Music City Mystique

Josh Nelson

Position: Executive Director

Contact: email

Josh Nelson became the Executive Director of Music City Mystique in 2006. Josh has been steadily taking on increased responsibility with MCM since he joined the staff after aging out in 2003. Josh has been an incredible asset to the drumline both as a member, staff member, and now as Executive Director. As a member, he was the section leader of MCM's top bassdrum sections from 2000-2003. For the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Josh functioned as Bass Tech.

Josh's extensive drum corps background has exposed him to many different styles and methods of both teaching and playing. Josh was a member of the 1997 Crossmen, 1999 Bluecoats, and marched with the Blue Knights from 2000 until his ageout in 2002. While with the Blue Knights, Josh won the coveted DCI I & E award in 2000 and again in 2001. Making his drum corps staff debut in 2003, Josh worked as the bass tech for the Seattle Cascades and joined the Blue Knights drum staff, also as bass tech, in 2004.

Josh has extensive teaching experience with various High Schools in Tennessee and Virginia. He is currently the Band Director at Lawrence County High School in Lawrenceburg, TN where he resides.

Chris Finen

Position: President of the Board

Contact: email

Chris Finen is the co-founder of Music City Mystique. He has fulfilled various roles with MCM including Director of Indoor Percussion (1995-2003), Caption Head (1995-1999), and Chief Battery Arranger (1995-1998). He currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors.

He graduated from Brentwood High School in 1990 and went on to attend Vanderbilt University where he obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1994. While at Vanderbilt, Chris marched snare with the Vanderbilt University "Spirit of Gold" and served as section leader/instructor for his junior and senior years. He also participated in the drum corps activity in 1992 and 1993 by playing snare with Spirit of Atlanta.

Chris has teaching experience with MCM, Vanderbilt University, and various high schools throughout middle Tennessee including: Brentwood, Harpeth, Smyrna, Glencliff, and Centennial High Schools. Chris is an Electrical Engineer and received his Professional Engineering license in 2002. Chris has worked for Eaton Corporation since 1994 and currently holds a position as an Application Engineer for electrical distribution and control products.

Shane Gwaltney

Position: Visual Designer / Battery Arranger

Contact: email

Shane was a charter member of Music City Mystique from 1995-99, as well as a member of Street Beats 1997-03 which performed at The Percussive Arts Society International Convention and Modern Drummer Music Festival. Since his age out from Mystique, he has been an important part of Mystique's personality. He has been instrumental in this group for fifteen years thus far in his capacity as the Battery Arranger and Visual Designer. His innovative and trend setting musical and visual designs have become a mainstay in the WGI, BOA, and the DCI arenas.

Some of other the groups he has been involved with include 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; Ooltewah High School from Ooltewah, TN; and Northmont High School from Dayton, OH just to name a few. He is also a proud artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion and Zildjian Cymbals.

In 2009, Shane joined an elite group of signature artists when Innovative Percussion introduced the Shane Gwaltney signature marching snare drum stick. He currently resides in Fort Walton Beach, Florida where he is the Percussion Program Director at Choctawhatchee High School. He is also on his third year as Battery Arranger and a member of the design team for Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps.

Erik Johnson

Position: Music Coordinator / Front Ens Caption Head

Contact: email

Erik T. Johnson is the president and founder of Innovative Percussion Inc. He received a Master of Music with an emphasis in Percussion Performance from The University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Percussion Performance from Middle Tennessee State University.

Mr. Johnson has been a percussion educator in the Tennessee area for the past 16 years. He has served as adjunct percussion faculty at Middle Tennessee State University from 1991 to 1993 and was the Director of Percussion at McGavock High School in Nashville, Tennessee from 1991 through 1995. Mr. Johnson was on the instructional staff with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from 1995 to 2005 and The Cavaliers design team as the front ensemble arranger from 1998-2005.

Erik has been the front ensemble coordinator and arranger since 2003 for Music City Mystique Indoor Percussion Ensemble. He resides in Nashville with his wife, Betsy.

