ATLANTA QUEST STAFF
DESIGN
Alan Sears is a co-founder of Atlanta Quest. He has been the music and program director since the beginning in 2002. Alan now serves as the Director of Percussion for the Sprayberry High School “Band of Gold”, and is the Drumline Instructor and Arranger for the Kennesaw State University "Marching Owls". Alan arrangers for many ensembles and also has his arrangements published with CounterMotion Inc.
Along with his work in the Band world, he also composes for corporate events and commercial projects.
Alan is married to Monna Sears and the proud father of two sons Hayden Alan Sears and Cole Alexander Sears.
ALAN SEARS
Program Director/Music Arranger
Zack Marshall is in his 12th year as Visual Designer for Atlanta Quest. He began as a snare technician with Atlanta Quest in 2012 before becoming the Visual Caption Head in 2013.
Other educational experience includes Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, Milton High school, Southlake Carrol high school, Kennesaw State University, and many others. He was a performing member of Pariah Marching Theater from 2005-2010, Music City Mystique in 2011, and Blue Devils International in 2015.
Zack currently works in Environment Health and Safety at Koch Industries.
ZACK MARSHALL
Visual Design
Kevin is in his 11th year with Atlanta Quest and 10th year as the music arranger. Kevin is currently the Assistant Band Director/Percussion Director with PSW-finalists, Milton High School in Alpharetta, GA.
Kevin has a Master's degree in percussion performance from Texas Christian University and a Bachelor's degree in music education from Jacksonville State University. He marched three years of WGI with Music City Mystique (07-09) and four years of DCI with the Cavaliers, Spirit of JSU, and Memphis Sound. He has taught for many different high school and independent WGI/BOA groups in Georgia, Texas, and Alabama, as well as DCI with The Cadets. Kevin is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion products.
KEVIN KENNEY
Front Ensemble Arranger
Tyler Edrington is joining Atlanta Quest for his first season as a Program/Visual Designer. He will bring a wealth of experience and his commitment to pushing artistic boundaries across the WGI and DCI color guard/visual platform to the percussion world for the first time.
Hailing from Ooltewah, TN, Tyler's journey into the captivating realm of color guard began with the Ooltewah High School Marching Band. He then performed with prestigious ensembles such as Phantom Regiment (2008-2010) and Carolina Crown (2011). His contributions then extended into WGI as a performer with Capella Winter Guard (2010) and Paramount Winter Guard (2011 & 2012).
From 2012 to 2020, Tyler served as the primary color guard designer, choreographer, and caption head for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and since 2021 has been the Color Guard Supervisor & Designer for Carolina Crown where he continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression and innovation.
While residing in Tarpon Springs, FL with his wife (Molly Favret), Tyler spends his time as the full-time color guard choreographer and designer for Tarpon Springs High School. When not in Florida, he also spends his time as a designer/choreographer for many prestigious independent and scholastic color guard programs, such as Paramount Winter Guard where he also serves as the President of the Board of Directors.
Kit Chatham is joining Atlanta Quest as a Design Consultant for the 2025 season. Kit is an internationally recognized drummer, percussionist, performer, composer, and educato with experience in many forms of percussion, including drum set, world percussion, orchestral percussion, and marching percussion. He has been a Drummer/Percussionist, Bandleader, and Artist Coach for Cirque du Soleil since 2005.
He resides in Las Vegas and is currently the Bandleader/Drummer & Percussionist for Cirque du Soleil’s new creation in development under the working title, Arena 2025 - The Utopia Project, which will tour worldwide starting in 2025. This past February, after four years, Kit left Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life, a collaboration with Disney in Orlando, Florida. Kit has enjoyed performing throughout the world and in front of millions of spectators with other Cirque du Soleil productions: Drawn to Life (2019-2024), KURIOS (2014-2019), Kooza (2013-2014), Zumanity (2012-2013), Mystere (2012-2013), Viva Elvis (2009-2012), and Corteo (2005-2009). Kit has been the original Percussionist/Drummer and helped to create his characters for Drawn to Life, KURIOS, Viva Elvis, and Corteo. With the past 7 Cirque shows, Kit is known as the “Cirque-du-rummer” and has performed on stage in over 8000+ performances with Cirque.
