staff
Jesse Milhoan
ensemble Director, battery arragner
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Jesse Milhoan is an active percussion educator, performer, and composer located in Phoenix, Arizona. Jesse studied his primary instrument with Dr. Steven Hemphill at Northern Arizona University from 2017-2021, earning his B.M in Music Education. He currently is the Director of Bands at Willow Canyon High School.
Jesse’s educational history includes working with Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps as caption manager of the audio engineering team since 2025, and has also held positions with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps and Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.
Jesse has previously held positions at LINEA Indoor Percussion, Millennium High School, Verrado High School, North Peoria Indoor Percussion, and with the Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Marching Band alongside many other programs.Jesse was a member of Vision Percussion during their 2022 season, helping the group qualify for finals at their WGI Championships debut. He has also performed with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and Arizona Winds Concert Band. Jesse proudly endorses Vic Firth Mallets and Zildjian Cymbals.
Hailey davis
Assistant program Director
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Born and raised in California, Hailey found her passion for the performing arts at Chino High School, performing in the marching band as a tuba player and in color guard. She went on to work in costuming at Disneyland, which began a nearly decade-long journey in costume and uniform management. That experience expanded through five years with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, where she served in multiple leadership roles including Assistant Corps Director, Uniform Manager, and Volunteer Coordinator.
Today, she continues to blend performance and education as a member of ProcesS Independent Winterguard and as a color guard instructor at Willow Canyon High School. With a deep background in performance, design, and leadership, she is dedicated to supporting and inspiring the next generation of performers.
battery staff
shad balot
battery coordinator
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Shad Balot is an active educator and battery arranger in the valley. For over ten years, he has taught various high schools including Mesquite high school, Sandra Day O’Connor High school, and Cesar Chavez High School. He has also taught at Phenom as well as Phoenix Union Indoor.
Besides teaching music, Shad has also arranged music for drumlines around the state and has been an adjudicator for WGAZ.
Shad also enjoys spending his free time playing music, and spending time with his daughter Athena, his wife Alison, and their five dogs. Shad is passionate about music and his awesome family!
ethyn corfield
Co-Battery Coordinator
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Ethyn Corfield is a percussion educator and performer based out of Buckeye, Arizona. He is excited to be returning to the Epicenter Indoor Percussion Educational Team as the Co-Battery Coordinator and Snare Drum Technician.
Ethyn is a proud alumnus of Phenom Soundsport (2016), Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps (2018-2019), The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps (2021), and Breakthrough Indoor Percussion (2022). During his time, Ethyn learned from notable percussion instructors such as Richard Hinshaw, Gary Juarez, Josh Nelson, and Miles Kenobbie.
Ethyn has been teaching since late 2018, working with over a dozen high schools in the greater Phoenix area. Ethyn is currently the Percussion Director for Agua Fria High School in Avondale, Arizona, as well as a Snare Drum Technician for the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in New London, Connecticut. Previously, Ethyn has also taught at Breakthrough Indoor Percussion (2023), and LINEA Percussion (2025), and Epicenter Indoor Percussion since its inaugural year.
Ethyn proudly endorses Vic Firth Drumsticks and Zildjian Cymbals.
Aleksander Kelker
snare technichian
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Born and raised into a world of activities and competition across many different fields, Aleksander has found his greatest passion and success within the marching arts. His marching experience includes organizations such as the Sun Devil Marching Band 23’ 24’ 25’, Linea 22’, Breakthrough 23’ 24’, and Dark Sky 25’ 26’
Aleksander is passionate about giving back to this activity by sharing his experience and helping the community grow in developing their skills, and confidence, while creating meaningful shared experiences within the organization. He is extremely excited to join Epicenter as one of the snare technicians for this upcoming season.