Carl Eppler

Position: Battery Caption Head

Contact: email

Carl Eppler has served the Mystique staff as a snare tech since 2003, and as the battery caption head since 2007. Carl started with Music City Mystique as a member of the snare line in 1997. He went on to march for MCM in 1998, 2001, and 2002, capturing 3 WGI championships in the process. Carl served as the group’s section leader in 2002.

His marching experience also includes 3 years with the Santa Clara Vanguard, as a member of the snareline (1999, 2000, 2001). Carl served as the percussion section leader in 2001. He was also fortunate to be a member of the MTSU PASIC championship drumline in 2004.

Carl's extensive teaching experience includes a stint with the Spirit of JSU (2003, 2004), and he is currently on the percussion staff with the Cavaliers. In addition to drum corps, Carl is also the arranger and caption head for the Franklin High School band and the Brentwood High School band here in the Nashville area. He has taught and consulted with numerous high schools in the middle Tennessee area.

Carl is a native of Franklin, TN. He attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN where he received his B.A. in Film and Video Production in 2002.

Tim Maynard

Position: Snare Tech

Contact: email

A native of Nashville, TN, Tim developed his interest in percussion at John Overton High School where he won a WGI World Championship in 1996. After graduating from high school, he spent the next four summers (1997-2000) marching snare for The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. In addition to winning two DCI World Championships while at The Cadets, he served as section leader and received the honors of ‘Rookie of the Year’ and ‘Cadet of the Year’. Tim also won two WGI World Championships during the three years he marched snare at Music City Mystique (1998, 1999, and 2001) where he also served as section leader.

Tim was a member of the percussion staff at the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003 and was snare tech for the Bluecoats in 2005 and 2006. He has taught at various schools in and around the Nashville area including Siegel High School and Oakland High School (2001, 2002 WGI Medalists). Tim is currently a student at MTSU studying Percussion Performance.

Mario Taylor

Position: Cymbal Tech

Contact: email

Mario joined the MCM staff for the 2008 season after his ageout season in 2007. Mario began his marching career at Escambia High School in Pensacola, FL and then with the first year of Eminence Indoor Percussion Ensemble in 2003.

Mario marched drum corps with Spirit from Jacksonville State University in 2003 and 2004. For both seasons, the Spirit cymbal ensemble finished first place in the Cymbal I&E competition. He went on to march with Crossmen for 2005 and 2006 where he was recognized with the Most Outstanding Cymbal Player award for two years running.

Mario's teachning experience includes various high schools including Escambia High School, Tate High School, Pace High School and Pine Forest High School. He also taught the cymbal line for Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps and, for the 2007 season, will return to Spirit of JSU be the cymbal instructor for the 2008 season.

Jamie Ingalls

Position: Bass Tech

Contact: email

Jamie joins the MCM staff for the first time for the 2009/10 season. His interest in Mystique began in high school when his director showed him the 1998 Mystique production "Vodun". He was a member of Mystique bassline from '03-'07 during which time he served as bass drum section leader from '04-'07. Jaime was proud to lead the 2007 MCM bassline which is viewed as the best bass line in MCM's history (...in his own mind).

Jamie also marched Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps in '05. The Blue Knights Bass Drum Ensemble was the I&E champion with an arrangement co-written by Jamie. In 2006, he marched with Bluecoats and the corps achieved their highest ever finish (4th Place).

Jamie has been an instructor at several Tennessee schools including Smyrna High School, Ravenwood High School, Houston High School, Soddy Daisy High School, Hillwood High School, Harpeth High School and McGavock High School. He currently resides in Murfreesboro where he is attending MTSU and studying anthropology and history.

Joel McCauley

Position: Cymbal Tech

Contact: email

Joel, a native of New Salisbury, IN, first became interested in WGI in 1997. At the time, he was a member of North Harrison High School’s first indoor drumline. It was then that he was first exposed to Music City Mystique while at the Nashville Regional. Through a mixture of coincidence and dumb luck, he somehow showed up at MCM auditions in 2001 and obtained a spot in the cymbal line. Joel marched cymbals with MCM from 2001 through his age out in 2003.

