2022-2023 DeLand High School Band Staff
Director of Bands
Monica (Crew) Leimer was appointed Director of Bands at DeLand High School in 2019. Ms. Leimer holds both a bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education (Magna Cum Laude, 2001) and a master's degree in Music Education (2012) from the Florida State University. While at FSU, Ms. Leimer was a member of the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and the Chiefly Brass Pep Band. She studied conducting with Patrick Dunnigan and Richard Clary and flute with Charles DeLaney. Ms. Leimer is highly involved with the Florida Bandmasters Association and the Florida Music Educators Association, having served on several committees as well as the FBA State Executive Board. She keeps an active schedule as an adjudicator and clinician throughout Florida and Georgia. Bands under Ms. Leimer's direction consistently receive Superior ratings at FBA District and State Music Performance Assessments and have received prestigious performance opportunities such as the National Band & Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall (2019 & 2022), the London New Year's Day Parade (2020), Essentially Ellington Regional Jazz Festival (2023), the National Memorial Day Parade (2023), and the Jazz Educators Network (JEN) Jazz Festival in New Orleans (2024). In 2019, Ms. Leimer founded the Florida Female Band Directors Network with the mission of creating a safe place for women band directors in Florida to find camaraderie, mentorship, support, and empowerment.
Ms. Leimer previously served as the Director of Bands at Lake Nona High School for 6 years and was a band director in the Tallahassee area for 12 years before that. She holds memberships in the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Band Association (NBA), the Jazz Education Network (JEN) and the Women Band Directors International (WBDI). She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the FSU Marching Chiefs Alumni Association as well as the Volunteer Service Team for Alpha Gamma Delta International Women's Fraternity. She currently resides in DeLand with her son James (a horn player in the FAMU Marching 100 and DHS Band alumni), daughter Madison (a current DHS band member), and their cats - Elsa, Molly, Percy, Dmitri, & Luxie.
Ms. Leimer previously served as the Director of Bands at Lake Nona High School for 6 years and was a band director in the Tallahassee area for 12 years before that. She holds memberships in the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Band Association (NBA), the Jazz Education Network (JEN) and the Women Band Directors International (WBDI). She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the FSU Marching Chiefs Alumni Association as well as the Volunteer Service Team for Alpha Gamma Delta International Women's Fraternity. She currently resides in DeLand with her son James (a horn player in the FAMU Marching 100 and DHS Band alumni), daughter Madison (a current DHS band member), and their cats - Elsa, Molly, Percy, Dmitri, & Luxie.
Percussion Instructors
Percussion Educator and Performer, Aidan Ervin (b. 1999), holds a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Truman State University, where he studied under Dr. Michael Bump. His undergraduate degree is in Instrumental Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University, where he studied with Dr. Caleb Pickering, Dr. Andrew Morales, and Dr. Katy Strickland. Originally from the Northwest Missouri area, Aidan now resides in Port Orange, Florida.
As a performer, Aidan has experience performing with a number of different groups including: the Quincy Symphony Orchestra as a section percussionist, River City Rhythm Drum & Bugle Corps on snare drum, and the Maples Repertory Theatre as a substitute drum set performer. Aidan performed with a diverse range of school ensembles during his undergraduate and graduate degrees, from wind ensembles, orchestras, and jazz groups, to percussion ensembles, steel pan bands and other ensembles.. As a soloist, Aidan placed 2nd in the Missouri Day of Percussion Marimba Competition in 2024, 3rd-place in the Mid-Missouri Percussive Arts trophy contest in 2020, and was a two-time honorable-mention awardee of the Southern Illinois Young Artist Association Instrumental Competition in 2023 and 24’. Aidan was also a winner of the 2023 Gold Medal Concerto Competition, where he performed Askell Masson’s snare drum concerto, Konzertstuck, with the Truman State University Symphony Orchestra.
As an Educator, Aidan was most recently the Percussion Director at Kirksville High School where he directed the Marching Tigers Percussion, the Spring Percussion Ensembles, and assisted with the Symphonic and Concert bands. Aidan also held a Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantship at Truman State University, where he directed the Statesmen Drumline, coached the Percussion Ensemble II, assisted with Truman Steel, and taught undergraduate lessons. Aidan has been teaching marching percussion groups since 2017, helping direct groups ranging from small rural bands to large highly-competitive percussion sections - with experience teaching both front ensemble and battery sections as well as composing and arranging for indoor and outdoor shows. Aidan has also taught private lessons and presented masterclasses on a variety of topics in the Northwest Missouri area. Aidan is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, and the Salyers Percussion Education Team.
