Rob Stegeman
Director of Bands
Mr. Rob Stegeman is currently serving as Director of Bands for Fort Zumwalt West High School. Stegeman is a graduate of Collinsville High School in Collinsville, IL and received a Bachelors of Music Education from Missouri State University in 2012. He is currently seeking his Masters of Music Education from Lindenwood University.
From 2012-2016, Stegeman was Assistant Director of Bands for Miami Public Schools and was responsible for the curriculum and administration of The Will Rogers Middle School Band program. Under his direction, the Middle School Symphonic Band consistently received superior ratings in stage performance and in sight reading at OSSAA State Contest. The band was awarded the "Outstanding Achievement" award for straight superior ratings for multiple seasons. With his assistance, the Miami High School band received consistent superior ratings and was awarded the "Sweepstakes" award twice and "Outstanding Achievement" twice in four years.
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From 2016-2022, Stegeman served as the Director of Bands for Francis Howell North High School. Under his direction, the Knightpride Band program received numerous accolades including multiple Superior Ratings at the Music for All Concert Band Regional in O’Fallon, IL, straight Superior Ratings at MSHSAA Large Ensemble Contest in Stage and Sight Reading Performance all 6 years, the expansion of the Jazz program to two full time curricular Jazz Bands receiving multiple awards at local festivals and regional festivals, and fostering the Knightpride Marching Band into a growing and consistent finalist for local and regional competitions along with several FloMarching featurettes!
Rob Stegeman is an active clinician, program coordinator, and saxophonist/woodwind specialist. Rob is a member of American School Band Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, Missouri Bandmasters Association, and Missouri Association for Jazz Education.
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Rob Stegeman has an unyielding passion for music and music education, dedicating countless hours to the support and cultivation of young people. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with the love of his life Melanie and his amazing children Emma and Red.
Neil Flannigan
Assistant Band Director/Percussion
Mr. Flannigan comes to us from the Wentzville School District, where he taught Beginning Band classes throughout the District. Prior to this position, he was the Assistant Band Director (Director of Percussion) for the Windsor C-1 School District in Imperial, Missouri. Under his direction, his ensembles have consistently received high marks in the marching and concert percussion seasons. He has also taught guitar classes and Zimbabwean marimba ensemble. Mr. Flannigan has been a band and percussion clinician & instructor for many high school band programs throughout Missouri and Illinois, and has been on staff for Freedom Percussion and Gateway Indoor.
He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education and Certifications in Orff-Schulwerk Level 1 and 2 from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. While there, he studied contemporary and classical percussion literature, with an emphasis in marimba performance, Afro-Cuban percussion, and West African djembe ensemble techniques. His primary teachers include Matt Henry, Gary Brandes, Dr. Thomas Zirkle, Dr. Eric Willie, and Mike Davis. Neil has performed with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps (2004-2006), WGI World Finalist Gateway Indoor (2008), and the St. Louis Wind Symphony. Neil is proud to endorse Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, whose quality and consistency are key to his success both as a performer and educator. He is a member of The Percussive Arts Society, Missouri Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
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Marissa Kyser
Assistant Band Director/Brass Specialist
Ms. Marissa Kyser is a graduate of Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Missouri. Marissa holds a Bachelor of Music Education (2016) and Master of Music with wind band conducting emphasis (2019), both from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO.
Marissa was the Director of Bands in the Spokane R-VII School District from 2019-2022. Under her direction, the program consistently received high ratings in both concert band and marching band. In this role, Marissa also taught choir and theater, was the Student Council Sponsor, and was a founding member of the Building Leadership Team that helped advocate for success and streamline positive change for students.
Marissa is a board member of the International Percy Grainger Society and has been internationally recognized for her research on Grainger’s life spent in Springfield, MO. In 2019, she traveled to Melbourne, Australia to study the Grainger Museum archives and compile evidence for research. Later that same year, she was invited to present her findings at the Percy Grainger Home in White Plains, New York.
Marissa Kyser has been an active trumpet performer in the Springfield area with a variety of ensembles and venues, including the Springfield Little Theater Pit Orchestra, Missouri State Community Band, Studio 54, and other various groups. During her time at Missouri State, she was the featured trumpet soloist for the PRIDE Band and lead trumpet for the jazz band, performing in New Orleans, Guadalajara Mexico, Orlando, and multiple BOA Exhibitions. Some of her primary teachers include Jerry Hoover, Belva Prather, John Zastoupil, Grant Peters, and Brad Snow.
