Josh Nelson
Executive Director
Josh Nelson is an active teacher and arranger, visual designer, adjudicator, and clinician currently residing in Old Hickory, TN. Mr. Nelson is the driving force behind Music City Mystique (MCM), a Winter Guard International (WGI) Percussion Independent World (PIW) 8-time world champion winter drumline, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Nelson’s involvement with MCM began in 2000 as a marching member and later member of the instructional staff. Today, Mr. Nelson serves as MCM’s Executive Director, a position he has held since his appointment in 2006.
Shane Gwaltney
Visual Designer / Battery Arranger / Program Coordinator
A champion Battery Arranger, Visual Designer, and Program Coordinator. Shane has arranged and worked with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, Music City Mystique, Bangkok Society Drumline, Tyler Junior College, Choctawhatchee HS, along with several High School and Independent programs across the country. His inspiration and motivation comes from the kids and programs that allow him to be involved. He is also a proud artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, Evans Drum Heads\Planet Waves, and Zildjian Cymbals. Shane promotes his music through his website, http://www.syncedupdesigns.com/
Matt Jordan
Co-ARRANGER
Matt Jordan has been the front ensemble arranger for McM since 2014. Matt marched 6 years in the organization, from 2000-2005, and has served on the instructional staff in various capacities since he aged out. Outside of McM, he teaches percussion at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and works in artist relations and product development for Pearl/Adams Instruments. Matt is also currently the Music Coordinator and Electronics Designer for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Additionally, Matt is finishing his DMA from Florida State University. For more information on Matt, visit his website, www.mattjordanpercussion.com.
Daniel Brown
Art Director
After marching with McM in 2004, 2006, and 2007, Daniel became part of Mystique’s design team. He has been instrumental in developing McM’s show design, floor design, uniform design, color palette, and multimedia. Currently, Daniel is a commercial photographer working all over the nation. Check out his work here.
CJ Barrow
Design TEAM / Sound Design
CJ Barrow is a composer, musician, and educator, and currently serves as a music designer for Synced Up Designs and Fannin Musical Productions. In high demand as a marching arts designer, he regularly works with anywhere from 40-50 clients each year, including his work as the music designer for Music City Drum Corps and sound designer for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps.
Outside of the marching arts, CJ is an active composer for film, TV, and video games, having worked on a number of visual media projects around the country. He earned his MM in Music Scoring for Visual Media at Indiana University, where he studied primarily with Larry Groupé and Steven Wayne Thomas, both active professionals in the Hollywood film music industry.
Before pursuing this career full time, CJ served as a band director in middle Tennessee. He completed his BM in Music Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he studied primarily with Julie Hill, John Oelrich, Bill Waterman, Johnathan Vest, and many other esteemed faculty.
He joined the Mystique legacy in 2016 as a member for two seasons, aging out with a gold medal in 2017’s The Hand of Man. CJ currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana with his incredible wife Hannah and their dog Petey. You can learn more about CJ and hear some of his work at cjbarrowmusic.com.
Don Click
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD / Design Team /
Ensemble Consultant / Co-Founder
Don is the co-founder and former Director of McM. Don actively designs, consults, and teaches many high school marching bands, indoor groups, and independent drumlines. When not involved in music instruction or consultation, Don works for the Artist Relations Department of D’Addario & Company, Inc. He currently lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Avery and Piper.
Austin Young
Assistant Director
Austin Young is the administrative staff for Music City Mystique, helping to take care of the behind the scenes responsibilities for running the ensemble. Originally from Kentucky, Austin received his BS and MA in Architecture. Currently living in Nashville, Austin works for an Architecture firm during the week, helping to design the future of Nashville’s skyline. He is a former front ensemble member for Music City Mystique, 2018-2019. Taking on the administrative role allows him to stay connected and involved in the marching arts and Mystique, both of which continue to inspire him even in his daily life of working in architecture.
