Dr. CJ Longabaugh, Director of Bands
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Dr. CJ Longabaugh is serving his fifth year as the Director of Bands at Irondale High School in New Brighton, MN. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance with a secondary emphasis in Musicology at the University of Minnesota. He received his Masters of Music degree in Saxophone Performance at the University of Minnesota and his Bachelor of Music Education at Kansas State University. His mentors include Eugene Rousseau, Craig Kirchhoff, Anna Marie Wytko, Frank Tracz, and Preston Duncan.
During his graduate studies Dr. Longabaugh competed in solo and chamber music competitions across the United States and was named a Finalist and a prizewinner at the William C. Byrd International Concerto Competition, a Finalist and a prizewinner at the Plowman National Chamber Music Competition, a Finalist at the Coleman National Chamber Music Competition, and Winner of the Masters Concerto and Aria Competition sponsored by the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Longabaugh previously taught in the Cobb County School District in Georgia and the Blue Valley School District in Kansas. |
Paul Weber, Percussion Coordinator
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Paul is a 1998 graduate of Irondale and has been on staff of the Marching Knights ever since. Paul marched with the Madison Scouts from 1998 to 2001 and was the Drum Corps Midwest multi-tenor champion in 2001.
Paul has served on the percussion staff of the Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps from 2002 to 2006, the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2007, the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from 2008 to 2011, the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps in 2013, and is presently the Percussion Supervisor for the River City Rhythm Drum & Bugle Corps. Paul is the director of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves’ PACKcussion drumline, batterie arranger for the Independent Open Class Bronze Medalist and now Independent World River City Rhythm drumline, and member of the Marching Roundtable’s Percussion Podcast team. Paul served as president of the Minnesota Percussion Association for 11 years, and as a past member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board. Paul earned his Bachelor in Education from Saint Cloud State University. |
RYAN SCHMIDT, Front Ensemble Coordinator
Ryan is a 2004 graduate of Irondale and earned his Bachelor of Music with a Percussion Performance Emphasis from St. Cloud State University. Ryan has been the Front Ensemble Coordinator/staff for numerous groups throughout Minnesota, including Eagan High School, Eastview High School, River City Rhythm Independent, and Quad City Percussion.
Ryan met his wife Tamara when they were both Coordinators at Eastview, have been married since 2015 and have 2 children, Lincoln and Elyse.
Outside of Marching Band and Drumline, Ryan has been a Financial Advisor since 2017 in St. Cloud, MN. Ryan currently serves as the Treasurer for the Minnesota Percussion Association.
Ryan met his wife Tamara when they were both Coordinators at Eastview, have been married since 2015 and have 2 children, Lincoln and Elyse.
Outside of Marching Band and Drumline, Ryan has been a Financial Advisor since 2017 in St. Cloud, MN. Ryan currently serves as the Treasurer for the Minnesota Percussion Association.
Michelle Koski-Barnes, Color Guard Coordinator
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Michelle is a graduate of Irondale and participated in many of the band's activities from Concert Band and Jazz Band (String Bass) to Marching Band (Color Guard) and Winter Guard. Michelle is also an MBI Winter Guard aluma (2016).
Michelle has been a color guard instructor for many organizations including: Champlin Park Marching Band (2015-2016), Synergy Winter Guard (2016-2017), Patriots Marching Band (2016-2022), and Irondale Marching Band/Winter Guard (2017- current). Michelle previously served as a board member for the North Star Circuit, the local Winter Guard circuit for the upper midwest. Outside of marching band, Michelle works as an Executive Assistant for APi Group, and spends her free time doing portrait photography, and adventuring with her husband, Chi-Cori. |
Tyler Shipe, Visual Coordinator
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Tyler is a 2004 graduate of Irondale and has been teaching the marching band and winter drumline ever since. He marched mellophone with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps in 2004 & 2005 and was drum major in 2006 & 2007. Outside of the marching band world, Tyler has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Minnesota, and works as a mortgage officer at Chase. He and his wife Breanne (also a IHSMK and drum corps alum) live in Northeast Minneapolis and have a small home remodeling and hand-crafted furniture and accessories business.
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