Travis Pardee is the Director of Bands and Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada where he conducts the Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensembles, Marching Band and guides all aspects of the Foothill Band program. Originally from Ponca City, Oklahoma, Mr. Pardee has been teaching at Foothill High School since 2002.

Mr. Pardee holds degrees from the Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas where he received the Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education (BME) as well as the Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance (BM – Saxophone). In 2002, Mr. Pardee completed the Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting (MM) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Mr. Pardee is the Past President of the Southern Nevada Band Association (SNBA), serves as Clinics Coordinator for the Nevada Music Educators Association (NMEA), is Chair of the CCSD Honor Band Committee, and served as the Director of Operations for the Southern Nevada Indoor Percussion and Guard Association (SNIPGA). In 2015 Travis Pardee was the recipient of the Myra Greenspun Award for Teaching Excellence and was named Music Educator of the Year by the Nevada Music Educators Association. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and Nevada Music Educators Association (NMEA). Additionally, Mr. Pardee is an adjunct faculty member of the College of Southern Nevada and for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Mr. Pardee has served as an adjudicator and clinician for Music In The Parks and World Strides’ Heritage Performance Programs as well as universities, and school districts, throughout the United States.

Adam Steff is the Director of Percussion and Associate Director of Bands at Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada where he directs the Percussion Ensembles, Marching Band Percussion Section, the Indoor Drum Line, and Concert Band. He has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Central Florida where he studied percussion with Jeff Moore and Jazz with Jeff Rupert. He also has a Master of Music degree with a Concentration in Conducting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he studied conducting with Tom Leslie. He is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Before moving to Nevada, Adam was the Director of Bands and Percussion Director at both Cypress Creek HS and University HS in Orlando, Florida. During his time he has lead his groups to accolades such as BOA Regional Champions, BOA Grand National Semi-Finalist, WGI Regional Champions, WGI World Championships Finalist, Multiple FMBC State Champions and High Percussion awards, FFCC Championships Gold and Silver medals. Adam’s Percussion Ensembles have performed at the 2012 Florida Music Educators State Conference. They have also been featured as part of the 2012 and 2013 University of Central Florida “Collide Festival” High School Showcase, The 2013 University of South Florida “McCormick Marimba Festival”, as well as World Premiering the percussion ensemble piece Lines: Withheld by Dr. Thad Anderson as a part of the 2012 University of Central Florida “Collide” Composer Concert. His ensembles have also performed as a featured ensemble for the Percussive Arts Society Florida Day of Percussion on multiple occasions.

Adam has been the Percussion Caption Head and Program Coordinator for Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps. In addition to his work in public schools, Adam has also been an instrumental clinician for Disney Performing Arts/Magic Music Days at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida from 2003 to 2013 where he has taught workshops for over 200 high school bands a year among many other clinics and workshops. Adam has performed as a professional musician at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida with many groups such as the Magic Kingdom Band, Tapestry of Nations, Cast in Bronze, Rondo Masquerade, and the JAMMitors both in the U.S. and in Tokyo Disneyland in Tokyo, Japan. He has also performed with the Central Florida Brass Band, Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, and at Universal Studios Orlando.

Adam is proud to endorse Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets and SABIAN Cymbals.

Originally from Laramie Wyoming, Lindsay Whelan is a percussionist and music educator who has called Las Vegas home for the past five years. In that time, Lindsay has taught music at both primary and secondary levels, as well as performed and maintained additional side projects of her own.

She has appeared in performance both regionally and nationally, including; performing as a finalist in the Torrance Young artist concerto competition in Torrance, CA., Sin City Opera Company, Las Vegas, NV., the La Croix-Valmer Music Festival in La Croix-Valmer France, and the XI Festival de Marimba y Percusiones de Tabasco, in Tabasco, Mexico.

Lindsay has recorded on the Klavier label under the baton of Thomas Leslie with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Wind Orchestra. Most recently, she performed and served as an artist in residence at the University of Panama in Panama City, Panama. Lindsay was also an integral part in the making of the documentary The Wood That Sings, which details the making of a marimba with Australian master marimba builder James Bailey.

Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Music Education from SUNY college at Buffalo; a Master of Music in percussion performance from the University of Southern California; and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Lindsay is also an artist with Innovative Percussion.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Michael Weber is a trumpeter, teacher, arranger, and drill writer. He is a passionate educator with a specialized interest in brass, marching, and athletic bands. Michael earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2016, and began his full-time teaching career. Michael graduated with his Master’s in Trumpet Performance from the University of Utah in 2022. While at “the U,” he was awarded a competitive, full-ride graduate teaching assistantship supporting the University of Utah Athletic band programs. With twelve years of teaching experience, Michael has taught every grade from kindergarten through twelfth and supported a diverse range of competitive collegiate, private, and public music programs in Utah, Nevada, California, and Texas.

Within the marching arts, Michael is a proud alumnus of Santa Clara Vanguard (2012-2013) and has served on the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets brass staff from 2017 to 2022. In addition to performing with SCV, Michael marched with 7th Regiment (2010-2011) and performed with the Blue Devils International Corps for their 2015 inaugural European tour.

Outside of the marching arts, Michael regularly performs with his brass quintet (Twin Peaks Brass) and has played with various groups and artists such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Henderson Symphony, Lady Antebellum, Eric Marienthal, Allen Vizzutti, and many others. Michael has been featured on three studio albums and enjoys working as a freelance musician in addition to teaching and leading a private brass studio.

Lisa Austin has been a part of the Foothill band family since 2000 and has had five of her six children participate in the program. She greatly enjoys her time with the students of Foothill and eagerly looks forward to the upcoming seasons. As Director of Operations, Lisa’s primary responsibilities lie in organizing trips, uniforms, and handling finances and logistics. Lisa was raised in Oregon and went to BYU for a degree in microbiology. She was fortunate enough to be able to play with the BYU Marching Band as a baritone player. Her experiences within the music program have allowed her to raise her six children with an affinity for music. She has been married for over 35 years to Jeff, who has been the band’s biggest supporter and cheerleader. She enjoys running, mountain biking, and spending time with her children and grandchildren (4 and counting).

Anthony Soleau is a music instructor and performer who specializes in mallet percussion both on the marching field and in the concert hall. His teaching career started in 2002 and has taught at a total of six different high school programs including three in Michigan and three in Las Vegas. 2003 brought about the formation of Motor City Percussion (an indoor ensemble )where he was a co-director up through the 2007 season. During his tenure in Michigan, Anthony was also responsible for arranging multiple front ensemble books for both fall and winter ensembles.

Anthony has a bachelor’s degree in business entrepreneurship, which he obtained at Eastern Michigan University in 2003 with Honors. Anthony has performed with multiple ensembles including G-Force and Eastside Fury percussion ensemble, competing nationally in the WGI circuit from 2002 – 2004 and earning a bronze medal in open class in 2002 and a gold medal in 2004 with Eastside Fury.

Ryan Foyik is a visual and marching instructor for the Foothill High School Band, having joined as a staff member in 2015. He works with students to refine marching fundamental skills, visual coordination, and performance. A born-and-raised Las Vegan, Ryan has been educating students in Clark County since 2005 and has worked with numerous programs throughout the valley.

Ryan’s knowledge in the marching arts seeds from his experience as a member of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Denver, Colorado (Trumpet ‘06 – ‘08). He also credits his time with the UNLV Marching Band, where he served as drum major, for his aptitude in the activity. In addition to the marching band, he also performed with the UNLV Symphonic Winds and Runnin’ Rebel Basketball Pep Band. A graduate of UNLV, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.

Callie Claridy is an active soloist, concert clarinetist, and music educator. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, she has spent the last four years at the University of Arizona studying music education. While at the University of Arizona, she has performed with the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble and the Arizona Symphony Orchestra, the university’s two premiere instrumental ensembles. Along with her concert ensemble experience, she has performed with the Pride of Arizona Marching Band, where she served as section leader for two years. She is also an active participant in chamber settings, having performed and competed with the University of Arizona Clarinet Quartet.

Callie is a passionate music educator. She has instructed students of all ages in both ensemble and private lesson settings. Callie has worked as the section coach for both the University of Arizona Outreach Middle School Honor Band and the Tucson New Horizons Band, where she assisted musicians of varying ability in developing their technical skills and musicality. As a private lesson instructor in both the Las Vegas and Tucson areas, Callie has coached several students to honor band and region band chairs in auditions. Callie recently graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and is now the music specialist at Lewis E. Rowe elementary in Las Vegas, Nevada.