DESIGN TEAM
COPPER ATWOOD
Head Designer / Choreographer
Copper Atwood has been involved in the Winterguard and Marching Band activity since 1996. He began as a member of the Escambia High School Pride Marching Band and Colorguard where he played clarinet and marched as a performing member of the 1995 Scholastic A Silver Medalist Donatar from 1997-1999. After, he performed as a member of the revival years Las Banderas Winterguard 2001-2003. He also performed with the University of West Florida Symphonic Band as Principal Clarinetist for two seasons and as a Vocalist in the University Singers.
Copper has been around various programs in the educational and Instructional roles such as Escambia High School, Woodham High School, Pontotoc High School, Itawamba Agricultural High School, Cleveland High School, Hancock High School, Comeax High School, Murphy High School, and Lake Charles High School, Vanderbuilt Catholic High School, and Campbell High School. He also served as a clinician for Dance Majik USA. He has been the Director of Gulf Breeze High School, Washington High School, Pineforest High School, Houston High School, Munford High School, Foley High School, Clearwater High School, and Currently Rome High School where is the Colorguard Coordinator/Director for both middle and High School programs and is a Paro-pro at Maine Elementary School in Rome, GA.
He also has extensive ballet training and has taken multiple dance classes in the local Pensacola area, and Memphis. He has served as consultant, tech, and writer for Revolution Drum and Bugle Corp and Revolution 2005 -2007 he took a small break and came back in the role of a consultant/ choreographer in 2008-2011 and in 2012 he took the role as co-caption head. He prior to that made his DCI debut with Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corp as a member of the charter staff in its inaugural season as a tech in 2003, as a Consultant in 2004, and in 2005 he assumed the role of Colorguard Caption Head. Copper designs for Rome High School, Enterprise High School, and RiverRidge High School. He has also designed for Lake Area World Guard, Westlake High School,and Clarksville High School, He currently consults and choreographs for a variety of programs Independent and Scholastic all over. He is currently a General Effect, Movement, and DA judge for the Gulf Coast Judges Association, The WGPO Judges Association and The Florida Federation Judges Association. Copper holds his B.A. in History from the Univerity of Memphis and a M.A. in American History from Southern New Hampshire University.
JOSHUA TYLER
Choreographer
Josh joined Future Independent Winterguard with the vision and drive to improve upon our Arts Organization, and focused on developing the organization with experience and integrity.
KEITH (PING) DAWSON
Design Advisor
Ping joined Future Independent Winterguard with the vision and drive to improve upon our Arts Organization, and focused on developing the organization with experience and integrity.
DEONTAHVIOUS FORD
Choregrapher
Deon joined Future Independent Winterguard with the vision and drive to improve upon our Arts Organization, and focused on developing the organization with experience and integrity.
ZACH CRIST
Zach joined Future Independent Winterguard with the vision and drive to improve upon our Arts Organization, and focused on developing the organization with experience and integrity.
coming soon
GERRAN MOLINA
Design Assistant/ Choreographer
Gerran Molina is an up-and-coming instructor and choreographer based out of the Austin, TX area. His teaching experience includes various roles at Glenn High School, LBJ High School (2019 Texas Color Guard Circuit silver medalist), Georgetown High School (, Lehman High School (2020 WGI Austin Scholastic A semifinalist), Elgin High School, Conroe High School, and Redemption Winter Guard.
As a performer, Gerran is honored to have been educated by a variety of prominent designers and instructors in the activity. Many of those experiences were acquired at performing ensembles at the highest levels, including the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2017 DCI bronze medalist), Black Gold World Independent Winter Guard (2019 WGI Independent World finalist), Origins Winter Guard (2018 WGI Independent Open finalist), and the James Bowie Outdoor Performance Ensemble and World Winter Guard (2016 and 2017 WGI Scholastic World finalist)
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Gerran is pursuing a degree in dance as well as taking courses in non-profit management. He lives with his pet cat, Salem, and is looking forward to this upcoming season!
EDUCATIONAL STAFF
MICHEAL AYLESWORTH
Staff Member
Michael Aylesworth started his color guard training in his hometown of Virginia, Beach, VA with the Salem High School Marching Sundevils in 2006. From there, he moved to Pensacola, FL and continued marching at Pine Forest High School under the direction of Copper Atwood in 2008. In 2008 and 2009, he was introduced to winterguard and performed with Donatar Independent A where they Gold medaled in their local circuit, finalist at the WGI Pensacola Regional and advancing into semi-finals in Dayton in 2008. Michael has continued training and learning various techniques through attending clinics with guards like Crown and Fenix Independent. Currently, Michael is the Guard Director of Navarre High School in Navarre, FL. Under his direction alongside Jesse Joseph, Navarre Winterguard has been promoted within the Gulf Coast Guard and Percussion Circuit, WGI Pensacola Regional Finalist in 2018 and medaling in 2019 in SA Class at the GCGPC Championships. Michael is also working with West Florida High School and Majesty Independen
BEKAH SUMMERLIN
Staff Member
Coming Soon
JAQUINA ADAMS
Staff Member
Coming Soon
KENYON DOUGLAS
Technician
Coming soon
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Since our founding in 2019, Future Independent Winterguard has developed and grown in a positive direction. We’re very proud of the diversity of our staff, and their abilities to contribute their own unique experience and skills to our success. Find out more about some of our team members below.
