Madison Color Guard

Ted Pless: Director

Mr. Pless has 19 years experience directing and teaching color guard. He was the director of the Groton "Scarlet Edge" Color Guard in New York State from 1992 - 1995 and led them to the MidYork Winterguard Class A State Championship Title. After moving to Florida he joined the staff of the Lake Mary H.S. Color Guard from 1997 - 1999. Lake Mary made HS Class A finals at WGI in Dayton, OH in 1998 and 1999. Mr. Pless has been with Madison H.S. Color Guard since 2008 and started the Madison winterguard in 2009.

Jen Barton: Choreography and Equipment

Jen has a long performance history with top color guards in the country including: Northeast Independent Winter Guard, Jacksonville, FL 2002-2004 ad astra per Aspera Winter Guard, Atlanta, GA 2005 CrownGUARD Winter Guard, Atlanta, GA 2009 Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, Santa Clara, CA 2002-2003 Jen also has her music education degree from Florida State University where she studied flute with Stephanie Jutt and Eva Amsler. She participated in Marching Chiefs, Concert and Symphonic Bands, Harmonie Chamber Ensemble, Tau Beta Sigma, Golden Key and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. She has been teaching color guard for 11 years in total with 8 years at Byrnes HS. She has also been on staff for the WGI Independent A medalist The Cast Winter Guard from Upstate, SC and WGI Independent Open Finalist Etude Winter Guard from Fort Mill, SC. She has been on staff for the DCI World Class ensemble Pacific Crest from Diamond Bar, CA, East Coweta HS, Summerville HS, Dorman HS, York HS, and has been a choreographer, technician and clinician for numerous winter and color guards in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

Laura Pless : Instructor / Consultant / Equipment Technician

Mrs. Pless has 19 years experience directing, teaching and cleaning color guards. She has worked with and taugh Groton Scarlet Edge (NY), Lake Mary HS (FL) and Madison Color Guard (NC). She herself marched with Vestal H.S. (NY) colorguard and Squires Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps.