Rebecca Belveal - Director of Color Guards
Rebecca has been the Color Guard instructor at Pace High School for over 20 years. Under her leadership, the Guard has achieved great successes on both the marching field and within the Indoor Guard circuit, medaling every year in both local and regional Winter Guard International events.
Her abilities as an instructor, choreographer and visual staff member for the award winning “The Pride of the Red, White, and Blue” Marching Band enable the program to truly come to life on the field and on the floor, and for the crowd to come to their feet in the stands.
Rebecca is frequently utilized as a consultant for many programs in our area, due to her recognized levels of excellence and leadership in her work with the Pace High School Color Guard program.
Rebecca is a Past-President of the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
Her abilities as an instructor, choreographer and visual staff member for the award winning “The Pride of the Red, White, and Blue” Marching Band enable the program to truly come to life on the field and on the floor, and for the crowd to come to their feet in the stands.
Rebecca is frequently utilized as a consultant for many programs in our area, due to her recognized levels of excellence and leadership in her work with the Pace High School Color Guard program.
Rebecca is a Past-President of the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
Rachel Belveal - Color Guard Staff
Rachel Belveal is a native of northwest Florida and is a graduate of Jay High School and the University of West Florida, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Level Education. She also holds a Master of Education in Administration from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Rachel is a highly qualified teacher in the fields of middle grades mathematics, secondary social studies, secondary language arts, elementary education, and elementary and secondary exceptional student education. She has taught for six years in the Santa Rosa County School District.
Rachel was a flautist in the Jay High School Concert Band for one year before becoming a five-year-member of the Jay High School Color Guard. She was also a charter member of the winter guard program at JHS. Throughout college, Rachel assisted her mom, Rebecca Belveal, director of the Pace High School Color Guard, with the color guard and winter guard programs at both Jay and Pace high schools. After college, Rachel became the Assistant Band Director at Jay High School, with a focus on the guard programs. She has served these two programs for over ten years now, her main responsibilities being writing, teaching, and cleaning equipment work for the guard units.
Rachel’s work with the guard programs at Jay and Pace have led to her involvement with guard on a more competitive stage. Both of her guard programs are members of the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit and Winter Guard International. Her programs have earned multiple superior ratings at marching contests and have been finalists at several Winter Guard International Regional Events. In addition to leading these two programs, Rachel aids the other guards in the region by serving as Executive Treasurer for the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
Rachel was a flautist in the Jay High School Concert Band for one year before becoming a five-year-member of the Jay High School Color Guard. She was also a charter member of the winter guard program at JHS. Throughout college, Rachel assisted her mom, Rebecca Belveal, director of the Pace High School Color Guard, with the color guard and winter guard programs at both Jay and Pace high schools. After college, Rachel became the Assistant Band Director at Jay High School, with a focus on the guard programs. She has served these two programs for over ten years now, her main responsibilities being writing, teaching, and cleaning equipment work for the guard units.
Rachel’s work with the guard programs at Jay and Pace have led to her involvement with guard on a more competitive stage. Both of her guard programs are members of the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit and Winter Guard International. Her programs have earned multiple superior ratings at marching contests and have been finalists at several Winter Guard International Regional Events. In addition to leading these two programs, Rachel aids the other guards in the region by serving as Executive Treasurer for the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
Hannah Denaro - Color Guard Staff
A coastal Virginia native, Hannah Sharp Denaro earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and her Master of Science in Administration in Leadership in Public Service and Nonprofit Administration at the University of West Florida.
Hannah began her dance and movement training at a young age which included years of studio training, master classes in ballet, modern, jazz and Pilates, summer intensives with Virginia Ballet Theatre, Virginia School of the Arts and the Richmond Ballet, and classes and performances at George Mason University.
Upon moving to Florida in 2010, Hannah joined the staff of the Pace High School Band as a Color Guard staff member specializing in choreography, dance and movement training.
