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
Keith is originally from Carmel, Indiana where he went to Carmel High School and was inspired to get into music education through his experience with Richard Saucedo and the entire band staff. He is a drum corps lifer and has been around the drum corps activity since he was born. His father and his uncles all marched Star of Indiana and his father was a brass instructor in the activity while he was a kid. This experience allowed Keith to fall in love with the activity at a very early age.
Keith served as the Brass Caption Head for the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from 2019-2022. Before coming to the Blue Knights, he was a brass instructor for the Academy in Tempe, Arizona. Before serving as an instructor in the activity, Keith marched with the Blue Stars in 2011 and was a member of Carolina Crown from 2013-2016 where he was a part of 2013 Crown World Championship. In addition to his drum corps experience, Keith was a member and brass instructor for the three-time world championship organization, Rhythm X Winds.
Keith also has considerable experience working with several high schools in the Indianapolis, Dayton, and Dallas areas including Lawrence Township High School, Carmel High School, Kettering Fairmont High School, and McKinney North High School.
Keith Tye is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at Mountain Ridge Middle School. He graduated from Ball State University majoring in Music Education and was the Principal Euphonium in the Ball State Wind Ensemble for 4 years.
BATTERY TECH – Zach Van Hook
Zach Van Hook is a percussionist and educator based in the Colorado Springs area. Having performed with a wide variety of musical ensembles with different backgrounds, Zach seeks to inspire and educate students, as well as grow the percussion community in the state of Colorado.
Zach received his education from Colorado State University in 2022, where he studied under Dr. Eric Hollenbeck and Shilo Stroman earning his Bachelor’s degree in percussion performance. At Colorado state he had the privilege of playing with the universities top ensembles and orchestras, as well as having the honor of representing Colorado with Colorado State at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), performing as part of the international percussion ensemble competition. He has also had extensive experience in the Marching Arts to include 7 years of WGI predominantly with the Blue Knights Percussion ensemble and 3 years of Drum Corps experience with the Battalion Drum and bugle corps.
As a teacher Zach has worked with several schools to include Windsor High School, Air Academy High School, and Rampart High School since the 2022 Marching Band season. He is proud to continue his work with this program and assist in the development of a culture of excellence of which the students can be proud.
VISUAL STAFF – Audrey Parmentier
Audrey is a Colorado native and has always held passion for dance and the marching arts. After being involved with ballet and Irish dance for over 15 years, she transitioned to marching band her freshman year of college, where she first learned to play the mellophone. Shortly after, she earned a contract to march with Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2019-2021, and finished out her drum corps experience as mellophone section leader and soloist with the Blue Devils in 2022. After an undefeated season, the Blue Devils were named received first place at the 50th anniversary Drum Corps International world championship, where they were also recipients of the Jim Ott Brass Performance award, John Brazale Visual Performance award, and Don Angelica award for best Overall General Effect.
Audrey graduated from University of Northern Colorado in Spring of 2022 with her bachelor’s in Music Education. During college, she studied French horn under Marian Hesse and Susie Fritts, and was principal horn in UNC’s wind ensemble and symphony orchestra, along with involvement in multiple chamber ensembles. She has previously taught music and visual at Windsor High School, The Classical Academy, and Doherty high school, and is currently also teaches visual with the ASD20 Winter Percussion ensemble in the spring. Outside of teaching, Audrey is an active member of the Pikes Peak Brass Band and the Rocky Mountain Wind Symphony.
When not at Rampart, Audrey works full-time for Compassion International, a global non-profit organization, and enjoys practicing horn, singing, and exploring Colorado Springs with her boyfriend in her free time. She is honored and blessed to be able to share her passion of the marching arts with the talented members of the Rampart Regiment.
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 University 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
Ryan Janus is extremely excited to be a part of the staff for this incredible music program at Rampart High School. He is a full-time performing musician with the US Air Force Academy band, touring and recording with their concert (principal sax), marching, jazz and rock bands on a number of instruments. As a member of the USAFA band, he is grateful to have performed over 1000 concerts in 45 U.S. states and 11 foreign nations, NFL halftime shows, national TV broadcasts, and for 4 U.S. presidents.
In addition, Ryan loves teaching and has a long history with marching bands dating back to his high school years with the BOA-Finalist Prospect HS and the top-10 DCI drum corps The Colts out of Iowa. He has composed music for state finalist/champion bands in 6 states, including Rampart. Ryan loves teaching and has coached and taught privately his entire adult life, at all levels from elementary school through universities and all ages from 4 to 84. He has degrees from Hope College (BM, BA) and the University of South Florida (MM) in math and music, and he loves hiking and taking road trips with his large family.
MRMS DIRECTOR & RR WOODWIND TECH – Kay Witt
CLARINET INSTRUCTOR – Ian Buckspan
CONTACT the RHS BAND DIRECTORS:
Rampart High School
8250 Lexington Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Office Phone: 719-234-2085
Keith Acuncius, Director
keith.acuncius@asd20.org
David Altman, Assistant Director
william.altman@asd20.org