Indoor Percussion Staff
Stephen Goodman
Program Director
Stephen graduated in 2022 from Arizona State University with two bachelor's degrees: Business Administration and Global Politics, and a minor in Organizational Leadership. He is going on six (6) years with the instructional staff for Convergence Indoor Percussion. Stephen was a Percussion Caption Head in the west valley for five (5) years, and is now the Visual Caption Head at Canyon View HS and Estrella Foothills HS. Outside of Convergence, Stephen serves as a Timing and Penalty Judge for AzMBA, and is the Vice President of Winter Guard Arizona, Inc.
Jeff Whipple
Show Designer & Visual Caption Head
Jeff Whipple brings a rich history in the marching and pageantry arts activities and has served as an educator, clinician, designer, and adjudicator for over a decade. Ensembles he has worked with consistently achieve superior ratings and are highly competitive in Class & State championships as well as BOA and WGI circuits. He also serves as a clinician for programs throughout the country. Jeff currently serves as the Visual Caption Head at Desert Vista High School, is an active designer for programs across the country, and is a member of both Vision Percussion and the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps visual teams. He is thrilled to join Convergence!
Ian Fuller
Show Arranger
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Ian performed in 8 seasons of World Class Drum Corps and WGI along the West Coast before earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s of Education. He’s served as a designer, composer, and educator for several programs in the Northwest as well as for Impulse Youth Performing Arts Organization in Southern California. Currently he teaches elementary music in Beaverton, Oregon, is the program coordinator for the Westview Marching Band, and has served on the percussion staff of the Columbians Drum and Bugle Corps since 2019.
Tim Mitchell
Audio Designer
Specializing in Sound Design for the marching arts, Tim brings a wealth of experience from many genres of storytelling to create powerful, dynamic, and engaging productions. Tim began working in radio broadcasting at KCWU-FM, where he produced nationally-awarded promos and podcasts recognized by College Broadcasters Incorporated and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. Fusing radio production techniques with theatrical sound composition, Tim has produced sound design for numerous marching band, winter percussion, and drum corps shows. Well-versed in the marching arts as a performer and educator, he studied Music at Central Washington University and performed with the Oregon Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps and indoor percussion. Valuing both the fine details and the big picture, Tim has worked in electronics design and management with top ensembles in the Pacific Northwest, including Columbians Drum & Bugle Corps (DCI Open), IMPACT Percussion (WGI PIO), OC Indoor (WGI PIW), Oregon Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps (DCI World), and Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps (DCI World).
Mark Crowley
Battery Caption Head
Mark is an active and passionate percussion performer/educator based in the northwest valley. Mark earned his bachelors degree in Music Performance with an emphasis in Jazz from ASU and brings his experiences with The Academy, Vision Percussion, and The Seattle Cascades to further grow the West Valley in marching percussion by passing down the technical application, tradition, and life skills embodied in the upper echelon of the activity. He is thrilled for the upcoming season, a new chapter in the world of marching arts, and a front row seat to grow Arizona!
Renée Vandivort
Front Ensemble Caption Head
Renée is dedicated educator born and raised in Tucson, Arizona with over 5 years of teaching under her belt. With multiple years marching at Flux Indoor Percussion, she hopes to use her experience to inspire a new generation of percussionists in the state of Arizona. Renée’s priority as an educator is to teach self accountability, help students find and achieve their highest potential, and provide a safe space for creative expression as a performer. Above all she hopes that every performer she comes across will leave Convergence a better version of themselves. This is Renée’s second year with Convergence Indoor Percussion and she is thrilled for the season to come!
Manny Miranda
Snare Tech
Manny is a highly skilled Percussion Educator based out in the west valley with over five years of experience. He brings his experience through performing with groups Phenom and Vision Percussion. His passion and knowledge has lead him to teaching percussion in high schools throughout the valley. Manny is currently finishing his Undergraduate Degree for Music Education through Ottawa University and will further his education next fall for a masters degree. He’s excited to be working with Convergence Indoor Percussion for another season!
