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Staff and Team Leaders
The Marching Mules are led by UCM Director of Bands, Dr. Scott Lubaroff. Dr. Lubaroff came to UCM in the fall of 2005, following four years as Associate Director of Bands at Kansas State University. Dr. Lubaroff oversees UCM’s entire band program, which includes the Marching Mules, Mules & Jennies Basketball Pep Band, three concert bands, and chamber winds. In addition to directing the Marching Mules, Dr. Lubaroff also conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting and music education.
Assisting with the Marching Mules are Dr. Michael Sekelsky (right) and Mr. Daniel Wyman. 
Dr. Sekelsky begins his 30th year with the UCM bands and Department of Music. In addition to his responsibilities as Professor of Percussion and Coordinator of Woodwind, Brass & Percussion Studies, Dr. Sekelsky is also the Coordinator of UCM’s annual Festival of Champions. Mr. Wyman is Interim Assistant Director of Athletic Bands, after two years on the bands staff, as a Graduate Assistant..
The UCM Bands welcome three new Graduate Assistants, in 2012: Chris Huls, Rebecca Fillingham, and Topher Short. Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Drake University, in Des Moines, IA; Rebecca is a graduate of Missouri State University, and taught previously in the Monett, Missouri Schools; Topher is a 2011 graduate of UCM, in Instrumental Music Education. Chris and Rebecca are both pursuing their Master of Arts degrees in instrumental conducting, and Topher is pursuing the MA in performance & pedagogy All three serve on the Marching Mules Staff. Chris, with assistance from Topher, will also coordinate and direct the Mules & Jennies Basketball Pep Bands.
Mr. Mike McBain is Drum Line & Percussion Coordinator with the Marching Mules. Mike earned his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University, and Master of Arts Degree in Percussion from UCM. Mike also teaches as an adjunct percussion instructor in UCM’s Department of Music, and is Associate Director of Bands and Director of Percussion at Lee’s Summit High School. He has studied percussion with Danny Watring, Alfred Sergel III, Kevin Bobo, Doug Auwarter, Todd Strait, and Dr. Michael Sekelsky. Mike is on the Vic Firth Education Team as a Percussion Educator and a Marching Percussion Specialist. He is a Battery Tech. for the Missouri "Sounds of Summer" drumline camps, sponosord by Yamaha, and was a member of the KC Chiefs drumline during the 2009 season.
Mrs. Rachelle Pritchard is UCM’s Color Guard Coordinator, and Winter Guard Director. Rachelle is a native of Odessa and a former Color Guard Captain with the Marching Mules, and brings broad experience performing and teaching field and indoor guards - both with flag and weapons. Rachelle is completing her degree in
Elementary Education. She has also been
very active as a coordinator and consultant with numerous area school
guards, including Warrensburg, Odessa and Higginsville, and has helped to elevate the Marching Mules Color Guard to their
highest performance level in the history of the program.
2012
Senior Assistants are Greg Blakeman, a senior music
education major from Knob Noster, Missouri, and Olivia Biondi,
a senior music education major from Odessa, Missouri. Greg marched two seasons with the Madison Scouts DCI World Championship Finalist Corps, and was a Trumpet Team Leader with the 2010 Marching Mules. 
Olivia was a Clarinet Team Leader for two seasons, with the Marching Mules, and has remained very active as a technician and consultant for area school band programs. Both Greg and Olivia are members of
the UCM Wind Ensemble and active as members of various student and
professional organizations within UCM's Department of Music.
Drum Majors
Marching Mules Drum Majors for the 2012 season are (l to r)
Mona Sturges, Ben Sachs, Bronwyn Rinerson, and Brandi Van Bemmelen.
Mona is a senior early childhood education major from Smith-Cotton High School, in Sedalia, Missouri; Ben is a senior music education (trombone) major
from Union High School; Bronwyn is a senior music education (clarinet) major
from Skyline High School, in Urbana, Missouri, and Brandi is a senior music education (flute) major from Warrensburg.
The Marching Mules are proud to introduce two new twirlers, this 2012 season. Our new Feature Twirler is Ms. Jayme Smith (left), a sophomore from Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School, in Maplewood, Missouri. Jayme has been twirling individually for eleven years, and also as a member of a National Champion Team, for which she was a 2-year captain. She was 2011 Intermediate Miss Majorette of Missouri, qualifying her to represent Missouri in national competition, this past summer, at Notre Dame University. Our new Assistant Twirler is Ms. Tina Guier (right).Tina is a sophomore from Concordia High school. Both of these very talented young ladies will perform with and represent the Marching Mules and UCM Bands throughout the year, in numerous venues, including at football and basketball games, pep rallies, and in UCM's annual Homecoming Parade.
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Gary Grigsby, "The Voice" of the Marching Mules, returns for his 100th season of service to the UCM Band programs.
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