2019 WGAZ May Membership Meeting and Board Nominations
On Sunday, May 5th, WGAZ will hold its May membership meeting at Williams Field High School from 1 - 3 pm. During that meeting, the membership will vote on the positions of Color Guard Liaison, Percussion Liaison, Secretary, and Vice President. Prior to the meeting the advisory board will meet from 11 am - 12:30 pm. The advisory meeting is open to all membership.
Schedule:
11:00 - 12:30 | Advisory board (All members welcome)
12:30 - 1:00 | Break and snacks
1:00 - 3:00 | Full membership meeting
Nominee Bios:
Color Guard Liaison:
- Brandy DuBose
- Brandy DuBose is the director for the Arizona State University Sun Devil Color Guard. Brandy was born and raised in Texas, where she attended Texas State University-San Marcos as a Dance Performance major, and also taught the Bobcat Marching Band Color Guard and
Millennia Independent Open Winterguard for 11 years. In Texas, she taught the Seguin High School color guard for 10 years, from 1995-2006. After moving to Arizona in May 2006, Brandy began working with Arizona State University Marching Band.
Brandy is currently the Director for the World Class Fenix Independent Winterguard and Corona del Sol Winterguard programs. Brandy has served as Caption Head for other organizations such as Tarheel Sun DBC (1998-1999), The Academy DBC (2008-2010), and Blue Knight DBC (2013-2018) as well as a member of the Colorguard technician staff for the Santa Clara Vanguard DBC (2001-2002). She marched in the Colorguard at Phantom Regiment DBC (1993-1995) as well as a member of the Nouveau (IA), Speakeasy (IA) and Ascension (IW) Winterguard programs. While in Texas Brandy served as the Vice President for the Texas Color Guard Circuit for 5 years and sat on the WGI Advisory Board for 5 years representing Fenix Independent. In addition to her involvement with ASU, she is currently the Colorguard Liaison for the WGAZ circuit. DuBose currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with her loving family Wardell and Miles King
- Brandy DuBose is the director for the Arizona State University Sun Devil Color Guard. Brandy was born and raised in Texas, where she attended Texas State University-San Marcos as a Dance Performance major, and also taught the Bobcat Marching Band Color Guard and
Millennia Independent Open Winterguard for 11 years. In Texas, she taught the Seguin High School color guard for 10 years, from 1995-2006. After moving to Arizona in May 2006, Brandy began working with Arizona State University Marching Band.
Percussion Liaison:
- Peter Wood
- After a bad stint with the clarinet Peter made the switch to percussion, and since that time there has been no looking back. For the past 4 years, Peter has had the pleasure of serving the Arizona percussion community as the WGAZ percussion liaison, and would love to have the opportunity to continue to serve in this capacity. Peter is always looking for opportunities to bring added value in educational situations for our membership from the elementary groups all the way up to the Independent World class ensembles. This line of thinking prompted both the format change to the eval show 4 years ago, as well as the addition of the annual Spark event. In addition to being on the board for WGAZ, Peter also serves as the AZPAS Fall Day of Percussion Coordinator, is the Arizona Ambassador for the Arcadia Music & Arts Symposium, and is the percussion caption head at Williams Field High School. Outside of the band world, Peter owns and operates an American National insurance agency, and has an amazingly supportive, beautiful, family consisting of his wife Cassandra, and their two (soon to be three) boys Collin, Peter, and he who shall not yet be named.
Secretary
- Mellanie Risch
- Mellanie Risch was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She currently resides in San Tan Valley, AZ with her loving husband and daughter. She has been involved with WGAZ as a performer, technician, director and choreographer since 2004. She Marched with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps for 5 years and also marched as a founding member of FeniX Independent Winterguard (IW, IO) for 5 years. In college, Mellanie marched with the colorguard at Arizona State University, where she also received her Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies.
Mellanie worked with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps for 2 years as a colorguard technician and weapon specialist. She works with The Academy Summer Youth Guard and has recently joined the staff for the Phenom Soundsport Colorguard. Mellanie is currently the Colorguard Director at Mountain View High School in Mesa, AZ and has called this program her home for 9 years. She will be starting her 5th year working with the Arizona State University Marching Band and Colorguard this fall, and is excited to return to FeniX Independent as a colorguard technician and weapon specialist for her 5th year. Mellanie has also taken on the role as the director of FeniX Independent A.
Mellanie is looking forward to serving the WGAZ community and giving back to an activity that has done so much for her.
- Mellanie Risch was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She currently resides in San Tan Valley, AZ with her loving husband and daughter. She has been involved with WGAZ as a performer, technician, director and choreographer since 2004. She Marched with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps for 5 years and also marched as a founding member of FeniX Independent Winterguard (IW, IO) for 5 years. In college, Mellanie marched with the colorguard at Arizona State University, where she also received her Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies.
Vice President
- Thien Pham
- Thien grew up in Gilbert, AZ where he was a member of the Gilbert marching band as drum major and a member of the percussion ensemble. He attended Arizona State University where he marched in Sun Devil Marching band while working on his degree in International Business and Sociology. Thien marched with The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Momentum Percussion Theater, Arizona State University and aged out at Riverside Community College. Thien has been active with several Arizona programs being on staff at Basha High School, Casa Grande Union High School, San Tan Junior High, and Williams Field High School. He was on staff with The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps from 2010-2016 as a cymbal tech and tour assistant manager. He is currently the Operation Manger/Tour Manger for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He is also on the championship committee and time and penalty for AzMBA as well as a contest administrator for SC-PA. Along with being an active instructor in Arizona, Thien has also been very active with WGAZ serving as championship committee, scholarship committee, secretary, and as vice president currently.