Hannah works at the University of West Florida as the Office Administrator in the Department of Music. She enjoys helping students transition from high school to college musicians. Hannah states, “It is difficult to imagine a place where I would have the same or comparable opportunities for growth, positive colleague relations and student interaction that I have in my position at UWF”.
Hannah began her dance and movement training at a young age which included years of studio training, master classes in ballet, modern, jazz and Pilates, summer intensives with Virginia Ballet Theatre, Virginia School of the Arts and the Richmond Ballet, and classes and performances at George Mason University.
Upon moving to Florida in 2010, Hannah joined the staff of the Pace High School Band as a Color Guard staff member specializing in choreography, dance and movement training.
Hannah works at the University of West Florida as the Office Administrator in the Department of Music. She enjoys helping students transition from high school to college musicians. Hannah states, “It is difficult to imagine a place where I would have the same or comparable opportunities for growth, positive colleague relations and student interaction that I have in my position at UWF”.
Christopher Mills - Color Guard Staff
As a native of Northwest Florida, Christopher Mills graduated from Jay High School and Pensacola State College, where he earned his Associates of Arts degree. He plans to attend the Culinary Institute of America where he will pursue a career as a pastry chef.
Christopher began as a trumpet player and then becoming drum major for the Jay High School Marching Band. He was also a part of the winter guard program where he was a performer for 6 years! After high school, Christopher was both a performer and choreographer for Jay Independent.
Christopher has choreographed along the coast - working with teams from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. He has also designed shows for multiple groups in the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
Currently, Christopher the Visual Coordinator at Jay High School as well as a Choreographer with Pace High School Color Guard.
Christopher began as a trumpet player and then becoming drum major for the Jay High School Marching Band. He was also a part of the winter guard program where he was a performer for 6 years! After high school, Christopher was both a performer and choreographer for Jay Independent.
Christopher has choreographed along the coast - working with teams from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. He has also designed shows for multiple groups in the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
Currently, Christopher the Visual Coordinator at Jay High School as well as a Choreographer with Pace High School Color Guard.
Leo Finuliar - Color Guard Staff
Leo Finuliar is from Santa Clara, California and currently resides in Milton, Florida. Leo earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of West Florida and currently works at Bennett Russell Elementary in Milton.
Leo’s Color Guard marching experience expands throughout the West Coast. He has performed with San Jose Raiders, Orion Independent, and Northern Lights. He is currently serving on the board of directors for the Gulf Coast Guard & Percussion Circuit in Pensacola, Florida as the Color Guard Representative.
He has previously worked and consulted with numerous programs in the Gulf Coast including Tate High School, Foley High School, Murphy High School, Oak Grove High School, Florida State University Winter Guard and Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps.
Leo’s Color Guard marching experience expands throughout the West Coast. He has performed with San Jose Raiders, Orion Independent, and Northern Lights. He is currently serving on the board of directors for the Gulf Coast Guard & Percussion Circuit in Pensacola, Florida as the Color Guard Representative.
He has previously worked and consulted with numerous programs in the Gulf Coast including Tate High School, Foley High School, Murphy High School, Oak Grove High School, Florida State University Winter Guard and Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps.
Garrett Lambert - Director of Percussion
Garrett Lambert is a percussion educator, performer, composer, and arranger from Tampa, Florida. As an educator, he has worked with several high school percussion programs across Florida and Alabama.
He has performed with various ensembles including The Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, The University of South Florida, and The University of West Florida. Garrett currently arranges and composes for many ensembles in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arizona.
Garrett is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and has participated in the Northwest Florida Day of Percussion as a clinician every year since 2011.
He earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of West Florida. Currently, he resides in Pensacola, Florida and is the Percussion Director at Pace High School and is a Middle School Band Director in Escambia County, FL. Garrett is a proud endorser of the Pearl/Adams Corporation, Innovative Percussion, and Zildjian Cymbals.