Before joining Cirque du Soleil, Kit completed an exciting run from 2003 to 2004 as the featured percussionist soloist and music/percussion manager for the critically acclaimed instrumental theatrical show, CYBERJAM, in London, England’s West End. From 2001 to 2003, he was the featured snare drum/percussion soloist with the Tony and Emmy Award- winning Broadway show, BLAST! He has arranged, composed, designed, and consulted for some of the world’s top music ensembles and organizations. These include Cirque du Soleil, SmartMusic/Finale, the University of Georgia, London’s Royal Military Academy, Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corp, Terminus Percussion Theatre, Atlanta Quest, Odyssey Percussion Theatre, and many scholastic groups throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. He has made television appearances on The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Today Show, Miss Universe Pageant, Regis and Kelly, CNN, PBS, the BBC London, among others.
When he is not performing with Cirque du Soleil, Kit continues his involvement with the global music community. Kit runs his own recording studio/music production company and is a music casting consultant for companies like Cirque du Soleil and Disney. He has written six books on percussion published by Hal Leonard and is co-creator of The Principal Percussion Series for Percussion. Kit continues giving private lessons to aspiring percussionists in-person in the Orlando area and worldwide remotely online.
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Kit received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia. While at Georgia, he instructed, composed, and arranged for the UGA Redcoat Band, played in numerous music ensembles, and toured Europe at many prestigious jazz festivals. Kit received his master’s degree in Music Technology fromm Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, and is now an adjunct professor for their graduate music technology program.
Brian McKenzie is joining the leadership team as Technical Director and Sound Designer. He is an avid supporter of the marching arts, and in particular the sound reinforcement technology and creative electronic enhancement techniques being developed for use in the activity.
Brian is a musician, engineer, designer, and educator based in Marietta, GA. This is also home to his private music and production studio, Para Machina. Through his company, he offers a variety of services, and mentors aspiring artists, instrumentalists, and producers of all ages and abilities. He is also the percussion director at Roswell High School in Roswell, GA and is the audio and rock band technician for the Georgia State University marching band. Brian began his career as a contract performer and technician. His work included playing drums for an international ad campaign directed by MKTG, and seasonal performances at music, arts, and cultural festivals across the United States. Between 2017 and 2018 Brian worked with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps on their productions ‘Jagged Line’ and ‘Session 44’. He then joined the Boston Crusaders where he worked from 2019-23 on their productions, “Goliath”, “Paradise Lost”, and “White Whale”", and is currently an Audio Engineer with the Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps.
TYLER EDRINGTON
Program Design
KIT CHATHAM
Design Consultant
BRIAN MCKENZIE
Technical Director/Sound Design
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
TJ is in his 12th season as part of the Atlanta Quest staff, returning for the 2025 season as the Ensemble & Staff Coordinator/Operations Director.
He has taught multiple BOA and WGI finalist High Schools, and was part of percussion staff with The Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps in 2023-24. He graduated from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business where he served two years playing snare drum in the UGA drumline, as well as Georgia-based WGI groups, Pariah and Terminus, before marching with Music City Mystique and the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.
He lives in Smyrna, GA and works professionally as an Executive Senior Partner with Korn Ferry. In his free time, he watches sports, tries to have a nice lawn, plays golf, fantasy football and hangs out with his wife, Chelsea, and #1 dog - Donut.
TJ CHOQUETTE
Ensemble & Staff Coordinator/Operations Director
Micah will serve as Battery Coordinator, Design Liaison and will retain ensemble responsibilities in his 7th year on staff with AQ, after marching with the ensemble in 2015.