Leela Horner
Bass Tech
Born and raised in the small town of Catalina, AZ, just outside of Tucson, Leela found her way to bass drum while attending Ironwood Ridge HS. She has more than a decade of musical experience, marching a total of 6 seasons on bass drum with groups including Pacific Crest and Vision Percussion. This is her 4th year as battery caption head at Mountain View HS, where the band program continues to break its own score and placement records in AzMBA Championships each year. Leela is passionate about pushing the talent level of bass drummers across Southern Arizona. She prioritizes a positive educational environment and a close-knit culture in her ensembles. This is her first season with Convergence, and she is so excited to be here!
Skylar Hinojosa
Cymbal Tech
Skylar is a new cymbal tech from the West Valley. She is currently studying business at Glendale Community College as a part of the President's Honors program. This upcoming season will be her fourth year being a part of Convergence Indoor Percussion. She performed two seasons with Convergence and has recently become a part of the staff. Skylar is honored to still be involved with Convergence and is excited to see what the ensemble will achieve in this upcoming season.
Indoor Winds Staff
Andrew Glenn
Program Director
An Arizona Native, Andrew graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education in 2014 and a master’s degree in Music Education in 2018. He has been the Director of Music at Estrella Foothills High School since 2014. This season will be his first with Convergence Performing Arts and Convergence Indoor Winds.
Jeff Whipple
Assistant Director & Visual Design
Jeff Whipple brings a rich history in the marching and pageantry arts activities and has served as an educator, clinician, designer, and adjudicator for over a decade. Ensembles he has worked with consistently achieve superior ratings and are highly competitive in Class & State championships as well as BOA and WGI circuits. He also serves as a clinician for programs throughout the country. Jeff currently serves as the Visual Caption Head at Desert Vista High School, is an active designer for programs across the country, and is a member of both Vision Percussion and the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps visual teams. He is thrilled to join Convergence!
David Willers
Brass Caption Head
David Willers is the Director of Bands and Guitar at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona. David has a Master's Degree in Wind Conducting from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Arizona State University. David was the Director of Bands at Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Arizona from 2016-2021. As a performer, David has been a member of the Arizona Wind Symphony and Scottsdale Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, he has extensive experience in the marching arts, performing with The Academy and Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, and has served as a judge in the WGAZ and AzMBA circuits.
Reed Bailey
Woodwind Caption Head
Reed Bailey is a South Georgia native and is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Cienega High School in Vail, AZ. In his first season at Cienega, the Copper Thunder Marching Band finished as the AzMBA Class 2A State Runner-Up and won class 2A at several other shows throughout the season, bringing in several caption awards across all areas. Before moving to Vail, Reed served as the Director of Bands for the Morenci Unified School District, started the band program at Many Farms High School on the Navajo Nation, and taught across the Southeast region of the United States. He also recently served on the Governing Board of the Arizona Music Educators Association as the state’s Tri-M chairperson. Reed graduated with his Bachelors in 2019 from Troy University and in 2023 from the University of Kentucky with a Masters of Arts in Arts Administration.
Juan Mateo
Visual Technician
Juan Mateo is a double Bachelor graduate of the University of Arizona, with over 15 years of rounded experience through various levels of his performing, instructing and adjudicating careers. His marching band and indoor percussion ensembles have achieved repeated promotions, top rankings and championship visual captions while his uplifting energy and ability to quickly connect and coach performers make him a sought after technician across Arizona. Juan also shares influence and style with his professional career as a graphic designer. 2024 will be his first season growing with Convergence Indoor Winds!
Winterguard Staff
Gabriel Gastelo Jr.
Program Director
Gabriel Gastelo Jr has over 15 years of movement and performance experience, having performed and competed as a member of The Arizona Academy Winterguard, and Fenix Independent Winterguard. After years of movement experience in the Colorguard/Winterguard arena, Gabriel pursued movement at the collegiate level at Arizona State University where he studied a Post-Modern Contemporary style of movement, performed and choreographed student dance works, interned with American Dance Festival, and performed with Dulce Dance Co, and Desert Dance Theater. As of December 2021 Gabriel has a B.F.A in Dance from The Herberger School of Dance, Theater, and Film.
Jose Vega
Technician
Bio coming soon.