Chris Finen
Treasurer / Co-Founder
Chris Finen is the treasurer of McM’s Board of Directors, a position he has held since 2006. Before joining the Board, Chris co-founded the Music City Mystique organization in 1995 with Don Click and has fulfilled various roles since then, including Director of Indoor Percussion (1995-2003), Caption Head (1995-1999), and Battery Arranger (1995-1998). Chris is an Electrical Engineering graduate from Vanderbilt University and has worked for Eaton Corporation as an Application Engineer since 1994. Additionally, Chris has taught percussion for the Vanderbilt University “Spirit of Gold” Marching Band, as well as numerous high schools throughout Tennessee, and performs with the popular Nashville coverband, Guilty Pleasures.
Michael Chester
secretary
Michael Chester joined the MCM Board of Directors in October, 2016. His involvement with Music City Mystique began in 1999 as a performing member. Since his age out in 2002, He currently serves as a member of the faculty of Stewarts Creek High School, where he works collaboratively in guiding all facets of the band program. Prior to this position, he served as a graduate teaching assistant in the School of Music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He previously served the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association for two elected terms as a member of the executive board. In 2011, he was inducted into Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Lenny Keesee
VICE PRESIDENT
Lenny Keesee joined the McM Board of Directors in October, 2016 and assumed the roll of Vice President in 2022. Previously, Lenny held administrative rolls as the Operations Director for Wake Forest Independent and he also spent three years as the Percussion Coordinator with the Atlantic Indoor Association. Keesee directed the marching percussion programs at Ledford High School in Thomasville, NC for 12 years. As a performer, Lenny was a member of the Virginia Helmsmen (WGI PIO) from 1998 through his age out year in 2002. He is the President & Owner of River City Systems, Inc. which supports IT, Security, Fire Alarm and Audio / Video solutions for clients across Virginia and North Carolina. Lenny currently resides in Danville, Virginia with his daughter Layla Cadence and son Luke.
Meagan Hills
Front Ensemble Supervisor
Meagan is McM’s Front Ensemble Coordinator and has been teaching the group since 2006. Meagan was a member of McM’s renowned front ensemble from 2002-2005. She is currently the band director at Bellevue Middle School in Nashville, Tennessee, and the front ensemble coordinator at the COLTS Drum and Bugle Corps. She currently lives in Old Hickory with her husband and incredible pups Obi Wan the Dobie and Princess Porkchop.
Jello
BOARD MEMBER
Angelo Outlaw, Jr. (Jello) is a native of Philadelphia, PA. Angelo started playing in drum corps front ensembles in 2004 with DCA’s The Bushwackers before marching with DCI’s Kiwanis Kavaliers in 2005, the Crossmen in 2006 and 2007, and lastly, with the Bluecoats in 2008 and 2009. Since aging out of drum corps, Angelo has spent the past four seasons as a member of the front ensemble staff with the Blue Knights. Angelo has been involved with Music City Mystique since 2008, playing vibraphone for 2008 and 2009 and then marimba from 2010-2012. He was also served as the section leader for 2011-2012. Since 2013, Angelo has been an active member of the teaching staff at Music City Mystique. Angelo joined the MCM Board of Directors in 2020.
Dean Johnson
Front Ensemble Co-Caption Head
Dean Johnson is excited to return as Front Ensemble Co-Caption Head in his sixth consecutive season with Music City Mystique. Beginning in 2006, Dean’s marching career has included performing with the Drum Corps World Class Finalist Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps from 2011 to 2012 and going on to earn the silver and bronze medal in Percussion Independent World with Music City Mystique in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Since aging out, Dean has remained active in the marching activity. Along with teaching at Music City Mystique, Dean has worked with award winning high school marching programs such as Woodford County High School, Fred J. Page High School, Stewarts Creek High School, and BOA Grand National Semifinalist Fishers High School. In Drum Corps, Dean has also consulted for Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, and served as Front Ensemble Coordinator for Spirit of Atlanta for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. For the 2020 Drum Corps season, Dean will assume the role as Front Ensemble Coordinator for Carolina Crown.
Ben Lupton
Battery Caption Head
Ben Lupton is a man of nature, love, and rhythms. For the past 15 years, his dedication and commitment to the ensemble has pushed McM into a new era. Ben’s heart beats for Music City Mystique.
Geoff Watkins
Choreographer
Geoff Watkins has been a part of Mystique’s instructional staff since 2014 and was a member of the bassline from 2011-2013. Over the years, Geoff has become a consistent contributor to Mystique’s movement and choreography program. Previous teaching experience includes various high school programs in Connecticut and middle Tennessee as well as The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps 2013-2018. He currently resides in Nashville where he serves as operations manager for the Craviotto Drum Co.