Jeremy reynoso
tenor technichian
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Jeremy was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona where he attended Marcos De Niza High school. Jeremy went on to study music at Mesa Community College and Arizona Sate University - receiving his degree in music Performance. Jeremy has had the opportunity to study with Chris Reidy, Robby Carrillo, Dom Moio, Nick Manson, Lewis Nash, Michal Kocour, and J.B. Smith. Jeremy's marching experience includes ASU Sun Devil Marching Band, Breakthrough Indoor Percussion, and POW Percussion. Jeremy's teaching experience includes 7 years teaching at Marcos De Niza HS (Percussion Caption Head), Breakthrough Indoor Percussion (Quad Tech | 2018 - 2020), Linea Indoor Percussion (Quad Tech), Flux Indoor Percussion (Drumset Tech) and Carl Hayden High School (Front Ensemble). Jeremy also teaches private drum lessons at Scottsdale Music Academy and gigs regularly with a variety of groups and ensembles in Phoenix, Arizona. Some of these groups include: Dayweather, Benja Bloom Band, Jay Allan and the Uncommon Good, The Stakes, LuMar, Sunset Voodoo, Hyperbella, Rene Benton, The Getdown, and many more local artists.
Ross Brotman
tenor technichian
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Ross's musical journey began at Campo Verde High School, where he excelled in top ensembles, honor bands, and jazz groups. He currently plays drumset for churches across the Valley. In marching arts, Ross marched Breakthrough Indoor Percussion and made WGI PIO Finals in 2024 and 2025. His teaching career started at South Valley Jr. High as Music Tech (2021-2022), then Director and Arranger for percussion (2022-2025). He also served as Battery Coordinator at Queen Creek High School (2023-2025) and was their Percussion Caption Head and Arranger for 2025-2026. He is currently the battery coordinator at Mesquite High School and the visual caption head at Crismon High School.
Panch Honne
Bass technichian
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Panch Honne has been a battery instructor based out of Buckeye, Arizona for over ten years. He helped foster Buckeye Union HS into a competitive program alongside his mentor, Dave Coryell. Since Buckeye’s inaugural winter season in 2016, he has extended himself as a bass tech and advisor for other high school programs such as Agua Fria, Verrado, and Youngker HS. He finally decided to take the leap and started instructing independent, spending two years at Linea Indoor Percussion. Panch continues to teach at Buckeye and clinic through the state. As a performer he marched with the Pride of Arizona in 2013.
Graduated with a BA in Communication, emphasizing Social Media and Brand Management with a minor in Hip Hop World Cultures, Panch also spent three years pursuing music education, and music technology such as DJing and live sound reinforcement. Panch holds an endorsement for leadership from the University of Arizona for displaying initiative, emotional intelligence, as well as ethical and inclusive leadership.
Panch strives to build a program/culture that helps his students work hard, learn, and be themselves. He believes that a student’s development should not be confined to the skillset needed to march or play an instrument, but to make well rounded, caring, and motivated individuals. Supporting his students usually extends beyond the marching arts as he prides himself on making his students’ goals his own and helping them get there in any capacity.
Micahel Cristobal
Cymbal technichian
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Michael Cristobal was born and raised in the Phoenix area, where he has dedicated himself to teaching, volunteering, and continuously learning from diverse perspectives across the valley.
With over eight years of experience in the music community and five years as an educator, Michael has developed a deep passion for performance and mentorship. During his performing years, he was a proud member of the Carl Hayden Marching Band (2016–2021), Phoenix Union Indoor (2017–2023), and most recently Linea Indoor Percussion, where he aged out as a performer.
As an educator, Michael has worked alongside a variety of directors across multiple programs, including Carl Hayden Community High School (2022–2024), American Leadership Academy Gilbert (2023–2024), and Younker High School (2024–2025).
Currently, he serves as a woodwind technician during the marching season and a cymbal and visual technician during the indoor season. His commitment to musical excellence and student growth has led his ensembles to top placements, as well as meaningful progress in skill, confidence, and artistry.
Freddy Ochoa
Cymbal technichian
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Freddy Ochoa is a music educator based in the Phoenix metro area whose goal is to provide high-quality music education accessible to all students, regardless of experience, background, demographics, or socioeconomic status. He is currently the Director of Bands at Youngker High School in Buckeye, AZ, the principal saxophonist in the Scottsdale Concert Band, and a saxophonist with the Arizona Winds.
