Mrs. Ranee Schmuker
Director of Bands Instrument(s): Clarinet, Flute & Saxophone Marching Experience: St. Augustine High School Regiment, West Jordan High School Marching Jaguars, Southern Utah University Thunderbird Marching Band. What do you do when you're not doing band?: Spending time with my family. I have 4 kiddos of my own at home. Favorite Band Memory: Every day I get to spend with the band is my favorite. We learn and work towards goals together. Advice to the band: |
Cody Schmidlin
Color Guard Caption Head Instrument(s): Guard Marching Experience: Cody is from Gilbert, AZ and has been participating in the marching arts for the past 15 years. Previously, Cody marched with the Puma Regiment (Perry High School), the Pride of Arizona Marching Band (both as a trombone and color guard member), Veracitas Independent Open Winter Guard, and FeniX Independent World Winter Guard. What do you do when you're not doing band?: Cody is a PhD Candidate at the University of Arizona in the Cancer Biology program where he studies skin radio sensitivity. Favorite Band Memory: Performing at WGI World Championships in 2016. Advice to the band: |
Juan Mateo
Visual Caption Head Instrument(s): Percussion Marching Experience: Washington High School 2006-2010, The Pride of Arizona 2010-2015, Veracitas Independent Winter Guard 2012-2013, The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps 2013. ADMINISTRATIVE: PUSD Indoor Percussion 2016-2018; Director 2019 What do you do when you're not doing band?: Working as a Graphic Designer, judging other bands or somewhere down a rabbit hole on YouTube Favorite Band Memory: Winning a State Championship as Director of PUSD Indoor and sharing that moment with my Sister, whom was part of the ensemble. Advice to the band: "We spend over 100 Hours rehearsing every season. What will we have to show for it in the end?" |
Joseph Fraire
Battery Coordinator/Arranger Instrument(s): Snare Marching Experience: 4 years at CDO (2016-2020), POA on snare (2020), Breakthrough Indoor (2019-2020) What do you do when you're not doing band?: Trying not to fail my college courses Favorite Band Memory: Winning a percussion Caption Aware at AZMBA finals my senior year Advice to the band: We all make mistakes, so don't be hard on yourself. Acknowledging your mistakes and trying to be better is one of the best things anyone can do. |
Joseph Branderhorst
Front Ensemble Instructure Instrument(s): Percussion and Trumpet Marching Experience: Buena High School Marching Colts, The Pride of Arizona, and Breakthrough Indoor Percussion What do you do when you're not doing band?: When I'm not doing band, I'm exploring the world of different teas and hanging out with my cat, Finn Favorite Band Memory: It's between winning a percussion captain my senior year of high school and my first band as a member of the Pride where it was pouring all day Advice to the band: Enjoy any amount of time you have making music together, it's truly an experience to be able to indulge in the art of music with others, and you only get so many opportunities to do so at this level. |
Quinton Nickum
Woodwind Caption Head Instrument(s): Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Alto Saxophone Marching Experience: Pride of Mountain View What do you do when you're not doing band?: You can find me cooking the perfect burger or toying around with my computer Favorite Band Memory: Preforming Maslanka Symphony 4 Advice to the band: Spread Positivity and don't take your time for granted! |
Flor Duran
Mellophone Section Leader Instrument(s): French Horn and Mellophone Marching Experience: I started marching for the first time sophomore year on a whim and it totally changed my high school experience. What do you do when you're not doing band?: Outside of band I love singing, playing my guitar, and writing my own music! Favorite Band Memory: My favorite band memory is tired between the infamous brass sacrifices and the performance we did of "Esmerelda" for the State Competition. This is because I was so proud of the community we created and the performance we worked so hard on, it make me feel so lucky to be apart of something like that Advice to the band: I hope we all continue to be passionate, caring, and enthusiastic we can make even better memories! |
Lexi Vance
Saxophone Section Leader Instrument(s): Baritone Saxophone in marching and String Bass in concert band Marching Experience: 3 years of marching What do you do when you're not doing band?: I like playing my bass and playing Minecraft. Usually not at the same time though Favorite Band Memory: Marching my first competition, I don't remember where it was but the adrenaline of waiting on the side to go perform was nothing like I've ever felt before! Advice to the band: Take it all in!! It's cliché to say "oh time flies in high school" but it truly does. It may not feel like it when we're in the middle of rehearsal and our legs hurt and we want to go home but once the season ends, you're going to miss it so much and wonder where the time went. So don't take it for granted :) |
Rylan Lopez
