Staff Roster & Bios

Our 2025-2026 Marching Knights Staff includes...

Director & Show Coordinator - Matthew Nordhausen

Assistant Director & Visual Design/Instruction - Art Graton

Drill Design - Michael Hillman

Guard Design & Instruction- Maddie Miller

Guard Design & Instruction- Michael Heaney

Music Instruction- Chris Castellon

Battery & Marching Instruction- Dave Passafiume

Percussion Instruction- Kevin Bleiler

Drum Major Coach & Visual Instruction- Kieran O'Halloran

Percussion Instruction- Wyatt Calcote

Percussion Instruction- Jackson Cain

Matthew Nordhausen - director & program coordinator

Percussionist, Matthew Nordhausen is originally from Hilton, New York, where he first studied the art of percussion with Mr. John Russi & Mr. Timothy Stodd. Matt attended Fredonia State University majoring in both History and Music Education, and continued his percussive studies with both Dr. Kay Stonefelt and Mr. John Bacon. In 2005, Matthew then completed a Master of Music performance degree in Conducting also at Fredonia State University, where he studied with Dr. Paula Holcomb.

Matt performs regularly as a freelance percussionist and conductor for area festivals, musicals, plays and shows, with groups such as Roberts Wesleyan University Community Theater, Spencerport Port of Call Players, Cobblestone Community Players, Batavia Rotary, Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators Association, Genesee Valley School Music Association, Chautauqua County Music Teacher’s Association and Westside Theatre Productions. He has also performed with the Roberts Wesleyan College Community Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Paul Shewan.

An avid instructor and performer alike, Matt has taught and performed with both the RochesterCrusaders (2003), and the Empire Statesmen Drum & Bugle Corps (1996-1998, 2004-2008). With the Rochester Crusaders, Matt was able to capture the Individual and Ensemble champion for the Mixed Ensemble category (2003). With the Empire Statesmen, Matt has performed and/or taught for three world championship titles (1996, 1997 & 2004) and two world percussion titles (1997 & 1998).

Compositionally, Matthew has been composing and arranging since 2001 for an assortment of musical mediums and is published with Imagine Music, Inc. Currently, he teaches percussion privately out of his home in North Chili, NY, where he lives with his wife Jessica, son Parker and daughter Bailey. In addition, Matthew is an instrumental music teacher for the Le Roy Central School District, directing the WSS 5/6 Band, the WSS Mini Marching Knights, the Swingin' Knights Jr./Sr. High Jazz Ensemble and the 7-12 Marching Knights.

Michael Hillman - drill design

Michael Hillman has worked as a marching band instructor for the past 18 years. He has taught with many groups including the Hilton Crimson Cadets Marching Band and Winter Drum Line, Eastridge Marching Lancers, Frontier Winter Drumline, the Le Roy Marching Knights, Rochester Crusaders and Empire Statesmen. Mike has won 2 DCA Championships and 4 DCA Ensemble Championships. Mike has marched with groups such as the Empire Statesmen, Rochester Crusaders, Hitmen Brass Band, and Santa Clara Vanguard. He has also performed with other various orchestral and symphonic ensembles. Mike is currently performing with the Prime Time Brass Band. He graduated from SUNY Fredonia in January 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Roberts Wesleyan College in 2010 with a Masters in Music Education and is currently an instrumental music teacher at the Rochester International Academy.

Maddie Miller - guard design & instruction

Madison Miller is a competitive and passionate instructor that has been a part of the marching activity since 2005. She fell in love with the marching arts at a young age and has been sharing her passion for the art as an instructor since 2016. Her marching career began with the Greece Marching Band where she played the flute/piccolo and joined Colorguard to finish out her high school career. After high school, she continued marching with Empire Statesmen Drum & Bugle Corps (2012), White Sabres Drum & Bugle Corps (2017), Patriots Winterguard (2013-2017), and Gates Independent Winterguard (2018). Additionally, she has taught with the Greece Marching Band Blue Knights, Le Roy Marching Knights, and Gates Independent Winterguard. In conclusion, Madison is currently going to school for Forensic Accounting at FLCC.

Dave Passafiume - battery & marching instruction

Beginning at age 11, Dave began performing with various music ensembles including the Rochester Patriots (‘96 soprano/trumpet) and the Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps (‘97-‘01, ‘07 soprano/trumpet). The later winning back-to-back DCA World Championships in 1997 & 1998. Notable performances include competing at the World Marching Showband Championships and The Royal Tournament in London, England, the World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade, Netherlands and as a participant in the 2001 Presidential Inauguration Parade in Washington, DC.

Dave has been on the instructional staff with Le Roy since 2023 working with the WSS Mini Marching Knights and Jr/Sr High Marching Band, including a NYSFBC State Championship title in 2024. Dave is also a visual consultant with Rogues Hollow Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps out of Doylestown, Ohio.

As a percussionist, Dave has played drums with many different groups over the years including Badfish - a Sublime tribute, Light Blue - a Rochester based blues/gospel band, and worship services at various area churches.

Dave holds a bachelors degree from Full Sail University in Orlando, FL where he majored in Studio Recording Arts and Music Business. Dave resides in Rochester, NY with his two dogs and two cats and works as a Solutions Architect with RWS, a global provider of technology-enabled language, content and Intellectual property services.

Kieran O'Halloran - drum major coach & visual instruction

Kieran started his marching arts career playing trumpet in the sixth grade for the Le Roy Marching Knights. As an eighth grader, his love for the activity reached an apex when he watched the Pride of the Orange, the Syracuse University Marching Band, perform in the Carrier Dome, inspiring him to attend Syracuse University. At Syracuse (2016-2019), he played trumpet during his first two years, then accepted the role of Drum Major his Junior and Senior years. As Drum Major, he taught marching fundamentals, music, and led game day procedures for 180 students.

His love for music didn’t stop at just marching band. At Le Roy, he performed in numerous music groups such as concert band, jazz band, and pit orchestra. During his time in Syracuse, he was a member of the Sour Sitrus Society, Syracuse University’s premier pep band, where he traveled the country playing tunes at Men’s and Women’s basketball games. Additionally, he played in concert band all four years while attending University.

Kieran received his Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University, where he studied Information Management and Technology with a concentration in Web Development. He currently works in cybersecurity for Bottomline Technologies, a global fintech company, where he oversees ethical hacks, phishing simulations, and security audits.

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