Staff and Volunteers
Staff & Volunteer Bio's
Dr. Marcus Pimpleton
Program Coordinator/Director
Dr. Marcus J. Pimpleton is in his thirty-first year with the band and his twenty-first year as Director and Program Coordinator. In addition to serving as director of All-City, he is the director of the Around the Sound Community Band and an Assistant Director with the University of Washington Athletic Bands.
From 2002 to 2015, Dr. Pimpleton served as the music department chair at Denny International Middle School during which time he was instrumental in the co-location of Denny International Middle School with Chief Sealth International High School, founding Denny Sealth Performing Arts, the booster organization supporting the two schools’ music programs. When he was teaching full time, Dr. Pimpleton taught concert band, marching band, jazz band, and steel drum ensembles at the middle and high school levels, coordinated over 300 student performances in local, regional, and national events and hosted numerous camps during winter, midwinter, and summer breaks for underserved elementary, middle, and high school students. His commitment to equity and musical excellence was recognized by KCTS which awarded him a Washington State Golden Apple Award and by the Alliance for Education which awarded him the Phillip B. Swain Excellence in teaching award.
In his day job, Dr. Pimpleton serves as principal of Mariner High School in the Mukilteo School District. He has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D) from the University of Washington, a Doctorate in Ministry (D.Min) from the Hardy Academy of Theology, and a Master of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (M.Ed.) also from the University of Washington. He is a graduate of Chief Sealth High School.
Christopher Sears
Assistant Program Coordinator
Chris is going into his tenth year with All-City. Having spent five years as a student in the Clarinet Section, two years as Clarinet Staff, and two years as an administrative assistant, he will now be returning as the Assistant Program Coordinator. Chris graduated from the University of Washington in 2021 with a BA in History. While attending UW, he spent 5 years in the Husky Marching Band Clarinet Section and one year as the section leader and came back in 2022 for the alumni position of "Siren Squad." In addition, he also preformed in various symphonic and campus bands while attending UW. Currently, he serves on the board of the Husky Marching Band Alumni Association and helps raise and award $50,000+ in scholarships for the band every year. Chris was also a founding member of the Alpha Chapter of Eta Mu Beta, a service fraternity dedicated to preserving and enriching college spirit through community work and music. He currently, he runs the Eta Mu Band, a collection of current and alumni members of the fraternity that preform in various activities in the community such as the Pride Parade.
Chris currently works as a Credit Retrieval Liaison for the Marysville Pilchuck High school, working with students to be on track to graduate high school. He also is a current graduate student at the University of Washington, working towards a masters in teaching degree. Outside of work, he dedicates time to continuing to pursue, discuss, and explore history through media digitization, archival work, and history-based video production. In his free time, Chris continues to spend time playing in group ensembles, such as the "Around The Sound Band," and exploring Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Chris is excited to come back for another season of All City!
Jonathan Saturay
Staff Coordinator - Woodwinds
Since first joining the band in 2003, Jonathan is proud to return as Staff Coordinator for his final summer with the Seattle All-City Marching Band. This summer marks his 18th year with the ensemble. An active participant during his time in the band, Jonathan was an officer in the band council, played in the saxophone section, and served as a drum major.
After graduating from Renton High School, Jonathan went on to study music education at Arizona State University. As a member of the Sun Devil Marching Band, he served as section leader and drum major. Jonathan was also a member of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Year-round, Jonathan is the Director of Growth & Community Impact for The Beecher’s Foundation working in the realm of youth food education. He has been honored for his work as the recipient of the “Emerging Leader Award" by the Seattle Metropolitan and The Seattle Foundation and most recently a "40 under 40 - Class of 2021 Award" by the New York City Food Policy Center.
During his free time, Jonathan has performed with various community ensembles such as the Seattle Jazz Night School ‘Big Band Express’, the Rainbow City Concert Band, and the Queer Big Apple Corp’s 'SPECTRUM Saxophone Quartet'. When he’s not working or performing, he spends his time planning his next international trip, searching for the city’s tastiest bowl of phở, and community organizing with the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines.
Patrick Gordon
Staff Coordinator - Percussion/Auxiliary
Patrick Gordon is the current Director of Bands at Robert Eagle Staff middle school where he leads their award-winning music program. This is his 12th year with ACB with 5 of those years as a student within the program and 7 years on staff. He has had many different roles in the program including Alto Saxophone section staff, Drum Major section staff, and now serves in the role as one of the Staff Coordinators.
