Saturday, December 2, 2023 | 9 am – 3 pm | Mt. Lebanon High School
If you love colorguard, dance, twirling, or percussion, you’ll want to be at Mt. Lebanon High School on December 2nd for the Tournament Region 8 Education Day presented by Tournament Region 8 and Simply Colorguard.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in an indoor ensemble or a marching band, you are welcome to attend. And participation is not just limited to Region 8 unit. Anyone, from any unit, anywhere, is welcome to attend for a day of fun and learning.
This day will feature sessions from some of the top instructors and designers in the marching arts. Join in on classes designed specifically for performers and instructors.
Cost:
- $10 per Performer
- Free for Instructors
| TIME | Colorguard | Twirler | Dance | Percussion | Instructor | ||
| 9 am – 10 am | Opening Session for all attendees with Courtney Coffey (Mindful Movement) | ||||||
| 10:15 am – 11:15 am | Movement with Equipment – Courtney Coffey | Dance Breakout with Choreography – Michelle Hanbury | Percussion Movement – Alexa Kostelnic | Resources for Instructors – Stephanie Enedy | Audio Technology for Percussion Ensembles- Josh at the PT Percussion Section | ||
| 11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Weapon Breakout (Technique with a little bit of choreo) – Tori Palermo | Breath and Technique for Flag Session – Michelle Hanbury | Twirling Breakout Part 1 (Technique) – Olivia Maggioli | Performance Quality Factors – Stephanie working on instructors | Mallet Session or Battery Session (both Offered for all percussion) | The Importance of Physical Conditioning and Mindset For Performers – Courtney Coffey | |
| 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | LUNCH (Bring Your Own or Lunch Will Be Avaliable for Purchase) |
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| 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Flag Breakout (Technique with a little bit of choreo) – Hector Arocha | Breath and Technique for Weapons Session – Michelle Hanbury | Twirling Breakout Part 2 (tricks etc.) – Olivia Maggioli | Partner Work/Lifts, Etc. – Stephanie working on instructors | Break into four sections – novice and advanced for both battery and mallet | Judging – Brian Lincoln/Justin Turpin | |
| 2:45 pm – 3 pm | WRAP UP | ||||||
Meet The Instructors
Featured Instructor – Courtney Coffey |
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After years of marching and teaching a variety of programs with access to different levels of resources, she noticed a gap in the activity–navigating it at a high level was extremely exclusionary. If you didn’t have access to fully developed marching programs, expensive clinics and auditions, or the resources to march DCI or WGI, furthering your involvement within the activity is extremely difficult. That’s why she created Simply Colorguard– a reliable space where instructors, performers, enthusiasts, and more could come learn about the activity, strengthen their skills with reliable instruction from world class instructors, navigate how to build a professional career in the marching arts, and more! Her towering record of success in the activity as both a performer and instructor is proof that her holistic approach to colorguard education that is shared via Simply Colorguard is a winning one, for both the program and the students. |
Hector Arocha |
 Hector comes to us originally from San Antonio, TX, where he fell in love with the activity at the age of twelve during Middle school. He joined the South San Antonio High School color guard “The Main Event” his freshman year (1994) where he marched both outdoor and indoor throughout his high school years where he competed at the local, state, and national level (WGI). After graduation, he taught his high school and various other high school marching units in the San Antonio area. In 1990, he moved to Rochester, NY to become a member of the Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps. Here he traveled the world competing in the World March Music Games in countries like Sweden, Brazil, France, and Holland. He also marched with Winter guard organizations such as the Patriots from Rochester, NY, and Alliance of Miami, from Miami, Florida.
In 2010, he relocated to Pittsburgh, PA and now calls it home. While in Pittsburgh, PA he joined Andromeda Independent winter guard where he was a member and instructor. He now is the color guard instructor for the Hempfield Area High School Winter Guard program. Hector continues to love the sport of the arts “Color Guard” as well as having the opportunity to share this passion with so many different Middle and High School student. Part of this passion is watching his student’s progress and grow in this sport. Hector finds excitement in observing part of his life as his student’s compete and grow. Knowing that he got to be part of their moment. |
Michelle Hanbury |
 Michelle began studying dance at the age of 5. She studied various forms of dance including jazz, tap, modern, ballet, point and lyrical. She began her journey as a dance teacher at age 12, where she instructed children ages 3-11. While attending Carrick High School, Michelle was a member of their competing indoor and outdoor colorguard team as well as the independent colorgurad team “Dark Horizons”. While she was a member of both teams she was featured on rifle, sabre and movement. While Michelle was in her senior year at Carrick High School she had the opportunity to design and choreograph their competitive color guard team for the Raider Marching Band and the indoor winterguard. Along with Carrick High School, Michelle instructed the colorguard and winterguard at Elizabeth Forward High School. She continued to teach dance as well. Michelle is married and is the mother of 3 beautiful children. She has been the head instructor for CoMotion Dance team since 2006 and currently serves as director. With much hard work and dedication Michelle has helped to grow the organization from one team to several teams ranging in both age and skill set. For the past six years, Michelle has served as the Vice President for the Region 8 Tournament of Bands/Tournament Indoor Association organization. She is in sales for Aerotek which is a skilled trade staffing company. |
Victoria “Tori” Palermo |
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Before joining the McKeesport family in 2021, Tori previously worked with Riverside HS, Hampton HS, Blackhawk HS, and Rochester HS Color Guard programs. Since being at McKeesport, the indoor and outdoor program has obtained two gold medals and one silver medal within the TOB and TIA competitive circuits. Tori and Mario Schwartz worked collaboratively on McKeesport’s productions from 2021 to present, to which Tori and Mario are incredibly grateful and proud of the students accomplishments. Tori grew up in Fairfax, Virginia where she participated in dance and liturgical performance. Some of her favorite performances include religious dance pieces performed in New Orleans, LA after Hurricane Katrina and at the Washington Monument lawn in Washington D.C. In 2008, she moved to Beaver, Pennsylvania where she attended High School and participated in the Marching Band and Color Guard at Beaver HS. Tori was introduced to Winterguard after auditioning and performing with Excel Winterguard as a HS freshman for the 2009-2010 season. Tori returned to the group in 2013 after it had been renamed Pittsburgh Performance Project. Tori performed with Pittsburgh Performance Project “P3” from 2013 to 2023, a total of 10 consecutive years. The memories made with P3 are deeply cherished and will last a lifetime. Tori continues to take ballet, hip hop, and contemporary dance classes when possible as well as continued training on flag, sabre, and rifle. Tori hopes to share her knowledge, passion, and love for the activity with young people as long as possible. |
Courtney Coffey is a colorguard instructor, designer, performer, and enthusiast with over 10 years of experience marching and teaching all over the world. Starting her journey in 2011 at Mountain View High School in Stafford, VA, she fell in love with colorguard. She went on to march with JMU Nuance Winterguard, The Marching Royal Dukes, The Troopers, Carolina Gold, and Vox Artium Winterguard, performing in sought-after events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Presidential Inauguration, the Italian New Years’ Parade in the Vatican, and more.
Tori is currently the Color Guard director at McKeesport Area High School.