Meet our Music Faculty
Mrs. Angela Adkins, Director of Bands
Angela Adkins is a veteran Instrumental Music Educator with 22 years of experience in both High school & Middle school bands. Bands under her leadership consistently earn Superior Ratings in the OMEA Adjudicated Events at the District and State level in both Concert and Marching Band. This year begins Mrs. Adkins 4th year in the Crestwood Local School District working with the Band Department 6th-12th grade. Mrs. Adkins team teaches 6th, 7th, 8th grade Bands, Director of the Crestwood Scarlet Guard Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and also teaches History of Rock and Roll and Music Theory. In November 2021, Mrs. Adkins was chosen as the November Ohio Lottery Teacher of the Month. Prior to her appointment at Crestwood, she spent 18 years in the Waterloo Local School District as 6th-12 grade Band Director. She has a Masters degree in 2011 from Nova Southeastern University, in K-12 Technology Integration and earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2001 from Kent State University with emphasis in Flute. She is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, MENC, Bands of America, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She currently lives with her husband Jacob, son Noah and daughter Zoey in Cuyahoga Falls. Mrs. Adkins values musical excellence, having fun while working hard, and helping to create a positive and inspiring band family.
Mrs. Debra Wiandt, Assistant Director of Bands
Debra Wiandt is an experienced 32 year Instrumental Music Educator and this year celebrates her 22nd year as an instrumental music teacher in the Crestwood Local Schools. While at Crestwood her Middle School Bands have consistently earned Superior and Excellent Ratings every year! Mrs. Wiandt teaches the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade bands and assist with the high school bands, and teaches Class Piano. Mrs. Wiandt previously spent five years in the East Guernsey Schools and five years in the Ohio Valley Local Schools where I taught students from fifth grade through twelfth grade. Wiandt received her Bachelor of Music Education degree (BME) from Mount Union College (now The University of Mount Union) in 1990 and a Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Akron in 2006. Mrs. Wiandt has done additional coursework at Kent State University and Lake Erie College. Her primary instrument of study is the euphonium. Her and her son Jameson reside in Ravenna, Ohio and enjoy traveling to baseball games, camping, and adventuring across the country!
Miss Michaela Brugmann, Crestwood Intermediate School
Miss Michaela Brugmann is new this year to the full time Crestwood Bands Music Faculty as a long term substitute working primarily with the 4-5 Intermediate Band, Choir, & Music Classes. This is Miss Brugmann second year with the Crestwood Scarlet Guard Marching Band. Brugmann is a 2022 graduate of Kent State University Glauser School of Music, where she studied music education where her primary instrument was flute. Michaela has worked with many area band program programs over the past few years as a woodwind specialist. In her free time Michaela enjoys spending time with her family and new puppy, Kima.
Mr. Brian Monroe, Percussion Specialist
Mr. Shawn Artz, Student Teacher Kent State University
Mr. Shawn Artz joins the Crestwood Band family for the fall of 2022 as a student teacher from the Glauser School of Music at Kent State University. While at Kent State Mr. Artz has been actively involved in MENC, OCMEA, Trombone Studio and being named to the deans list. Mr. Artz is a graduate of West Milton High School where he was actively involved in all music ensembles, performed at the Bands of America Grand National Championships and also was a performer in the Dayton Youth Orchestra. Mr. Artz is very excited to share his student teaching experience as part of the Crestwood Band Family.
Additional Crestwood Bands Staff
Mr. Jacob Adkins, Drill Designer & Brass Specialist
Mr. Jacob Adkins is an experienced brass specialist and drill designer with over twenty years of experience teaching and designing for the marching arts. A native of Northeast Ohio attended Kent State University where he studied instrumental music and his primary instrument of study the tuba. Mr. Adkins has worked with many successful marching band programs in Northeast Ohio as a Brass & Visual Instructor. Adkins professional career is in global human resources leadership and development. Mr. Adkins enjoys working with the students of the Crestwood Bands and watching them strive for the highest at all times. Outside of his time spent with the Crestwood Band family, Mr. Adkins enjoys spending time with his family and friends at musical events, soccer games, Walt Disney World and the Beach!
Mrs. Sarah Bardwell, Visual Designer
Mrs. Sarah Bardwell is celebrating her fourth year on the staff with Crestwood Bands Scarlet Guard Marching Band as a Visual Designer. Sarah is a 2019 graduate of Baldwin Wallace University with a degree in early childhood education. Mrs. Bardwell has extensive experience in the marching and pageantry arts as a performer, instructor and designer. As a performer Sarah was a member of the national award winning Brunswick Bands Fall & Winter Guard Programs, and the Independent group Artistry in Blue. In her free time Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and friends and lives in parma with her husband Nathan and dog Zoey. Sarah is excited to be back for her fourth year with the Scarlet Guard and on the design team.
Miss. MaryLouise Bowers, Colorguard
Miss MaryLouise Bowers joins us for her fifth season as the Colorguard director for the Crestwood Scarlet Guard Marching Band. MaryLouise has extensive performance in Colorguard having marched as a finalist with multiple Independent World Class Guard programs including Phoenix Independent Winterguard, Artistry in Blue Winterguard and Collage Winterguard. MaryLouise is a senior at Kent State University majoring in Psychology and will graduate with her Bachelors degree in December 2022. Bowers is a 2017 Graduate of Crestwood High School, where she was a member of the Crestwood Bands. In her free time MaryLouise enjoys spending time with her family and friends at their family farm.
Jared Eichler, Brass & Visual Specialist
Jared Eichler is a sophomore at Kent State University, studying music education with a minor in special education. You can listen to him play the trumpet in Kent State’s Wind Ensemble and the Marching Band where he was selected as one of the field commanders for the 2022-2023 season. He also enjoys playing Euphonium in Kent State’s University Band and being a percussion mentor for Kent State’s Youth Winds. Jared is also a brass & visual technician for the Crestwood Scarlet Guard where he works with his mentor Angela Adkins. Jared is also a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi and the recipient of the 2022 Edward L. Masters award. After graduation, Jared plans to work at a public school for a few years and then pursue a masters in Wind Band Conducting.
Hayden Mcelhaney, Percussion
Mr. Hayden Mcelhaney is celebrating her fourth year on the staff with Crestwood Bands Scarlet Guard Marching Band as Percussion Director. Hayden comes to us with past experience in the marching and pageantry arts as a performer and instructor. As a performer Hayden was a member of Matrix Independent World Percussion as a Front Ensemble member, performing in WGI Independent World Finals. Hayden attended Norton High School where he was a member of the BOA National Semi-Finalist Norton Marching Band & and WGI Scholastic Finalist Indoor Drumline. Hayden is planning to pursue a degree in Music Technology, to further his development and career in music. Hayden is excited to be part of the with the Scarlet Guard team and working with the amazing students of Crestwood High School.
Michael Skotko, Brass Specialist
Michael Skotko is a semi-professional trumpet player and music educator in the Northeast Ohio area. Mr. Skotko received his Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from Kent State University and went on to pursue a master’s degree in Music Performance from Penn State University. Michael has performed with Brass Band of the Western Reserve as their Eb Soprano Cornet player since 2006. As an educator, Mr. Skotko has worked with several of Ohio’s most successful music programs. Since 2019, Mr. Skotko has been honored to be the Brass Caption Head for the Crestwood Scarlet Guard. Mr. Skotko works regularly with the Symphonic Band leading full brass sectionals and working with individual sections. In addition to working with school band programs, Michael also teaches private lessons to aspiring trumpet players. When he isn’t teaching music, Michael enjoys golfing, paddle boarding and hiking with friends.