Upon aging out, Joel returned to MCM in the 2004 season as the cymbal tech and has proudly held that position ever since. Through the years Joel has taught at various high schools throughout Kentuckiana and presently donates his time locally to cymbal education.

Joel currently resides in Jeffersonville, Indiana with his lovely wife and is employed as a design technician with Louisville Gas & Electric.

Michael Chester

Position: Assistant Director

Contact: email

Michael Chester has been a member of MCM Staff since 2003 as a musical consultant and administrative assistant. Responsible for setting the tone of many aggressive performances, Michael served as the Conductor of MCM from 1999 until his ageout in 2002.

Michael is very sought after in the middle Tennessee area for his tremendous ability to teach conducting and has worked with such bands as Brentwood High School, Centennial High School, and in 2004 began work with the Columbia Central High School drum majors.

Michael graduated in 2004 from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Music Education and is currently employed by the Metro Nashville Board of Education as the Band Director at H G Hill Middle School.

Joe Fant

Position: Battery Tech

Contact: email

Joe is a native of Fairhope, AL and lived in Colorado for the last 5 years before moving back to Nashville. His teaching experience started with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps in 1997 and 1998 and with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps where he taught the bass drum line for 3 years, achieving 2 I&E titles. Joe then taught the undefeated Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002 and with the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2005.

He was a staff member with Music City Mystique in 2002 and 2003. His marching experience includes 3 years with Southwind and 4 with the Cavaliers. As a marching member, he earned a DCI division 2 Championship and a DCI division 1 Championship. Most recently Joe was a staff member with the Blue Knights winter percussion ensemble for 3 years, serving as the battery arranger/music caption head in 2007 and 2008.

Joe studied percussion at the University of Alabama with Larry Mathis and Jacksonville State University with Clint Gillespie and Tracy Tyler. While at JSU, his arrangements were heard by the Marching Southerners and the JSU PASIC drumline. In 1998, the PASIC line was runner up and were the 1999 PASIC College Champions. Joe is the Education Sales Director at Fork's Drum Closet and teaches at Mcgavock high school and will be teaching with Joe Hobbs at Harpeth High School this winter.

Rob Pastor

Position: Front Ens Tech

Contact: email

No bio available.

Meagan Hills

Position: Front Ens Tech

Contact: email

Meagan Hills began on staff with MCM for the 2006 season after she aged out of the ensemble in 2005. She was a performing member with the ensemble from 2002-2005. Meagan currently is attending Middle Tennessee State University, working towards a music education degree. She has taught numerous percussion programs in the middle Tennessee area and is currently employed at both Centennial and Independence High Schools.

Meagan was a member of the Blue Knights Indoor Percussion Ensemble in 1999 and 2001, The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 2001 and 2002, and was a a member of the Blue Coats Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004. Go back to Roster

Joe Hobbs

Position: Snare Tech

Contact: email

This will be Joe's first year with Music City Mystique. As a performer Joe was involved with DCI for six years. He was a member of Southwind Drum and Bugle from 2001-2003. During his time at Southwind he was named the 2003 DCI I&E Snare drum champion. From 2004-2006 Joe was a member of the Cavaliers. During his time with the Cavaliers Joe won 2 DCI world championships, 2006 DCI I&E mixed ensemble championship, "Cavalier of the year" and the "Zildjian award winnder" in 2006. Joe was also the drumline section leader from 2005-2006.

Joe is currently the director of percussion at Harpeth High School in Nashville, Tn and is the co-caption head of Spirit Drum and Bugle corps from Jacksonville, AL. Other teaching experience includes: Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, Murray State University, Mt. Juliet High School, Marshall County High School, and Murray High School.

Jack Borland

Position: Cymbal Tech

Contact: email

Jack joins the MCM staff for the first time for the 2009/10 season. He began playing cymbals at the University of Iowa in 2004, and from there went on to march three seasons (2005-2007) with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps from Dubuque, IA. While at the Colts, he was recognized with various leadership awards by his peers, and was a member of the winning I & E cymbal ensemble in 2005. Jack was under the direction of technicians Lauren (Paul) Sakowski, Jake Ansley, and Ben Gervais during his time with the Colts.

