privilege of working with programs such as Hebron HS, Oak Ridge HS, Hanks HS, Pebble Hills HS, McNeil HS, and United HS to name a few. When Geoffrey isn’t off doing pageantry he enjoys spending time at home with his two dogs Artie & Leo and escaping to National Parks to go hiking.
JON YOO
Jonathan is from Houston, Texas, where he provides Electronics and Sound Design, Show Design, and Visual Design. Currently, he is the Audio Caption Supervisor at Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.
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Previously, he was the Associate Director of Bands at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. His responsibilities included coordinating the marching band and conducting Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, and Jazz Band.
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Jonathan graduated cum laude from the University of Houston, where he studied saxophone and music education. During his time there, he was involved with the marching band, concert bands, and jazz orchestra.
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As a performer, he marched with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. His DCI teaching experience includes the Glassmen, Spirit of Atlanta, Music City, Pacific Crest, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Carolina Crown.
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Jonathan is currently a WGI Percussion Visual Effect Judge and has judged for TCGC, NTCA, SCGC, MIA, OIPA, WGASC, GCCPC, CWEA, MEPA, IPA, WGAZ, AIA, and NYSPC.
His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.