Roger Carter, Derek Gipson, Dr. Matthew “Ryan” Kilgore, Dean Westman Inducted Into 2023 Bluecoats Hall of Fame
We’re pleased to announce the newest inductees to the Bluecoats Hall of Fame: Roger Carter, Derek Gipson, Dr. Matthew “Ryan” Kilgore, and Dean Westman. Members of the Bluecoats Hall of Fame are individuals whose history of outstanding contributions and dedication is worthy of the highest level of recognition by the organization’s Board of Directors.
Roger Carter
Roger Carter was first introduced to the world of marching percussion as a student at Mission Viejo High School in California and continued his drumming development in Southern California with the Kingsmen and the Velvet Knights before spending four years as a member of the Blue Devils. He then spent six years as a staff member with the Blue Devils, winning three DCI titles and two high percussion awards before continuing his drum corps teaching career with the Crossmen, Madison Scouts, and Freelancers.
Roger joined the Bluecoats percussion staff in 2012, and has served as Percussion Caption Head since 2013. In that time Roger has used his incredible energy and teaching style to foster the skills of the Bluecoats percussion section and bring them to new heights. He has presided over some of the most successful percussion ensembles in Bluecoats history, including those in the 2015 production Kinetic Noise, 2016 World Champion DownSide up, and 2019’s The Bluecoats. In 2022, under Roger’s leadership, the Bluecoats won their first Fred Sanford high percussion award.
Outside of drum corps, Roger works with a multitude of percussion education programs, and is currently the Director of Marching Percussion for the San Diego State Marching Aztecs. He also serves as a battery instructor for Mission Viejo High School, Dana Hills High School, and Capistrano Valley High School in Southern California. Roger is also a lead battery instructor for Broken City Percussion, who he helped lead to their first WGI Independent World Gold Medal in 2019.
Derek Gipson
Derek Gipson began his drum corps career at the young age of 12, as a member of the Expressions Drum & Bugle Corps from Hammond, LA.. He went on to perform with Southwind and finally the Cadets of Bergen County before beginning his drum corps teaching career on the brass staff at Carolina Crown. He also played trumpet in the Tony Award winning production of BLAST! and served as middle school band director for several years. After stints teaching at the Cadets, Capital Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Blue Knights, Derek joined the Bluecoats as Brass Caption Head in 2012.
At Bluecoats, Derek has made his mark on the Bluecoats’ signature sound, and helped the brass section achieve new heights in talent and performance with his pedagogical approach and warm student report. He’s been instrumental in the corps’ past decade of success, including their first DCI Championship in 2016 and 2019’s memorable Beatles-themed production.
Outside of drum corps, Derek teaches individual brass lessons online. He has worked or is currently working as a consultant, arranger, and/or clinician for a number of groups throughout Europe. He currently resides in the UK and enjoys being a full time dad.
Dr. Matthew “Ryan” Kilgore
The influence of Dr. Matthew “Ryan” Kilgore on the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps will prove to be lasting and vital to the success of the corps. Ryan is a percussionist, arranger, professor, clinician, and adjudicator. His work instructing the Bluecoats percussion ensemble and leadership as the long-time Music Ensemble Coordinator and Staff Coordinator has become so ingrained in the fabric of the day-to-day operation of the drum corps, that most people think of his title as only “Kilgore.” Ryan performed with the corps first in 1999, and has been on staff since 2008.
As a professional percussionist, Dr. Kilgore has performed and given clinics throughout the United States and Europe. He was the highest placed American in the Paris Marimba competition as well as being selected as a representative of the United States in the 5th installment of the World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart, Germany. He has performed at several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, including the Mallet Masters All-Stars. As a chamber musician Ryan has performed with Third Coast Percussion Ensemble, Mark Ford, Michael Burritt, Steven Schick and She-e Wu. He can be heard on University on North Texas’s Percussion Ensemble CD Marimba Heritage where he is featured on Alejandro Vinao’s Estudios de Frontera as well as an upcoming solo album of the entire Cello Suites by J.S. Bach.
Ryan’s influence at the Bluecoats will be remembered for decades and most certainly contributed to the corps winning its first-ever Sanford Award for Best Percussion in 2022.
Dean Westman
When Dean Westman joined the Bluecoats as Music Coordinator in 2012, he’d already played a part in the success of several historic DCI Champions. Westman served as Brass Caption Head for the ten-time Drum Corps International World Champion Cadets, Brass Arranger and instructor for the seven-time Drum Corps International World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard, and taught on the brass staff for the seven-time Drum Corps International World Champion Cavaliers. He was a music consultant for Carolina Crown and Brass Arranger and Program Coordinator for the Troopers, leading them to their first DCI Finals appearance in 23 years in 2009. He continued that string of successes at the Bluecoats, and played a vital role in their recent string of medalists programs, including TILT in 2014, DCI Championship Down Side Up in 2016, and the 2022 production Riffs & Revelations.
Dean’s pedigree in the activity and his influence on the Bluecoats is unmistakable. His immense experience in the marching arts has been a great asset to the drum corps. His ability to push new boundaries is sure to be remembered throughout drum corps history.
Outside of Drum Corps, Dean is the Performing Arts Department Chair and Director of Orchestras at Avon High School in Avon, IN. Prior to coming to Avon, Dean worked as the Education. Dean continues to guest conduct and present clinics throughout the United States and Japan, including presentations at the Midwest Clinic, the Texas Bandmaster’s Association Convention, the Colorado Bandmaster’s Association Convention, the Texas Music Educator’s Association Convention, the DCI Judges and Instructor Clinic, the Texas Dance Educator’s Association Convention, and the Conn Selmer Institute. Westman was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame in 2018.
