Education Team

Blair Roberts is the Director of Instrumental Music at WHS. She earned a B.S. Music Education in 2018 from Western Connecticut State University. Ms. Roberts is currently enrolled in the M.M. Music Education program at Eastern Kentucky University. Her primary instrument is oboe and her favorite performance venue is in a pit orchestra for musical theater. Ms. Roberts began her marching arts career as a student at Norwalk High School, and went on to begin teaching at Westhill in the summer of 2014. At Westhill, Ms. Roberts has served as a woodwind technician, choreographer, and Assistant Band Director. Ms. Roberts has also spent time teaching at Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band, and with the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps. Ms. Roberts resides in southern Fairfield County with her husband Sean and their two cats, Baxter and Binx

Ariana is a music educator, arts administrator, and longtime band geek. She began playing saxophone in fourth grade and eventually joined the East Lyme Viking Marching Band and Indoor Drumline in high school. Ariana earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2008, where she was a clarinet major and four-year member of the battery for the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band. She earned her Master of Arts Administration from CUNY Baruch College in 2019. Over the course of her career, Ariana has taught instrumental, choral, and general music in grades pre-k though 12 in public and private schools in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New York, as well as marching band and indoor percussion programs in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Additionally, she has worked with Fusion Core (battery member 2011, drum major 2013-2014, battery visual instructor 2014, 2018), the Philadelphia Wind Symphony (charter member), and pit orchestras for school musicals and community theater groups. Ariana is currently working in the technology and information services industry and resides in Norwalk, CT with her husband Tom, their son Soren, and their cats Bird and Eliza.

Tom has been an active writer and educator in the CT marching arts scene since graduating high school in 2011. His marching career began at Danbury High School, where he spent four years in the drumline and the final two as a battery captain. His marching career continued through WGI Independent A finalist Stamford Black Knight Independent in 2011, the Connecticut Hurricanes in 2012, and WGI World Class Finalist United Percussion in 2015. Tom also has extensive experience teaching Drum Corps, spending three seasons at Fusion Core in Morris County, NJ as the quad tech (2013, 2014, 2018). Tom has a Bachelor’s degree in Audio and Music Production from Western Connecticut State University (2015) and currently resides in Norwalk, CT with his wife Ariana, son Soren, and cats Bird and Eliza. He works full time in Fairfield and Westchester County as an A/V and Control Systems service engineer and programmer. 

Mark Scocchera has been active in the competitive marching arts since 2016, as a member of the Port Chester High School Winter Percussion Ensemble. He would go on to win three National percussion titles as a member of the Port Chester High School marching programs. Mark then went on to march the DCA Open Class, winning a DCA Championship with the Connecticut Hurricanes, as well as becoming a WGI Championship Finalist with United Percussion 2 and DCI All Age finalist with the Hawthorne Caballeros! Throughout this time, Mark also began his career as a music educator, with both the Westchester Brassmen Drum & Bugle Corps., and the Westhill High School Marching Band and Winter Percussion Ensemble. Mark most recently finished this past summer season with the Hawthorne Caballeros, and will be continuing his marching experience as a returning cast member of United Percussion World!

Jason Laynes resides in Port Chester NY, where he marched both Fall and Winter percussion at Port Chester High School. Jason has been surrounded by music his entire life. He picked up my first pair of drumsticks at only 5 years old. Jason began ensemble music in band in 4th grade and has loved every second since. Today Jason makes music independent of an ensemble because of how important he believes music to be personally. Jason is very honored and excited to be at Westhill High School to share and teach his passions with future generations. Now in his third year teaching, he can not wait to see where it takes him!

As a Stamford native and Westhill High School Band alum, Carmen Lopez began her marching arts career in 2017. While in school she marched at the Connecticut Hurricanes in the color guard and post graduation continues to march at the Hurricanes and also marched at United Percussion WGI and The Cadets DCI. 

In the teaching capacity , Carmen has taught at various groups both independent and scholastic including the Connecticut Hurricanes, Port Chester High School, New Milford High School , Trumbull High School, and Turn of River Middle School. 

After graduating the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering in 2021 , Carmen continued her education at City Tech to peruse a double major in civil engineering and architecture. Outside of the marching arts , she works as the founder of SCC Companies and The Lifeline Foundation.

Bryan is in his second year as a Front Ensemble Technician for WHS Indoor Percussion. His involvement with the marching arts began at Cheshire High School, where he completed 4 successful years of performing, both in the pit and the drumline. He continued his marching arts career by playing marimba with the Connecticut Hurricanes, winning the DCA Open Class Championship in 2023. Bryan Is currently a member of United Percussion 2 for the 2026 WGI season.

Bryan is a Music Education major at Western Connecticut State University and is studying percussion under Dr. Greg Haynes and Doug Perry. He's excited to grow as both a performer and educator this winter with Westconn, the Hurricanes, UP2, and Westhill!

Jackie Gallegos is a Westhill alum in her first year of undergrad at Western Connecticut State University. Her myriad instruments include cymbals, clarinet, and bass, and she has had experiences in a range of ensembles and genres, from jazz to orchestral to musical theatre. As a student, Jackie was a longtime captain of both woodwinds and cymbals, and gained multiple experiences in professional settings. When home from school, she lives in Stamford with her family and their cat.