Staff

Richard Canter

Director

canterr@cpsboe.k12.oh.us

Richard Canter joined the Walnut Hills High School Instrumental Music Department for the 2015-2016 school year. He received his BA in Music Education ('00) from Bowling Green State University & Masters in Music Education ('06) from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. While at Bowling Green State University, Mr. Canter was active in the BGSU Falcon Marching Band, serving as a drum major his senior year. Mr. Canter's previous teaching positions have included Director of Bands and Music Department Chair for the Finneytown Local School District (2000-2012) and Director of Bands for the Mariemont City School District (2012-2015). Mr. Canter grew up in the Cincinnati area and attended Ross High School.

Mr. Canter is sought after as a clinician and guest conductor. In 2018, he was appointed the music director of the Cincinnati Junior Youth Wind Ensemble at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Over the past eight years, he has presented clinics on band pedagogy throughout the United States, including two presentations at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the University of Oregon Band Director Academy, and music education conferences in Texas, Georgia, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Minnesota, California, Tennessee and Ohio.

Throughout his twenty year career as an educator, Mr. Canter has been an advocate for music education, serving four years as District 14 President of the Ohio Music Education Association. He has a passion for helping students reach their highest goals in music. This passion led to creating the Scale & Rhythm Chunks program, a teaching tool that is used by bands throughout the United States and internationally. The Chunks program is endorsed by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser as "exactly what is wanted and needed... an idea whose time has come." Mr. Canter's honors and achievements include being named Finneytown Local School District Educator of the Year, the Hamilton County "Celebrate Excellence" Award, and being a winner of the Music Educator’s National Conference Music Composition National Competition. Bands under his direction have performed in Indianapolis, Chicago, New Orleans, Walt Disney World, Washington D.C., and Paris, France and have consistently received top honors at Ohio Music Education Association Marching and Concert Band Adjudicated Events. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Ohio Music Education Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, ASCAP, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi.

Mr. Canter resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, Kellie and two children, Lily and Andrew.

513-363-8510

Andrew Peoples

Associate Director

peoplea@cpsboe.k12.oh.us

Andrew Peoples joined the Walnut Hills High School Instrumental Department for the 2017-2018 school year. He is originally from Ocala, Florida. Mr. Peoples received his BM in Music Performance from Stetson University ('03), MM in Music Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music ('05) and Education Licensure from Xavier University ('16).

Upon graduation from CCM, Mr. Peoples began a ten year career as a professional trombonist and educator. While performing nationally and internationally at music festivals and with professional ensembles, he maintained a private teaching studio of up to forty-five weekly students. This teaching experience encouraged him to follow a path to band directing. Prior to his appointment at Walnut Hills High School, Mr. Peoples served two years as Instructor and Assistant Band Director with the award winning William Mason High School Band, while also serving as Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Xavier University.

In 2016 he had the honor of assisting Marie Speziale with a presentation on rehearsal techniques for young brass choirs at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL.

In addition to his work with the Walnut Hills Marching Band, Mr. Peoples directs Beginning Band, Intermediate Band and Symphonic Band and is the Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble Director at Walnut Hills.

513-363-8519

Kendra Wendeln

Visual Caption Head/Drill Writer

Kendra Wendeln has a wide range of experience both playing, arranging and teaching music. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Music in Music Education from Miami University (’04) and a Masters Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Florida State University (’13). She is well versed in several world music genres, including Brazilian and African ensembles, and Steel Pan. Kendra has 8 years of experience as a music educator/director in the band classroom – both middle school and high school. She has over 10 years of experience writing marching band drill and coaching visual programs for bands in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Florida. In addition to serving as the Visual Caption Head and Drill Writer for Walnut Hills, Kendra is the Visual Caption head for the Miamisburg HS Marching Band (2015 BOA Semi-Finalist) in Ohio, and is also a founder and director of the WGI Winds group at Miamisburg HS (2016 WGI Finalist). In addition to her extensive work at Walnut Hills and Miamisburg, she is a visual instructor with Triple Crown Indoor Percussion.

Kendra has a passion for teaching music and movement in the visual caption, and is beyond excited and humbled to be part of the renowned and talented marching band staff at Walnut Hills High School.

Mike Wendeln

Percussion Caption Head

Mike Wendeln has been teaching steelband full-time since 2009, and, minus a few years, marching drumline every year since 2000. Wendeln is the director of steelbands and marching percussion at Walnut Hills High School and at Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati, OH. In addition, he founded the Cincy Steel community steelband program through Purcell Marian. Recent accomplishments include teaching at Leon High School in Tallahassee, Florida for 8 years where the steelband program grew to be one of the largest and most successful in the state. In Florida, he also helped found and direct the first indoor marching ensemble at the school and in 2015 the group was named 1st place in their class in the FFCC Championships. Wendeln has earned a Bachelor degree in Music Education from Miami University and a Masters degree in Percussion Performance from Eastern Kentucky University and was a member of the Miami University Steel Band under Dr. Chris Tanner and EKU Steel Band under Dr. Jason Koontz.

