- Directors
- John Miliauskas – Director of Athletic Bands, Director of the World Famous Towson University Marching Band
- Taylor Yozwiak – Assistant Director of Athletic Bands, Director of Marching Percussion
- Jalen Swain – Administrative Lead, Director of Color Guard
- Color Guard Staff
- Jessica Dunkley – Choreographer/Movement Designer
- Greg Swank – Choreographer/Weapon Educator
- Layne Thompson – Choreographer/Weapon Designer
- Percussion Staff
- Jordan Brooks – Snare Drum Technician
- Ian Wysham – Tenor Technician
- Jayson Hart-Smith – Bass Drum Technician
- Deandre Dill – Front Ensemble Technician
- Andrew Pretzello – Front Ensemble Technician
- Natalie Pretzello – Front Ensemble Technician
- Robert Rocheteau – Front Ensemble Technician
- Nick Gingerich – Head of Audio
- Graduate Assistant
- Kate Sellers – Graduate Assistant
- Additional Staff
- Scott Boerma – Music Arranger
- Kanji Takeno – Photographer Emeritus
- Kendall Appleby – Media Production Specialist
- Olivia Evans – Volunteer Coordinator
John Miliauskas
Director of the Towson University Marching Band
jmiliauskas@towson.edu
Mr. John J. Miliauskas III has a lifetime of experiences in instrumental music and marching activities. His father was the band director at Lake-Lehman High School (Lehman, PA) for thirty-six years. After graduating from Lake-Lehman himself in 1981, John played mellophone in the Penn State Blue Band (University Park, PA) in 1981 and 1982, as well as in the Garfield Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (Garfield, NJ) in 1982 and 1983. John continued his marching experiences at West Chester University (West Chester, PA) as drum major for three years, from 1984-1987. He also was drum major for the Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps (Reading, PA) in 1986.
Following his marching experiences, John moved on to gain many accomplishments as a drill designer. He started with his father at Lake-Lehman High School, where he was a member of the instructional staff from 1982-1988, performing various duties including marching and music instruction, programming, drill design, and assistant director. During these years, the band won the Cavalcade of Bands American Class State Championships in 1984 and 1987, as well as the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships in 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1988.
After his father’s retirement, John expanded his high school drill writing to numerous programs including the 1989-2000 Red Land High School Marching Bands (Lewisberry, PA). During this time, the program achieved three Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships, six Chapter VI Championships, and a Macy’s Parade appearance in 1998. John also for the 2001-2003 Quakertown High School Marching Bands (Quakertown, PA), as well as the Cypress Creek High School Marching Band (Orlando, FL), which won its division and made finals at the 1994 Bands of America Southeast Regional, placing fourth overall. In addition to these advanced level programs, John has written dozens of shows at the basic and intermediate levels for bands having anywhere from forty total members to over 250 total members.
In his twenty years of writing since his start at Lake-Lehman, some of the more notable programs he has designed drill for beyond the high school level include the 1992 and 1993 Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (Philadelphia, PA). Crossmen were Drum Corps International World Finalists during both seasons. In 1992, the corps placed sixth in the DCI Finals Championship, earning their highest finish ever to that point. John has also written for the West Chester University Golden Rams Marching Band from 1984-1987 and 2000-present, the 1991 Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps (Orlando, FL), the 1988 and 1989 Reading Buccaneers Senior Drum and Bugle Corps, and the 2001-2003 Govenaires Senior Drum and Bugle Corps (St. Peter, MN).
As a well-rounded drill designer, John has written for many indoor color guard and indoor drumline ensembles, including the 1987 and 1988 Threshold Indoor Color Guards (West Chester, PA), the 1996-2000 Red Land High School Indoor Color Guards (Lewisberry, PA), the 2002 Penn State Eclipse Indoor Color Guard (University Park, PA), the 2002-2003 Huntingdon High School Indoor Drumlines (Huntingdon, PA), which was the 2002 TIA All-Chapter Scholastic A Champion, and the 2002-present Bpex Winter Guards (Wilmington, DE). Several of these groups have achieved such accomplishments as Winter Guard International semi-finalists and finalists on both the regional and national levels, along with regional circuit champions.
