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2008 Govenaires Staff All the Govenaires' Staff
are listed here for your convenience. Please feel free to contact
them with any of your concerns, ideas, and comments.
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| Artistic Staff |
| Kurt Stoel - Corps Director: |
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Kurt first encountered Drum Corps while marching with the Brandon Valley Marching Lynx, from Brandon, SD. Reveling in marching throughout High School, he promptly, and foolishly, abandoned the activity as he left for college to later gain his B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering. Years later, that degree would bring him to St. Peter, and put him in a place to rediscover Drum Corps.
Kurt began his marching career with the Govenaires in 1999, after becoming aware of the corps through a fortuitous chain of events involving eating too many patty melts at Patrick's on Third, getting amazed at the Thunder of Drums in Mankato, and a late night encounter with some guy named Rocket. Picking up a contrabass bugle after an eight year break from playing tuba proved challenging but rewarding and he's been performing with the corps ever since.
He has served the corps in many capacities over the years with two notable positions being Webmaster from 2002-2007, and the Souvie Director from 2003-2007. He stumbled into the Corps Director position in January 2008.
Kurt still loves marching, loves playing the tuba, enjoys the off season as much as the on, is currently procrastinating on some home repair and renovation, wishes he had more time to craft chainmaille, and still firmly believes that the Marching Lynx of Brandon, SD are the finest High School Marching Band ever.
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| John Mayer - Artistic Director & Percussion Caption Head: |
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John Mayer was born March 1st, 1967. His parents, Pat and Margaret, wasted little time in having John join the Govenaires and by March 2nd, 1967 he had committed to the corps. While just an observer for several years, John was finally able to join the corps as a marching member in 1980.
During his 28 year marching career, John has found time to graduate from St. Peter High School (1985), march two years with the Madison Scouts (1987 & 1988), and graduate with a BS in science from MSU (1995).
Currently John is the Drum Major, Percussion Caption Head, and Bus Driver but mostly not in that order.
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| Molly Norton - Color Guard Caption Head & Staff Director: |
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Molly began
her career with the Govenaires in 1994. During her 14-year involvement
with the corps she has been a performer, technician, choreographer, and -
for the last seven years - has held the title of Colorguard Caption Head.
Molly has also marched with the Colts,
from Dubuque, IA, and performed with
Onyx, a World Class finalist
winterguard from Dayton, OH. She performed in "Up Down Up", a production
for the Fringe Festival that fused the world of colorguard with the world
of modern dance and has performed with Good Cooks Dance, a local dance
company from the St. Peter/Mankato area.
Molly has taught various award-winning high school colorguard programs
throughout the state including: fall marching band, winterguard, and
summer parade marching. She is a director, choreographer, and design
consultant. She is also the Staff Coordinator for the Govenaires. Molly
lives and works in the Twin Cites and is looking forward to another fun,
exciting, and successful season in 2008!
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| Jim "Smoothy" Snyder - Brass Caption Head |
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Smoothy was first introduced to the drum corps world at birth. His father,
Dick, was a lead soprano with the world champion Skokie Indians in the
early 1950s and taught many brass lines throughout the Chicago area. His
mother Louise
(nee Bardos) was involved in the management of the Cavaliers during the
corps' early years. In 1970, Smoothy began his own drum corps career at
the young age of 9 years and has continued through the past four decades.
His junior corps performing experience includes
playing a soprano bugle for the Norwood Park/Skokie Imperials (1970-1981)
and the Madison Scouts (1982). He continued to perform as a lead soprano
in senior corps where he played with the Chicago Vanguard (1987-1992,
1994-1995) and the Govenaires (1996, 1998-2001, 2003, 2006). He also performed
as drum major for the Vanguard (1993) and Govenaires (1997) and is a
perennial soprano performer in individual and ensemble competitions in DCM
and DCA.
As an instructor, Smoothy has performed the duty of
brass caption head for the Chicago Vanguard (1990-1996), where he arranged
the show music his last three seasons there, and is now brass caption head with the Govenaires
since the 1999 season. He also spent some time as a marching instructor
for Troop 63 Drum and Bugle Corps from Forest Park, IL (1988-1989) and
Warren Township High School Blue Devils from Gurnee, IL (1996-2001, 2005),
and as a marching consultant for the Maple River Marching Eagles of
Mapleton, MN (2001, 2005) and the North Metro Cadets Marching Band from
Coon Rapids, MN (1996).