As a performer, Aidan has experience performing with a number of different groups including: the Quincy Symphony Orchestra as a section percussionist, River City Rhythm Drum & Bugle Corps on snare drum, and the Maples Repertory Theatre as a substitute drum set performer. Aidan performed with a diverse range of school ensembles during his undergraduate and graduate degrees, from wind ensembles, orchestras, and jazz groups, to percussion ensembles, steel pan bands and other ensembles.. As a soloist, Aidan placed 2nd in the Missouri Day of Percussion Marimba Competition in 2024, 3rd-place in the Mid-Missouri Percussive Arts trophy contest in 2020, and was a two-time honorable-mention awardee of the Southern Illinois Young Artist Association Instrumental Competition in 2023 and 24’. Aidan was also a winner of the 2023 Gold Medal Concerto Competition, where he performed Askell Masson’s snare drum concerto, Konzertstuck, with the Truman State University Symphony Orchestra.
As an Educator, Aidan was most recently the Percussion Director at Kirksville High School where he directed the Marching Tigers Percussion, the Spring Percussion Ensembles, and assisted with the Symphonic and Concert bands. Aidan also held a Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantship at Truman State University, where he directed the Statesmen Drumline, coached the Percussion Ensemble II, assisted with Truman Steel, and taught undergraduate lessons. Aidan has been teaching marching percussion groups since 2017, helping direct groups ranging from small rural bands to large highly-competitive percussion sections - with experience teaching both front ensemble and battery sections as well as composing and arranging for indoor and outdoor shows. Aidan has also taught private lessons and presented masterclasses on a variety of topics in the Northwest Missouri area. Aidan is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, and the Salyers Percussion Education Team.
Demetrius Galindez Jr. was appointed to the percussion staff at DeLand High School in 2022. He grew up in Casselberry, Florida and attended Lake Howell High School where he was a member of The Silver Regiment (marching band), where he played marimba and vibraphone. Throughout his 4 years, he earned a plethora of superior medals as both a soloist and an ensemble member at Solo and Ensemble performances, and he helped teach the young musicians at South Seminole Middle School. Within the last two years of his time at Lake Howell, he was awarded the role of being the Front Ensemble Captain.
To further pursue his passion for music, Demetrius now attends Stetson University with plans to graduate with a Bachelors in Music Performance in 2025.
To further pursue his passion for music, Demetrius now attends Stetson University with plans to graduate with a Bachelors in Music Performance in 2025.
Christian Quinones was appointed to the Percussion staff in 2021. He attended Deltona High School where he marched on the drumline and was a part of the top wind ensemble throughout his time there. He also participated as a Percussionist for several All County wind ensembles and orchestras. After high school, Christian studied percussion and sound technology at Valencia college. During this time, he performed as the principal percussionist for several musicals at the Athens Theater in DeLand and the Ritz Theater in Sanford. He also performed as a snare drummer for Universal Studios Orlando "Macy's Day Parade" and "Superstar Parade" from 2013-2016. Christian's marching percussion career includes: RPT percussion (2013), Ancient City Ensemble (2014), Sun Devils drum and Bugle Corps (2014), UCF Marching Knights (2015-2016), Infinity 2 Percussion (2015-2016), and Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps (2015-2016). He served as the Director of Percussion at New Smyrna Beach High School from 2014-2016. In 2017, Christian took a brief hiatus from percussion to serve as a Combat Medic Specialist in the U.S. Army. Upon his return from active duty service, he jumped back into one of his greatest passions to continue educating young percussionists at DeLand High School in 2021. Today, Christian professionally works as a Firefighter and Paramedic, and is currently a percussionist for the Journey Church worship team in Orange City. He continues to enjoy teaching and watching the continuous progression of his students, and is thrilled to continue being on the DeLand High School Band Staff!