Mr. John Miliauskas was the Director of Bands at Crossroads Middle School in the West Shore School District (Lewisberry, PA) from its opening in 1993 until 2002. During his tenure, the Crossroads Band Program commissioned Robert W. Smith to compose At The Crossroads, A Dedicatory Fanfare, which was published through Belwin Publications and is widely performed. From 1994-2000, the Crossroads Bands received consistent superior ratings at PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) Concert Band Adjudication Festivals. This culminated with a performance at the PMEA State Conference in April of 2001 by the Crossroads Wind Ensemble. In addition to this honor, the Crossroads Bands have performed with guest soloists including Dr. Brian Bowman on euphonium from the University of North Texas, Mr. Matt Niess on trombone from the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble and Capitol Bones of Washington, DC, and Mr. Seneca Black on trumpet from the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra of New York, NY.
A brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Mr. John Miliauskas completed his Masters of Music in Music Education with a performance option in conducting at West Chester University in May 2004. He is a member of the following professional organizations: The National Association for Music Education (MENC), National Band Association (NBA), and College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA).
Taylor Yozwiak
Assistant Director of the Towson University Marching Band
Taylor Yozwiak is an active percussion performer, educator, arranger, and clinician based out of Baltimore, Maryland. Taylor has established a unique perspective on the percussive arts that combines his background as a jazz drummer with his passion for solo/chamber performance and marching/rudimental technique. Taylor is currently entering his seventh year as the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands and Director of Marching Percussion at Towson University.
Taylor received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Massachusetts in 2013. While at UMass, Taylor had the privilege of studying with professors Ayano Kataoka and Thomas Hannum, and was a proud member of the UMass Minuteman Marching Band. Taylor then completed his Master of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. During this time, Taylor studied with world-renowned percussionist Svet Stoyanov, directed the Miami “Frost Band of the Hour” Drumline, and performed throughout the rich musical scene in Miami.
After graduating from The University of Miami, Taylor moved to Orlando, Florida to work as the Assistant Director of Bands/Director of Percussion Studies at William R. Boone High School. During this time, Taylor maintained an active performance schedule throughout central and southern Florida while appearing with groups such as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Southwest Florida Symphony, and the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra.
Throughout his performing career, Taylor has won numerous awards for outstanding musicianship. These awards include the 2012 Vic Firth Scholarship, the Chancellor’s Talent in the Arts Scholarship from the University of Massachusetts, and the “Semper Fidelis” award for Musical Excellence presented by the Marine Corps League. During his two years as the Timpanist for the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Taylor won a World Championship with the Corps in 2011 and was awarded the Cadets Distinguished Service Award in 2012. Most recently, Taylor was a prize-winning soloist in the 2015 Atlanta Modern Snare Drum Competition and was honored to be featured as a Vic Firth artist and educator.
Alongside his performing career, Taylor serves regularly as a percussion clinician, adjudicator, and judge throughout the state of Maryland. Taylor has also led and arranged for marching percussion programs at the high school and collegiate level all across the country. These programs include the University of New Haven Chargers Marching Band, Atholton High School, Mount Holyoke College, and The University of Miami. Taylor also spent four years as a percussion staff member with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. During Taylor’s first year as a Cadet staff member, the Cadets percussion section won the Fred Sanford trophy for high percussion performance. Currently, Taylor works as a percussion instructor for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, a position that he has held since 2017.
Having worked as a musician, educator, and arranger throughout the country, Taylor originally grew up in Columbia, Maryland. Towson University played an important role in Taylor’s music education at that time. In addition to his role with the Towson University Marching Band, Taylor is also the faculty advisor for the Sigma Tau Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Taylor is endorsed by and proudly supports Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, and Remo Drum Heads.
