Meet the Clinicians and Judges

Ward Miller earned his bachelors of music education from Auburn University in 2001. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2003 with a masters in Trombone Performance. He accepted a graduate teaching assistantship at The University of Iowa, where he studied with Dr. Myron Welch in Band Conducting, earning his D.M.A. in Band Conducting. 

Dr. Miller’s marching band arrangements have been performed at competitions, including in Bands of America regionals, by high schools and colleges across the country, as well as the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. From 2018-2023, Dr. Miller served as the Education Director for Youth in Music, a Minneapolis- based nonprofit organization that hosts marching band events and clinics throughout the upper Midwest. He still serves in an ancillary capacity at Youth in Music. 

From 2015 through 2019, Dr. Miller served as the Brass Caption Head for the World Class Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps of La Crosse, WI. He has also served as the Brass Arranger and an instructional consultant for Minnesota Brass, the Louisiana Stars, and the Govenaires, and he currently writes the brass book for River City Rhythm. He co-authored a textbook with Dr. Cathryn Foster entitled "Developing Error Detection Skills in the Wind Band Educator," published by GIA Publications. He currently resides in Minneapolis, MN.

Chris was born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL and is a graduate of the University of South Florida, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Masters Certificate in Horn Performance. He is a member of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, performs with The Florida Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, as well as the Venice Symphony. Mr. Allen is currently the Orchestra Director at Newsome High School in Lithia, Florida and serves as the Youth Symphony conductor for the Sarasota Orchestra. He is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, Florida Music Educators Association, and Florida Orchestra Association.

Chris has been involved with the drum and bugle corps. activity for over 25 years. He has marched with the Cadets of Bergen County in the early 90’s, and served as a brass technician and as brass caption head for the Glassmen of Toledo Ohio from 1997 to 2003. He has also served as brass caption head for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps. for the 2005 season, and worked with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. from 2012-2013. Most recently, he has served as the Brass Ensemble Consultant for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. from 2014-2018. As of the summer of 2021, Chris returned to his drum corps. home as a member of the brass faculty at The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. for the 2021-2023 seasons, and now serves as on the brass staff for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.

Since 2001 Jordan Warfield has been involved in the marching arts as an instructor, adjudicator and clinician throughout the country.  He is a former member (2001-04) and visual instructor (2010-15) with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, IL.  As a member he claimed 3-DCI world championship titles and was selected as a Yamaha Performing Artist to tour Japan where the corps performed in exhibitions and clinics for thousands of young student musicians.  His other drum corps affiliations include: The Blue Stars, Minnesota Brass Inc, The Govenaires and River City Rhythm.   Jordan has been an instructor for several prominent high school programs including: The Irondale High School Marching Knights, Eastview High School and The Blue Springs Golden Regiment.   In 2024, Jordan assisted Dr. Tammy Fischer and the UW-LaCrosse Screaming Eagle Marching Band as a visual clinician.  

Currently, he performs with the Medalist Concert Band in Bloomington, MN where he is a board member and Assistant Director of the Summer Youth Band Camp.  Previously, he worked as a schools services representative at Groth Music where he served over 200 music educators in the metro and greater MN area.  From 2013-16 Jordan adjudicated under USBANDS, a national marching circuit serving on state, regional and national championship panels.  Jordan is a judge with Tri-State Judging and the Minnesota Percussion Association.  He lives in Shakopee, MN with his wife Jennifer and their daughter Ella.

Sarah has been choreographing and teaching the 77 Lancers Color Guard for 6 seasons.  She choreographs and judges around the region and out of state as well.  On top of that, she has designed three winter guard shows and helped facilitate a new 3rd-10th grade training winter guard in Mankato. Sarah began spinning in her sophomore year of high school with Chops, Inc. completing 5 seasons before marching 3 summers with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps where she served as color guard captain. Sarah aged out with Phantom Regiment in 2008 with the world champion show “Spartacus.”  

Sarah choreographs for several color guards in Minnesota and Virginia state each season and has judge in Minnesota and Iowa intermittently. For the past 5 years, Sarah has focused most of her teaching with the 77 Lancers Color Guard and has seen them to their third straight state championship title. On top of that, she has designed three winter guard shows and helped facilitate a new 2nd-10th grade training winter guard in Mankato, MN. Sarah began spinning in her sophomore year of high school with Chops, Inc. completing 5 seasons before marching 3 summers with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps where she served as color guard captain. Sarah aged out with Phantom Regiment in 2008 with the world champion show “Spartacus.”  When not at color guard, Sarah loves spending time with her three sons and husband, reading, watching films, and relaxing at the pool.

