Julia Coleman

Wind and Percussion Design

Originally from Erie, PA, Julia has been involved in the marching arts since 1998. Julia was classically trained in piano from a very young age, has played euphonium for 20 years, and has taught percussion for over a decade. Julia has performed with several marching groups across the country including Phantom Regiment of Rockford, IL, Empire Statesmen and Rochester Crusaders of Rochester, NY, White Sabers of Dansville, NY, and Presque Isle Percussion of Erie, PA.

Julia has most recently served as the Front Ensemble Caption Head for Weber State Indoor Percussion and Riverton High School. She has been teaching and arranging for bands and front ensembles in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Utah since 2006. Julia attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she played baritone in the Pitt Panther Marching Band and euphonium in the concert band. She has since graduated from Penn State with an Associates Degree in Nursing.

While not working as an nurse or entertaining her music hobby, Julia enjoys running and paddle boarding. Julia currently resides in Utah with her husband, Ed and their dog Murphy.

Mitchell Barnard

Percussion/Electronic Design

 Mitchell Barnard is a musician and educator who currently resides in Ogden, Utah. Mr. Barnard is the Percussion Director at the Davis High School, Front ensemble Caption head at Gold Spike indoor percussion, and Battery Instructor for the Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps. Under his direction since the winter of 2011, Davis’ Indoor Drumline has won seven Intermountain Percussion Association Championships.

Over the years, Mr. Barnard has marched for many ensembles including the Utah Jazz Drumline, Junction City Hybrid Indoor Drumline, University of Utah Drumline, where he served as Section Leader, Weber State Indoor Percussion, the Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps. During this time, he had the privilege of studying under such educators as David Reeves, Kevin Welborn, Matt Little, Chris Grant, Nick Molenda, Derek Fields, Ryan Sinner, Danny Soulier, Michael Sammons, and many others.

Over the years, Mitch has instructed numerous ensembles around northern Utah and was a Battery Instructor for the Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013. He has also served as guest clinician for several area percussion ensembles and was the Battery Percussion Clinician for the 2012 Utah Music Educator’s Association Summer Marching Band Clinic.

Mr. Barnard is also an active arranger and sound designer. He has arranged percussion for groups all over Utah including the University of Utah, Weber State University, and Utah Valley University Drumlines. Mr. Barnard is a professional arranger of indoor percussion shows and is the Percussion Designer for the Davis High School Marching Band and Indoor Percussion Ensemble.

Tyler Hess

Visual/ Percussion Design

Tyler Hess is a musician, educator, and designer residing in Ogden, Utah. In 2008 Mr. Hess began his teaching career when he took the job as Percussion Caption Head at Bonneville High School. Under his direction Bonneville grew from obscurity into an award-winning ensemble, winning multiple Outstanding Percussion trophies in the Utah marching band circuit. In 2010 Mr. Hess accepted the position of Program Director for Weber State Indoor Percussion. Since then, Weber State Indoor Percussion has grown from a small ensemble into a flagship program in the Intermountain Percussion Association, winning two WGI Regional Championships and four Intermountain Percussion Association Championships. Mr. Hess now takes this heritage into the future as Weber State Indoor Percussion competes as Gold Spike Percussion.

Mr. Hess has served as a clinician and instructor for numerous high schools and performing arts organizations throughout the intermountain region. Mr. Hess currently serves as Director of Performing Arts Weber, an arts and education based non-profit in Ogden, UT. He also serves as Percussion Supervisor and Visual Designer for the Weber State Wildcat Band, Battery Instructor and Program Coordinator at Davis High School, Program Director and Visual Designer for Gold Spike Percussion, Percussion Consultant for Roy and Riverton High School, and Tour Manager for the Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Hess is a member of the Board of Directors for the Intermountain Percussion Association and is an active clinician, instructor, consultant and designer. He dedicates his time to expanding educational, performance, and competitive opportunities for percussionists in the Intermountain West region.

Mr. Hess is a proud endorser of Pearl/Adams Percussion, Pro-Mark Drumsticks, and Evans Drumheads.