Ward Miller
Brass Arranger

From 2014 through 2019, Dr. Miller served as the Brass Caption Head for the World Class Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps of La Crosse, WI. Every year under his leadership, the hornline has placed in the top 12 and made finals. The hornline achieved "Box 5" scores in the regular season and in finals in the 2017-2019 seasons. In 2018 and 2019, the hornline and drum corps placed in the top 8. He oversaw the brass ensemble and staff, recruited for the horn line, and administered the Blue Stars brass audition camps throughout the country. In addition, he traveled with the corps for the majority of their tour. In addition to his work with the Blue Stars, Dr. Miller has also served as the Brass Arranger and an instructional consultant for Minnesota Brass. He currently arranges for the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps.

He earned his bachelors of music education from Auburn University in 2001, where he served as webmaster, arranger, and an undergraduate teaching assistant with the Auburn University Marching Band. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2003 with a masters in Trombone Performance. In 2006 he accepted a graduate teaching assistantship at The University of Iowa, where he studied with Dr. Myron Welch in Band Conducting. While at Iowa, he also worked as a teaching assistant with the Hawkeye Marching Band, where he wrote, taught, and conducted multiple arrangements and halftime drills. He also conducted the Iowa University Concert Band, as well as the Southeast Iowa Concert Band at Iowa Wesleyan University. He earned the 2008 outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant award for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Dr. Miller graduated in 2011 from the University of Iowa with his D.M.A. in Band Conducting.

Dr. Miller served as the Musical Arranger, Drill Writer, and Assistant Director of the Macy's Great American Marching Band in New York City from 2006 through 2018. He was the director of the All-Star Band at the 100th annual Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C. He has appeared as a guest conductor and clinician to multiple concert honor bands throughout the United States. His marching band arrangements have been performed at competitions, including in Bands of America regionals, by high schools and colleges across the country, as well as the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA.

Since 2018, Dr. Miller has served as the Education Director for Youth in Music, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization that hosts marching band events and clinics throughout the upper Midwest.

He currently resides in Minneapolis, MN where he spends his time arranging and composing, and working as a music education consultant clinicing and judging bands.

Mike Hardiek
Drill Designer

Away from the marching band field Mike Hardiek has been active in non-profit organizations for over two decades. He has served on the Boards of Directors for many causes both locally and nationally. The Shrine Children’s Hospitals hold a special place in his heart, and he works tirelessly to raise money and awareness for its cause. Most notably Mike serves as Chairman of the Shrine Hospital Van Replacement Committee. This board oversees investments and protocols that fund the transportation of children to the 22 Shrine Children’s Hospitals around the world. Over the years Mike has specialized in creating a strong volunteer education program as well as brand awareness. He believes excellence in every team begins with commitment to the final goal.

Outside of the boardroom, Mike Hardiek has spent the last 36 years immersed in the pageantry arts. Mike began his drum corps career with the Toledo Glassmen where he served as the Visual Caption Head as the corps climbed from 23rd place to ultimately becoming a perennial DCI Finalist Corps. Mike returned to drum corps in 2014 as the drill designer for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and played a key role in the corps returning to the top 12. In 2020 Mr. Hardiek joined the Board of Directors for the Crossmen is honored to continue to serve the members.

 In the winter Mike was the director and visual designer for the Plan “B” percussion Ensemble, a 3-time WGI Percussion Medalist.  He has spent his fall seasons writing for multiple ensembles all over the country from Florida to Nevada. Most notable he has spent 35 years with the Homestead Spartan Alliance Marching Band in Fort Wayne Indiana.  The Spartan Alliance has won 7 Indiana Class “A” State Championships and has been a BOA finalist 5 times. In 2022 Mike was honored to design for the Kentucky Class 5A State Champion Madison Central High School. In 2023 Mike served the members of the Bourbon County High School Marching band as they won the BOA Class “A” World Championship.

Mike Hardiek is honored to be a part of the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps and is committed to providing the membership with world class experience that cannot be duplicated anywhere.

Lee Krueger
Percussion Caption Head and Battery Arranger

Lee Krueger was the Director of Percussion for the Rochester Catholic Schools and Marching Band Director at Rochester Lourdes High School in Rochester, MN from 1999 to 2021. His duties included teaching lessons to all percussionists as well as directing all Elementary, Junior High, and High School concert/marching percussion ensembles.

During his tenure with Rochester Lourdes High School, Lee developed an award-winning marching band, winter drumline and concert percussion ensemble. He served many years on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Percussion Association (MPA), and was honored with the title of MPA Instructor of the Year in 2011.

Lee was Percussion Arranger and Caption Head for the Govenaires from 2009-2012 after previously being a percussion consultant with them for many years. During his time as Caption Head, the Govies proudly took home two DCA Championships in 2009 and 2011.

Lee currently lives in Byron, MN with his wife Katie and their two daughters. He works for Schmitt Music as an Educational Representative and percussion specialist. He is a freelance percussionist, and has performed with several professional groups in the Rochester area. He is still active as a clinician, adjudicator, and teacher of private lessons. Lee endorses: Mapex Drums, Majestic Percussion, Saylers Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Prologix Percussion.

Hayden Hoium
Front Ensemble Arranger

Hayden Hoium is a music educator and composer in the marching arts.