While he was obtaining his degree in Music Education at the University of Oregon, Patrick was a section leader for the Alto Saxophone Section, a Drum Major, and Band Council President for the Oregon Marching Band. He is also currently finishing his master's degree in Health and Physical Education from Eastern Washington University. Patrick is looking forward to another great summer with the ACB band family!
Ben Orlin
Staff Coordinator - Brass
Ben Orlin is entering his 10th year with the All-City program, and his 5th year on staff. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in the Spring of 2021 with a BM in Music Production, Ben continued to pursue his music career while teaching part-time at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School. In November of 2022, Ben took over as the long-term substitute band director at Robert Eagle Staff. He ran the band program until mid February, when he was offered an opportunity at Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. Reaching within our wonderful All-City family, Patrick Gordon took over as the Eagle Staff band director once Ben began working full time at Crystal. Ben continued progressing in his music career while working at the mountain, releasing new music and working with collaborators. He’s super excited to get back to music education this summer and can’t wait for a full 8 weeks of ACB!
Theo Malte
Flutes/Piccolos
This is Theo's 5th year in the band, and 1st on staff. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 2022, where he was drum major and played bassoon in the wind ensemble and symphony orchestra, and is going into his second year at Oregon State University studying music education. At Oregon State, he is a member of the piccolo section in the OSUMB and he plays bassoon in the wind ensemble. He is excited to work with the flutes and piccolos this summer.
Yize Smith-Rockne
Clarinets
This will be Yize’s (pronounced “Eat-za”) seventh year with the All-City Band clarinet section and her third year on staff. Beginning at the age of five when she picked up a violin, her music experience includes the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, school concert bands, and Ballard High School’s pep and marching band, serving as section leader for one of them. Currently, Yize is studying at Willamette University with the aid of a bassoon scholarship to major in biology and mathematics, and minor in chemistry and music. She plays the bassoon in the University Chamber Orchestra, University Wind Ensemble, and Opera Theater Ensemble, and is an assistant to the ensemble director. Yize is very excited to return to ACB as a staff member this summer!
Maleah Buchanan
Saxophones
Maleah Buchanan is super excited to be one of the saxophone staff members this summer! This is her third year on staff. She was in All-City Band for 4 years in high school, and was in her high school‘s (Kennedy Catholic HS) band and jazz band for all 4 years. She is super passionate about music! She is a Music Education Major with concentrations in Instrumental and Vocal at the illustrious HBCU, Langston University in Oklahoma. Here, she is a part of the Langston University Marching Pride Band. She can’t wait to meet all her students and work hard and have a great summer!
Ava Lim
Saxophones
Ava Lim is a third-year student at the University of Washington and this will be her third year as an All-City Band staff member. She is studying Human-Centered Design and Engineering with a minor in music and is an active musician on campus playing in Husky Marching Band and Symphonic Band. With ACB being such a huge part of how she came to love band, Ava is beyond excited to give back and work alongside students this summer. Go Dawgs!
Marcus Evans
Trumpets
Marcus is entering his 9th summer with the All City Band. During his 5 years as a student, Marcus was a part of the trumpet section and won the Pride Award in 2018. He graduated from Chief Sealth High School in 2018 and now is a student at the University of Washington studying Music Education. While at the UW, Marcus was a part of the Husky Band for 5 years, serving as Trumpet Section Leader for one year. He is excited to be returning as the Trumpet Staff this summer.
Elise Toney
Trombones
Bio coming soon
Chasen Gaither
Basses
Chasen is entering his ninth year with All-City Band and his third year on staff as basses section leader. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. At UW, he spent four years in the Husky Marching Band playing sousaphone. He is returning for a fifth year in HMB this fall. Outside of All-City Band, Chasen tutored band students at local middle and high schools. He is also an avid musician and enjoys recording and producing music. He hopes to continue making music and is looking forward to leading the sousaphone section in 2023.
Austin Montgomery
Percussion Coordinator
This will be Austin's eleventh year in All-City Band and his seventh year on staff. In his four years as a student, he served as the Drumline Section Leader and was a recipient of the Most Dedicated Award in 2016.
Austin is a Thomas Jefferson High School (Federal Way) Alum. As a student, he was a founding member and Leader of the Drumline and Drum Major for the Band. Upon graduation, he continued building the program as the Program Coordinator and Drumline Instructor for six successful years. Additionally, he has consulted and taught Marching Percussion with multiple schools since 2016 and still teaches students and groups in the Greater Seattle area.
