Design Team
Richard Rigolini
Corps Director
Richard earned his Bachelors degree in Sociology from Boston University. He has been at the center of the corps’ vision for many years. Under his direction, the Spartans enjoy continued success.
Matt McGuire
Program Coordinator and Front Ensemble Arranger
Matt has been working with the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps since 2014. Prior to that, he taught the front ensemble for East Coast Jazz (2006), Jersey Surf (2008), and the Citations (2009).
Matt graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2007 where he studied music education. He received his master’s degree in 2019 from Bridgewater State University where he currently serves as an adjunct professor in the music department. Matt is a member of the NESBA executive board and has served as a member of the WGI percussion advisory board. In addition to his own programs, Matt has served as an arranger for multiple schools around New England.
Don MacTaggart
Brass Caption Head
Mr. MacTaggart has adjudicated marching band and drum & bugle corps programs throughout the United States and Canada and is a highly sought-after clinician and judge.
Gilles Ouellette
Visual Design
Gilles is a freelance Visual Designer, Technician and Adjudicator for High School Marching Bands, Drum Corps, Winter Guards and Winter Percussion Ensembles.
Gilles is a past assistant director for the Boston Crusaders (1996-1998) and past Visual Designer for the Glassmen (2008-2009). Gilles has been the Visual Designer for the Spartans from 2001-2007, 2010-present. He is also a Visual designer for the Spirit of Atlanta (GA), U. Mass Lowell (MA), Hanna HS (TX), Mt Juliet HS (TN), New Bedford HS (MA), New Oxford HS (PA), Oak Grove HS (AL), Red Mountain HS (AZ) and Westminster HS (MD), Gilles resides in Nashville, TN. He is a member and active adjudicator for the Gulf Coast Judges Association (GCJA), Winterguard International (WGI) and is the Color Guard, Judge and Contest Coordinator for the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit (SCGC).
Aaron Goldberg
Brass Arranger
A native of Boston, Aaron Goldberg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from UMass Lowell and a Master’s degree in Music Performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
Lennie Machado
Visual Caption Head and Color Guard Design
Lennie’s résumé boasts an impressive run of consecutive DCI Open Class color guard championships.
Andy Kim
Battery Design
Andy is an alumnus of King Phillip HS, the Spartans, UMass Amherst, and Carolina Crown. He also teaches at King Philip HS.
Bruno Zuccala
Consultant
Educational Staff
Brass
Don MacTaggart
Brass Captain Head
Mr. MacTaggart has adjudicated marching band and drum & bugle corps programs throughout the United States and Canada and is a highly sought-after clinician and judge.
Don is a member of the Massachusetts Drum Corps and Music Educators Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the Fr. Robert Carr Exemplary Service Award. He is the former Music Education Director for the Massachusetts Judges Association and he is the current Judge Administrator for the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association. In his limited spare time, Mr. MacTaggart gives private lessons in the Boston area.
Aaron Goldberg
Brass Arranger
A native of Boston, Aaron Goldberg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from UMass Lowell and a Master’s degree in Music Performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
James Fortier
Brass Instructor
James (Jamie) Fortier returns to Spartans for his 7th season as a brass/visual tech. Jamie has had a long history with the Spartans, having served 5 years as a marching member.
Outside of the marching arts, Jamie is the Dean of School Culture with the Sizer Charter School in Fitchburg, Mass. In this role, Jamie serves as an administer for the school that oversees the provision of school-based services and interventions with students and families. Jamie leads his school efforts to ensure there is a safe and orderly school environment that promotes academic achievement and contributes to the well-being of all students.
Jamie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell with a B.A. in Music Business. During his time as a student, Jamie was able to learn from great teachers such as Dan Lutz, Michael Milnarik, David Martins, Alan Williams, Tim Crain, Ricky Berger and Pete Lully. Jamie was also a member of the UMass Lowell Marching Band from 2009-2013, having been a featured soloist several times and earning the best marcher award during his time. In 2013, Jamie was the first member in the band’s history to receive the “Impact Award”, which is awarded to those leaving an influential impact on the program.
Jamie currently works and writes drill for several high school band programs across Massachusetts. Some programs include North Andover High School, Oakmont Regional High School, North Reading High School, and Lunenburg High School.
When not working, Jamie loves spending his time going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and learning anything that has to do with different sci-fi universes.
Mattsen Bradbury-Koster
Brass Tech
Mattsen is a proud alumnus of the Spartans, having marched two years with the corps. First, as a tuba player in 2016 and then as drum major during his 2017 age-out season.
Cassie MacDonald
Brass Tech
Cassie is a part of the Brass team, specializing in the high brass. She marched in High School and is passionate about teaching brass and playing trumpet.
