Tyler Hess
Executive Director
Tyler Hess is a musician, educator, and designer residing in Ogden, Utah. In 2008 Mr. Hess began his teaching career when he took the job as Percussion Caption Head at Bonneville High School. Under his direction Bonneville grew from obscurity into an award-winning ensemble, winning multiple Outstanding Percussion trophies in the Utah marching band circuit. In 2010 Mr. Hess accepted the position of Program Director for Weber State Indoor Percussion. Prior to the 2019 season, Weber State Indoor Percussion became Gold Spike Percussion. Since 2011, the program has won two WGI Regional Championships, five Intermountain Percussion Association Championships and was a 2019 WGI World Championship Semi-finalist.
Mr. Hess has served as a clinician and instructor for numerous high schools and performing arts organizations throughout the intermountain region. Mr. Hess currently serves as Executive Director of Performing Arts Weber, an arts and education based non-profit in Ogden, UT. He also serves as Percussion Supervisor and Visual Designer for the Weber State Wildcat Band, Program Coordinator for the Davis High School Marching Band and Indoor Percussion, Program Director for Gold Spike Percussion. Mr. Hess is also the Exectutive Director of the Intermountain Percussion Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps and is an active clinician, instructor, consultant and designer. He dedicates his time to expanding educational, performance, and competitive opportunities for percussionists in the Intermountain West region.
Mr. Hess is a proud endorser of Pearl/Adams Percussion, Pro-Mark Drumsticks, and Evans Drumheads.
Ed Coleman
President
Mr. Coleman has a passion for developing successful competitive youth ensembles and has been involved in the performing arts for more than 25 years as a performer, teacher, and administrator. Mr. Coleman is very aware of the importance of youth arts programs and has volunteered countless hours to ensure that ensembles have every available resource at their disposal to be successful. Mr. Coleman currently resides in Clinton, Utah. In his free time, he volunteers with performing arts organizations, hikes along the Wasatch Front mountain range, and travels the globe with his wife, Julia.
Mr. Coleman has performed with several competitive marching ensembles across the country including Lake Erie Regiment from 1994 to 1997, Kiwanis Kavaliers in 1998 and again from 2001 to 2002, the Empire Statesmen from 1999 to 2000, 2003 to 2005 and again in 2009, and the DCA World Champion Reading Buccaneers in 2006.
His teaching experience began in 2003 where he taught as Percussion Caption Head for Fairview H.S. from 2003 to 2005, Battery Instructor and Consultant for the Erie All City Marching Band from 2006 to 2009, Percussion Caption Head, Arranger, and Consultant for White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 to 2010, Director of Presque Isle Percussion Ensemble from 2005 to 2009, and Weber State Indoor Percussion from 2010 to 2017. He now serves on the board for Performing Arts Weber.
Julia Coleman
Secretary
Originally from Erie, PA, Julia has been involved in the marching arts since 1998. Julia was classically trained in piano from a very young age, has played euphonium for 20 years, and has taught percussion for over a decade. Julia has performed with several marching groups across the country including Phantom Regiment of Rockford, IL, Empire Statesmen and Rochester Crusaders of Rochester, NY, White Sabers of Dansville, NY, and Presque Isle Percussion of Erie, PA.
Julia has been teaching and arranging for bands and front ensembles in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Utah since 2006. Julia attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she played baritone in the Pitt Panther Marching Band and euphonium in the concert band. She has since graduated from Penn State with an Associates Degree in Nursing.
Julia currently serves as the Board Chair for The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps. While not working as a nurse or entertaining her music hobby, Julia enjoys hiking, running and paddle boarding. Julia currently resides in Utah with her family.
Billy DeBoer
Compliance Coordinator
Mr. DeBoer has been an influential figure in the Utah percussion scene for many years. After graduating from Davis High School in 2001 as a member of their drumline, Billy began teaching at Roy High School where he was the Percussion Caption Head until 2004. He then took the job as Percussion Caption Head at Bonneville High School where he helped build the program from the ground up.
In 2007, Mr. DeBoer founded Thenami Winter Drumline, which went on to become Weber State Indoor Percussion before being absorbed by PAW to become Gold Spike Percussion. Mr. DeBoer has consistently been at the center of the indoor percussion scene in Weber County and across the state and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Intermountain Percussion Association.