Freddy received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Arizona State University, where he studied with Dr. Christopher Creviston, world-renowned soloist and soprano chair of the Capitol Quartet, and Dr. Jason Caslor, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands and Orchestras at the ASU School of Music. Throughout his collegiate studies, Freddy performed with a variety of groups at ASU, including the Jazz Repertory Band, the ASU Wind Ensemble, and the Virtus Quartet. In addition, he performed with Breakthrough Indoor Percussion and with the ASU Saxophone Choir at the 2020 North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial. On stage, Freddy Ochoa has performed alongside world-class musicians such as Derek Brown, Johnny Huerta, Lisanne Norman, Joe Alessi, and Matt Lennex. Freddy is also a frequent performer with the Scottsdale Concert Band, the Arizona Winds, and with Boom Percussion.
Freddy Ochoa is an in-demand clinician in the Phoenix area and has coached soloists, chamber groups, jazz combos, and symphonic bands at Isaac Middle School, Udall Middle School, Ingleside Middle School, Akimel Middle School, Corona del Sol High School, Carl Hayden High School, Betty Fairfax High School, Mesa High School, American Leadership Academy Gilbert-North High School, Trevor Browne High School, Keller Elementary, and Garden Lakes Elementary. Furthermore, he has served as a judge & clinician for the Isaac School District Solo Festival and as a judge for the AMEA All-Region Auditions. While at Youngker High School, Freddy helped organize and establish the first annual BUHSD Marching Band Showcase and the Buckeye Honors Music Festival.
Freddy is an avid instructor, designer, and consultant in the marching arts in Arizona and has worked with the marching arts programs at Verrado High School, Corona del Sol High School, ALA Gilbert North High School, Carl Hayden High School, Chandler High School, and Betty Fairfax High School. While at ALA Gilbert North, Freddy founded the school’s first-ever competitive percussion ensemble, leading the group to multiple first-place finishes throughout the season and earning the title of 2024 WGAZ PSRA State Champions. He is an active cymbal instructor and has coached multiple high school marching cymbal lines, as well as the cymbal lines at LINEA Percussion and Epicenter Indoor Percussion. Freddy has also served on the WGAZ Advisory Board.
In addition, Freddy also maintains a private studio of saxophone students.
Currently, Freddy Ochoa is the Director of Bands at Youngker High School in Buckeye, Arizona, and an instructor at Epicenter Indoor Percussion. Freddy's professional affiliations include NAfME, AMEA, and ABODA.
front ensemble staff
Albert Avery
Front ensemble arranger
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Albert Avery is a designer, writer, and educator based in California’s Central Valley. With a background that bridges technology, music, and education, Albert strives to create meaningful artistic and community experiences through design, sound, and storytelling.
He holds a B.S. in Business Administration - Computer Information Systems from California State University, Fresno, where his interdisciplinary focus on technology and creativity shaped his approach to digital communication and the performing arts.
Albert currently works full-time at Universal Audio as a Technical Customer Support Specialist, combining his passion for music technology with his expertise in problem-solving and user experience. Outside of his professional role, he is deeply involved in community management and social media engagement, supporting creative and gaming communities with a focus on authenticity, connection, and growth.
In the marching arts, Albert serves as the percussion arranger and sound designer for Clovis High School, the front ensemble arranger for the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band, and the front ensemble arranger and sound designer for Red Wave Indoor, Fresno State’s independent world percussion ensemble. He also works with multiple programs across the Central Valley as a consultant specializing in amplification, electronics, and sound design. In addition, Albert is a designer for Project Rise Music, contributing orchestration and sound design for ensembles across the country.
He continues to contribute to the growth of the Central Valley’s marching arts community through his design and educational work.