Outside of performing and instructing marching
organizations, Smoothy has performed in other music venues. He played with
the Triton College Concert Band (1986-1987) and Jazz Combo (1986) in River
Grove, IL, the Bill O'Connell Big Band (1989-1991) in Chicago, IL, and Ed
Peterson's UIC Quintet (1991) from Chicago, IL. When Smoothy is not
participating in music, he is an adjunct professor in mathematics at
Minnesota State University, Mankato and is currently studying for his PhD
in Mathematics Education at the University of Minnesota.
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| Sara Buechmann -Frontline Caption Head: |
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Sara has been a member of the Govenaires since 1999. All ten of her seasons she has been wowing audiences from the pit. This is her second nonconsecutive year as the Frontline Caption Head.
Sara has a lot of performing experience outside of the Govenaires as well. Other groups she has performed with include: Mosicorum - an elite chamber choir, Prima Vox - a local trio, and Sara played piano in the MSU Jazz Band last year. You can sometimes catch Sara performing at the DCA I & E competition as well.
Outside of Govies, Sara is working on a Social Studies Education degree through MSU-Mankato.
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| Jeffrey Peterson - Visual Caption Head |
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Jeffrey Peterson has been a Govie since 2002,
and is happily returning to the 2008 Govenaires in his fourth year as drill
designer.
Jeffrey performed with the Colorguard of the Madison Scouts from 1995-98,
where he was a noted soloist, was with Every-Body Winterguard in 1997 and 98,
and designed and performed with the Seneca Winterguard from 1999-01.
As a colorguard instructor, he has created for and taught various award-winning
high school colorguards including Anoka, LeSueur-Henderson, Champlin Park,
Waseca, Sauk Rapids, and has worked with Eden Prairie HS since summer 2003.
A professional dancer, Jeffrey holds his MFA in dance from New York University -
Tisch School of the Arts (2005) and his BFA in dance from The University of Minnesota-
Twin Cities (2001). While in school, he performed the work of acclaimed choreographers
Jose Limon, Doug Varone, Bill T. Jones, Zvi Gotheiner, Chris Aiken, and Johannes Wieland,
to name a few. His career highlights include three years performing and touring nationally with
JAZZDANCE by Danny Buraczeski, two with ARENA Dances by Mathew Janczewski, an
appearance in The Grand Step Project by Stephan Koplowitz, and multiple years performing
with New York - based choreographers Clare Byrne and Edisa Weeks.
In 2007, Jeffrey's company, Jeffrey Peterson Dance, received creative support in
choreographic commissions from Dance New Amsterdam's In The Company of Men
and Movement Research at Judson Memorial Church in New York City. Dubbed "...poetic
precision..." by Rick Nelson of the Minneapolis StarTribune in 2003, the work of JPD often
intermingles colorguard with modern dance, and currently focuses on examining social normalcy.
Other venues at which his work has been presented include: The Bryant Lake Bowl, Kinetic Kitchen,
Dixon Place (NY), The Minnesota Fringe Festival, dancenow/NYC at Joyce SOHO and Joe's
Pub, Patrick's Cabaret, New York University, The University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, The Carla
Bode Dance Collective (MN), Good Cooks Dance (MN).
Jeffrey relocated to Minnesota from New York City in June of 2007, and has refocused his
career on teaching dance. Since then, he has set work on Zenon's Block E Scholarship
Program, the dancers at the Perpich Center for Arts Education, and will create a piece for dancers
at Breck School spring 2008. Currently, he is employed by Zenon Dance School, On Your
Toes School of Dance, is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at St. Olaf College, and
teaches as part of the Children's Theatre Company's education department.
Jeffrey has served as the Music Director of the Dance Department at Marymount Manhattan
College, and has an ongoing relationship with the North Star Colorguard Circuit as a movement
judge.
