Home of The Forge Sound and Guard!
 2008-2009
 Established 1999
 

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Instructional Staff
We are proud of the Colonial Forge Instructional Staff!  Find out who's who!
Director of Bands Director Percussion Low Brass Low Brass Assistant
Woodwind Administrative Assistant Marching/High Brass/ Visual Design Color Guard  
 
 


Andrew Loft

Director of Bands                

Andrew E. Loft has served as Director of Bands at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Virginia, since it’s opening in 1999.  At Colonial Forge, his duties    include conducting three concert ensembles, Percussion Ensemble and “The Forge Sound and Guard.”  Ensembles at Colonial Forge have consistently received  Superior Ratings at district and state festivals.  Colonial Forge High School is a Virginia Honor Band and a VMEA Blue Ribbon School.  Prior to this appointment, he was Associate Director at Miami Coral Park Senior High School in Miami, Florida.  Mr. Loft holds a Masters Degree from the University of Miami in Tuba Performance, studying tuba with John Olah and conducting with Gary Green.  He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree Cum Laude in Music Education for the University of Tennessee at Martin, studying with Micahel Hernon, E.J. Eaton and Dr. Donald A. Anthony.  A two-time recipient of the Merit for the Millennium Award, Andrew Loft is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Phi Beta Mu.  He is an active musician in the Fairfax Wind Symphony and has performed for three governors and President Bill Clinton.  Mr. Loft resides in Burke, Virginia with his wife Bridget and budding four-year-old percussionist Ian.
 
 


Dennis Weaver

Director
Mr. Weaver has been a Director at Colonial Forge since 2004.  He has also served as the Marching and Maneuvering and Woodwind instructor for the Sound and Guard since 2001.  His musical experience includes tenures with the Marine Corps Band at Quantico, Director of Bands at Madison County High School and Wetsel Middle School and is also currently the Assistant Director at Rodney Thompson Middle School.  Mr. Weaver Graduated from West Virginia University and is a member of the International Association of Jazz Educators and Directs the Colonial Forge Jazz Ensemble.  He also plays saxophone for several local and regional Rock, POP and Jazz ensembles.
 
 


Kevin Taylor

Percussion
Mr. Taylor has been the Percussion instructor since 2003.  He is also a percussionist for the US Navy Sea Chanters in Washington, DC. Kevin Taylor graduated from Penn State University.
 
 


Mike Hooke

Percussion
Mike Hooke is now in his second tenure as percussion instructor with the Forge Sound and Guard.  He is currently with the US Army Band "Pershing's Own" and was previously with the US Military Academy Band at West Point and the US Marine Corps Band at Quantico.  Mike Hooke has played with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1997.
 
 


Zach Santulli

Low Brass
Zach Santulli has worked with the Sound and Guard since 2003.  He currently is the music education teacher at Winding Creek Elementary School.  Mr. Santulli graduated from West Virginia University.  He assists with marching, visual effects, music and low brass.
 
 


Dianne Pulver

 Woodwind
Dianne Pulver has served as the clarinet, oboe and bassoon instructor for the Colonial Forge Sound & Guard since 2005.  She also coaches several woodwind ensembles.  She has taught private clarinet lessons for 22 years.  Previously, Mrs. Pulver taught in Mississippi and Virginia as a high school and middle school band director.  Mrs. Pulver earned her Bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi.
 
 


Ilesha Wood

Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Wood has been a member of the CFMB instructional staff since 2002.  Along with being the Administrative Assistant to Mr. Loft, her responsibilities include assisting with the mellophones, visual effects and marching.  Her musical experience includes French Horn, Mellophone, Cello, Piano and String Bass.
 
 

Steven Wood

Low Brass Assistant
Mr. Wood has been on the CFMB instructional staff since 2001 and assists with low brass, visual effects, music and marching.  His musical experience includes Trombone and Bass Trombone.
 
 


Kate Reeves

Marching/High Brass/Visual Design
Kate Reeves has been with the Forge Sound and Guard since 2004.  She is the Visual Design Instructor as well as instructing high brass, music and marching.  She is also the Director of Bands at Rodney Thompson Middle School and is a graduate of Ithica College in New York State.  Mrs. Reeves has extensive experience as both a member and instructor with various Drum and Bugle Corps around the country.
 
 


Kimberly Chancellor

Color Guard
Kimberly Chancellor has been the guard instructor since 2001.  She graduated from Bloomsberg University.