Scott Lortz - Visual Instructor

Biography not yet available.

Nathan Kuipers - Brass/Visual Instructor

Nathan Kuipers joined the Durant Band Staff in 2007.  Originally born and raised in Plymouth, Michigan, Nathan marched as a member in the Bands of America Grand National Champion Plymouth-Canton Educational Park marching band for the 2001-2004 seasons, serving as mellophone section leader his senior year.  During high school, he received several ratings of "superior" at district and state events for French horn, and performed in the 2005 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival.  In drum and bugle corps, Nathan played mellophone for the Glassmen from Toledo, Ohio, in 2005, and Carolina Crown from Ft. Mill, South Carolina, in 2006.  Nathan is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Tampa, where he is a camp counselor and gives private lessons, in addition to his performing responsibilities as third horn for the University of Tampa Wind Ensemble.  Nathan has studied horn privately with Richard Sparrow, Heather Stutzenstein, and Rachel Parker, and has received brass instruction from Clay Wachholz, Marc Whitlock, Frank Williams, Matt Harloff, and Jeff Traster.

Steve Bates - Color Guard Director

Biography not yet available.

Jessica Folsom - Color Guard Tech

Jessica started doing colorguard under the instruction of Jeffrey Dale at Fuquay Varina High School in North Carolina. She performed with them from 1996-2000. Jessica was voted most improved her first year with the band and was the Colorguard Captain her senior year. She started marching DCI with the Tarheel Sun Drum Corps. She was on flag with the Tarheel Sun for the summers of 1997 and 98. Afterward, she marched sabre for the Bluecoats from Canton-Akron, OH in the summer of 1999. She performed with First Independent Winterguard during 1998, 99, and 2000. In 2000, First Flight came in 4th at Dayton in Independent A. Jessica finished out her DCI marching experience with the Glassmen from Toledo, OH where she marched Sabre and Rifle during the summers of 2000, 2001, and 2002. She has taught in the Orlando area with such groups as Osceola High School, Dr. Philips High School, and Storm Independent Winterguard. Currently she resides in Orlando, Fl where she works for Disney as a parade and show performer as well as a colorguard clinician for Magic Music Days, Auxilaration Clinics.

Steve Visnage - Show Designer

Mr. Stephen B. Visnage is currently the Assistant Director of the Herd of Thunder Athletic Bands at the University of South Florida, where his responsibilities include teaching the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, the HOT Show Band, Basketball Pep Band, and assisting with Symphony Band. Mr. Visnage is a native of Florida and received a B.S. and M.A.  in music education from the University of South Florida. Before his appointment at USF, Mr. Visnage was director of bands at Cypress Creek High School in Orlando Florida. During his tenure at Cypress Creek, his bands consistently placed in the top five at Bands of America regional championships, and was a semi-finalist at the 2000 BOA National Championships. In addition, CCHS was the Florida Marching Band Coalition State Champion three years in a row. Mr. Visnage was  brass caption head with the Boston Crusaders drum and bugle corps in Boston, Massachusetts for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.  He regularly writes drill, clinics, and adjudicates for the marching band activity throughout Florida and the United States. Mr. Visnage holds memberships in Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, and the National Education Association. Mr. Visnage lives with his wife Erin in Seminole, Florida and regularly spends time near the ocean surfing, scuba diving, boating, fishing, and camping.