Albert proudly endorses Vic Firth Sticks/Mallets, and Zildjian Cymbals.
jaelan kim
front ensemble coordinator
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Jaelan is a proud front ensemble educator from the valley. Since graduating from Perry High School in 2017, Jaelan has taught an array of ensembles all over the state. The list of schools includes Millennium HS, Sandra Day O’Connor HS, Peoria HS, Campo Verde HS, and many more. His involvement in the percussion community lead him to join the front ensemble staff of Vision Percussion from 2022-2025.
Jaelan is a proud alumni of the ASU Sun Devil Marching Band (2017) and Breakthrough Indoor Percussion (2018-2021).
Currently, Jaelan is the Front Ensemble Caption Head and Audio Engineer for Basha High School in Chandler, AZ.
Outside of the Arizona band community, Jaelan spends his time as a Live Sound Engineer for corporate events.
Cayden shope
front ensemble technichian
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Cayden grew up surrounded by music, with many family members playing instruments. He learned piano and guitar before joining school band as a percussionist. He performed in youth symphonies, jazz bands, marching bands, and several winter drumline ensembles. Cayden graduated from Mesa High School in 2021. He has performed with Phenom Soundsport, Flux Indoor Percussion, and most recently Vision Percussion’s 2024 ensemble. He studied Music Education at Mesa Community College and graduated from CRAS in May 2025. Cayden teaches percussion at Williams Field High School and Mesa High School. He enjoys doing audio work, collecting vinyl records, learning new instruments, and giving private lessons.
visual staff
neechelle Takinen
visual designer
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Neechelle is a movement specialist and designer from Phoenix, AZ. She is very active in the marching community, working with over a dozen ensembles each year. She has also worked with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps on their 2014 field show, the Arizona Academy Drum and Bugle Corps 2015-2019, and was on staff with Pulse Percussion for their 2016 season. She most recently worked with Linea 2024-2025 and is on the 2026 Flux visual team.
Neechelle’s performance experience includes 22 years of competitive dance and 12 years of music. She has been a part of many independent marching ensembles, including Mosaic Independent Percussion, Dark Sky Percussion, Arizona State University Indoor Percussion, Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, Breakthrough Indoor Percussion, and Pulse Percussion. She has also made a number of appearances in the Russian Nutcracker and the Snow Queen Ballet.
Austin hall
visual consultant
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Austin Hall is a highly accomplished visual designer, choreographer,
and educator in the marching arts community, known for his dynamic
leadership and creative vision. With nearly a decade of experience
across both scholastic and independent programs, Austin has served in a range of roles from visual technician to program coordinator. His work has shaped the success of ensembles such as Windermere High School—achieving a top-50 national placement at BOA Grand Nationals
and multiple state silver medals—as well as Horizon Winds, where his
choreography and design helped earn several WGI and FFCC accolades. His expertise spans visual technique training, drill design, and program development, making him a sought-after collaborator for groups
nationwide.
Currently the Program Coordinator and Visual Designer at Andrew
Jackson High School in South Carolina, Austin is leading the creation of a comprehensive marching program from the ground up, combining strong pedagogy with cutting-edge design. He has also contributed to the success of numerous other high schools and drum corps, including the Troopers, Louisiana Stars, The Battalion, and Troopers Legacy Corps, where he now serves as Program Coordinator and Drill Writer. Austin's approach blends technical excellence with artistic innovation, inspiring performers and raising the standard of every ensemble he works with.
Klay Dalton
Visual Staff
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Klay is an Arizona native who has been involved with the marching arts activity for over 30 years as a fan, performer, volunteer, and instructor.
Klay spent nine years marching baritone and euphonium with various ensembles throughout Arizona. He marched four summers with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps including the 2006 Division II World Championship season. He has been a visual instructor and drill writer at numerous programs in the Peoria Unified and Glendale Union High School Districts where he helped win multiple visual caption awards. He currently instructs at LINEA (PIO) and has previously taught at NoPo Indoor (PSA).
Klay graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor's in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Social Studies. Outside of the marching world, he works in Marketing at PetSmart and enjoys spending his free time with his wife Ashley and their dog Jasper.