Instructional & Design Staff

Dr. John Leonard is currently the Assistant Director of the University of Minnesota Marching Band. John studied at University of Massachusetts at Amherst where in 2002 he earned a Bachelor of Music in Education degree and a 2013 Masters of Music in Jazz Composition and Arranging degree. He has previously served as the athletic band director at Northeastern University and the interim Director of Athletic Bands at Western Michigan University. A Master of Music in Conducting degree was earned from Western Michigan University in 2018. His doctoral conducting work was completed at the University of Kansas in 2021.

Michael J. Miller is a composer and arranger living in Nashville, TN. His works for concert band, orchestra, and chamber ensembles are available from Alfred Music, Carl Fischer Music, F.J.H. Music, Excelcia Music, Murphy Music, R.W.S. Music, and Tapspace. Michael's music is regularly performed nationally and abroad, including recent performances at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, and the Jeju Composition Competition for Wind Ensemble in South Korea.​

Michael is currently the brass arranger for the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps from Dubuque, IA. He also designs competitive pageantry shows for indoor and outdoor ensembles across the United States through a partnership with Synced Up Designs. His music for college band has been performed at the Super Bowl as well as at numerous B.C.S. bowl games.

Paul Glader is an active educator, performer, and composer/arranger in the Greater Cincinnati area. Born in Akron, Ohio, Paul is a graduate of Ellet High School and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s of music in education. He has taught band at Gray Middle School (Union, KY), Taylor High/Middle School (Cleves, OH), and in the New Richmond school district. As an arranger and composer, he has written for beginning bands, high school bands, and collegiate bands in the region, as well as regularly writing for his own brass band, The Cincy Brass. Paul is an active performer on saxophone in The Cincy Brass, The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, The Blue Water Kings, and also does freelance work.

Gabriel Beebe is a self-taught hobbyist arranger and music performer born and raised in the Cincinnati area. Gabe is a graduate of Clermont Northeastern High School and attended the University of Cincinnati (A&S Class of 2024) to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Information Technology and Communications).

In the high school’s band program, he took an interest in music theory, arranging, and score-study under the mentorship of director Chris Moore. He arranged pieces that the band performed in the stands at football games, on the field for halftime, and music that was performed in parades at Disney’s EPCOT. While at UC, Gabe played Saxophone and Tuba across his 5 years of participation in the Bearcat Marching Band and various concert bands. Gabe arranged music that was played by the Marching Band, Advanced Concert Band, and spring Saxophone Ensemble.

In addition to his work with the Bearcat Bands, Gabe is a sister of Tau Beta Sigma (Theta Chapter, L’ZabaSegwaga…………………Bloop Class of 2021) and a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Eta-Omicron chapter, Alpha Gamma Class of 2021) where he served a variety of leadership roles across both organizations. Gabe works full-time as an I.T. Coordinator and technical support specialist in Cincinnati, while spending much of his free-time growing as a musician and arranger through self-teaching and freelance projects.

Brian Soules has over 30 years of experience in the pageantry arts. He designs, judges and consults for high school and college marching bands throughout the region and nation. He is a professional educator currently serving as a social studies teacher at Boone County High School (KY).

Currently with the Cavaliers, from 2012 to 2018 Brian was a member of the Carolina Crown visual staff where he helped Crown win the DCI World Championship in 2013 and the John Brazale award for best visual performance in 2012, 2013, 2016.

Prior to working with Crown, Brian has also worked with several other Finalist corps including the Bluecoats (1999-2000, 2008-2011), the Santa Clara Vanguard (2002-2006), and the Crossmen (1995-1998).

As a performer, Brian was a mellophone in the Star of Indiana drum and bugle corps from 1987 to 1993 winning the DCI World Championship in 1991. Brian also was a member of the 1993 San Jose Raiders winter guard winning the WGI Independent World Class Championship that season.

See bio under "Winds"

Bio coming soon

Bio coming soon

Bio coming soon

Bio coming soon

Originally from New Berlin, WI, Heather Graham currently resides in Miamisburg, Ohio. Heather has been involved in the marching arts since the age of three, beginning with a successful career in baton twirling and rhythmic gymnastics. Heather was recruited by her high school guard at the age of 12 and has since been performing in the color guard activity. While continuing to be a consistent member in the activity, she graduated from the University of Milwaukee with a degree in Communications and a minor in biology.

