Meet the 2023 Bluecoats Fellows
The Bluecoats Fellowship aims to create a pathway to a more diverse and inclusive world in the marching arts. Bluecoats Fellows are individuals who are a part of, or are committed to supporting, traditionally under-represented communities in marching arts design, and are selected by demonstrating excellent skill and potential in their field. Fellows are paired with the Bluecoats designer in their field to grow their skills, receive advice and guidance on their work, and learn from a renowned world-class designer.
Today, we’re excited to introduce the second class of Bluecoats Fellows! Find out more about them below.
Christopher Artau (he/him) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and educator based in the Miami, Florida area. As an active music designer and educator, Chris works closely with programs that compete within the Florida Marching Band Coalition and the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit. He is also an ASCAP-registered writer with Editor’s Choice recognition from J.W. Pepper and Son’s, and additional recognition from the Florida Bandmaster’s Association and the Florida Music Education Association.
“I’m incredibly excited and grateful to be a part of this year’s Bluecoats Fellowship! Being a longtime fan of the Bluecoats, I love the thought behind this program and the amazing opportunity it opens up. I look forward to working alongside the designers and growing with the rest of this year’s immensely talented cast of Fellows.”
Natalie Brady (she/her) s a visual designer, choreographer, and educator in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. Currently, she serves as the Visual Caption Head for Cincinnati Tradition Drum & Bugle Corps and Visual Caption Head and Choreographer for the Oak Hills High School Marching Band. Natalie is also the Director, Designer, Drill Writer, and Choreographer for the Oak Hills Indoor Percussion Ensemble and works on the visual team as a choreographer for the inaugural Valhalla Winds. She has also consulted and worked with multiple other groups in the area, most recently with Miamisburg Winds, Highlands High School Marching Band, and the Monroe High School Marching Band. She is ecstatic to join the Bluecoats family this season!
“I am thrilled to continue my own educational journey through the Bluecoats Fellowship. This Fellowship is breaking down barriers to promote inclusivity and creativity within the drum corps world, reminding us that the activity is living, breathing, and evolving daily. I am proud to join this team and see what growth is encouraged and inspired throughout my time with the Bluecoats.”
DaJuan Brooks (he/him) grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and currently resides in Evanston IL. He completed his Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of Arizona and a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance and Music Education from Northwestern University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Change with an emphasis on Leadership, Equity, Inclusion, and Organizational Change from Northwestern University and will be starting a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Band Conducting from The University of Michigan. He currently is the director of Chromium Winds under the Cavaliers Arts and Performance Education, and designs, choreographs, coordinates, and has worked for ensembles in Texas, California, Illinois, Arizona, and Utah. He is a proud alumni of the Blue Devils Organization and looks forward to designing within the marching arts.
“One of the things I live my life by is a quote from Nelson Henderson who said this ‘The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit’. I wanted to be a Bluecoats Fellow because every staff member, performer, or previous Bluecoats Fellow I have had the pleasure of working with has exemplified this in every way. I want to be a part of a culture and organization that uplifts people while helping them expand who they are and what they do through diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. The Bluecoats have always done the work and established brave spaces through innovative creations that transcend the scope of the marching arts. I am honored to be a part of such a team.”
Brooke Butler (she/her) is an arranger and music educator from Dayton, OH. She discovered a love for the marching arts as a student at Carroll High School. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a BME in 2022. While at OSU, she played in a variety of jazz ensembles, concert bands, and was a squad leader of The Ohio State University Marching Band. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at Shawnee HS in Lima, OH.
“In terms of the fellowship experience, I am most thankful for the opportunity to focus on growing as a composer and arranger this summer with the Bluecoats. To connect with both a seasoned world-class marching arts design team as well as the other Fellows is humbling but invigorating. I look forward to passing on the lessons of my experience with my students in the future.”
Kyle Myers (he/they) is a Los Angeles based composer, arranger, saxophonist, and leader of his own big band. He is a graduate of CSU Long Beach (MM-Jazz Studies) and the University of North Texas (BM-Jazz Studies), where he was a composer and saxophonist in the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. Kyle’s award-winning work as a composer runs through the worlds of jazz, concert music, commercial music, and marching music. Kyle enjoys working with ensembles where he can be an amplifier of the group’s artistic identity.
“Being a Bluecoats Fellow is an incredibly exciting opportunity to collaborate with the other fellows and the design team at the Bluecoats. The Bluecoats have always stood out to me with some of the most passionate, creative design in the activity, and I am excited to learn from the people and organization that make that happen. I’m looking forward to being a part of this class of Bluecoats Fellows”
Kate Sellers (she/her) is currently a graduate student at Towson University in Towson, MD, studying for a masters in music education and a performance certificate in instrumental conducting. Kate works with the World Famous Towson University Marching Band as a graduate student staff member, serves as Production Manager for the Towson University Winter Guard, and is a graduate assistant with the Towson instrumental music program. Prior to her time at Towson, Kate was the band and orchestra director at La Plata High School in La Plata, MD, where she designed custom shows for the marching band and taught all aspects of the instrumental music program. She is originally from the Philadelphia area and is a graduate of Penn State University. Kate strives to craft marching shows that are engaging and challenging for performers and approachable for all audiences.
“Being a Bluecoats Fellow is a dream come true– I never had access to the drum corps world due to working over the summers in college, and now I have the chance to see how one of the very best marching arts ensembles works from my favorite point of view: artistic direction and design. I feel like a door that was shut to me is now open, and I am so grateful to the Bluecoats for this opportunity.”