Dan Twiford
snares
Dan is a Nashville, TN based music educator, performer, recording artist, and designer in both the marching arts and commercial music. He has proudly been a member of the Music City Mystique educational staff since 2017, and has previously taught at successful programs such as Rhythm X, Father Ryan High School (TN), Adair County High School (KY), and Spring-Ford High School (PA). Since falling in love with Drum Corps and WGI in the early 2000s, Dan has remained heavily dedicated and involved. Dan is a proud endorsing Artist for Pearl Drums, and Innovative Percussion.
Ben Heidrich
snares
Ben is originally from Cornelius, North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University. He’s performed in various indoor percussion groups since 2012 and has been involved with DCI since 2013. Ben has experience in the marching arts as a member of Carolina Crown, the Bluecoats and McM. During his marching career he’s been able to accrue 2 DCI championships and lead McM as the 2017 battery section leader to their 8th championship title. He’s also taught the Madison Scouts, Colts Drum & Bugle Corps and will begin his 5th year teaching at Music City Mystique for the 2023 season. Ben is a customer service and sales representative for Pearl Drums and is an online private lessons instructor for Cloudmusicsuite.com. Ben is always welcoming new students! https://www.cloudmusicsuite.com/schedule/instructor/49. Ben currently resides in Hermitage, TN. Outside of drumming he enjoys learning new DIY home improvement projects, disc golf with the McM staff, snow skiing, water skiing and spending time with Natasha and Holly cat.
Eric Robertson
Lead Audio Engineer/System Designer
Eric Robertson joined the McM staff as an audio engineer in 2017. He was a member of the front ensemble from 2011-2014, and 2016 where he played bass guitar. A Tennessee native, Eric attended the University of Tennessee where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. He currently resides in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where he works as a Sr. Business Intelligence Analyst for Nissan. While not working, he enjoys spending time working on his solo music project titled Under This Cracked Shell.
Tim Provence
quads
Tim Provence is a drummer and percussion teacher residing in Nashville, TN. A graduate of the Belmont School of Music, Tim studied marching percussion with the legendary clinician, Bill Bachman (author: Quad Logic, Stick Technique) and was a member of the tenor line at Boston Crusaders (2009) and Music City Mystique (MCM) (2011, 2012), winning the WGI World Championship in 2011 with MCM. Tim is an international percussion clinician and has written and taught for many high school, collegiate, and independent percussion programs across the globe. Tim also teaches private drumset and marching percussion lessons to students of all ages at his private studio in Nashville.
Joseph Reed
Front Ensemble Co-CAption head
Joseph was a member of Music City Mystique in 2017 on drumset. From 2011 to 2012, he marched with Music City Drum and Bugle Corps also on drumset. He then went on to march with the Bluecoats from 2013 to 2015 where he aged out as front ensemble section leader. Additionally, he was a member of the Ole Miss “Pride of the South” drumline from 2012 to 2016. Joseph currently resides in Memphis, TN working as a Continuous Improvement Engineer.
Roman Schefano
Bass Drums
Roman was a member of Music City Mystique for the 2021 and 2022 seasons playing bass drum, and is excited to stay with the home team to teach his first year of indoor. Roman has also served as a bass drum technician for The Colts in 2022. His drum corps career started with Music City Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018, followed by two years with The Cavaliers, serving as the bass section leader in 2021. Residing out of Chattanooga, Tennessee Roman spends his time teaching, bouldering, hiking, and serving the residents of a local retirement home.
Chandler McCoy
Quads
Chandler joined Mystique in 2016 as a quad drummer and performed with the group for 4 years before aging out in 2019. He currently lives in Huntsville, AL where he spends his time outside of work teaching percussion and enjoying hobbies with friends such as disc golf and chess.
Kiiyaa’áanii Morgan
Cymbals
Originating from Colorado, Kiiyaa'áanii marched cymbals in 2013 with the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble. He played cymbals there for 3 years before moving to Nashville in 2016 to join Music City Mystique. After aging out with McM in 2019, Kiiyaa'áanii has continued his passion as the McM cymbal technician since 2020 and been a part of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps percussion staff since 2021.
