Mrs. Melissa Nielsen

Lakeville Guard Program Director

Melissa started Lakeville Guard with The Lakeville South Marching Band in 2016. Over the years, Melissa has been thrilled to help the color guard program triple in size and expand to all Lakeville Area schools. She is passionate about using the music room and marching band field as a place to grow leaders and lifelong learners. Melissa is the band director at Kenwood Trail Middle School. 

Melissa earned her bachelor's degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT where she also spent 4 years as a member of the color guard as well as coaching high school guard. She earned her master's degree in Teaching and Learning from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. 

Melissa is also an accomplished musician. As a brass specialist, her primary instrument is french horn. She also plays piano and woodwind instruments although we have seen her pick up any instrument and play with skill. She has been a frequent musical performer in theatre productions across The Twin Cities and is a recurring cast member with Listen To Your Mother-Twin Cities. 

Melissa developed Lakeville Guard from just 7 enthusiastic students to over 60 passionate performers leading them to three consecutive state marching band championships while consistently earning outstanding color guard captions. Under her direction, LVG Winter Guard Teams have earned four Northstar Circuit championships, two WGI regional winter guard championships, a WGI Virtual World Championship and a 2024 WGI World Championships top 25 placement in their debut at WGI Worlds!

Not only is she a talented musician, amazing teacher, loving mother and avid crafter, but she is also a priceless mentor to all of our guard members.

Her compassion and love for each one shows them that they always have a home at Lakeville Guard. We are so grateful to have Melissa as our leader! 

Bella joined our coaching staff after graduating from The Lakeville Guard program in 2024 serving 3 years as a performer with Lakeville Guard and 4 years as a performer with Tri City United Color Guard including serving as team captain. In fact, Bella is quite known for performing parades with TCU Color Guard, doing a quick uniform change, then marching the parades AGAIN with Lakeville Guard!

Bella's list of accomplishments include earning three consecutive Northstar Circuit winter guard championships, class IA WGI virtual championship, WGI regional winter guard championship, two time WGI World Championships semi-finalist, two consecutive MN State Marching Band Championships AND performing with the 2024 Madison Scouts in DCI Finals!

Bella is an expert rifle specialist but has advanced skills in flag, sabre and movement as well. Bella was eager to transition from performer to coach taking on responsibility for mentoring and growing our young color guard program at Lakeville North as well as lead new performers in our 2025 winter guard season. 

Bella continues her own competative guard career performing with River City Rhythm while persuing a degree in speech therapy at The University of Minnesota-Duluth. 

Brody Nielsen

Winter Guard Tech

To say that Brody has the marching arts in his blood would be an understatement as he has been spinning equipment from a very young age! Brody started performing in the Lakeville Winter Guard program in 2021 and marched with Eastview High School and Rosemount High School's marching bands in their color guards and competed in Bands of America Grand Nationals. 

Some of his accolades include earning three consecutive Northstar Circuit winter guard championships, class IA WGI virtual championships, WGI regional winter guard championships, two time WGI World Championships semi-finalist, a MN State Marching Band Championship, a BOA regional finalist placement, BOA grand nationals semi-finalist placement and a 2nd place DCI Championship with The Blue Coats. He has also places in Northstar Circuit solo contest and WGI's World Championships solo contest. 

Brody is an advanced performer on all color guard equipment but highly specializes on rifle! Brody was eager to share his own skills with the next generation of LVG guard students by partnering to coach the cadets team and design their 2025 show, Play Time. 

Brody also continues his own guard career performing with The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire BluGolds and The Blue Coats in addition to pursuing a degree in Music Education. 

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 two consecutive Northstar Circuit winter guard championships, class IA WGI virtual championship, WGI regional winter guard championship, WGI World Championships semi-finalist, three consecutive MN State Marching Band Championships, The Limerick (Ireland) International Band Championship as well as many, many high level dance competition 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 continues to mentor and coach our color guard performers all while working full time as a pre-school montesorri teacher and pursuing her degree. In addition, she is continuing her own winter guard competitive career with River City Rhythm!