He is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with a degree in Music and Entrepreneurship. While at UNCG, he performed with the Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Steel Pan Ensemble, and many more. He began his competitive marching career in WGI while in high school where he was a member of Wake Forest Independent from 2010-2013. His last year competing in WGI was with Atlanta Quest in 2015. He marched DCA in 2012 with Carolina Gold, who went on to win a World Championship, and also in DCI with the Phantom Regiment in 2013-14. He has taught percussion ensembles all along the east coast including Revelation Percussion, and Alchemy Independent.
Outside of drums, Micah lives in Atlanta and works for Boston Consulting Group.
MICAH HANNER
Battery Coordinator/Design Liaison
Claire is returning for her 10th season with Atlanta Quest, and fourth as Front Ensemble Coordinator. Claire Smith Kenney is a percussion educator, clinician, and performer in the Greater-Atlanta area. She is currently the Percussion Director at Pope High School and teaches at Kennesaw State University as an adjunct percussion instructor.
She is originally from Cumming, Georgia, and attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama for her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Claire then continued her education at Texas Christian University where she earned her Master’s degree in percussion performance.
Since 2004, Claire has been involved with many performing ensembles, including Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, Music City Mystique, and most recently the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, Atlanta Wind Symphony, Atlanta Percussion Ensemble, and Atlanta Steel Collective. She is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Georgia Music Educators Association, and an educational artist for Innovative Percussion.
Other than percussion, she enjoys running, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband Kevin and their three dogs.
CLAIRE KENNEY
Front Ensemble Coordinator
Corey Watkins is stepping into the Visual Coordinator role in his 3rd season on staff with Atlanta Quest, expanding on his duties as a bass tech.
He is a freelance educator, percussionist, and arranger from Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to Atlanta Quest, Corey is a bass drum instructor with The Cadets, and has taught the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps as well. His marching career began in the Western Carolina University “Pride of the Mountains” marching band from 2015-2017, with independent marching experience including Atlanta Quest, The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, and Matrix World.
COREY WATKINS
VIsual Coordinator/Bass
INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF
Mason is returning to Atlanta Quest for his fourth season as a snare tech. He has marched snare at AQ for four seasons, including being section leader in 2020 and 2021. His DCI experience includes Santa Clara Vanguard in 2019, winning the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award.
Mason currently lives in Hernando, Mississippi where he serves as a percussion instructor at Hernando High School and Hernando Middle School. He has also been on percussion staff for Music City Drum Corps and Memphis Blues Drum Corps.
MASON HILL
Snare
Ticorrian returns for a fifth season with Atlanta Quest as a quad tech. He marched quads for DoubleStop Indoor Percussion 2013, The Alabama Million Dollar Band 2014-2017, Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps 2015 and 2017, and Virtual Drum Corps 2020.
Ticorrian graduated from the University of Alabama in 2019 with a B.S in Computer Science and currently works as a Developer Advocate at Zoom Video.
TICORRIAN HEARD
Quads
Caleb Pitt is will be back for his 2nd year on staff, and first as lead cymbal tech. He spent 7 seasons with the Atlanta Quest organization with both Q2 and AQ playing cymbals and bass drum. His other marching experience includes Carolina Crown, Phantom Regiment, and Atlanta CV.
Caleb is a free lance instructor and has worked with North Paulding High School, Chattahoochee High School, Marist High School, Cherokee County High School, and currently serves as a bass tech for East Paulding High School.
CALEB PITT
Cymbals - Lead Tech
Tyler is rejoining the staff in 2024 after serving as a front ensemble tech for 4 years prior. As a performer, he excelled with Milton's indoor drumline in the WGI Scholastic World Class finals 3 times, before marching with Spirit of Atlanta and Carolina Crown in DCI 2014-2016, and with Atlanta Quest in WGI 2015-2017. Tyler earned dual degrees in Music Education and Music Performance at Georgia Southern University, studying under notable percussionists like Dr. Matthew Fallin, Ney Rosauro and the Third Coast Percussion group.
