Dana is thrilled to be returning to the corps for her 3rd consecutive year as color guard caption head. Last winter, as an attempt to offer a winter training and performance venue to the 7th guard members, Dana helped start the Kinetic Winter Guard, IA class. In their inaugural season, Kinetic competed in the Musical Arts Conference circuit and placed 3rd at championships. Members of the guard included past and present 7th guard members and color guard students from Waterford, East Lyme, and Fitch High Schools. Dana is proud to say that between the summers and winters of 2006 and 2007 and the retention rate of the 7th color guard has been outstanding and the group has improved greatly because of it. Even though she loves all of the current members, she would love to see lots of new faces join the old ones this winter. Consider this a personal invitation to join, all you guardies out there.
Dana’s other teaching experiences include color guard caption head at East Lyme High School from 2002 through 2006 for the East Lyme Viking Marching Band and color guard caption head for the Norwich Free Academy Wildcat Marching Band in 2007. During Dana’s 5 years at East Lyme the color guard won awards that include the title of Best Color Guard at MAC Championships in 2006 and Best Color Guard at USSBA state championships in 2004. She was also on staff with the ConnCordia Winter Guard, IA from the University of Connecticut in 2004 as a weapon choreographer. Dana’s marching credits include the Mahopac High School Marching Cavaliers from 1997-2001, The Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, 2002, The Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps, 2007, ConnCordia Winter Guard, IA 2002 and 2004, and Terpsichore Winter Guard, IA, 2003, WGI IA Champions. Dana spins and teaches all pieces of equipment.
During the school year Dana is the Orchestra Director at Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CT where she conducts 3 orchestras, gives group lessons and teaches 2 music theory classes. Violin is her primary instrument and true love. She freelances on violin, viola and cello in her spare time through Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. She is a past member and concert master of the University of Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, The Seven Hills Symphony from Amherst, MA and the Torrington Symphony from Torrington, CT. She also plays at the Westbrook Congregational Church as a guest artist from time to time. She has played violin and cello in pit orchestras for musical theater companies including the Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich, CT and Imagine Stage Productions, LLC.