Evan Sasowsky

Front Ensemble Instructor

Evan Sasowsky is a front ensemble fanatic, having begun his career as a marching mallet player at the University of Cincinnati in the Bearcat Marching Bands, under then Assistant (now Associate) Director, Nick Angelis. His experience there quickly inspired him to seek independent marching activities, landing him on a marimba at the Notre Dame Indoor Percussion Ensemble (PIA/PIO) in the 2014 WGI season. This first season would prove to be the impetus that drew him to continue a passion for the marching arts, particularly in the realm of indoor pageantry (WGI). With encouragement from Mr. Angelis at UC, Evan followed his first season of indoor with a season at Tates Creek Indoor Ensemble (PIW, now Triple Crown, PIO), where he was the center marimba player and section leader of the front ensemble for the 2015 season. For his final two seasons as a performer in WGI, Evan chose to march at Rhythm X (PIW), where he played marimba for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, marching for his age-out DCI season in 2016 at the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from San Antonio, TX.

Evan currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is a front ensemble instructor at Conner High School, Lakota West High School, Elder High School, and Triple Crown Indoor (WGI, PIO). In his free time, he likes to play and stream video games, go to the Ohio Renaissance Festival, quote The Office, and play board games with his roommates. This is Evan's first season teaching at Walnut Hills and he is excited to be working with his fellow instructors and the returning and new members for this year!

Mark Becknell

Percussion Instructor

Mark Becknell earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, OH. He is a diverse full time musician and educator in the Cincinnati area and has worked with Mariemont Schools, Walnut Hills High School and Badin High School.

As a full time musician, Mark is currently an active performer in local and regional music scenes as a percussionist and singer-songwriter. In addition to his solo performances, Mark is a member of several projects including The Queen City Silver Stars, Frontier Folk Nebraska and The Klaberheads. Mark also maintains a busy studio schedule playing both drums and percussion for numerous recording sessions of all types.

Kasey May

Percussion Instructor

Kasey May has been active in the marching arts since his 8th grade year, and has followed through with his passion for the marching arts ever since. In addition to this passion, he is heavily involved with music production, audio/video, and marching percussion.

Kasey attended Cincinnati State and currently attends the University of Cincinnati. He has marched with Cincinnati Tradition DCA from 2016-2017, Triple Crown Indoor from 2018-2019, and Madison Scouts in 2018. In 2017, he served as a snare technician at Colerain High School.

Kasey's favorite part about the marching arts is that the activity goes beyond the ideas of music, and focuses on the idea that everyone has potential to be the best they can possible be. It just takes hard work and dedication to doing the right things to become strong enough mentally.

Cha'la Bucalo

Color Guard Caption Head

Cha'la Bucalo has been with the Marching Blue and Gold since 2009, as a performer for five years and more recently as color guard instructor from 2015-present.

While a student at Walnut Hills, Cha'la played flute and bass clarinet in concert band and was a member of the Color Guard in Marching Band. She currently attends the University of Cincinnati as a double major in Psychology and Early Childhood/Adolescent Development. Cha'la has always loved working with kids and wants to use her degree to continue that as a research psychologist.

Cha'la has marched with University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Tradition Drum Corps and The Columbus Saints Winter Guard. Her equipment skills include Flag, Rifle and Saber. Her favorite experience as a performer was in the New Year's Day Parade in London, England.

Hailey Maier

Color Guard Instructor

Hailey Maier is a graduate of Ada High School and is from Ada, Ohio. She started spinning in junior high, and spun in Open and A class in high school. She is a five-time OIPA winter guard champion, three-time WGI regional finalist, and a WGI world championship semi-finalist. Since high school, she has continued to spin in college, in the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands, where she has been a member for two seasons and counting. She has spun one year marching DCI with the Colts, and plans to march with the Colts again for the upcoming summer.

Hailey is also a choreographer & staff member for the Ada High School Winter Guard. She plans on continuing to explore teaching and being a technician at high schools, and is excited to join the staff of Walnut Hills for this upcoming season!

Erica Compton

Flag & Dance Choreographer

Erica Compton attended William Mason High School in Mason, OH and graduated Summa Cum Laude with an Honors Diploma in May of 2015. She is now a commuter student at Miami University; graduating next spring with a Bachelor's Degree in Middle Childhood Education, with concentrations in language arts and social studies. Ms. Compton is also an active member of Alpha Phi international women’s fraternity at Miami.

Ms. Compton began her musical career at the age of 8, taking private lessons on the clarinet, piano, and acoustic guitar. She continued her clarinet abilities through high school - performing successfully in the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble and her high school’s Wind Symphony. Ms. Compton formally trained in dance for 13 years; most notably with Kent State University, Georgia Academy of Dance, Atlanta Ballet, and Dayton Ballet. Her focus was on technical ballet, modern, and jazz. She currently uses both backgrounds to teach and perform in the marching arts.