Hayden graduated from SCSU, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Music. He has extensive experience performing in the marching arts (20 seasons and counting!) and countless other music ensembles. Hayden has performed with many groups, including River City Rhythm Indoor, MBI Indoor Percussion, and The Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps - and on a variety of instruments including alto saxophone, bass drum, marimba, and euphonium, just to name a few.

He has been teaching and composing front ensemble music since 2018, and has shared his expertise in many different DCA, DCI, WGI, and MPA groups throughout the state of Minnesota. Hayden is extremely excited to be with The Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps for the upcoming 2024 season!

When Hayden isn't teaching, he is a substitute teacher in the north metro, and enjoys playing video games with his friends.

Larry Pawlowski
Program Consultant

We are proud to welcome back longtime instructor Larry Pawlowski to our design team! He will assume the role of Program Consultant.

Larry marched nine years with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, where he was a featured soloist and later became an instructor for six years. He also went on instruct Phantom Regiment for several seasons.

Among the all-age corps he has instructed or marched with include the Chicago Vanguard, the Kilties, the Bushwackers, and the Hawthorne Caballeros.

Larry started instructing the Govenaires on-and off since 2002. He became Brass Caption Head in 2009, when the corps took their second DCA Class A Championship and won their first award for High Brass.

We are thrilled to have Larry back in our organization!

Mike Hanzelka
Artistic Director

staff@govenaires.org

Mike Hanzelka started with the Govenaires as a performing member of the brass section in 2007. He has been active in the corps ever since, taking on roles with the administrative and instructional teams. He recently served as Visual Caption Head for three seasons, and was Artistic Director of the 2024 corps that went on to finish first in the inaugural Drum Corps International (DCI) All-Age Class A championships.

His marching experience began as a student at Irondale High School as a member of the Marching Knights. He later marched euphonium and tuba with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps from Lexington, Kentucky. After performing for three seasons, he was honored to accept Southwind’s Jamie King Member of the Year Award in 2006. At Govenaires, he was a performing member of several Drum Corps Associates (DCA) Class A championship seasons (2009, 2011, 2015). He also performed internationally with the Govenaires, traveling to Shanghai in 2016 and Austria in 2019 and 2022. He actively consults other outdoor/indoor ensembles across Minnesota.

Mike is a 2008 graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato with a B.S. in Mass Communications. He works as a Solutions Analyst and lives in beautiful historic Carver with his wife, Molly.

Miranda Merrill
Ensemble Coordinator

Miranda Merrill is a dedicated music educator with a passion for marching arts, holding a B.S. in Instrumental Music Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato. With three years of teaching experience as a band director in southern Minnesota public schools, Miranda has been instrumental in shaping the musical talents of her students. She has also contributed her expertise to competitive marching programs, working with high school groups such as the Waseca Marching Jays and the Mankato 77 Lancers. She also serves as brass staff for the Maverick Machine Athletic Band at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

A talented performer, Miranda has showcased her skills on the Govenaires Contra line in 2018, 2023, and 2024, further enriching her experience in the marching arts community. She is excited to take on the role of Ensemble Coordinator with the Govenaires, where she will apply her knowledge and passion to inspire and guide aspiring musicians. With her commitment to excellence in music education and performance, Miranda is eager to make a significant impact in the marching arts, fostering growth and creativity in the ensemble members and fellow performers.

Miranda currently resides in beautiful Saint Peter, MN with her husband, Will, and their dog, Chunk. When she's not too busy with the marching arts, she enjoys crocheting, playing video and board games with friends, and practicing tuba and violin.

Josh Forbord
Brass Caption Head

Alli Larkin
Color Guard Caption Head

Alli Larkin is a chef in the Minneapolis area for Wrecktangle Pizza. When she is not cooking delicious pizza she teaches and performs with multiple groups. Her color guard experience started in 2005 with her high school marching band, the Waseca Marching Jays. She is now the Head Color Guard Instructor for Waseca.

Alli then Joined Govenaires in 2009 and has been marching with them since. In 2016, she became the Membership Director; concluding in 2021.

She is also on staff with the Royal Guard Peforming Arts, working with the winter guard. When she is not working or doing color guard, she loves hanging out with friends and her cat, Acorn.

Matthew Sanders
Corps Director
sanders@govenaires.org

Matthew Sanders joins the leadership team and Logistics Director. As a marching member of the Govenaires since 2006 and a master's degree in computer science with a focus of data organization, Matt brings institutional knowledge of making a drum corps function, while also being able to see and exploit patterns for new ideas in logistics.

Matt believes flexibility in approach and implementation are keys to success for any project, but especially for drum corps, where anything that can go wrong probably will (*glances at Ohio*). Matt lives in Minneapolis with too many cats

Emily Moe
Membership Director
membership@govenaires.org

Emily Moe joins the leadership team as Membership Director. She has been a piano teacher for almost 30 years. She has two masters degrees: one in piano pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University and one in community music from the University of Limerick, in Ireland.

She believes that laughter and joy are the most important educational tools we have available. She grew up in St Peter, loving the Govenaires from a very early age, but only found her way to actually march five years ago. She’s been in the pit and in the horns. She lives in Duluth with her folk-singer husband Adam.