Jalen Swain
Administrative Assistant/Director of Color Guard
Jalen Swain is an avid performer and educator currently residing in Columbia, MD. He has involved himself in many aspects of the performance arts including concert choir, show choir, pop vocals, drama, musical theater, marching band, dance, drum corps, and color guard. An alum of Towson University, Jalen earned a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Theatre. He is a former Educational Assistant, Child Care Program Director, and Public School System educator. In his free time, Jalen is an advocate for the LGBTQAI+ community and a competitive gamer.
Credits include:
Performing
The World Famous TUMB (2012-2015), Towson University Winter Guard (2016), Emanon Winterguard (2017, 2018), Virtual Arts’ Virtual Marching Band (2020), Fusion Winterguard (2021), Fusion Core (2021)
Designing/Educating
Loch Raven High School Marching Band (2018), Howard High School Marching Band (2019-2023), Mt Hebron High School Marching Unit (2021 -2023), The Collective Winter Guard (2022 – 2023), Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps (2023), The World Famous TUMB (2020 – Present)
Jalen hopes to expand access and resources to the performing arts and color guards in Maryland to provide an inclusive, educational and eclectic experience. Through the arts, he believes members can discover their true authentic selves and learn to live as such. Jalen’s goal is to always be in a position to develop the next generation of artists, innovators, educators, and performers.
Color Guard Staff
Jessica Dunkley
Movement Specialist
Jessica Dunkley has been a lover of dance until her discovery of colorguard her freshman year at Broadneck High School in 2010. She found a passion for the activity and since then has performed over 13 seasons between both marching band and WGI. Jessica has performed with In Theory Youth Services as well as Main Line Independent. She has had formal training in modern dance and is well versed in jazz and ballet. Jessica performed with her high school’s dance company and continued her education in the arts throughout her time in college. In 2016, she had her first DCI audition at Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Jessica was offered a contract however prior to leaving for spring training suffered a back injury prohibiting her from performing. She took two years away from performing to recover but has been actively teaching as the Colorguard Caption Head at her former high school and is now supporting as movement specialist for the Towson Colorguard.
Jessica holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing/Project Management and a Master’s in Marketing, now working in the private sector. Jessica loves all of the ways we can manipulate the body to explore emotion and music, and believes in the value of the arts.
Layne Thompson
Weapon Specialist
Layne Thompson is from Oakville, MD where he participated in many aspects of the performing arts. As of 2021, Layne has participated in 36 seasons of color guard!
He began his color guard career in 8th grade in 2009 with Chopticon High School in St. Mary’s County. He spent 5 years with the program and was captain of the color guard in 2012 & 2013. After graduating, Layne has had the opportunity to work with Chopticon High School and Great Mills High School, during their outdoor season and Great Mills High School during their indoor & outdoor seasons. Layne is currently the Caption Head of the Leonardtown High School Color guard.
Aside from high school color guard, Layne has marched with numerous other winter guard and drum corps units. In 2011, he began his DCA career with Shenandoah Sound Drum & Bugle Corps from Manassas, VA. In 2013, he began marching with the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps from Reading, PA. Layne has been a member of the RBCG for the past 7 consecutive seasons & has been the Captain of the Color guard since 2018.
In 2010, Layne began his indoor career with Leonardtown High School’s Scholastic A winter guard. Since then, he has spun with 4 other indoor units including: In Theory Youth Services Independent A winter guard from Baltimore, MD (2013 & 2015), The Classics Independent A winter guard from Allentown, PA (2017), and Field of View Independent World winter guard from West Chester, PA (2018). In 2019, Layne aged out of the Independent Open class with George Mason University winter guard from Fairfax, VA, placing First in WGI finals in Dayton, OH.
Outside of the activity, Layne is an Elementary School Special Education Paraeducator in Great Mills, MD, where he assists students on the Autism Spectrum. He is now a fifth year Para in St. Mary’s.
Layne brings high quality design and technique to our program and he is ecstatic to be back with the TUCG. He hopes to challenge all members of the TUCG to improve their knowledge and abilities in the all areas of the marching arts.
Greg Swank
Choreographer/Weapon Educator
Greg Swank

Percussion Staff
Jordan Brooks
Snare Drum Technician
Biography coming soon!