Erica has marched two seasons with the well-respected Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, and one season with Onyx World. She began her color guard career at Mason in 2011, and performed all four years and eight seasons! Erica has been featured in every guard show she has performed in.

Prior to the invitation to consult with the Walnut Hills Color Guard, Ms. Compton has consulted for many schools around the country! She loves to travel and has a passion for assisting with show production. She held a position on staff for two years at William Mason High School immediately following her graduation, to assist the marching band and winter guard seasons. Her role was to help guide rehearsal, assist in creative decisions, and write choreography. She was the director of the West Clermont HS Color Guard (May 2017-May 2018) and the Hamilton HS Color Guard (May 2017-Present). Under her direction, both groups have successfully medaled at MEPA Championships. She is still the director of the Hamilton High School Color Guard program. Her one year old Sheltie, Frosty, often attends rehearsals and helps out his favorite girls on the field!

This summer, Erica will march with the 18-time DCI World Champion Drum Corps - the Blue Devils - from Concord, CA!

Zack Stump

Woodwind Instructor

Zack Stump joined the staff of the Walnut Hills Marching Blue & Gold as the woodwind tech for the 2018-2019 season. Zack is a member of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra, the Ohio Valley Symphony, and the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. In summer 2017, he toured Japan with the New York Symphonic Ensemble, performing ten concerts in six different cities. He has also been a guest musician with the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida.

As an educator, Zack has maintained a private studio in the Cincinnati area for several years. His students have received top honors at OMEA Solo & Ensemble and have participated in a variety of honor bands.

Zack received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music. He received his Master of Music degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. His principal teachers include James Campbell, Jonathan Gunn and Ron Aufmann.

Zack is a graduate of Finneytown High School in Cincinnati.

Caroline Brendsel

Visual/Field Staff/Woodwind Instructor

Caroline Brendsel is a recent graduate of Wright State University with a degree in music education. She was a member of the Wright State Wind Symphony and the Wright State saxophone quartet during her time there. She is also a 2019 cast member of Rhythm X Winds.

Bryce Allen

Visual Ensemble Instructor

Bryce Allen began working with the Walnut Hills Marching Band in 2016 after having marched as a student for two years. During his time as a marcher he played the trombone in both the concert band and jazz band. Bryce’s favorite band experiences were marching down the Champs-Élysées during La Grande Parade de Paris during his senior year and playing with the Jazz Big Band in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival during the same year. Since 2017, he has served as the Visual Ensemble Instructor for the Marching Blue & Gold.

He currently attends the University of Cincinnati and is pursuing a BS and BA in Psychology. In the future he plans to use his education to start his own private practice.

Having been a student and now a staff member has allowed Bryce to truly appreciate the work that goes into each show. He looks forward to many more seasons with the Marching Blue and Gold.

Lori Ware

Marching Band Liaison

Lori Ware started working with the Marching Band as a parent helper in 2011. She has continued to work with the Marching Band since then and is now the Marching Band Liaison. Her 2 daughters, Skyler (’14) and Ashlyn (’17) were members of the Marching Blue and Gold. Lori has a unique perpective on the band, having been and Marching Band parent and now as a staff member. She accompanies the band to band camp in West Virginia every year and traveled with the band to Paris in 2015.
Lori was born and raised in Cincinnati. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a Bachelor’s degree in Management. Lori worked in Human Resources for many years before leaving the business world to raise her kids and pursue her passion for photography. Today Lori still works as a photographer, photographing all Marching Band events, as well as being the Marching Band Liaison.
Lori resides in Cincinnati with her husband Kevin and their Australian Sheppard Riley. She has 3 children, Skyler (’14) who is currently at CalTech working toward her PhD in Chemistry, Ashlyn (’17) who at OU majoring in Integrated Media, and Zach (’17) who is 3rd Class Petty Officer in the US Navy training to be a Nuclear Engineer.

Ed LeBorgne

Fine Arts Chair

Ed LeBorgne holds a BA in Music Education from Penn State University (1995) and a MM in Percussion Performance from Miami University (2001). Mr. LeBorgne taught in the Dayton, KY school system from 1996 through 1999, and has been teaching in the Cincinnati Public School system and here at Walnut Hills since 2000. Mr. LeBorgne directed the Marching Band at Walnut Hills from 2000- 2006. He served as the drill writer for the Marching Blue & Gold from 2007-2015.

Mr. LeBorgne has a musical passion for Steel Drum music that developed while studying with Dr. Chris Tanner at Miami and he has continued to develop that interest with attendance and participation in Steel Drum workshops and festivals from the Tri-state area, down the eastern seaboard, and down to Jamaica. He performs locally with the group Island Ed & His Fiery Limbo Review. Mr. LeBorgne was the 2002-2003 recipient of the Golden Apple Award for teaching excellence. In addition to his administrative duties, he currently teaches music theory, and band at Walnut Hills.