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| Administrative Staff |
| Ben Findley - President: |
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Originally from St. Clair, MN, Ben joined the Govenaires in 2001 and quickly became
very involved in the corps. On the field, Ben was the Crash Bang Guy in the Pit in 2001 & 2002, joined
the Cymbal line from 2003 to 2006, became the Assitant Field Drum Major in 2007, and in 2008 you can see him
as Parade Drum Major as he takes a year off from on-field competition. You can often see Ben juggling in parades as well, but watch out he might make you try to
juggle too.
Through his 8 year Govenaire career, Ben has been honored by being named Rookie of the Year 2001,
Govenaire of the Year 2002, 2001-2002 Corps Secretary, and finally became Corps President in 2002.
In his personal life, Ben graduated from St. Clair High School in 1999. In 2006 he earned his Bachelor
of Science degree in Music Management with a general business minor from Minnesota State University,
Mankato.
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| Amber Roeker - Treasurer, Business Manager, & Tour Director: |
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Amber has been a member of the Govenaires since 1994 in the colorguard
section. She was the 2004 Drum Corps Associates Individual Rifle Champion!
Amber had begun her leadership in the Govenaires in 1997 when she took was
elected Secretary. From 1999 to the present, Amber has been the Treasurer/ Business
Manager.
In
December 2004, Amber accepted the nomination of Secretary on the
Drum Corps Midwest Executive Board. During this time she worked to
help DCM and to have a successful 2005 DCM Championships. Amber led the
effort to bring I & E competition back to the 2005 DCM Championship
Weekend in Dekalb, IL. Amber is also part of the DCA-Central
Administrative Team and in 2006 was appointed as the DAC-Central Coordinator.
Amber has been a Colorguard Instructor for the Waseca Marching
Jays in Waseca, MN since 2003. During this time, the band has received many top
honors as well as taking top colorguard at events!
Outside of Drum Corps and teaching, Amber is an Inventory Control
Specialist at Midwest Wireless.
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| Jessi Lillo - Secretary: |
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Jessi has been part of the Govenaires family since 2001. Her first season she performed
with the Color Guard. In 2002 & 2003 she joined the cymbal line. The following season Jessi took
a year off from the field show but manned the souvie stand at many events and still participated in
parades. In 2005 - 2007 she found her home in the frontline.
In 2005 she also took over the roll of Secretary at our monthly business meetings. It is a difficult
job of figuring out who said what when and most importantly who got the "second".
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| Steven Guse - Membership Director |
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Steven Guse began his career with the Govenaires in 1996 at the ripe age of 15. Throughout his
tenure as a Govenaire he has held Baritone, Soprano, and Contra Bass positions. His versatility
with in the Brassline helps balance that beautiful Govenaires sound when necessary. Guse has
always used the Govenaires as his primary musical outlet and encourages more people like him
to do the same.
In 2005 he became the Membership Director, a new position that serves as a liaison for the
members to the staff. He also lends us his talents as Recruiting Director, Fleet Commander,
Transportation Committee Chairman, and Brass Commandant. Coordinating membership
meetings, attending staff meetings, and tending to dues, attendance, and membership information
are just a few of the duties this job encompasses. He reminds us of the corps motto:
Dedication to Performance
Pride in the Corps
Fun with the People
Born in the Beautiful city of New Ulm, MN, Steven is a 2003 graduate of St. Cloud State
University with a Batchelor of Science in Technology Assessment and Management. He is
currently employed as an Environmental Technician at the Institute for Environmental
Assessment in Mankato, MN. Aside from spending his summers with the Govenaires,
he also enjoys Bocce Ball, Disc Golf, and Thrash.
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| Emily Stark - Public Relations: |
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Emily Stark marched with the Govenaires Color Guard from 1995 to 2003, and then went on a 'marching hiatus' to complete her Ph.D. in Psychology. She is now an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Minnesota State University--Mankato. Her current main job with the Govies involves planning and running the Drum Corps Expo, the corps' home show in St. Peter. She also sends out newsletters to all Govie alumni and friends and contacts local newspapers with important Govenaires press releases. |
| Jodie Forrey - Gambling Manger: |
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Jodie joined the Govenaires in 1988. She marched with the Bluecoats in 1990.
Jodie became the Gambling Manager in 1996.
In the outside world, she is a special education teacher in District 77 (Mankato, MN).
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