Our team consists of educators, choreographers, arrangers, and designers. With decades of experience across all disciplines, we prioritize the student experience and deliver results that are educational, team-oriented, and tailored to optimize the success of your students and your program.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors includes our core educators, arrangers, designers, and administrators from across the country. Our board operates to further our mission to provide exceptional and accessible resources for the development of students, directors, instructors, and designers in the pageantry arts.

Holly Pitner

Holly is an Arizona native, born and raised in Tucson, and currently living in Chattanooga, TN. An alum of the University of Arizona, she was a member of Tau Beta Sigma and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education. She currently enjoys working as an elementary general music teacher in Hamilton County Schools. Outside of her music teaching, Holly has been a passionate and involved member of the color guard and pageantry activity. 

Holly’s first-ever guard experience was during her sophomore year at University High School. That spring she auditioned to become a clarinet section leader or drum major and walked out of the process as a guard captain. That small moment changed her life forever, guiding her towards the magic of color guard.  Holly continued her color guard performance career at the University of Arizona, both with the Pride of Arizona Marching Band and the winter guard, Veracitas Independent. After graduating from the U of A, she went on to spin with Fenix Independent World for two seasons, including their most recent showing at WGI World Class Finals in Dayton, Ohio.

Beyond her performance career, Holly has been a color guard instructor since 2013. She began teaching with the Fred J. Miller Summer Clinics as part of the color guard staff. She later served as a clinic administrator. While in Tucson she spent time as an instructor with Mountain View High School, Rincon/University High School, and the Pride of Arizona. During her time in Phoenix, Holly worked with the Desert Vista HS marching band and Open winter guard, as well as Altadeña

Holly currently works as the director of the Signal Mountain Middle High School color guard and indoor program as well as working with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga color guard. While not teaching, Holly enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs, cooking, baking, and binging TV shows online.

Jordan Pitner

Jordan is a freelance educator and designer with decades of history in the pageantry arts. He was a member of the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps in 2006 & 2007, and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps in 2008 & 2010. An East Tennessee native, Jordan has assisted many programs in Tennesse, Alabama, and Georgia as an educator and consultant.

While serving as the visual director and drill writer, Jordan was part of the Signal Corps Marching Band’s inaugural podium finish at the Tennessee State Division 2 Marching Band Championships in 2017, as well as their first Bands of American Class Champion title at the BOA Powder Springs Regional in 2018. As the visual caption head for the Chattanooga Independent Indoor Percussion program, Jordan helped lead them to their first-ever Open Class Finals at WGI Percussion World Championships in Dayton, Ohio in 2015.

Jordan served as a clinician for years with the Fred J. Miller Summer Clinics as an educator for the Drum Major & Student Leader programs as well as a clinic administrator. 

As a drill writer and show coordinator, Jordan continues to collaborate with high school, independent, and collegiate programs across the country. His programs have performed at national holiday parades, state marching band finals, and been awarded multiple BOA Class Champion awards spanning across Tennessee, Indiana, Arizona, and Texas.

Jordan currently lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee with Holly & his 2 border collies. Jordan serves as visual director for the State Champion Signal Mountain High School Marching Band & the founder/ director of the Chattanooga Pageantry Arts Association.

Rebecca Woods

Rebecca is a project manager and educator in northern Indiana. Originally from Richardson, Texas, she was a member of the JJ Pearce High School color guard and winter guard for four years, serving two years as captain. She also served as the color guard captain for Forte Drum and Bugle Corps in 2012.

Rebecca continued spinning at Stephen F. Austin State University, while she completed her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Teaching and Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences. She was a member of the Lumberjack Marching Band for three years and the PURPetual Motion Winter Guard for one year. Rebecca is an alum of Phi Rho Psi National Color Guard Sorority’s Alpha Chapter and a founding member of the National Council.

