Instructors

Mr. Todd Wood, Music/Visual Technician

Bass Trombonist and Composer Todd Wood earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Georgia State University in 2015, and a Master of Music in Trombone Performance in 2019. While at Georgia State he played in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Jazz Band in addition to playing with the GSU Trombone Choir, GSU Symphony Orchestra, and the GSU Graduate Brass Quintet. His primary Trombone instructors were Dr. Cory Mixdorf and Dr. Bill Mann. In summer 2018 he attended the Third Coast Trombone Retreat and he will attend the Round Top Festival Institute in the summer of 2019. Todd performs and teaches throughout the Metro Atlanta area and is in demand as a Low Brass Clinician and Marching Instructor.
 
Todd's compositions have been premiered in Georgia and Florida, with notable performances taking place at Georgia State University, the University of Miami, and South Florida University. In 2014 his piece Presque Vu for solo flute was premiered at the Southeast Composer's Symposium. His most recent premiere, We Remember, was premiered in April this year. Mr. Wood studied composition with Brent Milam and Dr. Nickitas Demos.

 

Mr. Bradley Rikard, Music/Visual Technician

Mr. Rikard is currently serving as the Associate Director of Bands at Barber Middle School in Cobb County, GA. Since joining Barber, Mr. Rikard's ensembles have been invited to perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival in 2016, 2018 and 2020, and were an invited featured ensemble at the University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band Clinic in 2016. The Barber Middle School Band was also invited to the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2020. Additionally, Mr. Rikard has served as a Visual and Music Instructor for the Kennesaw State University Marching Owls since their inaugural season in 2015.

 
Mr. Rikard earned his Master’s of Music Education from Florida State University in 2015, and Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Georgia Southern University in 2007. His professional affiliations include: National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Tau Beta Sigma.

He currently resides in Acworth with his wife Megan, daughter Riley, and dogs Grainger and Pepper Potts.
 

Mr. Vincent Rose, Music/Visual Technician

Vincent Rose is an active freelance musician in the metropolitan Atlanta area. He attended Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he studied euphonium under Adam Frey, and received his bachelor’s degree in music education. He then continued to the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he studied under Jay Hunsberger, and graduated with his master’s degree in euphonium performance.

Mr. Rose’s marching band experience includes accomplishments such as being a Bands of America Grand National Championship finalist with the Harrison High School Marching Band in 2007, being a featured soloist with the Harrison band in 2010, and marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade twice with both Harrison High School in 2009 and Georgia State University in 2014. Mr. Rose has been working with marching bands since 2011. He has been on staff with a variety of high school bands, including Harrison High School, Cass High School, Northview High School, J.W. Mitchell High School, and Pope High School.

Mr. Rose enjoys spending his free time camping, hiking, and participating in other outdoor activities.
 

Mr. Alan Sears, Percussion Caption Head

Alan Sears is a co-founder of Atlanta Quest. He has been the music and program director since the beginning in 2002.

He obtained a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Georgia Southern University in 1999. While there he performed under the direction of Dr. Daniel Pittman, and studied with Dr. Matt Fallin.  He was a member of the “Southern Pride” Marching Drumline and Indoor Drumline. He instructed and arranged for the group from 1996-1998. He also toured extensively as a performer over the Eastern United States and throughout Europe.

Alan now serves as the Director of Percussion for the Sprayberry High School “Band of Gold”, as well as consults and arranges for many groups throughout the state. His students have been named to the Georgia All-State Band and Orchestra, the Georgia Governors Honors Program, and received scholarships and placement in some of the most prestigious college band programs in the country. He also serves as the Co-Caption Head and Arranger for  Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Sears also has his arrangements published with CounterMotion Inc.

Mr. Sears is member of the Percussive Arts Society and a co-founder of the Georgia Alliance for Performing Arts Education, a non-profit foundation that provides support for Atlanta Quest.

Alan is married to Monna Sears and the proud father of two sons Hayden Alan Sears and Cole Alexander Sears.
 