Tyler holds a Master's Degree in Music Technology from Georgia Southern under the direction of Dr. John Thompson and has been directing Percussion and Music Technology at Norcross High School since 2022.
TYLER ROQUEMORE
Front Ensemble
Willie Burke returns for his 3rd season as a front ensemble tech. He is a percussionist residing in the Metro Atlanta area.
He is currently serving as the percussion director at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School, and the battery coordinator for the Duluth High School marching band. He also teaches drum set lessons and rock band classes at Bach to Rock in Alpharetta, GA. Willie received a Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music and Audio Production from Western Carolina University in 2020. In the marching world, he has performed with the front ensembles of Atlanta Quest and Carolina Crown.
WILLIE BURKE
Front Ensemble
Nate Hughes is returning as Visual Technician for his 6th year with Atlanta Quest. He currently serves as Assistant Director of Bands at South Forsyth Middle School in Cumming, Georgia, where he has been for 5 years. While serving in this role, he has been awarded the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence.
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Nate received his Bachelor of Music degree from Austin Peay State University. Nate was a member of the trumpet section of 7-time World Champion, Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He was also a cast member of Rhythm X Winds.
Nate has served on the instructional staff of several high schools in Tennessee and Georgia, as well as drum corps including Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, Spirit of Atlanta and MCDC. Nate programs marching band shows for several bands throughout the Southeast, in addition to composing original music, writing drill, and staging winter guards and indoor drumlines. He is also an active adjudicator and can be found judging both performance and effect captions.
NATE HUGHES
Visual
Colin is returning to Atlanta Quest snare staff for a second season after performing with the ensemble for the 2020 and 2022 seasons and teaching the Q2 snareline for the 2023 season. Colin has also taught the Madison Scouts snareline, as well as instructed and designed for several high school ensembles in the Metro Atlanta area including Denmark High School, North Gwinnett High School, and Norcross High School.
In addition to Atlanta Quest, Colin has performed with the ensembles Boston Crusaders, Infinity Percussion, Oregon Crusader, Tampa Bay Thunder, Marcato Independent, and Ancient City Ensemble, as well as worked as a musician for the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios during his time at Valencia College in Orlando, FL. Originally from Inverness, FL, Colin currently lives in Atlanta where he works as an IT technician.
COLIN CARELLA
Snare
Matthew will be returning for his 3rd season on staff after aging out with the group as the QAQ section leader in 2019. Matthew has marched five years of WGI in percussion independent world class with Palmetto Percussion, with whom he made his first PIW Finals appearance in 2015, as well as Atlanta Quest, where he continued to march for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Additionally, he marched the 2018 DCI season as quad section leader with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. After aging out, Matthew served as a quad tech with Q2 through the 2021 season. In addition, he has previously taught as a battery tech at North Forsyth HS in Cumming, GA and PSW-finalist Milton HS in Alpharetta, GA.
Matthew lives in Atlanta and is currently a Sr. Financial Planning Analyst with Southern Company, and serves as Treasurer of the Georgia Indoor Percussion Association.
MATT BLOMQUIST
Quads
Branden Annakie will be returning to the Quest organization for his 5th year, and 3rd year working with AQ.
He is a native of McDonough, GA, graduating from Ola HS in 2014. He spent time at Jacksonville State University before working towards a degree in veterinary medicine and a minor in music at the University of Georgia. Branden has performed with several group such as the Marching Southerners in 2016, JSU’s Chamber Winds, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble, as well as the University of Georgia Symphonic Band.
BRANDEN ANNAKIE
Cymbals
Alex is joining the AQ for his 1st year as front ensemble tech, and 10th year with the Atlanta Quest organization overall after spending 7 years performing with Q2 and AQ on vibraphone and marimba, including serving as section leader with Q2. In addition to AQ, he performed with Carolina Crown in 2019 and 2021 on Vibraphone and Marimba respectively.
Alex attended Union Grove High School in McDonough, GA, and later attended Auburn University where he spent three years in the marching band front ensemble, and graduated with a B.S. in Social Science Education in 2021.