In 2013, Rebecca began teaching color guard. She has worked with several high schools, including Palestine High School (TX), Hudson High School (TX), and Jimtown High School (IN). She also judged color guard, drum major, and twirling auditions for several schools in East Texas including Gladewater ISD and Carthage High School. Rebecca served as the Color Guard Coordinator at Stephen F. Austin State University from 2015-2018 during which time she restarted the winter guard program and prepared the color guard for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2015 and Dublin St. Patrick’s Festival Parade in 2018. Rebecca worked for Fred J. Miller Summer Clinics from 2016-2019, as a color guard instructor and clinic administrator.

In 2020, Rebecca began to focus on her project management career. She earned her Project Management Professional (PMI – PMP) certification in 2022. Rebecca stays involved in the pageantry arts through Music Effect Design and supports many of our business efforts. In her free time, Rebecca loves to read and spend time with her cats.

Staff

Our staff believes in the mission of Music Effect Design. They are exceptional educators and designers from across the country that contribute to the resources and services that we offer. Want to join us? Fill out an application today!

Wyatt Heinz

Wyatt Heinz, a musician and dedicated educator, currently serves as the Director of Bands for Piqua City Schools. With a foundation in music education from Wright State University, Wyatt’s journey began with student teaching at Mason High School and Beavercreek Middle Schools under notable mentors like Ed Protzman, Avious Jackson, Sean Hurley, and Andy Weaver. His commitment to excellence earned him the Promising Young Music Educator Award from Wright State University twice, reflecting his passion and innovative teaching approach.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field, Wyatt was named the 2025 Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Young Music Educator of the Year. This prestigious honor highlights his dedication to student growth, musical excellence, and leadership within the music education community.

Wyatt’s impact extends beyond the classroom. He actively engages with OMEA, having served as President of the OCMEA State Board during college and later assuming roles such as High School Honor Band Chair and Treasurer/Secretary for District XI. Under his leadership, the Piqua High School Bands have flourished, earning Superior ratings at various OMEA competitions, including the Marching Band State Finals and Large Group State Contest. Wyatt’s nurturing mentorship fosters a supportive environment where students thrive, embodying discipline, teamwork, and a profound appreciation for the arts. His dedication to musical excellence and community involvement make him a driving force in shaping the future of music education.

Since 2022, Wyatt Heinz has been deeply involved in the Spark Summer Clinics, dedicating his time and expertise to working with leadership and drum major students. His commitment to nurturing young talents extends beyond the academic year, as he enthusiastically engages with students during the summer to hone their leadership skills and musical prowess. Wyatt finds great joy in collaborating with some of the best educators in the country at these clinics, and he values the friendships he has forged with them over the years. Looking ahead, Wyatt is excited to continue his work with the Spark Summer Clinics, knowing that he is making a meaningful impact on the next generation of musicians and leaders.

Melissa Johnson

Melissa Johnson received her Master’s of Music Performance in Conducting from Butler University, where she studied with Col. Michael Colburn and served as the Graduate Assistant to the Athletic Bands program. In addition, she received her Bachelor’s of Music Education from Hope College. Following her undergraduate work, she taught PS-12th grade music at a variety of schools in Michigan and Indiana.

Melissa has guest conducted with multiple high school honor band programs and spent time working with the Fred J. Miller and Spark Summer Clinic programs, where she worked with student leaders at colleges and universities across the United States. Most recently, Melissa served as the Interim Director of Athletic Bands at Butler University and fully stepped into the position of Director of Athletic Bands in 2022. In her free time, Melissa enjoys playing her oboe, crocheting, and attending Broadway musicals.

Ryan Wood

Ryan joins us from the Chicagoland area where he currently teaches 5th-8th grade Band at Lindop School in Broadview, Illinois. He has been a Band Director for over 5 years and has taught conducting to Drum Majors since 2015! Ryan first started teaching Drum Majors with the Fred J. Miller Summer Clinics. In 2022, he joined the Spark Summer Clinics staff.

Once receiving his Bachelors degree in Music Education from Millikin University, Ryan taught 5th-12th grade Band for 4 years in Arthur, Illinois. He then pursued a Masters degree in Music Education from Northwestern University where he worked with Northwestern University Marching Band. When he isn’t teaching beginning and middle school band students, Ryan enjoys reading and spending time with his friends and family.