Averi Parece
Brass Tech
Averi is a 2020 graduate of Ithaca College with a degree in Music Education. She marched two years at the Cadets. Outside of the Spartans, Averi also teaches the Wakefield Warrior Marching Band.
Brian McCullock
Brass Tech
Brian is an alumnus of UMass Lowell and the Spartans. Outside the Spartans, is a music teacher in Worcester and teaches and writes for several high school bands in Massachusetts.
Color Guard
Lennie Machado
Color Guard Design
Lennie is a long-time Spartans staff member. His résumé boasts more than a few DCI Open Class color guard championship titles.
Julie Brown
Movement Coordinator and GC Instructor
Julie is an alumna of Shepherd Hill HS, the Citations, the Spartans, and Blessed Sacrament. She also teaches Shepherd Hill HS marching band and winter guard.
Kevin Couture
Color Guard Tech
Alumnus of the Spartans and performing member of Blessed Sacrament World Guard.
Alicia Druid
Color Guard Tech
Alicia is an alumna of Reading HS, St. Brendan’s color guard & the Spartans. She holds a psychology & elementary education degree from Merrimack College & teaches elementary school in Waltham, MA. Outside the Spartans, Alicia teaches St. Brendan’s color guard, Reading HS & North Andover HS.
Addison Kaeterle
Color Guard Caption Manager
Addison is excited to join the 2018 Spartans as a member of the guard design team. He is currently the director at Dartmouth High School from Dartmouth, MA. They were the WGI 2017 SA Silver Medalist. Addison is a former alumni of the Spartans. Addison is currently a TA in a Special Education classroom and goes to Bristol community college as a behavioral science major.
Laura Brophy
Movement Tech
Laura Brophy is excited to start her first year working with the Spartans. Laura has been the movement specialist and a visual technician for the Mansfield High School Band and Percussion programs since 2016.
Casey Saitow
Color Guard Tech
Addison Kaeterle
Color Guard Consultant
Battery
Andy Kim
Percussion Caption Head and Battery Arranger
Andy has been on staff with the Spartans since 2013, and will be returning as the Percussion Caption Head and Battery Arranger in 2020.
Andy has served as an instructor, arranger, and designer for several programs in New England, including Plymouth High School, Bishop Hendricken High School, King Philip Regional High School, Dartmouth High School, and PureFusion Percussion. He is also currently the co-director of the Mansfield High School Percussion Ensemble.
Outside of the marching arts, Andy holds a BS in Chemical Engineering and works at Abbvie Pharmaceuticals in Worcester, MA. He is very excited to be returning to the Spartans for the 2020 season!
Jabari Tovar
Battery Manager and Snare Technician
Jabari has been a staff member at the Spartans since the 2017 beginning as the snare technician. He is an alumnus of The Spartans, marching from 2011-2014.
Seth Lampert
Tenor Technician
Seth was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and is an alumnus of Portsmouth High School where he performed in the percussion ensemble, led by percussion director Steve Cirillo.
Seth’s marching career began in 2014 where he spent one season playing cymbals and another playing tenors with The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps. He then spent four seasons playing tenors with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. During his time at The Cadets, he had the opportunity to perform under Colin McNutt in 2016 and DCI Hall of Famer Tom Aungst from 2017 – 2019. The 2020 season will be his first year on The Spartans staff.
Cullen Ryan
Tenor Tech
Cullen is returning to the percussion staff teaching the tenor line. His DCI marching career began with the Spartans (2010 – 2012) and concluded with the Cadets (2014 – 2015).
Outside of the marching world, Cullen is very active in the music industry. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Business from UMass Lowell and works full time in Artist Relations at Zildjian and Vic Firth. Cullen also performs and records regularly with a variety of music acts, including Toluca Lake, Rainsound, and Week Seven.
Corey Watkins
Bass Technician
Corey Watkins is a freelance educator, percussionist, and arranger from Asheville, North Carolina. His marching career began in the Western Carolina University “Pride of the Mountains” marching band from 2015-2017.
Corey’s independent teaching experience started with The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps in the 2018 season and he is going into his third year as the bass tech for the Spartans. He has also been the bass tech for Cap City Percussion – a consistent WGI finalist ensemble (2019), and Matrix performing arts for the upcoming 2020 WGI season. Corey currently resides in Dayton Ohio, where he is the battery coordinator for Bellbrook High School.
Joe Weber
Bass Technician
Joe is excited to return for his second year as a bass tech. He is an alumnus of 7th Regiment (2016-17) and Carolina Crown (2018) as well as the UMass Drumline (2015-18).
Tim Miller
Bass Technician
Tim Miller is a battery instructor specializing in bass drum instruction. Tim is a Springfield, MA native and is a graduate of UMass Amherst.
