Tyler Hess • Ensemble Director

Tyler Hess is a musician, educator, and designer residing in Ogden, Utah. In 2008 Mr. Hess began his teaching career when he took the job as Percussion Caption Head at Bonneville High School. Under his direction Bonneville grew from obscurity into an award-winning ensemble, winning multiple Outstanding Percussion trophies in the Utah marching band circuit. In 2010 Mr. Hess accepted the position of Program Director for Weber State Indoor Percussion. Prior to the 2019 season, Weber State Indoor Percussion became Gold Spike Percussion. Since 2011, the program has won three WGI Regional Championships, six Intermountain Percussion Association Championships and was a WGI World Championship Semi-finalist in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Mr. Hess has served as a clinician and instructor for numerous high schools and performing arts organizations throughout the intermountain region. Mr. Hess currently serves as Executive Director of Performing Arts Weber, an arts and education based non-profit in Ogden, UT. He also serves on the marching band staff at Farmington High School, is the Visual Designer for the Weber State Wildcat Band, Program Coordinator for the Ogden High School Marching Band and Indoor Percussion, Program Director for Gold Spike Percussion. Mr. Hess is also the Exectutive Director of the Intermountain Percussion Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps and is an active clinician, instructor, consultant and designer. He dedicates his time to expanding educational, performance, and competitive opportunities for percussionists in the Intermountain West region.

Mr. Hess is a proud endorser of Pearl/Adams Percussion, Pro-Mark Drumsticks, Evans Drumheads, and Dream Cymbals and Gongs.

Ed Coleman • Associate Director

Ed is an original member of the Gold Spike family. He has a passion for developing successful competitive youth ensembles and has been involved in the performing arts for more than 25 years as a performer, teacher, and administrator. Mr. Coleman is very aware of the importance of youth arts programs and has volunteered countless hours to ensure that ensembles have every available resource at their disposal to be successful. Mr. Coleman currently resides in Clinton, Utah. In his free time, he volunteers with performing arts organizations, hikes along the Wasatch Front mountain range, and travels the globe with his wife, Julia.

Ed has performed with several competitive marching ensembles across the country including Lake Erie Regiment from 1994 to 1997, Kiwanis Kavaliers in 1998 and again from 2001 to 2002, the Empire Statesmen from 1999 to 2000, 2003 to 2005 and again in 2009, and the DCA World Champion Reading Buccaneers in 2006.

His teaching experience began in 2003 where he taught as Percussion Caption Head for Fairview H.S. from 2003 to 2005, Battery Instructor and Consultant for the Erie All City Marching Band from 2006 to 2009, Percussion Caption Head, Arranger, and Consultant for White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 to 2010, Director of Presque Isle Percussion Ensemble from 2005 to 2009, and Weber State Indoor Percussion from 2010 to 2017. He now serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Performing Arts Weber and as a board member for The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps.

Julia Coleman • Associate Director

Julia has been with Gold Spike Percussion since its inception in 2019. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, she was classically trained in piano from a very young age and has been involved in the marching arts since 1998. Julia relocated to the beautiful state of Utah in 2009. In addition to working full time as a Registered Nurse in Salt Lake City, she serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for Performing Arts Weber, as well as Board Chair for The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps.

Julia graduated from Fairview (PA) High School, where she developed a love for marching band, euphonium, and drum corps. She has performed with several marching groups across the country including Phantom Regiment (2006 - 2007) of Rockford, Illinois, The Empire Statesmen (2004 - 2006, 2009) and Rochester Crusaders (2002 - 2003) of Rochester, New York, White Sabers (2008) of Dansville, New York, and Presque Isle Percussion (2007 - 2008) of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Julia graduated with an Associates Degree in Nursing from Penn State University in 2009. She credits the discipline and strong work ethic learned through her time in the marching arts, both on and off the field, for her successful career. Julia currently resides in Clinton, UT with her husband, Ed, and their dogs, Murphy and Mabel.

Billy DeBoer • Associate Director

Mr. DeBoer has been an influential figure in the Utah percussion scene for many years. After graduating from Davis High School in 2001 as a member of their drumline, Billy began teaching at Roy High School where he was the Percussion Caption Head until 2004. He then took the job as Percussion Caption Head at Bonneville High School where he helped build the program from the ground up.

In 2007, Mr. DeBoer founded Thenami Winter Drumline, later renamed Junction City Hybrid, Weber State Indoor Percussion, and now operating as Gold Spike Percussion. Mr. DeBoer has consistently been at the center of the indoor percussion scene in Davis and Weber Counties and across the state. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Intermountain Percussion Association.