Ian Wysham
Tenor Drum Technician
Ian Wysham is a musician and music educator based in Baltimore, MD, and has been involved in the TU drumline since 2012. He attended Towson University, where he studied Jazz Drumset Performance under Frank Russo, as well as concert percussion with Dr. Michelle Humphreys, and other percussion disciplines. Ian’s experiences in the marching arts extend back to 2010, including teaching and performing in competitive marching band and WGI. Ian was a member of the TU drumline in the tenor section between 2012 and 2016 and has been the tenor instructor since 2017.
Ian is currently a member of the 229th Army Band, and performs freelance with popular music groups around the Baltimore-Washington region. He is also an instructor at the Governor Thomas Johnson High School Marching Band in Frederick, MD, serving as percussion caption-head, as well as the battery manager for the WGI ensemble Old Line Independent Percussion, also from Frederick, MD.
Jayson Hart-Smith
Bass Drum Technician
Jayson Hart-Smith is excited to be in his first season as Bass Drum Instructor for the Towson University Marching Band. His drumline experience started at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland but after his sophmore year, he joined the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps. There he completed ten seasons over the next twelve years, serving the majority of his time with the bassline, and becoming Percussion Manager in 2016. During those 12 seasons, bass was truly a passion for Jayson and took advantage of the opportunities in other groups. He was honored to play for world class organizations such as United Percussion, Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and The Reading Buccaneers. With these organizations, he earned the honors of three-time WGI Finalist, DCI Semi-Finalist, and DCA World Champions with Best Percussion. Recently, Jayson was a member of the Baltimore Ravens Drumline for the past 5 seasons, serving in roles ranging from Bass Section Leader to Percussion Director.
When Jayson is not spreading his love and knowledge on the marching activity, he loves to play softball and is the Production Coordinator for Parker Flavors in Baltimore.
Deandre Dill
Front Ensemble Technician
Deandre
Andrew Pretzello
Front Ensemble Technician
Andrew began his marching career at St. Stanislaus High School in Bay St. Louis, MS in 1998, playing in the front ensemble for 6 seasons (7th through 12th grade). Andrew was also a member of the Fusion Indoor Percussion Ensemble from Bay St. Louis, MS in 2003 and 2004. After high school, Andrew became a member of the University of Southern Mississippi marching band, The Pride of Mississippi, where he was in the front ensemble and the cymbal line.
Andrew began marching drum corps in 2004 with Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps and after a two year hiatus, finished his DCI career with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2007 and aged-out in 2008. He received the Crossmen Percussion Distinguished Service Award for the 2008 season.
Andrew has been the front ensemble arranger and instructor for Atholton High School from Columbia, MD since 2008 and Marriotts Ridge High School from Marriottsville, MD since 2011. He was a front ensemble instructor for the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016 and has been a member of the Towson University Marching Band staff since 2017. He currently works as a Senior Advisor for Deloitte & Touche, LLP.
Natalie Pretzello
Front Ensemble Technician
Robert Rocheteau
Front Ensemble Technician
An emerging artist in contemporary classical music, percussionist Robert Rocheteau is known for diverse and engaging performances as a solo and chamber musician. Recent highlights include an album recording at the famous Fraser Recording Studio in Boston, TV Broadcasts on New England Public Media, and a debut performance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Robert’s repertoire ranges from the classics of the 20th century by composers such as Iannis Xenakis and Steve Reich, to new works by contemporary composers.
Robert has extensive experience in marching band and drum corps. He is passionate about building bridges between different styles of drumming and teaching students how to navigate the similarities and differences between them. During his time at UMass Amherst, Robert marched in the tenorline with highlights including a performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. As for drum corps, he marched in the tenorline of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He also marched in the inaugural year of the Cadets2 Dum and Bugle Corps, and marched in the Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps.
Robert completed his Master’s Degree as well as a Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Conservatory of Music studying with marimba virtuoso Robert van Sice. During his time at Peabody, Robert was awarded the Mabel H. Thomas Prize in Performance. He completed his undergraduate studies with Ayano Kataoka, Thomas Hannum, and Colin McNutt at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Nick Gingerich
Head of Audio

Graduate Assistants
Kate Sellers
Graduate Assistant
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. Kate spent this past summer (2023) as a Bluecoats Fellow, studying visual design and artistic direction with Jon Vanderkolff. 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.
