Blair Roberts is the Director of Instrumental Music at WHS. She earned a B.S. Music Education in 2018 from Western Connecticut State University (WCSU). Ms. Roberts is currently enrolled in the M.M. Music Education program at Eastern Kentucky University. Her primary instruments are oboe and English Horn. 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 previously served as a woodwind technician, choreographer, and Assistant Band Director. After graduating from WCSU she served as the Band Director and a general music teacher at Turn of River Middle School. Ms. Roberts has also spent time teaching with the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band, and with the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps as well as playing several seasons with the Connecticut Symphonic Winds. Ms. Roberts resides in southern Fairfield County with her husband 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.
Devin Mitchell is entering his 5th year as Brass Technician for WHSMB, happily working alongside the rest of the education team. Devin received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education, studying Trombone under Dr. Fernando Jimenez and Voice under Roy Mazzacane. He has taught at SPS for 4 years, and currently teaching orchestra, choir, and K-8 Music at Rogers International School. Outside of the district, Devin has been a member of Westchester County’s Charis Chamber Singers for 4 years under Dr. Jeremy Wiggins, and Bass section leader for New Canaan Presbyterian Church’s Choir, under Terry Flanagan. Living in the heart of Stamford, Devin looks forward to growing and working alongside the brass family.
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.
Sean Charles is a performer, composer, and educator of the percussive arts. While he is classically trained, Sean's performance journey started as a percussionist in the marching arts, where he performed in Drum Corps International with renowned groups such as the Madison Scouts and the Boston Crusaders. Since age 17, Sean has been coaching ensembles and students in the marching arts community throughout Connecticut, specializing in both front ensemble and battery percussion. Sean completed his Bachelor's degree at Western Connecticut State University. At WCSU, Sean discovered his love for solo percussion and chamber percussion music, and became a proud winner of the James Furman Honors Recital competition. Sean continued his studies at the University of Kansas, where he was selected to perform at the KU Honors Chamber Recital. Sean is the co-founder of the chamber group, Shards Duo, along with clarinetist Wesley Rhodes. Together, they strive to push the boundaries of the clarinet and percussion repertoire through their engaging performances and enticing compositional language. They are enthusiastic about collaborating with other composers, and educating and motivating young musicians. Sean currently is a freelance percussionist and educator in the Northeast, and appears in performance with several ensembles, such as the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra, the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, the New Haven Oratorio Choir, The New Haven Concert Choral, and more. Sean currently holds his Master of Music degree from the University of Kansas, where he studied with renowned percussionist, Sam Um. He is proud to be an endorsed Innovative Percussion Artist.
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 Percusson 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 indoor season as a cast member of United Percussion World and will be continuing his marching experience as a returning member of the Hawthorne Caballeros!
Jason Laynes is 22 years old and 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 second year teaching, he can not wait to see where it takes him!
As a resident of Port Chester, Chris began his marching arts journey with the Port Chester High School Marching Band, contributing to their first-place finishes at the 2021 USBands Open Class 5A National Championships and Yamaha Cup, where he also performed as a soloist. Additionally, Chris participated in the school’s winter programs such as Indoor Percussion and Jazz Band as a drumset player. He also performed with the Saints Brigade Drum & Bugle Corps, participating in notable events such as the 2020 New Year's Day Parade in London and the 2024 New Year’s Day Parade in Rome. Chris’s DCI experience includes marching with the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps starting in 2022 and returning in 2023 as a section leader, contributing to their DCI Open Class World Championship title. In the summer of 2024, he continued his DCI journey by marching in World Class with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps.
Chris is a dedicated educator and performer, currently serving as a brass consultant for the Westhill High School Marching Band. He is pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Adolescence Education: Mathematics from SUNY Cortland, where he performed with the university’s orchestra and was a founding member of their Pep Band.
Gina began spinning her junior year of high school at Arlington in LaGrangeville, New York. Following that, she continued spinning at Sacred Heart University and competed at WGI Championships in Dayton, Ohio in 2015-2017. The team made finals all three years in the Independent A class. Gina then became an instructor at Westhill in 2020 to continue sharing this amazing art with the youth. Formerly a 5th grade teacher at Westover Magnet School in Stamford CT, she now teaches special education at Jockey Hollow Middle School in Monroe CT. When she is not instructing you can find her, crafting, hanging out with her two cats, or spending time with friends and family.
Sammie started her colorguard career Sophomore year of high school at Bridgewater Raritan High School in New Jersey. During those years she marched both outdoor and indoor, competing and finding her love for the sport. Her colorguard journey continued into college at Sacred Heart University, where she spun with the Sacred Heart winterguard for years, traveling to compete at the World Championships 3 years in a row. She joined the Westhill education team in 2023 for the colorguard's winter season. She is excited to see this program grow and help the students find their own love for the sport.
Laura started spinning her sophomore year of high school at Brien McMahon in Norwalk, CT. After graduating, she continued spinning at Sacred Heart University for 6 years, competing at WGI World Championships in Dayton Ohio from 2015-2019. The team competed and made Independent A Class finals 3 years in a row, and competed in Independent Open for 2 years. Laura has worked with Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford since 2018 and assisted in establishing their winter program, which began competing in 2022. Laura joined the Westhill team in winter of 2024 and is excited to continue to help the students grow and enhance their skills.
Amy Palmer is a recent graduate of Westhill High School. In her time as a student member she participated in Westhill's Fall Marching program and Indoor Color Guard. Amy began spinning in seventh grade at Turn of River Middle School in Stamford CT. She enjoyed it so much that she joined the westhill color guard team which helped her find her passion for the sport during her four years. After graduating, Amy began photographing the sport she loves. Amy is excited to join the Westhill Education Team as a college intern. She is excited to help and watch the program continue to grow and hopes to help current students find the same passion she did. Amy is continuing her education at UConn Stamford and aspires top continue her journey in the marching arts.
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 continue 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 indecent 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.