Staff
Drum Major Instructors
Glen Brough has served as the Visual Coordinator for the Spartan
Marching Band since 1988. He was the Drum Major of the MSU Band for four
years and has taught drum majors nationwide for over 30 years. He has
also instructed marching with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps
and writes marching drill for numerous bands in the region. Glen is
assistant director of admissions for Michigan State University.
Galen Karriker will begin his ninth year as the Assistant Director
of Bands and Marching Band Director at the University of Akron in Ohio.
Prior to that, he was the Assistant Marching Band Director at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison for five years. Galen is completing his Doctorate in
Wind Conducting at MSU, where he also completed his Masters degree. He has a
BA in Music from Louisiana State University. Galen has served as an instructor
the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as the corps' conductor in
1991.
Chris Owen Chris Owen served as the Drum Major for the Spartan Marching
Band from 1998-2001, a position that only six others in the history of the
ensemble have held as long. Chris assists with the instruction of several
Michigan high school marching bands, and is an accomplished performer with the
signal baton. He is a graduate of the College of Engineering at MSU and currently
works as a civil engineer.
Marc Compton was the drum major of the Spartan Band from 2005-2006. A
former trumpet player in the SMB, Marc is originally from South Haven. He is a
2007 graduate from MSU where he majored in Secondary Education. He is currently a
history teacher and swimming coach at Rochester High School in Rochester, Michigan.
Ian McNabb served as the drum major for the Spartan Marching Band from
2006-2008. His experience as a former Drum Corps International marching member
enabled him to be a valuable instructor with the SMB's visual staff during his
three years of leading the ensemble. Prior to his role as the drum major, Ian
played mellophone in the SMB and Spartan Brass. A native of Grand Rapids, Ian
is completing a degree in Packaging from MSU.
Rachel Linsmeier has the distinction of serving as the second female drum
major in the history of the Spartan Marching Band. Majoring in Music Education,
she is an accomplished trumpet player from Okemos who plays in some of MSU's finest
wind ensembles. Rachel's expertise with the signal baton and movement choreography
have been extremely beneficial to both the Performing Arts Camp and the Spartan
Marching Band during her tenure as the drum major.
Color Guard Instructors
Orlando Suttles has been the Color Guard Instructor with the Spartan
Marching Band since 2002. He has extensive instructional experience in a variety
of environments that includes the Michigan Competing Bands Association and Winter
Guard International (WGI). He is a highly sought-after adjudicator and is the only
WGI judge from the state of Michigan. Orlando is a marketing/customer relations
specialist in the banking industry.
Peter Eichler has an extensive color guard resume which includes performing
with two drum and bugle corps, Carolina Crown and the Glassmen. His winter guard
experience includes membership in Third Edition and Pride of Cincinnati. Peter has
instructed numerous color guards including Carolina Crown, Plymouth Canton Marching
Band, State of Art Winterguard, and the MSU Performing Arts Camp. He is a former
member of both the national and international touring companies of BLAST! Peter is
a Music Education graduate of MSU where he played French horn and mellophone in
several ensembles, including the Spartan Marching Band.
Joshua Benningfield is from Indianapolis, IN where he designs and choreographs
for leading color guards around the country. He was a member of the 2005 world
champion Pride of Cincinnati Color Guard, as well as Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle
Corps. He has instructed the guards from Spirit of JSU and Carolina Crown drum and
bugle corps. Joshua also served as the designer for the 2007 world champion Carmel
High School Winter Guard and the 2008 state champion State of Art Winterguard.
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