Meet the Staff

Michael Strickler- Director (BM- JMU '08, MAED- VT- '16, Chambersburg Area Senior High School- '03)

Mr. Strickler is in his 17th year teaching.  Prior to Monticello he taught for 12 years at neighboring Fluvanna County High School.  During that time he oversaw the growth in size and quality of the program achieving many firsts and establishing new standards for the band.   Since coming to Monticello he has expanded opportunities for students through establishing the new Steel Drum Band, continuing the strong tradition of performing musicals, and has created new experiences such as the Music Mosaic through Guitar and Piano classes

Some of the accomplishments he is most proud of are:
-Consistantly growing programs in numbers and quality.
-Consistently placing students in District, Regional, and All-VA events.
-Guiding Fluvanna to the band's first ever Virginia Honor Band recognition in 2019-20.
-Establishing a regular travel plan for the spring trips including a regular trip to Disney every 4 years.
-Creating Fluvanna's  first full pit orchestra performances of musicals (Seussical, High School Musical, and Shrek) and directing/performing in the pit orcehstras at MHS for Urinetown, Crybaby, High School Musical, and Chicago.

Mr. Strickler is a trombonist and brass player who has performed with the JMU Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Marching Royal Dukes, and Concert Band.  He has performed with local bands including Salute to Swing, Sentimental Journey, and has performed with and guest conducted the Charlottesville Municipal Band.

He currently lives in Charlottesville with his wife and three young sons.  He enjoys traveling to visit family, playing golf, wearing Hawaiian shirts on Tuesdays, and watching Atlanta baseball.  He is most excited about teaching students in the area as well as working closely with his wife who is now the band teacher at Walton Middle School.  

Malik Poindexter- Percussion Instructor, drill writer, and Indoor Percussion Ensemble director

Malik Poindexter is the Albemarle High School Culinary Arts Teacher as well as the Monticello High School Percussion Instructor and the Albemarle County Indoor Percussion Unit Director. He received his degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from the Culinary Institute of Virginia. Malik has been playing percussion for 18 years and teaching percussion for 13 years. He has worked with Walton Middle School Band/Drumline (2008 to 2015), Monticello High School Band/Percussion (2013 to present) and he started Albemarle County Indoor Percussion in 2017 which combines percussionists from MHS, AHS and WAHS. Malik is also an alumni of Monticello High School and The Marching Mustangs (Class of 2011). During his time in the band here he was a member of the Monticello Drumline for three years (bass and snare) and was Drum Major his senior year.

Fun Fact: Malik used to drag race cars (legally) from the age of 9 to 17.

Tori O'Neill- Color Guard Instructor for the Marching Mustangs.

Tori O’Neill is a native of Richmond, Virginia and a Social Studies teacher at Walton Middle School. She received her Bachelor in History (‘22) and Master in Teaching Social Studies (‘23) degrees from the University of Virginia. 

She has been doing color guard for 9 years including three years with Atlee High School’s marching band & winterguard and four years at UVA with the Cavalier Marching Band spending her 2nd and 3rd years as a Drill Instructor and her 4th year as Captain. Throughout her time at UVA, Tori worked as a Color Guard Coach and Choreographer for 3 seasons at Albemarle High School (2019-2021) and running clinics at Patrick Henry High School (Ashland). Currently, she enjoys working coaching the Marching Mustangs and after a successful season, she is excited to return for her second season with the program. 

Tori currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia and enjoys teaching social studies, hiking, traveling, and watching the Washington Capitals. 

Michael Loveless- Winds Instructor for the Marching Mustangs