Alex is currently in his third year of teaching Computer Science at Sanford Middle School in Beauregard, AL. In addition to his classroom duties, Alex is the Head Soccer Coach at SMS as well as the Percussion Director at Beauregard High School. He lives in Opelika, AL with his girlfriend Sarah and their two cats Cash and Otis.
He has also previously taught at Newnan High School, Auburn High School, Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, and Atlanta CV.
ALEX ROCHOWSKI
Front Ensemble
Briggs is joining AQ's audio team for the 2025 season. He performed as the bass guitarist for Q2 in 2021 and AQ from 2022-2024, as well as Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps in 2021. His audio experience includes an internship with the Boston Crusaders, serving as lead audio engineer at Guardians DBC in 2023, and the Madison Scouts in 2024. Briggs has also worked with Pope High School's marching band as their audio engineer since 2023.
BRIGGS SHARPLES
Audio
Jason is joining the Atlanta Quest visual staff for the 2025 season. He was a member of AQ from 2021 to 2024 playing bass drum, and he has marched at Atlanta CV, Carolina Crown, Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and the UGA Redcoat Marching Band.
Jason graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He is currently working as a percussion instructor at East Jackson High School while also pursuing a master’s degree in mathematics at UGA.
JASON GEORGE
Visual Ensemble
Luke Willingham is returning for his 3rd season with Atlanta Quest. He previously served as snare tech in 2024 and 2015.
Prior educational experiences include Music City Mystique, Burleson Centennial High School, Southlake Carroll High School, Kennesaw Mountain High School, Forsyth Central High School, and many others. He was a performing member of Spirit of JSU in 2006-2007, Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 2009 and 2011, and Music City Mystique from 2008-2012.
Luke currently lives in Charlotte, NC where he works as a Thermal Design Engineer.
LUKE WILLINGHAM
Snare
Christopher Bryant is returning to the Atlanta Quest Bass Staff for a 3rd season. His marching experience includes Atlanta Quest, The Boston Crusaders, Carolina Crown, Spirit of Atlanta, Civitas independent, Carolina Gold, and The Western Carolina Pride of the Mountains Marching Band.
Chris is currently serving as the battery director at Kennesaw Mountain High School and Assis. Battery Coordinator at Atlanta CV Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also served the role as Bass technician for The Milton High School, Wheeler High School and Civitas Independent. Along with being a Bass Technician he also assumed the role of Visual Caption Head, Show Designer, and Music Arranger for Wren High School ..
CHRIS BRYANT
Bass
Seaon Carter joining in 2025 for his 1st season on staff as a cymbal tech. He is an educator who continues to give back to the community serving as a cymbal consultant and technician across the Southeast. Seaon has several years of marching and performance experience with various marching organizations.
He began his world class marching career with Atlanta Quest in 2015, continued with Rhythm X in 2016, and returned to Atlanta Quest in 2017 for his age-out. Seaon went on to teach and provide guidance to several organizations including Equinox Percussion, The Appalachian State University Marching Mountaineers, and continues to work with The Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band and Paradigm Percussion.
Seaon currently resides in Charlotte, NC and manages a team of engineers within his company, Leidos. In his free time, Seaon likes to go to the gym, enjoy cars, and spend time with his friends and family. Seaon is excited to be back with AQ for his first season on staff!
SEAON CARTER
Cymbals
Dudley will be joining the AQ Front Ensemble staff for his first year. He graduated with a degree in Music Engineering at the University of Miami in 2023. Currently living in Nashville, TN, he works as an Freelance Audio Engineer and Technician for 242 Concepts.
He was a performing member in the Front Ensembles of Atlanta Quest and most recently the Bluecoats, where he was a winner of the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award. Past battery and front ensemble teaching experience includes West Forsyth HS, Cambridge HS, among others
DUDLEY MERRIAM
Front Ensemble/Audio
Kayli Munson is joining the Quest audio team for the 2025 season. She is a music educator and audio engineer from Akron, OH. After aging out from Matrix, she went on to work with Matrix, Spirit of Atlanta, Music City Drum Corps, and multiple local high schools.
