This activity isn’t possible without outstanding educators spending hundreds of hours preparing students for competition. Our team boasts more than 50 years experience in marching arts with more than 35 programs. In addition, they are some of the kindest most generous people you could ever hope to meet. Please take a moment to get to know our 2023 Staff.
Tim Priest - Executive Director
Tim is the Director of Bands at Fruitport High School and a graduate of Grand Valley State University. Tim performed as Drum Major at GVSU and has instructed Jenison H.S, Reeths-Puffer H.S, Spring Lake H.S, Marine City H.S, and Grand Rapids Catholic Central H.S. He is the H.S Honors Band Coordinator for MSBOA District 7, The Music Advancement Director for the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association (NC District) and just earned his Master’s in Music Education from Central Washington University’s American Band College. When he’s not teaching Tim often performs with the pit orchestras of Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Muskegon Civic Theatre and Byron Center H.S.
Nicholas Lootens - Unit Director
Nick has been marching and playing snare drum since 1998. This is Nick's 5th year with Fruitport Independent. Nick is a graduate of Lansing Eastern High School, Western Michigan University, Cochise College and is pursuing a Masters at GVSU. Nick has been teaching and writing for marching percussion since 2003. He was a battery tech for The University of Kansas, Multiple WGI, DCI Drumlines and dozens of high schools in Michigan, Kansas and Missouri. He performed with WMU, Great Lakes Percussion, Americanos Drum and Bugle Corp, The Kansas City Chief's Rumble Drumline, The Grand Rapids Griffins Drumline, among others. Nick is a Zildjian, Vic Firth and Balter Mallets Sponsored Artist and Educator.
Nick also served 9 years in the United States Army (Intelligence), 15 years in Law Enforcement Investigations and and currently works for LexisNexis as a Senior Investigator.
sarah jantz lootens - guard coordinator
Sarah has been involved in the marching arts in West Michigan for 13 years! With over 24 years of dance experience and 3 seasons with Interplay World, her experience in invaluable with our program.
This is Sarah's 8th season with Fruitport Community Schools making her our most senior staff member. When she's not teaching, Sarah works full time in Pediatrics at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and loves streaming anything by Mike Flanagan (Google him, he's seriously amazing). She's excited for the Winter Season with Fruitport Independent but not nearly as excited as we are to have her! She loves Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, Butter Pecan Ice-cream, and her puppies Lulu and Winnie!
Matthew leslie - front ensemble coordinator
Matt is a Fruitport Alumni who has been teaching Front Ensembles in West Michigan for 3 years. He played Marimba in both the Fruitport Marching Band and Indoor Percussion ensembles. Matt is studying Music Education at GVSU as a member of their Percussion Studio (He's close to graduation for all you schools looking for a director!). He is an incredible talent and his ability to teach is surpassed only by his patience and kindness.
His favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate chip cookie dough, favorite color is purple. You'll find him on Saturday nights watching Taskmaster on YouTube.
If you see Matt around don't be intimidated by his 4-mallet technique or his wildly funny jokes, stop by and say hi!
Justin sciullo - Battery coordinator and tenor drum technician
This is Justin's third year with the program and he's almost as excited for the season to start as our members!
Justin has been working in the marching arts for 8 years. He has worked with Cedar Springs, Fruitport, and Rockford High Schools. Justin has performed with Dakota High School, GVSU's Laker Marching Band, and Genesis Percussion. He's a Mathematics Major at GVSU, his favorite color is blue, and he loves Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.
Evan Sala - snare drum technician
This is Evan’s second year with FIP, and we are so glad to have him back!
Evan has been playing snare drum for 8 years, and marched all throughout high school and college. He marched WGI and DCI, and loved his experience! His favorite WGI show is Rhythm X 2016, and His favorite food is any kind of corn. He’s super excited for the season to begin!
erick ramirez - bass drum technician
This is Erick's 3rd year with Fruitport Independent and we couldn't be more proud to have him on staff!
Erick is a Holland Native and graduate of Holland High School and Western Michigan University. Erick has been teaching percussion in West Michigan with multiple programs for 8 years, to include Grant, Dowagiac, Cedar Springs, Holland High School and G2 Percussion.
As a performer Erick marched with The WMU Bronco Marching Band (Bass Drum and Quads), G2 Percussion (Bass Drum and Snare) and Matrix Percussion (Bass Drum).
He likes Rainbow Sherbet Ice-cream, His favorite color is purple and when he's not teaching you'll catch him relaxing with Disney+. If you see him around say hi! He's one heck of a guy!
Olivia Muller - cymbal technician
Bio coming soon!
Makenzie mattis - front ensemble technician
It is with great pleasure that we welcome back to our staff Makenzie (Mak) Mattis. After taking one season off, Mak is back with Fruitport Independent! Mak is a percussionist and audio engineer from Traverse City, graduate of Grand Valley State University School of Music (Percussion) and also holds a degree in Recording Technology. Mak lives in Grand Rapids where they teaches private lessons and works as an audio engineer at Event Horizon Studio. They also teach percussion at Fruitport and Allegan High Schools and performs with a number of local area bands. On Saturday night, you can find them watching Harry Potter and their favorite ice cream will always be cookies and cream (vegan of course).
Annie Keenan - Front Ensemble technician
Bio coming soon!
alexa elkouri - Visual technician
This is Alexa's 3rd year with Fruitport Independent and her 5th year teaching! Alexa is a Senior at GVSU studying Music Education (Flute) and teaches at multiple schools in West Michigan. She came to us from the East Side where she marched 4 years at Plymouth Canton. She was a member of the Laker Marching Band at GVSU as well. She sees the things no one else does and gets our ensemble moving together. Her favorite color is purple, her favorite ice cream is moose tracks (not as good as mint chip but we'll let it slide) and she's not into Netflix or TV. You'll find her on a Saturday night reading. Her favorite book is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
We are beyond lucky to have her and if she can't teach you to march, no one can.