Jack also participated in WGI as a member of Music City Mystique in 2006 under the direction of technicians Joel McCauley and Eddie Capps. In 2007, he marched with Gateway Indoor from St. Louis, MO under the direction of Lauren Sakowski. He has been teaching the cymbal line at the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from San Antonio, TX since the 2007 season. In addition to his role as the cymbal technician, he has been heavily involved in choreographing movement and visually instructing the battery. Jack has also consulted with various other groups including the University of Iowa, Twin Cities Area Independent (PIA), and RythmX (PIW).

Matt Grimes

Position:Tenor Technician

Contact: email

Matt, originally from Columbia, TN, became interested in marching percussion when he joined the Columbia Central High School Marching Band in 1998. After marching tenors for 4 years, he decided to continue his marching career in 2001 with Music City Mystique. Matt marched a total of 5 years from 2001-2005, was section leader from 2003-2005, and won two World Championships (2001, 2004) during this period.

After his ageout in 2005, Matt graciously returned to the ensemble where he has served as quad tech since then. Over the years, Matt has taught numerous high schools throughout Tennessee and other ensembles including Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005 and Chattanooga Independent in 2006.

Currently, Matt lives in Murfreesboro, TN, and is finishing his last year of nursing school at MTSU. He spends his time away from Mystique going to school and raising his six month old son, Taylor.

Craig Loeffler

Position: Front Ensemble Tech

Contact: email

Craig joins the MCM staff for the 2008 season after aging out in 2007 after 4 years on mariba with the ensemble. In addition to teaching at MCM, Craig teaches at Mt. Juliet High School and taught Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2007 season.

Craig played timpani for the Americanos Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002 and played marimba with the Bluecoats from 2003 - 2006. He won scholarships in percussion from both WGI and SCGC in 2007 and won the SCGC essay contest in 2006.

Craig is a native of St. Louis, MO. He just received his Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Middle TN State University.

Don Click

Position: Board Member / Consultant

Contact: email

Don Click is currently serving MCM as a Board Member and member of the Program Coordination Team. He is co-founder of the Music City Mystique youth organization and served as the Executive Director until 2006.

A native of Brentwood, TN, Don graduated from Brentwood High School in 1986 and began his college career at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. After spending three years studying at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Don transferred to the University of North Texas where he earned a degree in Finance. While at UNT, Don spent three years as a member of the UNT indoor drumline. During this time, the drumline won two championships at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Don also has deep roots in the Drum and Bugle Corps (DCI) activity. Don was a member of the 1985 Bridgemen, the 1988 Suncoast Sound, and the 1989 Concord Blue Devils. In 2004, he joined the staff of the Columbia Central High School Band as Percussion Instructor. He has taught and continues to arrange and consult at various high schools throughout the nation.

Don has served as President of the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit where he was formerly the Percussion Coordinator. With Winter Guard International, Don has been a member of the Percussion Advisory Board, Percussion Steering Committee, and as an Executive Board Member.

Don currently lives in Houston, TX with his wife, Stephanie and two children, Avery and Piper.

Josh King

Position: Tenor Tech

Contact: email

Josh joined the instructional staff at Music City Mystique in 2009 after aging out from the tenor line in 2008. He began his drumming career at Tift County High School, where he became quad captain after his freshman year. Josh's Drum Corps experience includes marching Southwind (02,03), and Spirit (04,06). He joined Mystique for the 2007 season, and returned for his age out the following year. Josh currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and is pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice/Pre-Law.

During his time at Jacksonville State University, he performed with the Marching Southerners (2004-2005), and a PASIC line which placed 3rd in 2004. Josh gained leadership experience and learned multiple teaching methods through acting as section leader at his high school, Spirit, JSU, and at Music City Mystique. Josh began his instructional career not long after he started marching. Teaching multiple high schools before and after beginning his college career, he used this experience to teach Alliance (DCA) before aging out of junior corps. Josh was also quad tech for Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.