Our Staff

Matt has been teaching marching percussion for the last 17 years, and holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music from Messiah College. He was the Band Director at Central Dauphin High School from 2013-2019, and has taught drumline at Camp Hill HS, Lower Dauphin HS, Central Dauphin East HS, and the University of New Mexico. Matt has been the Percussion Director at Hempfield since 2020, and has served on the WGI Board of Directors since 2023. He is also the President of KIDA and has served on the board since 2018. Outside of band, Matt runs several small businesses with his wife and spends time at home with their two sons.

Reed is grateful to have been a part of the growth over the last 5 years with Hempfield. His experience as an educator over the last decade consists of working with Central Dauphin HS, Lower Dauphin HS, West Shore SD, Lexington HS (SC), Cadets2, The Cadets, Spirit of Atlanta, Reading Buccaneers, Cadets Winter Percussion, United Percussion, George Mason University, Towson University, and other independent consultations. Along with his teaching experience, Reed specializes in audio reinforcement for the marching arts. Outside of band, he loves spending time with friends and finding the best vegetarian meals at local eateries.

Taylor (also known as Samson) is excited to be back for year number 4 with Hempfield, where he's served as Battery Coordinator since 2023. Prior to joining the HIPE staff, he taught the Central Dauphin Indoor Drumline for 14 seasons, contributing as bass tech, drill writer, visual designer, and even director. Taylor's time with Central Dauphin and Hempfield has led to 6 WGI A Class Finals appearances, a stat he is extremely proud of. His previous marching experience includes Lampeter Strasburg HS, Lebanon Valley College, Aftermath Indoor Percussion, and Penn State Indoor Drumline. Currently, he plays bass drum in the Philadelphia Eagles Drumline. Go Birds!

Julia has had a passion for cymbals since her time as a student at Hempfield High School, where she was an active member of the percussion program for six years. After graduation, she began sharing her knowledge as a cymbal instructor at Conestoga Valley High School before returning to her alma mater to teach the cymbals for the past three years. Julia is committed to helping her students develop their skills and achieve their goals, and her dedication and enthusiasm have made her a valued member of the HIPE team. Outside of band, Julia works as a metrologist (not to be confused with meteorologist) at a local laboratory.

A Grammy-Nominated audio engineer and seasoned musician, Bryan is a passionate percussionist who has been actively involved in the marching arts for many years. He began his journey as a member of the Central Dauphin HS drumline and went on to march with Cal U of PA, Penn State Indoor Drumline, and the Hawthorne Caballeros. Bryan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, having taught at Central Dauphin High School before joining the staff at Hempfield. This year marks his second as a member of the HIPE team, and his dedication and enthusiasm when teaching the snares has helped them excel to new heights.

Ray is a seasoned percussionist, having marched at Cedar Crest HS and various drum and bugle corps including Belvederes, Troopers, and Crossmen. He has contributed to the success of multiple high school drumlines, having previously taught at Lebanon HS, Northern Lebanon HS, Biglerville HS, Mechanicsburg HS, and Conestoga Valley HS. Currently, he teaches at Cedar Crest HS and Hempfield HS, where he continues to instill his passion for percussion in his students. With his extensive background in the activity, Ray has been a huge asset to every group he's been a part of.

A dedicated Hempfield HS alum, Kevin is returning for his second year on percussion staff. He is a full time student at West Chester University, where he majors in music education. In addition to having played tenors here at Hempfield, Kevin has also marched on the West Chester University Incomparable Golden Ram Marching Band tenor line for the 2022 and 2023 football seasons.

Lexi is excited to be back at HIPE for a second year, making this her eighth overall year as a percussion instructor. During high school, Lexi marched in the battery at Central Dauphin HS and continued as an audio technician, front ensemble coordinator, and even director at her alma mater. Between both schools, she has contributed to five WGI A Class Finals appearances as well as local success in Open Class. When not teaching drumline, she enjoys spending time with her dogs and works in the marketing department at PSECU.

Devon brings a diverse skillset to the ensemble in his second full year with HIPE. After forming a passion for the marching arts at Central Dauphin HS, he developed his teaching skills by working with the front ensemble at Lower Dauphin HS and with kids of all ages at summer camps and community centers throughout PA. Not only will you find him working with our mallet percussionists, but also behind the camera, where he puts his BA in Communication from Penn State to use as HIPE's social media manager. Outside of band, Devon works at BrandNerd, a local web marketing agency, and as a freelance photographer.

Conner has been involved in the marching arts for well over a decade. He started out at Eastern York HS and continued his percussive journey at Lebanon Valley College. Conner has a wealth of teaching experience, having worked with various ensembles in PA, including Northeastern HS, Central Dauphin East HS, Eastern York HS, Conestoga Valley HS, and First Capital Drumline before joining the Hempfield staff three years ago. When not at band, you can find him spending time with his wife, their three-year-old son, and their two dogs and three cats.

Having gotten her start right here at Hempfield, Jackie is excited to be back at her alma mater for her second year of teaching the front ensemble. Jackie is also spending this indoor season playing vibraphone in George Mason University Indoor Drumline's 2024 production, "The Devil You Know." Make sure to catch her in Dayton competing among Percussion Independent World ensembles from all over the country! In addition to her passion for the marching arts, she is a full time tattoo artist at Adorned Tattoos.

Having spent many years in colorguard, Miranda brings a wealth of visual experience to the HIPE team. She marched in a multitude of ensembles all over the east coast, including Central Dauphin HS, Cadets2, Cadets Winter Guard, Field of View, Carolina Crown, and George Mason University. As a dedicated educator, Miranda has worked with Central Dauphin HS, Conestoga Valley HS, West Shore SD, and Towson University. Miranda has been teaching visual at HIPE for four seasons, where she leverages her extensive marching arts experience to push the ensemble to new heights. Outside of band, you can find her in the classroom working as a kindergarten teacher.