Mr. Zack Marshall, Assistant Percussion Instructor

Mr. Marshall is an Organizational Communications major at Kennesaw State University. He has served as the Visual Caption Head of Atlanta Quest since 2013. Mr. Marshall spent the summer of 2014 on visual staff for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. He continues to write drill and design shows for Atlanta Quest, as well as many high school programs in the Southeast.

As a performer, Mr. Marshall spent numerous years as a snare drummer competing in WGI, where he marched his last season with Music City Mystique in 2011. He is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society where he competed for the first time in 2014, winning with his original composition, “A Night in the Boro,” performed by the Middle Tennessee State University Snare Ensemble.

Mr. Marshall still continues to pursue his passion of performing as he returns to Kennesaw from his tour of Europe with Blue Devils International.
 

Mr. Zac Carr, Assistant Percussion Instructor

Zac Carr is the Bass Drum Tech for “The Marching Owls.” Mr. Carr has worked with Alliance Drum & Bugle Corps, Roswell High School, Woodland High School in Cartersville, Sprayberry High School, Creekview High School, Barber Middle School, Reinhardt University in Waleska, and the University of Alabama “Million Dollar Band.”

While a performing member of the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, Mr. Carr was fortunate to be under the instruction of Christopher Lennox, Ellis Hampton, Chauncey Holder, Jonathan Anderson, & Jonathan Leal. During his time performing with Alliance Drum & Bugle Corps, Mr. Carr was fortunate to learn from Marcus Hawkins, Alan Sears, Larry Summerlin, & Jeffrey Peterson. At Atlanta Quest Independent Indoor Drumline, Mr. Carr was fortunate to learn from Michael Madaio, Marcus Hawkins, Alan Sears, Larry Summerlin, Jeffrey Peterson, & Zack Marshall.

Mr. Carr attended Creekview High School, graduating in 2010. In December of 2014, Mr. Carr graduated from Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis. In May of 2018, Mr. Carr graduated from Arizona State University with a M.S. in Business Analytics. He now works full-time as a Data Analyst for Supplies on the Fly in Kennesaw.

Ms. Nicole West, Colorguard Instructor and Coordinator

Ms. Nicole West currently lives in Marietta, Ga with her 4 year old son and 9 month old daughter. She is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Sociology and a double minor in both Native American Archeology and Dance. Her performance career began at Marietta High School where she was in the color guard for four years. After graduating, Ms. West went on to march with the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle corps for one year and the Carolina Crown drum corps for two years. She was also a member of the Georgia Tech Band for 5 years, eventually becoming an inaugural member of the Georgia Tech winter guard. 

As an educator, Ms. West has taught numerous programs in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, California, and Wisconsin. For the last 14 years she has been the color guard director of Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Ga. She founded the Reverie winterguard organization 11 years ago and is currently the Executive Director.

 

Ms. Charli Dunlap, Assistant Colorguard Instructor

Charli Dunlap is currently in Kennesaw, Ga, with her significant other and  two dogs. She graduated in May of 2021 from Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. She began performing at East Paulding High School and then moved to North Cobb High School, completing all four years in colorguard and winterguard. Once she graduated, she went to Georgia State University for a few years and marched their fall program for three years and winter program for one. For independent programs, she has marched with Atlanta CV for a summer and Reverie winterguard for two years. She is now a board member for Reverie. Educational background includes helping out at Sprayberry High School for two years with their colorguard and winterguard. 

Mrs. Marielle Matthews, Feature Twirler Coach

Shelby Marielle Matthews is a Georgia native, born and raised in the suburban Chattanooga area, and later, Neenah, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education with a concentration in voice, where she is a former officer and member of both Sigma Alpha Iota and the American Choral Director's Association. Marielle earned her Masters of Music in Music Education from the University of Georgia and graduated with distinction. She is presently the Choral Director at Creekland Middle School in Canton, GA, teaching grades 6 through 8.

Marielle proudly served "The Marching Owls" as their Feature Twirler during their 2017 season and she is also a former member of the 2014-2015 Kennesaw State University Dance Team. Marielle is also currently the President of "The Marching Owls" Alumni Society at Kennesaw State University, she was recently inducted as an Honorary Member of Kappa Kappa Psi, and is the current Treasurer for GA-ACDA.