KAYLI MUNSON
Audio
Reagan is joining Atlanta Quest for her first season as a visual technician. She recently aged out on bass drum with GMU in 2023, and spent several years prior marching with Civitas Independent and the Pride of the Mountains marching band with WCU. Her teaching experience including Pride of the Mountains, Civitas Independent, as well as Enka High School in NC.
REAGAN HALL
Visual
Blake is returning for his 5th season on AQ staff, this time as lead quad tech, having previously served as a quad tech and battery coordinator with Q2 in 2018.
Blake marched four seasons (2014-2017) on the quad line at AQ, serving as the QAQ section leader in 2017. He marched with ALLIANCE Drum & Bugle Corps in the summer of 2014 and toured Europe in the summer of 2015 as a member of the Blue Devils International Corps. He was also a member of the Georgia State University Marching Band from 2013-2016.
Blake graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems and holds his master’s in Analytics from Georgia Tech. He now lives in Woodstock, GA, and works as a Sr. Analyst on the Decision Analytics team at The Home Depot.
BLAKE BENTON
Quads - Lead Tech
This will be Tim’s 11th season on staff at Atlanta Quest and 14th overall with the organization, returning for the 2025 season as a lead cymbal tech, and Equipment Manager.
He attended Kennesaw State University where he majored in Marketing. His marching experience includes the Blue Devils “C” ’00, Atlanta Quest ’05-’07, Alliance '09, Gateway Indoor ’10, Glassmen ’10, Music City Mystique ’11, and the Atlanta Falcons Drumline ’09-’16.
He lives in Mableton, GA and works professionally as the Supply Chain Manger for Carvel. He’s a big Bay Area sports fan who enjoys spending time his wife, Kyla, and two cats, Mia and Milo.
TIM NORRIS
Cymbals - Lead Tech
TJ is in his 7th season as a front ensemble instructor with Atlanta Quest. Currently residing in Marietta, GA, he’s worked with high schools and middle schools across the Metro Atlanta area for the past 7 years both in the classroom and on the football field. Currently, he serves as Percussion Instructor at Harrison High School.
In 2019, TJ taught at the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps and joined the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps team in 2020 where he taught through 2023. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Georgia State University and studied under Dr. Stuart Gerber, Victor Pons, and Charles Settle. During his time there, he performed with the GSU Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble as well as the Symphony Orchestra as principal percussionist.
In addition to his time in the GSU Panther Band, he has performed with Spirit of Atlanta, Blue Knights, and Atlanta Quest, where he was section leader for 2 seasons. He currently plays percussion and piano with The Atlanta Percussion Ensemble and enjoys playing steel pan with the Atlanta Steel Collective.
TJ SHAHEEN
Front Ensemble
Sebastien Moneyron is joining Atlanta Quest as a front ensemble tech for the 2024 season.
He is an alumni of Milton High School and of the Jacob's School of Music at Indiana University. While at Indiana University, Sebastien was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Brazilian ensemble, and many more ensembles. He was a part of the Spirit Front Ensemble in 2019, playing xylophone, and of the Bluecoats front ensemble in 2021, playing marimba. In addition to his musical activities at Indiana, Sebastien had also been selected as a member of the The Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, and as the center marimba for the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band.
Currently, he teaches front ensemble for Milton High School, Spirit of Atlanta, private lessons, and percussion classes for various middle schools in the area.
SEBASTIEN MONEYRON
Front Ensemble
Bao is joining the Atlanta Quest audio team for the 2025 season! He is currently the Director of Percussion at Lambert High School, and holds an undergrad in Music Education from Jacksonville State University and a Master’s of Percussion Performance from Texas A&M University - Commerce. As a performer, he spent 2 years on snare drum with Atlanta Quest in 2018-19, and marched with the Cavaliers, Blue Stars, JSU marching band, Atlanta CV and CV Indoor.
