The Staff of the Rampart High School Bands are one of the most important attributes to the students’ success. With such a large and wonderful group of students, it is impossible for the director to give each individual student attention. The Staff are very talented and have many professional musical experiences. It is our privilege to have them work with our band.
2023-2024 STAFF:
DIRECTOR OF BANDS – Keith Acuncius
Keith has been the Director of Bands at Rampart High School since June of 2014. Previously, Mr. Acuncius taught at Olathe Middle and High Schools in Olathe, Colorado. Under Mr. Acuncius’ direction the Rampart High School Marching band has continued a long tradition of excellence as finalists in the Colorado Bandmaster’s Association State Championships, and at the Bands of America Regional Championships in St. George, UT. The Rampart High School Advanced Jazz Band has also received superior ratings and was a featured performer at the “Dazzle” Jazz Club in the Denver Metro area; the Rampart High School Winter Guard was the Scholastic A Champion in 2015 and won their class at the Winter Guard International Regional in Denver.
In his time as Band Director at Olathe Middle and High Schools, Mr. Acuncius was responsible for the growth and development of a band program that more than doubled in size. He was awarded the Montrose County School District “Teacher of the Year” award in 2013.
Mr. Acuncius received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He earned his Master of Music with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting from Sam Houston State University in 2014.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BANDS – David Altman
David has been Rampart’s Assistant Director of Bands since the summer of 2021, where he leads the Jazz 1, String Orchestra, Pep Band, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band. Originally from Indiana, Mr. Altman started his career as the Band Program Assistant for Boonville High School in Boonville, IN. During his time with Boonville, Mr. Altman taught the Jazz Band, Percussion Class, and co-taught both concert ensembles. Mr. Altman has also served as the Visual Caption Head and Choreographer for the 2019 ISSMA Class C State Finalist, Concordia Lutheran Marching Cadets from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Mr. Altman is an alumnus of the World Class Drum and Bugle Corps, Carolina Crown. During his time performing with corps, they received the 2015 Don Angelica Best General Effect Award, 2016 and 2017 Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Awards, and the 2016 John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award. Carolina Crown was the recipient of the 2015 DCI Silver Medal, and the 2016 and 2017 DCI Bronze Medals.
In his free time, Mr. Altman enjoys adding to his Lego collection, going to the gym, and playing Xbox. Mr. Altman completed his student teaching at Whiteland Community High School in Whiteland, Indiana under the mentorship of Peter Sampson. He received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Ball State University in May of 2020.
PERCUSSION DIRECTOR – Dalton Van Hook
Dalton has been Rampart’s Percussion Caption Head and Percussion Director since the summer of 2018. Dalton started instructing percussion in 2013 and is an alum and founding member of Rise and Altitude percussion ensembles. He served as Front Ensemble Caption Head for Black Diamond Percussion in 2020 and reinstated the marching indoor percussion program at Rampart High School, ending their first season back in 4th place. Dalton has since contributed to the success of the Rampart Regiment and indoor percussion program maintaining finalist placements.
In his free time, Dalton enjoys working on cars and motorsports, audio engineering, and writing music.
COLOR GUARD DIRECTOR – Caitlyn Suituno
Caitlyn Suitonu became our Color Guard Director in the winter of 2022. She is originally from Louisiana where she learned and practiced guard until 2016, when she began as an Assistant Coaching at Denham Springs High School. She was later hired as Head Coach for Louisiana State University Laboratory School in 2017. Shortly after she joined the Marine Corps in 2018 and was stationed in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas. After her enlistment she moved to Colorado Springs and began working at Rampart High School.
MRMS DIRECTOR & RR MUSIC TECHNIQUE COORDINATOR – Keith Tye
MRMS DIRECTOR & RR WOODWIND TECH – Kay Whitt
BATTERY TECH – Zach Van Hook
VISUAL STAFF – Audrey Parmentier
Audrey began working with the Rampart Regiment marching band as their visual instructor in Summer of 2023. Previously, she has taught the marching bands at Windsor high school, The Classical Academy, and Doherty high school. She also plays French horn with Rocky Mountain Wind Symphony and tenor horn with the Pikes Peak Brass Band, the premiere brass band of Colorado Springs.
Growing up, Audrey took ballet for 7 years and Irish dance for 14. In 2016, she and her dance team won 1st place at the World Irish Dance Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Once in college, she marched in two World Class Drum and Bugle Corps, Blue Knights and Blue Devils, and earned the prestigious honor of mellophone section leader and soloist all three years (2019, 2021-2022). In 2022, after an undefeated season, the Blue Devils won Drum Corps International’s 50th anniversary championship title and were the recipients of the Jim Ott Brass Performance award, John Brazale Visual Performance award, and Don Angelica award for best Overall General Effect.
A native of Colorado Springs, Audrey graduated in Spring of 2022 with her Batchelor of Music Education degree from University of Northern Colorado, and now works full-time for Compassion International, a global non-profit organization. Outside of teaching and playing her horn, she enjoys singing at her local church and exploring Colorado Springs. She feels incredibly blessed and excited to be on staff with Rampart’s amazing marching band!
MUSIC STAFF – Dr. Ryan Spencer
Technical Sergeant Ryan Spencer joined the United States Air Force Academy Band (Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado) in September 2021. He currently performs on trumpet with Stellar Brass, Concert Band, Marching Band, Falconaires Jazz ensemble, and as a solo bugler. He also serves as Team Lead for the Music Library.
Dr. Spencer has been a performing musician along the Front Range since 2004. He has performed with Colorado Symphony, Denver Brass, Cheyenne Symphony, and Denver Philharmonic, among others. He is Artistic Director and soprano cornetist for Colorado Brass, a local competitive non-profit brass band. He won a position with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2023.
As an educator, Dr. Spencer has taught drum corps and marching band since 2012, as well as trumpet and music theory privately for 12 years. He attended CU-Boulder for his BM and DMA degrees, and Univ. of Denver for his MM. He holds certificates in music theory and music technology, and studied trumpet with Alan Hood, Justin Bartels, Ryan Gardner, Tom Booth, and Terry Sawchuk. Dr. Spencer is an alumnus of Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, and taught Bluecoats for several years, between 2012-2017, including the Bluecoats’ first-ever DCI Championship win. He is originally from Marietta, GA, and enjoys hiking, camping, snowboarding, and coffee.
SAXOPHONE INSTRUCTOR – Ryan Janus
CLARINET INSTRUCTOR – Ian Buckspan
Contact The RHS Band Directors
Keith Acuncius, Director
Rampart High School
8250 Lexington Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Office Phone: 719-234-2085
keith.acuncius@asd20.org
David Altman, Assistant Director
Office Phone: 719-234-2085
david.altman@asd20.org
Rampart High School Band Boosters
PO Box 62252
Colorado Springs, CO 80962
(See Boosters page for all individual contacts)