Govenaires Winter Percussion
Staff

Executive Leadership:

Ensemble and Artistic Director: Justin Mons

Assistant Director: Will Frame

Design Team:

Battery Arranger: Wardell King

Frontline Arranger and Sound Design: Bryan Hummel

Visual Design: Nicole Davis

Justin Mons is originally from Arizona and has been involved in the marching arts for almost 20 years. For the last 15 years, his work within the activity has included instructing, writing, and/or designing at various levels. After marching 7 years at The Arizona Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, he joined visual staff at the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps. Justin served Mandarins ‘13 as a field tech, ‘14-16 as Assistant Visual Caption Head, and ‘17-22 took a step back into a lead field tech position to balance home life and school. In ‘15 Justin also spent a part of the summer on visual staff for the Academy. 

Justin has invested significant time and energy into learning the craft and nuances of teaching and designing for Winter Percussion ensembles. Justin served as Visual Caption Head and designer from ‘17-20 for Vision Percussion based out of Gilbert, AZ. During his time there he helped them grow from Independent A to Independent Open and become WGI San Bernadino regional Finalists in both divisions. They also took Winter Guard Arizona (WGAZ) gold in both A and Open classes each year. He was also a visual analysis judge for the WGAZ circuit from ‘18-20. During his time In Arizona Justin also worked with multiple medalist and championship groups including Corona Del Sol HS (Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA)) medalists and BOA regional FInalist), Basha HS (ABODA FInalist and WGAZ medalist), Millennium HS (ABODA finalist), Vista Grande HS (WGAZ medalist), and Gilbert HS (ABODA state champions). 

In ‘20, Justin worked on the visual staff of James E. Taylor and Clear Creek High Schools in TX and since ‘21 for Hutchinson and Eastview High Schools in MN. In the summer of ‘21 he joined the visual team of the Govenaires, and in ‘22 took over drill design responsibilities. Justin also serves the Minnesota Percussion Association as a visual analysis judge, judging percussion finals in ‘22 and semi-finals in ‘23.

Justin will soon be completing his BA in Organizational Leadership (Project Management) from Arizona State University and will be immediately pursuing his masters. In his off time he enjoys attending Twins and Vikings games, musicals, and any theater production his partner Mandyrae is directing. 

Will Frame holds both a Master of Arts in Teaching in K-12 Instrumental Music Education and a Graduate Certificate in Psychology from Mankato State University, Minnesota. He is the director of the Concert Band, Yellowjacket Pep Band, and Jazz Band at Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, MN, where he also teaches general education music courses and Brass Lessons. He also serves as the Low Brass lessons instructor for Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, and Martin Luther College in New Ulm. Prior to RCTC, Will was Assistant Director and then Co-Director of the Mankato Area 77 Lancers marching band, and the Financial Director of the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra. Will also serves as Marching Instructor for both St. Peter and St. James high school marching band programs.

Will regularly performs as a low brass player in various settings throughout the southern Minnesota region, including the Govenaires Drum and Bugle corps since 2021, various church brass choirs, and the St Peter High School musical pit ensemble. Additionally, he has performed with the MNSU Maverick Machine Athletic Band, Concert Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and River Valley Wind Ensemble.

When teaching, Will prioritizes individual differentiation and universal design as core educational philosophies, arranging individually-modified and accommodated parts for students appropriate to their skill level, and incorporating best practices that address the needs of students in such a way that all students can benefit from these practices. Will is interested in motivation and reinforcement as instructional tools, and prioritizes research-supported approaches to planning, instruction, and evaluation.

Outside of the music and education worlds, Will enjoys spending summers in the sun with his spouse Rae and their two dogs, and complaining about the weather - as though it does any good - during our Minnesota winters.

Wardell King is currently in his 30th year as an independent music educator, arranger, consultant and performer with a specialization in marching percussion. Mr. King is currently the percussion caption head/arranger for Desert Ridge, Red Mountain, Millennium and Mountain View High Schools in Arizona. Mr. King also serves as the Director of Percussion at Campo Verde High School (AZ) and Executive Director / Caption Head of Vision Percussion Indoor Drumline (PIO). Mr. King has previously served as caption head, arranger, and/or clinician for various other high schools in the state of Arizona.

Mr. King also has served as the marching percussion specialist at Northern Arizona University, bass drum/ snare drum, instructor for the 2006 Drum Corps International Division II World Champion Academy Drum and Bugle Corps and the WGI Scholastic A Finalist / Champion Page High School.(Consultant 2001-2005)

As the owner of King Percussion LLC, “Championship Concepts For Percussion,” Mr.

King has worked with groups in Arizona, California, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Kentucky in both the marching and indoor percussion arenas. In his twenty seven years as an adjudicator and percussion designer/instructor, he has worked with more than 25 different percussion programs at the high school, college and drum corp levels. As a creative percussion arranger, Wardell’s percussion writing is designed to closely integrate concert and marching percussion techniques to enhance all components of the musical score. Wardell has a strong teaching philosophy guided to offer life lessons through music and dedicated practice.

Excelling educationally and competitively in both the local and national circuit, Mr. King is in high demand as an educator, arranger and clinician. He provides both rudimental and drum set lessons to students of all ages and educational backgrounds.

With extensive studies in the jazz arts, Mr. King is part of the W Quartet, who continue to play for audiences around the Phoenix Area.

Wardell proudly endorses Vic Firth Sticks, Zildjian Cymbals, Pearl Drums, Remo Drumheads and Presonus Audio.

Bryan Hummel is a Phoenix, AZ based percussionist, music educator, and designer of marching arts activities. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He obtained his Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University.

He was the previous Front Ensemble Director at Arizona State University. From 2018-2023 Bryan was the Front Ensemble Music Designer/Program Coordinator for Breakthrough Indoor Percussion.

Bryan is active in arranging and composing percussion scores for Marching Band, writing for indoor percussion ensembles, and composing/designing wind books for Marching Band productions.

He has worked with many Arizona Marching Band programs. Currently, he designs for Higley High School (Gilbert, AZ), Desert Mountain High School (Scottsdale, AZ), Highland High School (Gilbert, AZ), and Breakthrough Indoor Percussion (PIO). He regularly judges for the ABODA, AZMBA, and WGAZ circuits in Arizona and has also adjudicated in Iowa and Wyoming.

As a performer, Bryan tours nationwide, collaborating with colleagues to create chamber music at universities, community centers, and school districts. He has performed at universities and other venues in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Washington, DC.

Bryan is currently the Director of Bands at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, AZ.

Nicole Davis brings over a decade of experience teaching, writing, and performing in WGI and DCI. She has designed productions for independent ensembles and high school programs across the Southeast, Midwest, West Coast, and Texas. She toured for five summers as a high brass performer with Music City, Spirit, Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights, and the Bluecoats from 2013-2017. She spent two winter seasons as a member of the Visual Ensemble at Rhythm X Percussion in 2017 and 2018. Nicole spent one year on Visual Staff with Rhythm X Percussion in 2019 before moving to Texas. After aging out of DCI, Nicole taught on the Sacramento Mandarins Visual Team from 2018-2022. She currently teaches at the Bluecoats and is an Assistant Band Director at Robert E. Hendrickson High School in Austin, Texas.