The Seminole Warhawk Band Program is proud to boast some of the most musically talented, instructionally skilled, highly qualified staff members in the industry today. Our instructors dedicate their time to making the kids great on the field and the stage, teaching music technique, marching drill, and ensemble performance. The result is a nationally renowned, award winning program that ends up teaching the kids important life lessons in addition to the music, that can only be learned by experiencing a rigorous rehearsal schedule, fierce competition, and unparalleled camaraderie that is fostered by the friendships formed between students and staff alike.
Our current staff prides themselves on being accessible to parents and students - please feel free to email with questions and concerns.
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." - Henry Ford
Mr. Gerard Madrinan - Band Director
gmadrinan@gmail.comGerard Madrinan received both his Bachelors degree in Music Education and Masters degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of South Florida, studying with Michael Robinson and William Wiedrich. As a bass trombonist, he worked under the guidance of K. Thomas Brantley and Harold Van Schaik of the Florida Orchestra. In 2001 and 2002, he was a member of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. From 2005-2008, Gerard was an instructor with the University of South Florida Marching Band.
He has had the privilege of teaching at various levels of music education including: elementary music teacher, middle school general music teacher and band director, and at Seminole High School, where he was a Band instructor from 2001-2013. In 2013, he was appointed to Band Director at Seminole High School, his alma mater. Gerard is a member of the Florida Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Pinellas County Music Educators Association. He believes that the best part of this activity is the people you meet and the experiences that last for a lifetime.
Rob Schoos - Winds and Brass Caption Head
Rob was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area and graduated from the Blake School of the Arts. Rob graduated in 2004 from Florida State University, with a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance (Brass) with honors, having studied conducting under Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Jim Croft, and applied Horn studies with Dr. Bill Capps. Rob began his career in the School District of Hillsborough County as the inaugural Director of Bands and Orchestra at the Sam Rampello K-8 School, leading all ensembles to straight 'Superior' ratings in their first two years.
In 2007, Rob assumed the position of Director of Bands at H.B. Plant High School in South Tampa, Florida. Under his direction, the band program grew to more than 230 members in 2014. The program consisted of an FMBC state competitive 4A/5A Marching Program, FFCC Indoor Guard and Percussion ensembles, Jazz Band and Combos, and an all auditioned fifty-member “Varsity” Wind Ensemble. All groups consistently earned straight “Superior" ratings and District and State level assessments alongside Top 5 Music Caption scores in the FFCC and FMBC Championships consistently.
As a freelance consultant, Rob now has the opportunity to offer his services as a guest clinician and consultant. He enjoys helping as many programs as possible to grow and meet their potential through sound curriculum design and effective rehearsal planning. He is also an active adjudicator for regional marching band competitions nationally. For the last 12 years he has developed a private brass studio of dedicated musicians, many who have achieved District and State placements in honor bands, as well as college scholarship and placement. Rob is also a freelance horn player and enjoys performing professionally with regional orchestras and wind ensembles. Rob currently resides in Redington Shores, Fl with his fiance’, Erin, and enjoys long walks on the beach as well as beautiful Florida sunsets.
Frank DiMartino - Music & Drill Instructor
Frank DiMartino is a horn line and marching instructor, specializing in the saxophones and wood winds. Frank has been a private music teacher and marching band instructor since 2000. His marching experience began with the Seminole High School Marching Band back in 1995, marching all 4 years of his high school career, serving as a section leader and field commander. Frank marched with the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps in 2001 and 2002 and performed at venues across the country including DCI World Championships in Buffalo New York and Camp Randal Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Frank began by working with the Countryside High School Marching Cougars from 2000 – 2002, and designed their field show in 2002. Frank left Countryside High school to return to the Seminole High School Marching Band in 2003. He worked with the Warhawks from 2003 – 2005, and again from 2009 to today, traveling with the Warhawks to the Band of America Southeastern Regional and Grand Nationals Championships. Frank is extremely passionate due to his involvement as an Alumni of the SHS program and looks forward to another successful marching season.
Sarah Michaels - Music and Drill Instructor
Riley Michaels - Music and Drill Instructor
Riley Michaels graduated from Seminole High School in 2015 and from St. Petersburg College in 2017. As a student at Seminole High school, Riley marched two years on trumpet and was drum major for is final two years. Riley was also part of the quartermaster crew during his time in the band program. In the 2017 season, Riley marched in the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps on mellophone. Riley started teaching as a drill instructor in 2016 with Seminole High and briefly with Clearwater High. He is a proud alumni of the Seminole band program, and works to continue the tradition of excellence.
Shannon Gazdacka - Music and Drill Instructor
Shannon is an alumni of the Seminole Warhawk Marching Band. She was in band all four of her HS years, was Librarian for 2 years, and was Band Captain & Section Leader in 2014, her senior year. Shannon graduated from USF St. Pete with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in General Business Administration. She performed in a community concert band during college, currently works with a non-profit producing video, and is the proud owner of Shannon Kelly Films, where she creates wedding films throughout the state of Florida. Shannon is obsessed with her rescue dog, Rhett, and loves to Kayak with him and her fiancée, Kyle.