Low Brass Section Leader Instrument(s): Euphonium Marching Experience: 4 years of marching band at CDO. What do you do when you're not doing band?: Playing video games. Favorite Band Memory: Going to state competitions with the entire band. Advice to the band: It's hard, but don't give up. "Pain is mental" someone once told me. |
Zander Dickey
Color Guard Co-Captain Instrument(s): Guard, Alto Saxophone, Violin Marching Experience: 3 years What do you do when you're not doing band?: I am completing a lab research mentorship at the U of A, listening to music, or watching Netflix and eating Favorite Band Memory: My favorite band memory is going to superstate and placing fifth. Everyone was united at that moment, and we knew we had made history at CDO Advice to the band: Join winter guard. Period. |
Jon Abramo
Low Brass Section Leader Instrument(s): Tuba and Trombone Marching Experience: One year of middle school marching band, two years of high school marching band, and training with the Arizona Academy Drum and Bugle Corps What do you do when you're not doing band?: I enjoy playing video games and writing my own music Favorite Band Memory: Scoring 5th at the Arizona State Marching Competition Advice to the band: Be yourself and practice your instrument!! |
Tyler Easterling
Co-captain of the Percussion Section Instrument(s): Mainly Marimba, but I play every percussion instrument Marching Experience: I have marched all 4 years of high school What do you do when you're not doing band?: I make music, I got a job at Wendy's, I hand out with my friends, and play sports Favorite Band Memory: My favorite Band memory would have to be getting 5th in state for percussion last year. That meant a lot to us because we were the smallest percussion group at state, and we preformed well enough to prove the judges that we were a top 5 percussion ensemble in the state of AZ. Advice to the band: My advice to the band would be, sometimes you feel like giving up, and you want to quit and never do band again. If you quit band, what are you going to do? Band is a group of people who love doing the same thing you do. They all wanted to quit, but they never gave into the thought of leaving behind their friends, their instruments, their family. We are a family, we fight battles head on and take the challenges that are thrown are way. So keep your head, be humble, keep making music for you to love, for your family to love. Band isn’t just an extracurricular activity, it’s a family with a bond that will always be stronger that what you think. |
Callie Azersky
Trumpet Section Leader Instrument(s): Trumpet Marching Experience: 3 years of high school marching, attended Academy drum corps camp 2018 What do you do when you're not doing band?: When I'm not in band I enjoy hanging out with my friends and traveling Favorite Band Memory: My favorite band memory is preforming at Super State and the warmup with the brass section right before Advice to the band: My advice is to take risks and put yourself out there, make memories and the people you meet in band will expand your knowledge in music and make high school a lot more enjoyable! |
Michelle Grant
Assistant Drum Major Instrument(s): Flute/Piccolo Marching Experience: This is my 3rd year in the CDO Band What do you do when you're not doing band?: When I'm not in band I'm in soccer and track and field. I also am in our 2 show choirs and I like to paint. Favorite Band Memory: My favorite band memory is probably when we had 2 competitions in one day and won both of them. Advice to the band: My advice is to just be positive and keep pushing through no matter how tough it gets we can all get through it. |
Sophia Thompson
Equipment Manager Instrument(s): Saxophone Marching Experience: I marched in last year's show Esmeralda and a bit in middle school What do you do when you're not doing band?: When I'm not doing band related things I play tennis, dance, and cosplay Favorite Band Memory: My favorite memory from band is when we were at Grand Champ and how much fun we all had Advice to the band: My advice for the band is to take care of your instrument and it will take care of your needs. |
Mason Davis
Secretary Instrument(s): Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax, and Baritone Sax Marching Experience: Four years at CDO Highschool What do you do when you're not doing band?: I hangout with friends, work, hike, and fish Favorite Band Memory: There's just so many! But it has to be my freshman year, and we were at NAU Band Day and I forgot my left glove, so the band boosters found a small white and black mitten and put some black cloth tape on it Advice to the band: Remember that it's more than just about yourself. That every little ounce of effort that you put in, you will be greatly rewarded, no matter what it is you do. |
Sarina Blanchard
Flute Section Leader Instrument(s): Flute Marching Experience: 4 years in High school marching band What do you do when you're not doing band?: Homework and studying or gaming with my friends Favorite Band Memory: Last run of Esmeralda last year when we had fun and took a cool section photo. Advice to the band: Practice over small amounts of time, don't try to do your entire playing test 1 hour before its due |