Tamara Schmidt, formally Skroch, is from Rice, MN. She graduated from St Cloud State University with degrees in Operations Management, Marketing, & Human Relations. She currently works with her family at their company, Complete Grain Systems as the office manager. Tamara marched in the Boston Crusaders Drum Corps as well as MN Brass & Heritage Winter Guard. 

Tamara has taught several teams, most notably West Broward High School in Florida. While there, she was the primary classroom teacher of the color guard program to almost 100 guard students and played a major role in all extra circular guard activities.  

While living in Minnesota, she directed St Cloud Eclipse Winter guard, Lux Independent, and River City Rhythms' color guard programs. She was highly active in consulting or choreographing other teams throughout the area. Since 2002, she has been elected to the North Star Circuit board of directors many times.

After having children, Tam has transitioned into adjudication to stay involved in the activity. She feels the contributions she can make in the activity are very relevant and works hard to make judging feedback accessible to all educators. 

Tamara feels the best part of this activity is the impact on the youth. She believes this activity is about life lessons that can be taught through hard work, dedication, accountability, and teamwork. She holds herself to a high standard of driving success through a positive environment filled with information and learning. 

Matt Ferry is a music technologist, educator and nonprofit leader from Saint Paul, MN. After completing a BA in Music Education at the University of Minnesota, Matt went to work for MakeMusic, Inc. where he assisted with the implementation of Finale and SmartMusic in hundreds of U.S. based and international school systems. In addition to his work in music technology, Matt has been a sought-after percussion educator, arranger, and technology consultant for marching bands, drum corps, and indoor percussion for over 20 years. In 2025 Matt was named to the MPA Hall of Fame for his work as an educator, designer, circuit board member, contest administrator, and head judge. 

Matt is currently the West Coast Education Manager for MusicFirst, where he helps institutions adopt comprehensive music technology tools with fidelity and professional growth. Additionally, Matt serves as the Board President and Designer for Invictus World Color Guard from Austin, TX, and is the Co-Head Judge for the MPA Circuit. 

Matt currently resides in Saint Paul, MN with his wife Angie, son Odin, daughter Freya, and beloved cat Tuck. 

Nick Hansberry teaches band and music courses at Waconia High School in Waconia, MN and has been a member of the department since 2021. During the school day, Nick sees 4 curricular bands and teaches or co-teaches courses in music theory and music appreciation. Outside of the day, he directs two of the high school jazz bands, the pep band, the fall musical pit and the Waconia High School Marching Band. Nick is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education (2015) and earned his Master of Music in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas (2023). Upon graduation from UW-Eau Claire, Nick accepted the Associate Director of Bands position at La Crosse Central High School in La Crosse, WI from 2016-2019 and served as the director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the La Crosse Area Youth Symphony Orchestra during this time. Nick then relocated to Colorado and served as the Director of Instrumental Music at Arvada West High School in Arvada, CO from 2019-2021. 

A strong advocate for the marching arts, Nick has served on various marching band and drum corps staff throughout the years most recently on the visual staff of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle corps based out of Denver, CO. In addition to teaching marching bands, Nick has also served as an adjudicator, designer, and consultant throughout Wisconsin and the Twin Cities area.

Phil Snyder teaches band for the Waconia School District in Waconia, MN.  He directs and co-directors curricular middle school bands, high school jazz band, middle school jazz bands, middle school pep band, and The Waconia High School Marching Band.  Phil has served the Waconia school district since 2012 and has directed ensembles at every level of the program.  In 2022 he was named the ASBDA young band director of the year for the state of Minnesota.

Mr. Snyder is an active adjudicator with Minnesota State High School League, Wisconsin School Music Association Tri-State judging, USBands, Illinois, Iowa, and Western Bands Association. 

Phil holds a Masters in music education from Northern State University, a bachelors in music education from the University of Minnesota, and a trumpet performance degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Clarie.   

Phil maintains a full professional schedule as a guest clinician, adjudicator, trumpet player, jazz educator and marching band drill designer.  He has written more than 200 shows for marching bands across the country over the past 2 decades.  Bands that have used his drill designs are responsible for 17 state championships and numerous sweepstakes awards.     

Phil currently lives in Eden Prairie Minnesota with his wife Andria and two wonderful children.