Erik Nordstrom - Color Guard Director
Erik was born in Arizona and raised in Sunny Florida where he graduated from East Lake High school. He received his BFA in Interior Design and works as an Architectural Project Designer for Fisher Architects. Erik Joins the Warhawk Family excited to continue the growth and excellence this program has had over the years. He was a member of Paradigm World, The Knights Winterguard (K4L), Teal Sound Drum Corps, and The Boston Crusaders.
Erik’s Passion for Design has developed over the years and continues to grow with each new year. He has taught at many schools around the Tampa Bay area and most recently was the program designer for Clearwater High School and together with his wife Amy Nordstrom received the FFCC AA Class Gold Medal in 2016 and the FMBC States 1A Bronze Medal in 2017.
Erik is a father of two girls, Reagan and Jordynn, and hopes they will follow in his and Amy’s footsteps and enjoy the pageantry arts as much as they do.
Leah Pinder - Color Guard Instructor
Leah Pinder has been at the forefront of the modern dance scene for several years. As a performer, she was a member of the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps from Concorde, CA. She continued on to instruct Drum Corps for several groups, including The Colts from Dubuque Iowa. Leah has been instrumental in develping the Movement program for the Seminole Colorguard. Her style is a fusion of classic and contemporary influences.
Dylan Mixer - Battery Coordinator
Dylan Mixer has been working with Pinellas County schools since 2011, including but not limited to Dixie Hollins, Osceola Fundamental, and Largo High School. He taught alongside Drew Anderson at Ancient City Ensemble in 2017 as a bass drum tech.
Dylan spent two summers marching snare with the Tampa Bay Thunder Drum & Bugle Corps, as well as Bay Area Percussion Ensemble in 2013 and Ancient City Ensemble in 2015. He majors in Music Competition at Saint Petersburg College and is working towards becoming a full time composer, writing and arranging for various band programs in the area as well as scoring for tv and film.
Kiernan Farmer - Percussion Staff
Kiernan Farmer grew up in the Tampa area and got involved in the marching activity during high school. He took part in both the marching band and indoor percussion groups at Bloomingdale High School. After graduation, Kiernan went to school at Florida State University and received his undergrad degree in Electrical Engineering. While at FSU, Kiernan continued playing snare drum as a member of Florida State's "Big 8" Drumline, serving as section leader for his last two season. Additionally, Kiernan marched with Infinity Percussion World in Orlando for the 2016 and 2017 seasons playing snare drum. Kiernan is excited to be working with the Seminole battery this season.
Brandon Veitenthal - Percussion Staff
Brandon is a proud alumnus of Seminole and is excited to return to his alma mater to work with the Seminole High School Warhawk marching band with a focus in bass drums. Brandon has marched with several independent orgainizations including INFINITY 3, Heat Wave Drum Corps, and most recently STRYKE Percussion.
Steve Harris - Jazz Band Director
Steve Harris earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Connecticut and his Master of Music Education degree from the University of South Florida. He was a member of the DCI finalist Garfield Cadets, DCA national champion Sunrisers, and DCI Class A champion Florida Wave Drum and Bugle Corps. He was the director and timpanist for Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, Florida.
Mr. Harris has been the band and orchestra director at several Florida middle and high schools, earning 32 superior ratings at music performance assessments. He has conducted bands at the FBA State Band Assessment six times, including straight superior performances in 2007, 2016, & 2017. He is a member of the marching band staff at Northside Christian School, earning two state championships and one state runner-up. He has been a staff member of the Florida Ambassadors of Music, performing in European cities in 2006, 2008, and 2010. He is currently the jazz band director, orchestra director, and music specialist at Seminole High School and is an active adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association.
Mr. Harris is married to Robin Harris, who is also a music teacher. He is proud of his two sons, Jacob and Joey, and daughter-in-law, Michele. Mr. Harris enjoys riding his bike on the Pinellas Trail and loves performing music with his students.
Jack Pursifull - Marching Band Visual Design
Jack Pursifull has been in the pageantry business for over 30 years as a designer, consultant, and clinician. His groups have won state championships in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Florida, and California. Some of his most notable bands include Spring H.S. (TX), Park Vista H.S. (FL), Western H.S. (IN), Ben Davis H.S. (IN), Jupiter H.S. (FL), Seminole H.S. (FL), and Northmont H.S. (OH). In the winter guard activity he has been a designer for Spring H.S. (2014 WGI Scholastic Open Champion) and The Woodlands H.S. (2004 WGI Scholastic Open Champion). In addition, Jack was the designer for the Magic of Orlando (DCI) and Connecticut Hurricanes (DCA).
Marching Band Percussion Design - Shane Gwaltney
Shane Gwaltney's innovative and trend setting musical and visual designs have become a mainstay in the WGI, BOA, and the DCI arenas. Some of the other groups he has been involved with include Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps; Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps; Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps; Jacksonville State University Pasic Drum Line from Jacksonville, AL; Middle Tennessee State University Pasic Drum Line from Murfreesboro, TN; Tyler Junior College, from Tyler, TX; Choctawhatchee High School from Fort Walton Beach, FL; just to name a few. He is also a proud artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, Evans Drum Heads\Planet Waves, and Zildjian Cymbals.
