Staff
Dr. Eric Wiltshire, Director of Athletic Bands, Assistant Director of Bands, and Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education received his Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 2006, and an MA in Music from Washington State University, Pullman, in 1994. Before coming to UO, he was the assistant professor of music at the University of Dayton (Ohio), where he was director of the “Pride of Dayton” Marching Band, among others, and taught courses in marching band pedagogy, instrumental conducting, arranging, literature and resources, and low brass pedagogy. Click here for FULL BIO
Anna Frazer is the Administrative Coordinator of Athletic Bands. She oversees logistics for Oregon Athletic Bands and arranges lodging, transportation, and scheduling. She supervises the band office student staff, maintains bookkeeping records, and coordinates the Summer Music Camps at the University of Oregon. Anna also oversees the website, social media, and historical archiving. She also provides operational support for the Oregon Bach Festival.
Before working for Athletic Bands, Anna was a four-year member of the Oregon Marching Band. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the UO School of Music and Dance in Music Education. Click here for FULL BIO
Scott Barkhurst, the band announcer, retired in 2011 as Director of Publicity for the UO School of Music and Dance, a position he held since 1988. He was a member of the Oregon Marching Band during his undergraduate years, 1964-67, playing flute and piccolo. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, he was in the U.S. Navy Band in Washington D.C. for three years. Barkhurst has been announcing for the OMB since 1998. Barkhurst has been active in local music and theatre groups, appearing on stage or in the orchestra pit for nearly 40 productions, including West Side Story, Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Crazy for You, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, and as the Voice of Audrey II (The Plant) in Little Shop of Horrors.
Percussion Staff
Micah Brusse is the Director of Marching Percussion for the Oregon Marching Band. He has been studying percussion for twenty years and has been teaching for over ten. Brusse performed with the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps in Concord, California in 1995 and 1997. He has served as the snare technician for the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps in Denver, Colorado, and the Blue Devils. Brusse was also among the instructional staff for the Oregon Crusaders as well as the battery coordinator for the independent winter percussion ensemble, OC Indoor. Over the years Brusse has worked with James Campbell, Ralph Hardimon, and Scott Johnson among others. He is honored to be endorsed by Yamaha Corporation of America and Offworld Percussion in addition to being a member of the Vic Firth Education Team.
Devin Bretz is a member of the percussion staff at the Oregon Marching Band specializing in Batterie Percussion. Devin joined the OMB as a member in 1995 and was a field technician in 2000 and 2001. After teaching Marching percussion at several high schools in the northwest, he returned to Eugene in 2013 to rejoin the percussion staff.
Luke DeDominces has been on staff with the Oregon Marching Band since 2016 as both Front Ensemble Arranger and Instructor. Having lived in the Portland area recently as well as Eugene, Luke has had the opportunity to teach and write for many Oregon High School programs, including Southridge HS, Beaverton HS, Glencoe HS, Tigard HS, Rex-Putnam HS, Willamette HS, Sheldon HS, and is currently co-arranger and instructor for the world-class independent percussion ensemble known as OCI. Luke has a Bachelors in Music for Percussion Performance from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, and a Masters in Music for Percussion Performance from the University of Oregon and has also taught and arranged for several Washington high school bands including Kamiak HS, Sumner HS, Bonney Lake HS, and Auburn HS. As a performer, Luke has been a part of the Cascades Drum Corps, Phantom Regiment Drum Corps, OCI, Portland Wind Ensemble, Vancouver Symphony, and the Salem Symphony.
Color Guard Staff
Jennifer Freeman is the Color Guard Director for the Oregon Marching Band. Jen studied Elementary Education at the University of Oregon, where she marched with the Oregon Marching Band. Jen began teaching at Roseburg High School, Sunset High School, and Sheldon High School while she was at UO. She has worked with Grants Pass High School, West Salem High School, Evergreen High School, Summit Independent Winterguard, and Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps. Jen is a highly effective teacher, leading many of her groups to earn respect and awards throughout the Northwest.
Beth Murray is the rifle technician and choreographer for the Oregon Marching Band Color Guard. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the U of O School of Journalism with a focus on News Journalism and Communication Studies and is a former member of the OMB Color Guard. She has worked with various color guards around the country including Downers Grove South H.S. in Downers Grove, IL, Chesterton H.S. in Chesterton, IL, Highland H.S. in Highland, IN, Sprague H.S. in Salem, OR, and the Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.
Graduate Staff
Sam Villarreal is a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Music Education in 2010. Prior to attending ENMU, Sam was a biology major at Texas Tech University. During that time, he was a member of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland, eventually rising to the rank of color guard captain. He spent the last 13 years in public education, with a focus teaching middle school and high school bands, plus occasional stints in mariachi, guitar, elementary music, and middle school science. In addition, he has been the drill writer for the ENMU Greyhound Sound since 2010. Sam is an alum of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps of Casper, WY, and the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps of Rosemont, IL.
Malcolm Stewart is pursuing a Master of Music in Wind Conducting, studying under Dr. Dennis Llinás. Malcolm was the Director of Bands & Choirs at Anclote High School in Holiday Florida, prior to coming to the University of Oregon. He was an active clinician in the local school districts and taught a private woodwind studio. Malcolm also served as the Associate Conductor of two community bands in Dunedin Florida. Recently, Malcolm has been appointed a board member of the Graduate Wind Conductors Association. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of South Florida located in Tampa Florida. During his undergraduate studies, he was an active saxophonist in the concert ensembles and vocalist in the choirs.
Micah Laird is a graduate of Northern Arizona University where he obtained a degree in Instrumental Music Education as the Outstanding Senior in the School of Music. At NAU, Micah was an active member of the school of music, performing with many instrumental and vocal ensembles including the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. While in college, Micah also toured the country with the World Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in 2015 and 2016. Micah lived and taught in Blue Springs, Missouri where he was the assistant director of bands at Brittany Hill Middle school and an associate director of bands for the Golden Regiment Marching Band from Blue Springs High School. In addition to his public-school teaching, he was on the instructional staff for the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2022 and the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Micah is also a part of the administrative staff for the Ad Astra Music Festival based out of Russell, Kansas. This is his second year at the University of Oregon working towards a graduate degree in Wind Conducting, studying under Dr. Dennis Llinás.
Student Staff
Liam Spiegel – Uniform Manager (Winds/Percussion)
Andrew Zilar – Winds Equipment Manager
Alyssa Patterson – Color Guard Uniform
Madison Hotchkiss – Color Guard Equipment Manager
Dawn Harrison – Photographer
Sam Dennis – Videographer
Volunteer Staff
Tom Emerson – Photographer
Barry Barreau – Gameday Meal Support
Seasonal Tech Staff
Aaron Yewman, Bass Drums
Kat Chapman, Cymbals
Chandler Larsen, Snares
Byron Hall, Battery
Russ Berger, Tenor Drums
Jessi Vaughan, Front Ensemble