She is an active member of the Missouri Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and Kappa Kappa Psi.
In her free time, Marissa enjoys spending time with her family and her dog Molly.
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Becky Fanning
Band Director West Middle School/Woodwind Specialist
Ms. Fanning is in her 16th year of teaching. Prior to teaching band at Fort Zumwalt West Middle, she taught the West Middle choirs, assisted the North High band, and taught 6-12 Vocal and Instrumental music in the Crest Ridge School District outside of Warrensburg, MO. She graduated from Fort Zumwalt North High, received her undergraduate degree from Central Missouri State University, completed her Master’s of Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL, and received her Education Specialist degree from Lindenwood University. She currently serves as the Fine Arts Department Chair at West Middle and serves on the Secondary Performing Arts Internal Advisory Committee. Outside of Fort Zumwalt, Ms. Fanning has served as the Metro 8 Middle School Jazz Vice President for 2 years and is currently serving her 5th year as the Middle School Concert Band Vice President.
Jeff Jehle
Band Director West Middle School/Brass Specialist
Jeff Jehle received his Bachelor of Music Education from Southeast Missouri State University and a Masters of Educational Administration from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. He is in his 13th year of music education and 11th year as band director at Fort Zumwalt West Middle School in O’Fallon, MO, and assistant instructor with the Fort Zumwalt West High School marching band. In addition, Mr. Jehle serves as Adjunct Instructor of Horn at St. Charles Community College in St. Charles, MO. He has adjudicated for various events including the Sullivan Marching Band Festival, the District Metro 8 Honor Band, the St. Louis All Suburban Honor Band, and the Wildcat Pride Marching Festival in Wright City, MO. In 2014 and 2015 he had the privilege of being the guest clinician with the Harold L. Lichtenegger Memorial Honor Bands in Southeast Missouri.
In his spare time, Mr. Jehle enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, slalom water skiing, cooking, and hanging out with his wife, Christina, his son, Aden and daughter, Ava. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, FZEA, and former member of the St. Louis Wind Symphony.
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Jarred Carey
Visual Caption Head
Jarred is an Oklahoma native that relocated to the St. Louis area in 2021. Jarred has been involved in the marching arts for nearly fifteen years!
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He began his career in pageantry with The Pride of Broken Arrow Marching Band; he was a marching member of Tulsa West Independent and the 2015 WGI Open Class Bronze Medalist, Eclectix Independent. Jarred has worked with many programs across Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and now Missouri! He has served as a High School Color Guard Director, Program Coordinator, Choreographer, Technician, and clinician.
Jarred is currently the Color Guard Director at North Point High School, an Artistic Staff member at La Voûte Performance Ensemble, and The Visual Caption Head for the Fort Zumwalt West Silver Jaguar Band!
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Brady Eaton
Brady Eaton is originally from Washington, MO where he attended Washington High School and participated in the WGI Scholastic A Class Finalist Winter Guard from 2014-2015. After high school,
Brady attended Missouri State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Music. During his time at Missouri State, he spun with the Pride Color guard and WGI Independent Open Class Finalist, The Pride of Missouri State, aging out in 2019. Brady then was on Junior Staff with the Pride Band during their 2019 BOA Grand Nationals Exhibition performance. Brady has taught at programs across the Midwest including Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Brady is currently an Artistic Staff Member with La Voǔte Performance Ensemble, the Drill Writer for North Point High School Marching Band and is the new Color Guard Director at Fort Zumwalt West High School. Brady is thrilled to be on staff with Fort Zumwalt West Silver Jaguar Band and is looking forward to building a strong sense of excellence within the color
guard program!
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Color Guard Director
Jessica is a proud Education Artist with Innovative Percussion and Sabian Cymbals, and has percussion literature available through C. Alan Publications. Her music has been performed at international conferences and festivals, including the Midwest Clinic, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and multiple PAS state chapter Days of Percussion.
Jessica Flannigan
Front Ensemble Design
Jessica Flannigan (b. 1988) holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Minor in Jazz Studies from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She is versed in an eclectic range of percussion performance including classical literature, jazz vibraphone, West African drumming, Afro-Cuban ensemble, and the marching arts. Since 2007 she has been teaching, writing, and arranging for marching bands, drumlines, and percussion ensembles in the St. Louis area. She has worked extensively with middle school and high school percussion sections throughout Missouri and Illinois, where her students are frequently praised for their percussion ensemble approach to the marching arts.