Kris Kessler - Percussion Staff
As a native of Pace, Kris Kessler has been involved in the marching percussion field for the past ten years. He joined the Pace staff in 2015, after having taught at various high schools throughout the Gulf Coast area.
Kris’s marching experience includes The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-2014), Atlanta Quest (2015), The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2015), and Music City Mystique (2016).
Outside of teaching percussion, Kris is pursuing his Master’s degree in Business Administration while working in property management on Pensacola Beach, Florida
Kris’s marching experience includes The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-2014), Atlanta Quest (2015), The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2015), and Music City Mystique (2016).
Outside of teaching percussion, Kris is pursuing his Master’s degree in Business Administration while working in property management on Pensacola Beach, Florida
Josh Rodriguez - Percussion Staff
Shortly after graduating from Escambia High School, Josh Rodriguez began instructing percussion. He has worked with multiple high school and middle school programs in the area since 2012. He has also been a recurring clinician for the Northwest Florida Day of percussion since 2013. In 2016, he marched with the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps, where he was a section leader and member of the snare line.
Josh earned his Associate's degree from Pensacola State College and his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of West Florida. When Josh is not teaching Pace High School’s battery section, he offers private percussion lessons for middle school and high school students.
Josh earned his Associate's degree from Pensacola State College and his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of West Florida. When Josh is not teaching Pace High School’s battery section, he offers private percussion lessons for middle school and high school students.
Zack Blessing - Visual Staff
Zachary Blessing is a WGI silver medalist and DCI finalist that has continuously taught and built visual and cymbal programs for over the past 7 years. His world-class instructional experience includes Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and Music City Mystique.
Zack’s world-class performance career includes Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2011–2013), Infinity Percussion (2013), Oregon Crusaders (2015), and Music City Mystique (2014-2016).
When he is not performing his instructional duties, Zack is working as a graphic designer for Pensacola State College. Feeling blessed to live a creative life, Zack is ecstatic to be working with an extremely talented staff and wonderful music program at Pace High School.
Zack’s world-class performance career includes Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2011–2013), Infinity Percussion (2013), Oregon Crusaders (2015), and Music City Mystique (2014-2016).
When he is not performing his instructional duties, Zack is working as a graphic designer for Pensacola State College. Feeling blessed to live a creative life, Zack is ecstatic to be working with an extremely talented staff and wonderful music program at Pace High School.
Allen Westerkom - Low Brass/Visual Staff
A former member of the Pace High Band, Allen is a trombonist who previously studied under the tutelage of Joshua Bledsoe at the University of West Florida. During his time at UWF, Allen was a member of the UWF Symphonic and Jazz Bands, as well as various chamber ensembles.
Allen performs professionally with various groups around the Gulf Coast area, such as the Pensacola Civic Band, the Gulf Coast Collegiate All-Star Jazz Ensemble and Rosie O’Grady’s Second Line Brass Band. Additionally, Allen recently performed locally with critically acclaimed trombonist Andy Martin at the Pensacola Jazz Fest.
Allen currently teaches private lessons on all low brass instruments. Any interested students should inquire with him about availability.
Allen performs professionally with various groups around the Gulf Coast area, such as the Pensacola Civic Band, the Gulf Coast Collegiate All-Star Jazz Ensemble and Rosie O’Grady’s Second Line Brass Band. Additionally, Allen recently performed locally with critically acclaimed trombonist Andy Martin at the Pensacola Jazz Fest.
Allen currently teaches private lessons on all low brass instruments. Any interested students should inquire with him about availability.
Additional Band Staff
Randy Nelson - Show Designer/Visual and Creative Consultant
Carol Ann Whidden - Music Arranger and Creative Consultant
Joshua Wendt - Visual Staff/Choreographer and Creative Consultant
Carol Ann Whidden - Music Arranger and Creative Consultant
Joshua Wendt - Visual Staff/Choreographer and Creative Consultant
