Rian began his professional marching arts career in 2016 marching with various DCI and WGI organizations throughout his tenure as a performer. Through DCI, Rian marched as a mainline weapon for the Colt Cadets, Colts, The Academy and The Blue Knights as well as Royal Guard and MBI during the WGI season taking time to learn from the best of the best as he grew his personal performing skills and developed his personal instructional styles and philosophies.

Throughout his performance career, Rian was also directing, designing, choreographing and teaching for many programs throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Rian began his directing career with The River Falls Marching band growing their team from 11 guard members to 37 in just 2 years and leading them to 6 consecutive state championship color guard caption awards. He quickly added the Farmington Tiger Marching Band to his directing roster while growing their guard from 8 to an astounding 34 members in only 2 years which led the team to their program's first ever class championship and outstanding color guard award at Youth in Music. Rian has also joined the Eastview High School Marching band as their Color Guard Director in recent years competing in class AAAA.

Rian started his winter guard teaching career with the Lakeville Guard as a tech and choreographer where he developed his techniques in design, choreography, logistics and rehearsal styles. During Rian's time with LVG, the winter guard team earned four NSC championships plus achieved the highest score recorded in NSC history, earned 4 WGI Regional titles,  won a WGI Virtual Class IA Championship, and progressed to WGI semi-finals in their first ever appearance at WGI Championships in Dayton, OH. Using that experience, he created the Farmington Winter Guard receiving multiple mid-season promotions growing from just 9 members to 24 in two seasons. Rian can also be found assisting many programs throughout the state from basic skill development to choreography and show design. If you know color guard in MN, you know Rian!

Rian's particular instructional style has a primary focus on education and lasting professional growth both in and out of color guard taking the time to break down all components of work to their fundamental levels and explaining the "why" leading to a deep understanding of technique, choreography and design with his students. His goal when instructing is to create educated and respectful performers who can go on to independantly grow and develop through a deep and focused understanding of the physics and theories behind color guard and beyond. Rian makes special effort to explain why and how show design works and finding any opportunity to tie color guard ideas to real world experiences and lessons that students can take into their professional lives.

Rian has proven over many years that he has the creativity, work ethic, approachability and respect for the youth of color guard which creates close bonds and overarching success on both the performer level and with his programs as a whole. We are BEYOND esctatic to have welcomed Rian to our team!

Ryleigh joined our coaching staff after graduating The Lakeville Guard program in 2024 serving 6 years as a performer including 2 years as a team captain. Ryleigh started her journey in the performing arts as a competative dancer when she was 9 years old with studio training in classical ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre genres. She joined our color guard program in 7th grade, at just 11 years of age, and she has been with us ever since. 

Some of her many accomplishments include earning multiple Northstar Circuit Championships, the 2023 class IA WGI virtual World Championship, multiple WGI Regional Championships, multiple WGI World Championships Semi-Finalists, three consecutive MN State Marching Band Championships, The Honolulu Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade Grande Championship, The Limerick Ireland International Band Grande Championship as well as many high level competative dance placements. 

While Ryleigh specializes in movement, she also has advanced skills in flag, rifle and sabre work. Ryleigh was beyond excited to continue her time with Lakeville Guard transitioning from a teammate to mentor sharing her passion for the sport with the next generation of LVG performers always offering support and encouragement. 

Ryleigh is the director and designer for The F.L.A.G. Cadets Program as well as a mentor and coach our color guard performers and student coaches all while working full time as a pre-school Montessori teacher making her the perfect match for our awesome cadets program.

 In addition, she is continuing her own winter guard competitive career with River City Rhythm and planning her future higher education degree.