Music Arranger
Scott Boerma
Music Arranger
Scott Boerma (b. 1964) was the music arranger for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from 1989-2006 and from 2015-2018. From 2008-2014, he was the arranger for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps. In addition to several other corps in the United States, Boerma has arranged for marching bands and drum corps from Japan, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Thailand. Competitive high school bands around the world have enjoyed great success with Boerma’s charts. Other credits include marching band arrangements for the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Texas (both Austin and Arlington), the University of Illinois, Purdue University, Towson University, Texas Tech University, Baylor University, and Jacksonville State University, to name just a few. Most of the Big Ten University marching bands have performed Boerma’s arrangements. Boerma has also written arrangements for the Detroit Chamber Winds Brass and the Boston Pops.
Boerma’s original concert band works have been performed by many outstanding ensembles, including “The President’s Own” Marine Band, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the University of North Texas Wind Symphony, the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, the University of Illinois Wind Symphony, the University of Michigan Symphony & Concert Bands, the Interlochen Arts Camp High School Bands, and the Music For All Honor Band of America, to name just a few. His works have been heard in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Hill Auditorium, the Myerson Symphony Center, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and at the Chicago Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Boerma’s works have been featured in the popular GIA series, “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band.” Most of his concert band works are published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company, Boosey & Hawkes, Arrangers’ Publishing Company, and Carl Fischer Music. He is commissioned each year by high school, university, and community bands to write new works for the repertoire.
Scott Boerma is the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Western Michigan University, where he conducts the University Wind Symphony and Western Winds. Prior to this appointment, he was Associate Director of Bands, Director of the Michigan Marching Band, and the Donald R. Shepherd Associate Professor of Conducting at the University of Michigan. Before those positions, Boerma was the Director of Bands at Eastern Michigan University, and he began his career teaching music in the Michigan public schools at Lamphere and Novi High Schools. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting at Michigan State University and his Master of Music degree in music education from the University of Michigan, where he studied composition with Pulitzer Prize winning composer William Bolcom. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Western Michigan University, where he studied composition with Ramon Zupko. Scott has also studied composition with Anthony Iannaccone.
Kanji Takeno
“Three…Two…One…”
For the past 23 years, if you had your picture taken on Towson University’s campus, you’ve probably heard this countdown right before the flash of light comes from the top of a camera.
And if you don’t remember the countdown, then you definitely remember the smile that would come afterwards from the man behind the camera — Towson University’s Director of Photographic Services, Kanji Takeno.
Since starting at TU in 1996, Kanji has taken millions of photos, and has captured so many memories and moments of Towson University’s storied history. And while those 23 years have seen our campus go through an abundance of changes — new campus buildings, five university presidents, and even a name change from Towson State University to Towson University — there has only been one Kanji.
The Fall 2019 academic term is Kanji’s last as the university’s beloved director of photographic services. During these past 23 years, Kanji’s photographs have been Towson University’s public image, with generations of students being attracted to campus because of his efforts.
Media Production Specialist
Kendall Appleby
Kendall Appleby is a recent graduate of Towson University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media and Film in spring of 2018. She was a member of the flute/piccolo section of the TUMB for all four years of her college education, and is an alumna sister of the National Honorary Band Sorority Tau Beta Sigma.
While at Towson, she was a crew member of the WMJF studio; she helped direct, shoot, and edit videos for Towson University’s own television station.
In 2017, Kendall produced an award-winning PSA for the Maryland State Police Vehicle Theft Prevention Council and the Maryland/DC Anti-Car Theft Committee that is currently playing on WBAL Radio 1090 AM. She has also produced several documentaries, promotional videos, and parody sketches.
Despite being a recent TUMB alumna who is no longer marching, Kendall is excited to remain a part of the TUMB by doing what she loves with who she loves.