BAO TRAN
Audio
Sam Willingham is returning to Atlanta Quest’s visual ensemble staff, leading our VE and strength & conditioning staff. This will be 3rd year on staff with AQ, and her 15th year in the Marching Arts.
Previous educational experiences include Southlake Carroll High School, Alpharetta High School, Chattahoochee High School, Burleson Centennial High School, and others. She was a performing member of Crossmen in 2009, Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 2010 and 2011, Ars Nova 2009-2011 and Music City Mystique in 2013.
Sam currently lives in Charlotte, NC where she owns her personal training business, Hissy Fit.
SAM WILLINGHAM
Visual Ensemble/Strength + Conditioning - Lead Tech
Grace will be returning to Atlanta Quest for her second year on staff after aging out of the Visual Ensemble in 2023.
Grace is currently attending Jacksonville State University, majoring in Communication with a focus in PR. During her time at JSU, she has been a member of the Marching Southerners and Marching Ballerinas, where she has served as a section leader over the past two seasons.
Her independent marching experience began in 2019 with Divenire Winterguard and ended in 2023 with Atlanta Quest. She has instructed multiple high school danceline and colorguard groups throughout Northern Alabama.
GRACE ELSAESSER
Visual Ensemble
Kirstin Shatzer is a member of Atlanta Quest’s visual ensemble staff. She is from Mechanicsburg, PA where she is Lead Graphic Artist for Field & Floor FX, and is color guard director at Mechanicsburg High School.
She has been involved with a wide variety of marching band, indoor color guard, and percussion programs across the East Coats and Midwest from elementary to world class. Her drum corps experience including marching The Glassmen, and teaching Pioneer, The Cadets, Spirit of Atlanta, and Music City. She is an active adjudicator in the Mid-Atlantic region. In her free time she loves to travel, hike, run and hang out with her cat, Diego.
KIRSTIN SHATZER
Visual Ensemble
Keshav is joining Atlanta Quest in 2025 as a Strength and Conditioning instructor. He is four year veteran of Atlanta Quest from 2021-24, as well as Q2 in 2020, and Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps in 2020 on trumpet. Keshav has also had the privilege to play both trumpet and percussion in several other scholastic groups, and was a semifinalist in the National Trumpet Competition.
Keshav actively competes in the USAPL powerlifting circuit, and trains a portfolio of buidding strength athletes. He has also taught percussion at various metro Atlanta schools for marching band and indoor percussion, including South Forsyth High School, Lassiter High School, Norcross High School, Harrison High School, and other high-achieving programs. He studied physics at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and plans to continue studying alongside teaching.
KESHAV ANAND
Strength + Conditioning
MEDIA
Forrest is returning for his 3nd season with Atlanta Quest’s media team as videographer and media coordinator. He is currently a cinematographer and Colorist based out of Atlanta, GA, and works with NCAA, the NFL, and other leagues in sports media content production. Forrest specializes in both social media and long-form documentary production.
He also spent time with both ensembles in the Atlanta Quest organization between 2017-2019 as a performer, as well as the Florida State University Big 8 drumline.
FORREST ROY
Media Coordinator/Videographer
Sean is in his 3rd year on media staff with AQ. Based out of Raleigh, North Carolina, he is an experienced photographer whose passion is visual storytelling. Sean works mostly in marching arts, aviation, and landscape photography. Sean is currently studying Music Education at Western Carolina University.
SEAN OHMANN
Photographer
Zoe is returning to Atlanta Quest for her 3rd year on the media team. She is a photographer and Social Media Manager out of Cullowhee, NC where she currently works with the Pride of the Mountains marching band at Western Carolina University. Zoe specializes in both photography and content creation. She has past WGI social media experience and percussion experience with Civitas Independent and is excited to continue her career with Atlanta Quest!
ZOE SMITH
Photographer
Bryce is joining the media team in 2025 for his 1st season as a Videographer. From Woodstock, he works for Kennesaw State University’s marketing and communications department as a videographer, where he has won awards from the University Photographers Association of America narrative competitions for his work.