By day, Austin is an Elementary Paraeducator where he supports high needs students 1:1, does classroom and building support in General/Special Education, and teaches students in intervention groups. Throughout his career, he has been a performer in ensembles like: Snowflake Lane, Rosebud Theatre Conservatory, Federal Way Chorale, TJHS Musical Theatre, Emerald City Boom Indoor Percussion, The UW Husky Marching Band & Basketball Band, UW Drumline, and more. Austin plans to work as a Band Director/Percussion Instructor after college and is excited for another summer serving the band and helping students grow as musicians and individuals!
Nate Wuethrich
Snare Line Tech
This will be Nate’s 5th year with the All City Marching Band, and first year on staff as snare technician. He attended West Seattle high school and was heavily involved in the band program there which prompted him to join All City. He is currently at the University of Oregon and is studying jazz as well as minoring in Music Technology. He is a member of the Oregon Marching Band/drumline. Before attending UO, he participated in the Husky Marching Band briefly during his gap year in 2020. He is also a music producer and sound engineer and has worked at a couple studios in the Seattle area. Nate has experience playing every instrument in the drumline battery and is excited about what All City has to offer this summer!
Neizer Xavier Olivera Rivera
Base Line Tech
This is upcoming season will be Neizer’s fifth season in All City Band. While in All City, he has been a part of the Bass, Tenor, and Snare sections. He has participated in groups such as Ingraham High School Band, Seismic Sound, and Husky Band. He graduated from Ingraham High School and is currently studying Business Administration at North Seattle College. He is looking forward to the fun and challenging moments this season!
David Del Cid-Saavedra
Cymbal Line Tech
David graduated from Ingraham High School and is going to be entering his second year at the University of Washington this fall, majoring in Educational Studies and minoring in music. This is going to be his third year with All-City, first year on staff, and is so excited to work with cymbals! David is currently a cymbal player in the UW Husky Marching Band and Drumline.
Janelle Barlow
Color Guard Staff
Janelle will be starting her fifth year as color guard staff, ninth year in the band overall this season. While a student in the band, she served as the captain of the color guard as well as Band Council President. Outside of All-City, Janelle has worked with instructing the color guard at Chief Sealth High School as well as coaching the mariachi program there and at Federal Way High School.
Currently, she is working towards getting her degree in Music Education at Pacific Lutheran University to achieve her dream of becoming a music teacher. She also works as violinist for Mariachi Arrieros, as well as a barista for her local coffee shop. She is so excited to start another incredible summer of teaching with All-City!
Casey Kono
Color Guard Staff
Casey is entering her seventh year with All-City, and fourth year on staff! As a student in the band from 2014-2016, she was a member of the flag squad and served as lieutenant for two years. During this time, she had her first experience teaching through Junior All-City and quickly fell in love with education and color guard.
In 2017, she graduated from Chief Sealth International High School where she was an active member of the flag squad for four years in both lieutenant and captain positions. After high school, she continued her education at Western Washington University and graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, and with minors in psychology and dance. During her time at Western, Casey was a member of the dance team and loved spreading joy through performances all over the community.
Outside of All-City, Casey is an educator at Seattle Girls’ School. Currently, she is an Associate Teacher and Student Advisor which has given her a range of experiences from supporting students with academic and social emotional development, to coaching sports and providing leadership opportunities for students. She can’t wait to be back in the All-City environment and is looking forward to another season full of parades, learning, and fun!
Evelyn Hicks
Color Guard Staff
Evelyn is super duper excited to be joining All-City Band once more, with this being her first year on staff, while doing 2 years previously in color guard. She previously attended West Seattle High School where she was involved in the WSHS band color guard, where she graduated in 2022. She is now volunteering as captain in the WSHS band. She is currently now attending Seattle Central College to earn her associates degree in arts and hopes to study more in illustration and costume design and dreams of becoming a professional costume designer for broadway shows or to work for Disney illustration. Outside of school and band she currently works at Husky Deli and makes extra money by sewing elaborate costumes during her free time. She can’t wait for All-City this year and to become a staff member for the first time! Woohoo!
Zach Baisch
Drum Majors
Bio coming soon
Max Arevalos
Media Staff
Max is entering his seventh year in All City and his second on staff! He played clarinet for all five of his years in All City and will be media staff again this year. Since graduating from Raisbeck Aviation High School in 2020 he is working towards a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington, Bothell campus. He also participates in the Formula Motorsports club at UW, where he also has media production duties in addition to his technical subteam work.
Kameron Port
Media Staff
Bio coming soon