We have an incredible team of staff who work with the DRHS music students throughout the year. Read about who is a part of our instructional staff below.
Director of Instrumental Music
Dylan Ford
Dylan Ford is the director of instrumental music at Dakota Ridge High School where he oversees all aspects of the DRHS band and orchestra program. This is Mr. Ford’s seventh year at Dakota Ridge High School. Previously, Mr. Ford was the Director of Bands at Central High School in Grand Junction, CO for four years.
Mr. Ford is a Colorado native, and an alumnus of the University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO) where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. While at UNC, Mr. Ford was a versatile student and musician, and performed as a trombonist in many ensembles, including: symphonic band, wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, lab II jazz ensemble, trombone choir, and the undergraduate brass quintet. He also played in the pit orchestra for numerous UNC productions as well as the professional theatre company “The Little Theatre of the Rockies”. In addition to these performing responsibilities, Mr. Ford was the drum major for the “Pride of the Rockies” marching band for three years. Mr. Ford was also a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard, a world class drum and bugle corps from Santa Clara, CA.
Professionally, Mr. Ford has attended and conducted at the UNC Conducting Symposium, and has been on staff with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mr. Ford is a member of the Colorado Bandmasters Association (CBA Marching Committee Member, CBA Concert Band Committee Member), Colorado Music Educators’ Association, American School Band Director’s Association (Colorado State Treasurer), Phi Beta Mu (International School Bandmaster Fraternity), American String Teacher Association, and the National Association for Music Education.
As a member of CO ASBDA, Mr. Ford is the founder of the Conducting Symposium of the Rockies and the Colorado Jazz Jamboree.
Articulation Area Directors
Eric Whaylen – Summit Ridge Middle School Instrumental Music
Carrie Welch – Dakota Ridge Area Elementary Orchestra
Aaron Graverson – Dakota Ridge Area Elementary Band
Color Guard Staff
Bethany Whitaker
Marissa Keating
Marching Band Designers
Nick Peterson – Drill Design
Shilo Stroman – Music Arranging
Percussion Staff
Michael Darnell – Battery/Pit
Sarah Zambrano – Pit
Steve Wixom – Electronics
Marching Band Winds Staff
Kim Tiede – Woodwinds
Steve Wixom – Brass
Nick O’Hara – Visual
Chamber Orchestra & String Orchestra Sectional Coaches
Michelle Ewer — Orchestra Consultant
Symphonic Band & Jazz Band Sectional Coaches
Marie Watkins — Woodwinds
Kim Tiede — Woodwinds
Hudson Adams — Trumpet
Musical Pit Orchestra Musicians
Collin Hearrell – Drumset/Percussion