He marched throughout high school and was contracted to play drum set for Atlanta CV in 2020.
BRYCE HUNTER
Videographer
Matthew is returning for his 2nd year on media staff. He is currently working as a photographer and videographer out of Atlanta, GA.
He previously worked with Music City Drum and Bugle Corps as a member of their media team during the 2023 DCI season, concentrating on social media presence and content production. He also performed with Atlanta CV and Spirit of Atlanta before aging out with the Sacramento Mandarins, and is looking forward to being involved with Quest this year!
MATTHEW VOGE
Photographer/Videographer
Nick is joining is returning for a 2nd season on our media team, focused on social media and “story” creation. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Nick began his marching career with Ancient City Ensemble in 2020 before moving up to Georgia in 2021 to perform with Q2. He later marched Atlanta Quest in 2022 and 2023 before joining the media team for 2024.
Outside of band, he enjoys climbing, music, and generally being around friends. He currently lives in Canton, Georgia.
NICK BERKOWITZ
Social Media Cell Phone Guy
SUPPORT STAFF
This will be Tim’s 11th season on staff at Atlanta Quest and 14th overall with the organization, serving as Equipment Manager and Cymbal Tech.
He attended Kennesaw State University where he majored in Marketing. His marching experience includes the Blue Devils “C” ’00, Atlanta Quest ’05-’07, Alliance '09, Gateway Indoor ’10, Glassmen ’10, Music City Mystique ’11, and the Atlanta Falcons Drumline ’09-’16.
He lives in Mableton, GA and works professionally as the Supply Chain Manger for Carvel. He’s a big Bay Area sports fan who enjoys spending time his wife, Kyla, and two cats, Mia and Milo.
TIM NORRIS
Equipment Manager/Vibe Guy
Michael has designed and built props and front ensemble equipment for Atlanta Quest since 2019 and will be expanding his role as the "Prop-Father" for the 2025 season. He graduated from Jacksonville State University where he marched tenors for 4 years. He also marched with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps for 2 seasons. He went on to serve 4 years in the Army as a crytpo-logic linguist graduating from the Defense Language Institute.
He lives in Duluth, GA and works professionally as a Senior Software Engineer for Brown & Brown Insurance. In his free time, he likes to make things in his shop and spend time with his wife Carmen and daughter Carole (AQ alum).
MICHAEL GILLEY
Props Construction + Maintenance
Danielle has been with the Atlanta Quest organization since 2014, first as a member and then as a cymbal tech before transitioning to the administrative side.
She is a native of Carrollton, Georgia, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Minor in Spanish from Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. When not with Atlanta Quest, Danielle works with several high school marching band and indoor drumline programs across the state including Sprayberry High School, Harrison High School, and Whitewater High School.
DANIELLE LANIER
Travel Manager/Admin
Brannen is joining Atlanta Quest as Prop Maintenance Staff in 2025. His experience at the AQ organization includes 5 seasons performing on Quads, Q2 2017, and four in AQ from 2018-2020 and 2023. Other marching experience includes Alliance DBC 2016, Atlanta CV 2017, and The JSU Marching Southerners 2018.
He is currently working as a Regional Quality Assurance Technician for Waste Management Projects at Bunnell Lammons Engineering and is pursuing a Geospatial Sciences Degree.
BRANNEN HADLEY
Props Maintenance
Emma Cayer is joining the props maintenance staff for the 2025 season. Originally from Tyrone, Georgia- is a student at the University of Georgia, working towards BFAs in Graphic Design and Sculpture. Emma’s work has been featured several times in the Athens, GA area, and she works in mediums such as metal and woodworking, robotics, and stained glass, to name a few.
Beyond the visual arts, Emma also has a passion for the marching arts- having marched bass drum with Atlanta CV and the UGA drumline.
EMMA CAYER
Props Maintenance
* = lead technician