Nina Chamberlin
Front Ensemble
Nina Chamberlin is a Chicago area native, now residing in Nashville, TN. She began her WGI career in 2014, marching two seasons with Pioneer Indoor, and performing with Gateway Indoor in 2016. She performed with Music City Mystique from 2017-2022, and is honored to join the staff for the 2023 season. Nina performed with Legends Drum and Bugle Corps from 2014-2018, and joined the front ensemble staff in 2019. She has also served on the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps front ensemble staff since 2021. Nina graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in K-12 Music Education. She currently teaches Elementary Music at Lakeview Elementary, in Mt. Juliet, TN.
Alex Queen
Cymbals
Alex marched with the Indiana University Marching Hundred, Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, and Legacy Indoor Percussion before finding his way home to Music City Mystique for the 2017-2018 seasons. After aging out and moving to the educational side, he began teaching organizations including Oregon Crusaders and Veritas, before joining the 2022 staff of Music City Mystique. Alex currently lives in Nashville with his dog Kap, remotely working as a software engineer and teaching cymbals at Middle Tennessee State University outside of Mystique.
Kyle Ramsey
Front Ensemble
Kyle is a percussionist and educator from Murfreesboro, TN. He performed with Audio Theater Indoor Percussion in 2017 and Music City Mystique from 2018-2020. As an instructor, he has also worked with McGavock HS, Oakland HS, and Siegel HS. He currently serves as the percussion director for Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, TN.
Zach Blessing
Cymbals
Zach’s marching career includes Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2011-2013), Infinity Percussion (2013), Oregon Crusaders (2015), and McM (2014-2016). After aging out, Zach went on to teach Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2016-2018) and has been teaching with McM since 2018. Currently, Zach teaches Pace High School’s indoor program in Pace, FL and works as the multimedia graphic designer for the National Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.
Chris Nichols
Snares
Natasha Hagan
visual ensemble
Natasha is originally from Lexington, Kentucky where she graduated from the university of Kentucky with an interior design degree and moved to Nashville to pursue her design career. Natasha is a long time performer, starting in WGI Independent A and progressing to WGI World Class. She has performed with Lexis World Guard from its inaugural year in 2011 through 2014, 2019 & 2020, Pride of Cincinnati in 2017, as well as a DCI member of Carolina Crown in 2014 and ‘15. She has held leadership positions and accrued many accolades throughout her years with a top 3 medal in each independent class. On the other side of the gym floor and football field, Natasha has taught color guard since 2012 with various high schools, Legends Performing Arts Association, and Eklipse World.
Outside of the marching arts Natasha enjoys staying busy with home projects with Ben and Holly cat, laughing with friends, checking new experiences or places off her “want to try someday” list and exploring Nashville.
Meagan McPherson
visual ensemble
Meagan is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Photography and dance. Her marching career includes Phantom Regiment, Eklipse Winter Guard, and Paramount Winter Guard. she has spent the last 10 years teaching in and out of the Middle Tennessee area, spending the majority of her time with Mt. Juliet High School. Groups she has worked with previously include: Carolina Crown, Eklipse Winter Guard and Music City Drum Corps.
Outside of the marching arts, Meagan enjoys working with Frozen Exposure Photography as a wedding photographer, and spending time at home with her pets.
Hailey Orbik
Social media manager
D’Antoine “D” Newsome
videographer
D’Antoine (“D”) Newsome is a professional videographer originally from Nashville, TN, and a Computer Science graduate from Stevens Institute of Technology. D has participated and performed with multiple percussion ensembles since 2015, including Audio Theater, the Tennessee Titans, and Music City Mystique (‘18-’19). His journey as a videographer and photographer began in 2015 when he took videos on his cell phone of his older brother, D'Angeleau, performing with Mystique. From picking up his first camera in 2019, he's gained a passion for creating authentic, impassioned experiences through the digital medium.
He currently has professional video experience from working with Audio Theater, Triple Crown Indoor Percussion, The Cavaliers, Winter Guard International, Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, Music City Mystique, and is working with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2024 season. D’Antoine currently works at IBM as a Senior Salesforce Consultant in Washington, DC.