As a performer, Jessica was a front ensemble member of WGI World Class finalist Gateway Indoor in 2005, 2006, and 2008. She continues to perform regularly with the St. Louis Wind Symphony and the Washington University Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Currently Jessica serves as administrative and academic coordinator for the Department of Music at Washington University, ensemble assistant and percussion coach for the Washington University Wind Ensemble in conjunction with directing the newly-formed WashU Percussion Ensemble, writer/arranger for several St. Louis area marching bands, percussion instructor at Ft. Zumwalt West High School, and Treasurer for the Missouri PAS Chapter.
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https://www.jflanpercussion.com/
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Darien Guy
Battery Instructor
Darien Guy is the Percussion Coordinator for Fox Sr. High School where he has served since (2021). Darien is a Missouri PAS Chapter Member, Performing Artist with Dynasty Percussion, and Domain Cymbals Artist Relations/ Marching Arts Coordinator.
Darien is from O’Fallon, IL. where he attended O’Fallon Township High School and participated in the nationally recognized Marching Panther Band Program. His growing passion for the arts inspired him to join Gateway Indoor Percussion (2009-2011) in addition to Colts Drum & Bugle Corps (2010). Darien embarked on his teaching career at various schools in the midwest and west coast area. Currently he teaches at Fox Sr. High School in Arnold, Mo. where he teaches marching percussion, jazz band and winter drumline program.
Darien has traveled the country as Road Manger & Music Director for artists at Reflection Music Group (RMG) performing at major music festivals, tv appearances and recording sessions. Darien gained a lot of exposure in the music business and became the CEO of Symrna Cymbals USA. With a lot of hard work and networking, Darien led Symrna Cymbals USA to be a nominee for ‘New Cymbals of The Year’
featured in Drum Magazine in (2017). Symrna Cymbals USA were featured as a product review in Modern Drummer (2018).
Darien is the proud owner of Artistic Motives Percussion where he creates educational resources for musicians and educators, providing services in music business, music educational resources in marching percussion, percussion ensembles and more. His main goal is to educate and transform musicians into
their own brands.
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Kristen Bretzke
Color Guard Movement
Kristen Bretzke is a movement specialist with the Fort Zumwalt West Color Guard.
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Kristen holds and bachelor’s degree in Dance and Professional Writing from Missouri State University. With over 20 years of dance experience, Kristen has training in tap, jazz, ballet, and modern techniques.
As a color guard performer, Kristen has spun as a member of the Washington High School Color Guard, The Pride of Missouri State University Fall and Winter guards, The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. While she has experience spinning all pieces of equipment, Movement and Flag are her specialties.
As an instructor, Kristen has worked with the Washington High School and Middle School Color Guards, the Francis Howell North Color Guard, and has also assisted with and choreographed for multiple other programs across the state.
Outside of Color Guard, Kristen works as an Academic Advisor at Lindenwood University and enjoys spending time with her two kids.
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Eric Welker
Color Guard Specialist
​Eric Welker is a graduate of Wentzville Liberty High School where he served as the captain of their Guard program. During his high school career, Eric achieved a medal status every time Liberty’s Winter Guard attended MCCGA championships. After graduating, Eric has worked with the 2022 Scholastic Regional A Champion, North Point High School and 2023 WGI Scholastic A Semi-Finalist, Francis Howell North. Eric is excited to contribute to the successes of the Fort Zumwalt West Color Guard program and mentor the performers to strive for excellence!
Theresa Winkle
Color Guard Specialist
Theresa Winkle has been a member of the pageantry arts for nearly a decade. She performed with the WGI Scholastic Open Class Finalist, Francis Howell North High School from 2015-2018. After high school, Ms. Theresa attended the University of Missouri - St. Louis where she majored in Business Administration. During this time she took a two year break before joining and aging out with La Voûte Performance, a St. Louis based Independent Organization, and 2023 WGI Independent Open Class Finalist, for the 2021 thru the 2023 season. She is excited to be joining the staff at Fort Zumwalt West for the 2023 season and looks forward to continuing her career as an educator in the marching arts!
Jeff Collier
Woodwind Specialist
Jeff Collier is currently the band director at Hardin Middle School at St. Charles School District. Previously, he graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from Missouri State University. Here he played saxophone in the wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and was drum major of the PRIDE Marching Band. He went on to become the assistant band director at East Chambers ISD and the 6th-grade band director at La Porte ISD. Both are in the Houston, Texas area.