Associate Director

Chris Touchton is the Director of Bands at Tarpon Springs Middle School Cambridge Conservatory for the Arts. He has been a Pinellas County music educator for 20 years. Mr. Touchton has taught at Southside Fundamental Middle School and John Hopkins Middle School previous to his current school. Mr. Touchton received his Bachelor’s of Music Education from Florida Southern College and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from University of West Florida.  His ensembles have received many honors in Pinellas County and throughout the Southeast United States including the Florida Bandmasters Association Five-Year Superior Award. Mr. Touchton was named the 2010 Pinellas County Music Educator of the Year and has been nominated twice for the Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year.

Leadership Instructor/ Booster Liaison

Brenda Urban is the music specialist at Elisa Nelson Center for Gifted Studies and Literacy Innovation. Mrs. Urban has previously taught at Sandy Lane Elementary School Conservatory for the Arts, San Jose Elementary School, and Chasco Elementary School. Mrs. Urban holds a Bachelors of Science in Music Education from the University of South Florida. Over the past 22 years, she has taught on staff at various band programs throughout Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Mrs. Urban was the 2025 Elementary Music Educator of the Year for Pinellas County Schools. She has been recognized nationally for her work in Arts Integration. Mrs. Urban also teaches private flute lessons. Many of her students have consistently been selected for all county and all state ensembles. Some of her students have gone on to study music at USF, FSU, UF, Samford, University of Maryland, Bryn Mawr College, and St Petersburg College. 

Woodwind/Visual Instructor/Hype Master

Anthony Ruffin is Director of Bands at Largo MIddle IB World School where he oversees all Band and Percussion ensembles. He is a graduate from the Florida State University College of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Art in Music. While at FSU, Mr. Ruffin studied flute under professors Eva Amsler and Karen Large. During his time at FSU he was involved in various organizations, including being a member of the world-renowned Florida State University Marching Chiefs for five years, spending three years as a part of the leadership and staff teams. He also served as the President of FSU’s collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education. 

While living in Tallahassee, Mr. Ruffin worked with several band programs as a marching band tech and concert band rehearsal assistant. He also gave private lessons throughout the year, and was a Day Counselor at the FSU Summer Music Camps. His professional affiliations include the Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association, and Pinellas County Music Educators Association. 

Visual Instructor

Lena Shafee graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of South Florida. Ms. Shafee currently works in design & construction engineering, but her true passion is in the marching arts. Her performance experience includes 2 years with the USF Herd of Thunder on Baritone, 1 year with the Boston Crusaders on Euphonium, and 1 year with the Blue Knights serving as Drum Major.

In her time with the Category 5 Marching Band, she has aimed to create a visual program that does the following for each student: improve physical/mental health, encourage independent thought, and develop confidence in their performance skills. Ms. Shafee looks forward to taking the program to even further heights.

After 7 years of teaching, Ms. Shafee has found that exceptional performance skills and strong leadership can be taught. She knows under the correct guidance of teachers, parents, and friends, any student can achieve exemplary results.

Percussion Instructor

Brian Millan holds a Bachelor of Elementary Education from The University of South Florida.

Percussion Tech

Ben Anderson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of South Florida, where he studied under Dr. Kevin Von Kampen and Dr. Pat Hernly. In his time at USF, he was part of the USF Symphonic Band, percussion ensembles and the USF Steel Band.

Color Guard Instructor

Madison Poth is an active color guard instructor in Pinellas County, both in middle school and high school programs. She is also a graduate of Dunedin High School, where she was Drum Major and Pipe Major for 2 years. Madison is an award winning Highland Dancer with Isle of Skye Highland Dancers, where she also assists with newer dancers and creates choreography for special performances.

Color Guard Instructor

Soleil Munkittrick has been an involved member of the color guard and the marching arts as a performer and instructor over the last decade. Her performance experience includes performing with the Santa Fe High School (FL) Color Guard from 2013 to 2018, Unity Percussion from 2019 through 2020, Pegasus Winterguard in 2022, and the Special Olympics USA opening ceremony with Disney in 2023. Over her time as a performer, she has won numerous state and international awards most notably with Unity percussion in 2019 receiving a record-holding WGI gold medal in the PIA class as well as a WGI silver medal with Pegasus Winterguard in the IA class.
Soleil has instructed for over five years across Florida with groups performing in the FFCC and WGI circuits. She has staffed and directed many groups aiding them in high levels of success over the years. Most recently with the 2024 FFCC RA bronze medalist PHUHS Winterguard and 2024 FFCC IA gold medalist and WGI IA finalist Pegasus Winterguard.
Presently, Soleil serves as an FFCC Advisory Board member, the Color Guard Director for Largo High School and Palm Harbour University High School, and has been a tech for Pegasus Winterguard Staff since 2023.