Guard Staff
Jamont Britt was appointed to the band staff at DeLand High School in 2024. Jamont is a proud alumni of DeLand High School and was a member of the Bulldog Bands for four years, performing as a tuba player in the Marching Bulldogs, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band. He was a member of the Emeralds Winterguard for two years. After graduation, Jamont was a member of the UCF Pegasus Open Winterguard, finishing as a Top 10 WGI Finalist in 2023. Jamont currently serves as a substitute teacher for Volusia County Schools and as a counselor at the Florida Sherrif's Youth Ranch in the summer. He has previously served as the guard director at Viera High School and is very excited to return to his alma mater as a member of the colorguard staff.
AJ Cusack was appointed to the band staff at DeLand High School in 2023. They attended DeLand High School where they performed with Avant Garde, the DHS Choral Program, and eventually, the DeLand High Emeralds. She received a superior on a dance solo at FBA State Solo & Ensemble and finished out their senior year with a bronze medal at FFCC Championships. After graduation, AJ began to assist with the Emeralds whenever they were home for school breaks, eventually using their passion for guard and performing to become a member of the George Mason University Winterguard for the 2024 season.
Currently, AJ is working towards her Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies while fulfilling her passion of teaching students how to break out of their shells and watching their performance growth.
Currently, AJ is working towards her Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies while fulfilling her passion of teaching students how to break out of their shells and watching their performance growth.
Kevin Griner was appointed to the band staff at DeLand High School in 2019. Mr. Griner studied Business Management and Marketing at The University of North Florida. He has served as an entertainment performer and stage manager for the Walt Disney Company for over 24 years. He toured as a Disney Entertainer and worked for 12 months on board the Big Red Boat representing Disney. Kevin wrote and created the educational auxiliary workshop "Auxiliration" for the Disney Magic Music Days, in addition to hiring and training all color guard clinicians for the workshop. Kevin is a color guard adjudicator for Heritage Festivals, OrlandoFest, and Festival Disney Music Competitions. He also serves as an active color guard adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association and as a winter guard equipment judge for the Florida Federation of Judges Association.
Mr. Griner currently serves as the Color Guard Director for the University of Central Florida Marching Knights and WGI World Gold Medalist Pegasus Winter Guard. He is highly sought after as a color guard director and designer for numerous outstanding high school visual programs. In 1991 he was a member of the bronze-medalist Winter Guard program - Alliance of Miami and is a 30 year member and instructor in both the Winter Guard International and Drum Corps International organizations.
Mr. Griner currently serves as the Color Guard Director for the University of Central Florida Marching Knights and WGI World Gold Medalist Pegasus Winter Guard. He is highly sought after as a color guard director and designer for numerous outstanding high school visual programs. In 1991 he was a member of the bronze-medalist Winter Guard program - Alliance of Miami and is a 30 year member and instructor in both the Winter Guard International and Drum Corps International organizations.
Miscellaneous
Jean Diaz was appointed to the band staff at DeLand High School 2019. Originally from San Juan, PR, he currently resides in Orlando, FL. He attended Lake Nona High School where he was a member of the Jazz Band, Marching Band and the Wind Ensemble. Jean started playing euphonium when he was in middle school and kept playing until his junior year in high school when he also began playing bassoon. Jean is recently graduated from Valencia College and plans to study Political Science and International Relations at the University of Central Florida starting in the Spring 2021 semester. Jean is also an avid Disney fan and currently serves as a food & beverage cast member at Disney Springs.
Christian Ricketts serves as Director of Bands at DeLand Middle School as well as on the band staff at DeLand High School. Mr. Ricketts serves on the Board for Unity Performing Arts in the West Volusia area, in which he also directs the Clarinet Ensemble. He also annually spends a part of his summer on staff with Stetson University’s Clarinet Clinic. Originally from South Florida, Mr. Ricketts graduated from Coral Springs High School and currently resides in Deltona, FL. He studied Music Education at Stetson University and graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in 2019. He has consistently maintained his clarinet/bass clarinet performance career, performing with groups such as Southern Winds, Central Florida Winds, Space Coast Wind Ensemble, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Epcot Candlelight Processional Orchestra at the Walt Disney World Resort. Mr. Ricketts is an active member of the Florida Bandmasters Association and also teaches private clarinet and bass clarinet lessons in Volusia County.