Partners

Excellence does not happen alone, and so we extend our thanks to our partners who help us achieve it.

Tori Angel

Tori currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana working as a 2nd-grade teacher. She is a Taco Bell fanatic, new cat mama, sitcom know-it-all, and teacher CEO of her own business to support teachers and their mental health. 

She has a passion and drive to make sure anyone and everyone reaches their full potential through support and creative ideas. She believes there is good in everyone and everything. Tori wants to help her students, clients, and friends feel seen, heard, and help them reach their full potential. 

Tori has been around this active since she was born. Her parents, Steve and Jen Angel, helped build programs together in Ohio and Indiana as a band and guard director team. Growing up, she was exposed to many design and staff meetings when she was young (even though she may have been playing with toys or observing from a wagon at the time) 

Tori’s first guard show was in 1998 when she was only 5 years old. When moving to Greenfield, IN, she went on to participate in her middle school winter guard for three years as well as participate in the marching band as a color guard member from 6th to 10th grade and act as drum major for her Junior and Senior year. Tori was in the WGI A and Open Class finalist winter guard with Greenfield-Central and during college, taught the middle school winter guard she participated in when she was younger. Even though Tori has marched with World Class groups and performers, her main passion is teaching. 

Tori developed many skills working for Fred J. Miller Summer Clinics from the years 2012-2019. She was a color guard staff member, clinic administrator, and helped develop guard, leadership, and training curriculum for 4 years.

Michael Krueger

Michael Krueger (b. 1990) is an educator, conductor, and composer. Michael is the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Marian University. At MU, Michael directs and conducts the marching band, pep band, and wind symphony. Michael also teaches academic courses and private applied lessons. Before MU, Michael spent 8 years at Notre Dame College in a variety of roles. Starting as the Assistant Director of Bands in 2016, Michael ended his tenure as the Co-Director of Performing Arts, Assistant Professor of Music, and Director of Instrumental Studies.

Michael primarily composes for wind ensembles, chamber ensembles, and marching ensembles. Michael’s most popular piece, For Patrick, was included in Volume 11 of GIA Publication’s Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. For Patrick has been a featured composition on The Composers Circle and Musicuratum. Michael’s wind ensemble music has been featured at multiple honor band concerts and conferences, including the 2020 CVC Conference Band, 2018 NDC Honor Band Festival, 2018 Firelands Conference Band, 2018 and 2016 SIUE Bi-State Band Festivals, and the 2014 Southwest CBDNA Conference. In 2017, Alone, was premiered at the International Trombone Festival. Alone was also recorded and featured on Dr. Matthew Hoormann’s debut solo album, SOMNILOQUY, which can be found on Spotify. In 2016, a consortium of fifteen bands led by Mr. Greg Allen, formed to create Symphony 3: The Dreamer. Visit his website, Kruegermusik, to learn more about his wind ensemble, chamber, and solo works.

Michael is in high demand as a guest clinician and adjudicator for wind ensembles and marching bands around the United States. From 2016-2020, Michael was a member of the drum major and student leadership staff for Fred J. Miller Summer Clinics. In 2020, Michael was a founding member for the educational and marching band company, Music Effect Design. In 2021, Michael was the winner of the NDC President’s Lecture award for his work with M.E.D. during COVID. In April of 2024, Michael was honored as a final recipient of NDC’s Distinguished Faculty Award.

Michael holds a Master of Music in Music Composition from Butler University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Michael’s primary mentors include Dr. Michael Schelle, Dr. Robert Grechesky, Dr. John Bell, and Dr. Kimberly Archer. Michael holds professional membership in ASCAP, CBDNA, NAFME, and IMEA. Michael is also an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.

Smart Boy

Smart Boy of Smart Boy Beatz is a producer, musician, and singer/songwriter from North Carolina. In the past, Smart Boy has won or placed in several producer competitions along the east coast and worked with artists and other producers across the globe. Smart Boy currently works as an educator and in-house producer for Patchwerk Recording Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.