Marching Band Staff
Milan George Tepshich, M.Ed - Director of Bands
Mr. Tepshich is the Director of Bands at Shaler Area High School. "Mr. T" currently serves as Music Department Chair for grades 7-12. In addition to directing the Marching Band, he also teaches Honors Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, Honors Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Music Theory, Music Appreciation, and Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Tepshich is an active member of NAfME (National Association for Music Education) and PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Education Association). He is also the Past-President of the Allegheny Valley Band Association. His students audition into and are accepted into the PMEA, NAfME and AV honors ensembles every year. The Shaler Area Marching Band, Concert Bands and Jazz I compete annually in music competitions and parades across the country often receiving top awards and placements. His Marching Band has also performed in the Magic Kingdom Parade in Disney World and the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. Mr. Tepshich has his B.S. in Music Education from Edinboro University of PA with a concentration in percussion performance, and a Masters of Education from Indiana University of PA.
Mrs. Tepshich, a Shaler Alumni, is the Shaler Area High School Choir Director as well as the Assistant Marching Band Director. Mrs. Tepshich graduated from Duquesne University with a B.A. in Music Education and a concentration in piano and vocal performance and a Masters of Education from Edinboro University.
Mrs. West is the Shaler Area Elementary School Choir Director/General Music Teacher and Assistant Marching Band Director. Mrs. West graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Music Education and a concentration in french horn and completed her Masters of Music Technology from the University of Valley Forge in August, 2016.
Ryan Kinzler - Assistant Director
Mr. Kinzler is a Shaler Area Middle School Mathematics Teacher and the Assistant Marching Band Director. Mr. Kinzler graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in Secondary Education-Mathematics and a minor in Special Education, as well as being a member of the Pennsylvania State University Marching Blue Band. He also earned his Masters in Educational Leadership from Arizona State.
Amanda Vigliotti - Dance Team Sponsor
Miss Demsey is the Shaler Area Dance Team Sponsor. Being a previous member of the Shaler Area Dance Team, she couldn’t wait to dive in and start working with the dancers. Even though Miss Demsey is currently a science teacher at Pine-Richland High School, she enjoys coming back to the community she grew up in to assist the team she was once a member of.
Alyssa Rihn - Majorette Sponsor
Miss Rihn, a Shaler Area Alumni, is a Shaler Area High School Mathematics Teacher and the Majorette Sponsor. Miss Rihn graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Mathematics and completed her Masters in Secondary Math Education at Duquesne University. Being a former Shaler Area Majorette herself, Miss Rihn is excited to work with the team she once was a part of.
Becky Butler - Color Guard Sponsor
Mrs. Butler is a Shaler Area High School Mathematics Teacher and the Shaler Area Color Guard Sponsor. She graduated from Duquesne University with a B.S. in Mathematics and a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Mathematics Education. During her time in college, Mrs. Butler marched with the University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band.
John West - Drum Line Sponsor
Mr. West is the Shaler Area High School Drumline Sponsor. Over the last 15 years, he has worked with many Drumline's throughout the state of Pennsylvania including Upper Moreland, Cumberland Valley, Gateway, Kiski and Shaler. He also marched with the Glassmen Drum Corps. Mr. West is a graduate of Penn State Mont Alto.