Tim’s teaching career involves instruction with several different groups in DCI. After aging out in 2011, Tim began teaching at 7th Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps and taught there through the 2016 season. In 2017 and 2018, he assisted with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps battery instruction, with focus on the bass drum section. Apart from the summer activity, Tim has instructed several WGI groups throughout the Northeast.
Outside of drum corps, Tim resides in Connecticut and is a business manager within the environmental services industry, having recently completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Ohio University.
Front Ensemble
Matt McGuire
Front Ensemble Arranger
Matt has been working with the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps since 2014. Prior to that, he taught the front ensemble for East Coast Jazz (2006), Jersey Surf (2008), and the Citations (2009).
Matt graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2007 where he studied music education. He received his masters degree in 2019 from Bridgewater State University where he currently serves as an adjunct professor in the music department. Matt is a member of the NESBA executive board and has served as a member of the WGI percussion advisory board. In addition to his own programs, Matt has served as an arranger for multiple schools around New England.
Mark Sachetta
Front Ensemble Manager
Mark Sachetta has been involved with the Spartans Front Ensemble since 2014, returning in 2020 for his fourth season as the Front Ensemble Caption Manager.
In 2004, Mark began his undergraduate studies at Boston University, while remaining heavily involved in the percussive arts activity alongside his mentor and colleague Charley Poole, Jr. After several years at BU’s College of Fine Arts, Mark ultimately completed his undergraduate studies with an interdisciplinary degree in Music Education & Historical Studies.
Mark’s previous roles include working as the Front Ensemble Director, Arranger, and Consultant for North Andover High School, Boston College Screaming Eagles Marching Band, PureFusion Winter Percussion, and many others. Mark is currently a member of the Massachusetts Judges Association, and has adjudicated for NESBA, MICCA, and USBands.
Ryan Enos
Front Ensemble Technician
Ryan Enos is a Music Education student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell where he primarily studies drum set.
Sam Bodo
Front Ensemble Technician
Sam is an alumna of the Spartans and Shepherd Hill Regional High School. She is currently a Music Performance student at UMass Lowell where she primarily plays marimba.
Jared Logan
Front Ensemble Technician
Jared is an alumnus of Everett HS and the Spartans. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Studies from UMass Lowell and is currently studying for a master’s degree in Community Music Education.
Bryson Teel
Electronics Tech
Bryson is a Washington state native, and currently resides in Bristol, Connecticut. There, he is active as a songwriter, mixing engineer, and marching arts sound designer/teacher.
As a graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Bryson holds a B.M. degree in Audio & Music Production w/ a Focus in Percussion Performance. Applying skills learned from studying modern composition and audio engineering, he has worked as a designer and teacher for marching programs throughout the northeast and southern regions. (Newtown HS, Enloe HS, Trumbull HS, Green Hope HS, Cheshire HS, University of New Haven, 7th Regiment, Connecticut Hurricanes).
Patrick Tanguay
Audio Engineer
Patrick Tanguay will be returning as the corps sound engineer. He works with the Salem High School (MA) and Mansfield High School marching bands and indoor percussion ensembles, as well as taking on work as a freelance engineer, and multi woodwind performer.
Visual
Lennie Machado
Visual Caption Head
Lennie is a long-time Spartans staff member. His résumé boasts more than a few DCI Open Class color guard championship titles.
Gilles Ouellette
Visual Design
Gilles is a freelance Visual Designer, Technician and Adjudicator for High School Marching Bands, Drum Corps, Winter Guards and Winter Percussion Ensembles.
Mike Rayner
Visual Manager
Michael Rayner is an elementary band teacher in New Bedford, MA as well as visual designer and instructor at Dartmouth High School.
Laura Brophy
Movement Tech
Laura Brophy is excited to start her first year working with the Spartans. Laura has been the movement specialist and a visual technician for the Mansfield High School Band and Percussion programs since 2016.
Vanessa Jenner
Visual Tech
Vanessa is an educator of the visual & performing arts. She is an alumnus of St. John’s of Beverly, Sacred Heart & Blessed Sacrament Winter Guards as well as East Coast Jazz & The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps.
She earned her B.S. in Geography: Travel and Tourism with a minor in Dance from Salem State College. Currently, she works in the corporate travel industry.
Connor Carville
Visual Tech
Connor is an alumnus of Spartans, Dover HS, and PureFusion Percussion. He recently earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Hospitality from the University of New Hampshire. Connor is also the Percussion Director for Dover HS.
Kevin Rizza
Visual Tech
Kevin is an alumnus of the Citations. Outside of drum corps, he is currently the visual caption head for Bishop Feehan High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in computer science and currently works as a software engineer in Boston.
Sean Coffey
Visual Tech
Sam Hanson
Visual Tech
Board of Directors
Our directors oversee corps operations and direction. We’re blessed to have a dedicated, hard-working team of experienced professionals and educators ensuring our long-term success and growth.