Announcements

The Marching Knights are excited to welcome Michelina Moen as our new dance team instructor. At an early age, she learned to dance various styles and then toured and danced professionally in companies across the United States, ranging from Boston, New York City, etc. She has thrived in a career in Central Florida dancing at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, as well as being involved in local television filming, local dance companies, production companies and even producing her own solo show in The Fringe Festival. Her passion is to pass along her knowledge to younger dancers. She is a believer in encouraging everyone to lead lives where they feel empowered to be true to their true self, take brave steps in achieving their goals and to experience joy in everything they do. We look forward to Michelina joining us this summer/fall and cannot wait to see what she will bring to our program!

We are pleased to welcome Cindy McIntire to the Marching Knights staff. Cindy will be joining us as the Assistant Majorette Instructor. Cindy was a member of the Marching Knights from 1989-1991. We are excited to welcome Cindy to our staff and back to the MK family! For a full bio, please visit: https://ucfbands.com/staff/

The UCF Marching Knights welcome two new staff members for 2017! Dianna Castronuovo - Dance Instructor: Dianna Castronuovo enters her first year as the dance instructor of the Starlet Knights dance team. As an accomplished performer and educator, Dianna has performed with several dance and show companies in the Central Florida area. Currently, she performs with Antigravity Orlando, Universal Studios and Walt Disney World. She has danced throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. As an educator, Dianna has taught several dancers and stunt performers in Central Florida. She has earned a Dance Performance degree from Valencia College and has been part of several dance programs. Mike Hansen - Percussion Instructor: Mike Hansen enters his first year as the Battery Caption Head and Arranger for the UCF Drumline. In addition to his duties at UCF, he is the Director and Arranger for the NBA Orlando Magic Rhythm N’ Blue Drumline, Battery Caption Head, Arranger, and Designer for the WGI Percussion Independent Open ensemble INFINITY 2. For Full Bios, please visit: https://ucfbands.com/staff/

Dr. Scott Lubaroff will join the music faculty at the University of Central Florida in the Fall of 2017 as Professor of Music and Director of Bands, leading a comprehensive ensemble program that includes four concert bands, athletic bands, and chamber winds. He will also oversee the graduate program in wind conducting. Dr. Lubaroff comes to UCF after twelve years as Director of Bands (3 years also as Chair of the Department of Music) at the University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg. Under his direction, the UCM Wind Ensemble performed twice by invitation in New York’s Carnegie Hall (2016; 2010), three times in a seven-year span at the annual Missouri Music Educators Association Conference (2015; 2011; 2008), and performed for the 2014 Southwest Division Conference of the College Band Directors National Association. Dr. Lubaroff has also been extremely active in the commissioning and premieres of new music for winds, including composer residencies and three world premiere performances during the 2016-2017 academic year. Prior to his appointment at UCM, Dr. Lubaroff served previously as Associate Director of Bands at Kansas State University (2001-2005), and Director of Bands at Williamsburg High School, in Iowa (1991-1997). He earned his DMA in conducting from Michigan State University, and MFA (conducting), MA (music education), and BM (saxophone/music education) degrees from The University of Iowa. He has published articles in the Journal of Band Research and Journal of the National Band Association, a book on Stravinsky’s neo-classical wind music, and a transcription for concert band of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s Eljen a Magyar. Dr. Lubaroff is in high demand as a guest conductor, clinician, speaker, and adjudicator throughout the United States and abroad. He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, Phi Beta Mu, and Pi Kappa Lambda, is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and is an honorary member of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.

Tremon Kizer has been named the new Associate Director of Bands at the University of Central Florida effective August 2016.  Mr. Kizer comes to the University of Central Florida from the University of Dayton where he has served as Associate Director of Bands.  In his new role at UCF, Mr. Kizer will serve as the primary director of the UCF Marching Knights, the primary conductor of the UCF Symphonic Band, and as an Assistant Professor of Music Education. Mr. Kizer holds a Bachelors in Music Education from Kansas State University, a Masters in Music from the University of Central Missouri, and is a candidate for the Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of South Carolina.