Heather is a proud alumni of drum corps, performing in 2010 with Phantom Regiment, and in 2011 and 2012 with Carolina Crown. She marched five years with New Berlin Eisenhower HS, six seasons with Velocity Winter Guard, and five seasons with the Pride of Cincinnati 2013-2017.

Heather currently serves as the Colorguard Director for Miamisburg High School and Choreographer for the University of Cincinnati. She has instructed various marching programs across the Midwest, including Eisenhower HS, Franklin HS, Friendswood HS, Marcus HS, Miami University, Northmont HS, Origins, Sycamore HS, Troy HS, Westerville HS, Shadow DBC, Virtual Drum and Bugle Corps, Calgary Stampede, INspire, as well as the 2016 Carolina Crown.

Currently, Heather is a designer/choreographer and head technician for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps and has served in this capacity for the past four seasons.

Celeste Cooning is new to the UC Marching Band’s color guard staff this year. Born and raised in Indiana, her love of all things color guard led her to march with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps for five summers. She went on to study painting and drawing at Indiana University Bloomington and then moved to Seattle for a M.F.A. at University of Washington. Her professional studio practice encompasses large-scale installations, public and private sculptural commissions and performance collaborations with dancers, choreographers, musicians and playwrights. As a dedicated artist and educator, Celeste is driven to nurture all types of creative expression as a means for cultivating hope, curiosity and imagination.

Jessica marched Star of Indiana’s last year on the field in 1993. She spent 5 years performing with Star of Indiana’s  Brass Theater (94-98). She marched one year with the Pride of Cincinnati Winterguard in 1996. Jessica has previously taught high school band and winterguard in the tristate area. Last year was her first year working with the UC Bearcat Band.

Jessica holds two Master’s degrees in Education in Instructional Leadership and a Director of Special Education certification. For 24 years, Jessica has worked in a Northern Kentucky Independent School District as preschool teacher, an instructional coach/consultant,  special education teacher and Preschool Coordinator. 

Jessica is on the Board of Directors for The Pride Youth Development Foundation because it serves youth with opportunities of athleticism and excellence in the performing arts. She resides in Verona, Kentucky with her husband and son.

Mr. Greg Mills is a native of Tennessee where he attended Bolivar Central High School and graduated cum laude from The University of Memphis in 1978. As a music educator, Mr. Mills taught at Briarcrest High School in Memphis, Tennessee, Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and retired in June of 2012 after thirty years as Director of Instrumental Music at Kings High School. Concert and Marching Ensembles directed by Mr. Mills consistently garnered Superior Ratings and won many competitions during his thirty-five year career. Mr. Mills also conducted the Cincinnati Youth Brass Band for four years. That ensemble won two NABBA Championships in the youth division and was second place the other two years.

Mr. Mills is currently the Executive Director of the Central State Judges Association, President and co-founder of the Mid-States Band Association, past President of District 13-Ohio Music Educator’s Association, and a member of Phi Beta Mu. In addition, Mr. Mills is a member of the Central States Judges Association Hall of Fame. Mr. Mills is currently a brass instructor for the William Mason HS Band and is the brass instructor for the University of Cincinnati Marching Band.

As a professional trumpeter, Mr. Mills has played with entertainers such as Bob Hope, Tony Bennett, Vicki Carr, Dianne Carroll, Roy Clark, John Davidson, Phyllis Diller, Barbara Eden, Peter Nero, Rich Little, Bob Newhart, Wayne Newton, Danny Thomas, Lou Rawls, Barry Manilow, and Sonny & Cher. In addition, Mr. Mills has performed with the Memphis Symphony, Memphis Opera Productions, Holiday on Ice, Disney on Parade, and numerous musicals.

Mr. Mills was a member of the solo cornet section of The Ohio Valley Brass Band for twenty-five years. He is now in his sixth season as the conductor of the Ohio Valley Brass Band.

Stephen Cross began his love of music through many of his teachers at the School for Visual and Performing Arts at Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Maryland.  After high school, he was honored to be a member of the 1993 Drum Corps International World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Cross received his degrees from Ball State University (Bachelor of Science – Music Education), Central Michigan University (Master of Music in Performance – Conducting), and Eastern Michigan University (Master of Arts in School Administration). 

During his career, Mr. Cross has had the opportunity to teach music for 29 years at schools in Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri, as well as Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Northern Aurora Drum and Bugle Corps, Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, show design for the WGI Winds Medalist LSM Winds, and currently works with university marching bands.

Mr. Cross has been distinguished with such awards as a NARAS/Grammy Award Signature School Nomination, four State-level runner-up marching band finishes, five State Champion Winter Percussion titles, several WGI World finals placements in Winter Percussion and Color Guard, as well as Reserve Champion in AA for the Bands of America Grand National Marching Band Championships.

Mr. Cross is an active clinician and adjudicator in the areas of marching band, concert band, and solo and ensemble festivals throughout the United States.  Mr. Cross currently resides in Plymouth, Michigan, with his wife Jennifer, daughter Keira, son Aaric, and their cats Jazz and Presto.

Robert W. Miller directed bands at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in Howard County, Maryland before retiring from his 34-year public school teaching career. His middle and high school bands consistently received ratings of "excellent" and "superior."

Robert has taught private percussion students for the past 51 years, many of whom have participated in all-state bands and orchestras. He directed summer youth music camps, adult community bands, and was an adjunct professor of percussion at Howard Community College. He has been an adjuducator at county and state band assessments, county solo and ensemble festivals, and all-state band/orchestra auditions. Robert has presented clinics on rhythm pedagogy and percussion topics at music educator conferences. He has a B.S. in Music Education, a B.S. in Psychology, and an M.Ed. in Music Education, all from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Josh Omaits is one of the most in-demand Trombonists, Bass Trombonists, and Tubists based in the Cincinnati area performing and recording in all styles of music. He is equally proficient in all styles on all brass instruments from Trumpet, Alto, Tenor, and Bass Trombone, to Tuba and Euphonium, as well as specialized instruments like Bass Trumpet, Contrabass Trombone, and Cimbasso.

Josh holds a Bachelor’s of Music in trombone and bass trombone performance from the prestigious College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. He currently holds a faculty position at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati as Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, as well as God’s Bible College of Cincinnati as Professor of Trombone. Outside of the college environment, Josh teaches an exclusive studio of brass students ranging from beginners to professionals of all ages. His top students have received music scholarships to major universities.

Josh can be seen regularly performing all over Ohio with such groups as the Dayton Philharmonic, Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, the Lima Symphony Orchestra, Butler Philharmonic, Richmond Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, the Queen City Opera, Ohio Metropolitan Pops Orchestra, The Rob Parton Big Band, The Cincy Brass, and many more!

Aside from performing, Josh is also an accomplished composer and arranger of brass works. His arrangements have been performed by the CCM Brass Choir, CCM Trombone Choir, The Ohio Metropolitan Pops Orchestra Brass, The Carillon Brass, The Cincy Brass, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and more! Some of his works have even been featured in films!

In 2018 Josh founded Omaits Music, a professional brass and woodwind instrument repair shop in West Chester, Ohio, servicing schools, students, and professionals alike.

Brian Zielinski started his musical journey in Tinley Park, IL where he attended Victor J. Andrew High School. In 2016 his passion for music and playing the clarinet led him to Illinois State University where he would go on to earn degrees in both Music Education and Clarinet Performance. During Brain's time at ISU he participated and held leadership roles in The Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, and The Big Red Marching Machine. Throughout his undergraduate degree and beyond, he spent time on staff with The Normal Marching Band and the Illinois Valley Central Marching Gray Ghosts.

After graduating from Illinois State, Brain became the High School and Middle School Band Director for Hoopeston Area CUSD#11 in Hoopeston, IL. During his time there he led both programs to a new level of success; one of his proudest moments was when the Hoopeston Area Marching Cornjerkers were selected to perform their field show as the pregame performance at the 2023 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN!

Brian is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Wind Conducting at CCM.