In this special champion spotlight episode of the Copper State Marching Podcast, Martin Hebda and Aaron Vogel sit down with Arizona’s 2025 AzMBA class champions to celebrate their remarkable seasons and the stories behind their success.

From Mountain Ridge High School’s 5A championship show “The Summit”—a powerful mountain-themed journey of endurance and artistry—to Mesquite High School’s electrifying 1A-winning Miami Sound Machine tribute that had audiences dancing, and Horizon High School’s dramatic 2A production “Turn to Stone,” inspired by the myth of Medusa, this episode dives deep into the creativity, grit, and leadership that define championship programs.

The directors share:

• The inspiration and source music behind their award-winning shows
• The turning points that shaped their seasons
• Lessons learned from weather delays, flyovers, prop mishaps, and leadership transitions
• The behind-the-scenes work of students, staff, and booster parents
• How culture, motivation, and community drive lasting success

Plus, hear their goals for the future—from national aspirations to building lifelong musicians—and heartfelt shout-outs to the families, staff members, and administrators who make it all possible.

Whether you're a director, student leader, parent, or marching band fan, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a celebration of Arizona’s thriving marching band community.

In this season finale of the Copper State Marching Podcast, hosts Aaron Vogel and Mark Veach celebrate the end of another incredible Arizona marching season. From surprise fireworks at championships to heartfelt reflections on community, growth, and resilience, the duo recaps highlights from every division—1A through 5A—spotlighting the champions, memorable performances, and moments that made 2025 unforgettable. They also discuss the power of Arizona’s band family, coming together through triumph and tragedy, and look ahead with optimism for the next generation of music educators.

Tune in for laughs, gratitude, and a reminder that the spirit of Bandtober lasts all year long.

In this episode of the Copper State Marching Podcast, hosts Aaron Vogel and Mark Hodge sit down with two of Arizona’s most respected visual educators, Dan Hoffman and Sierra Rogers, for an inspiring conversation on the do’s and don’ts of teaching visual performance.

Dan shares his journey from West Genesee High School in New York to the Arizona marching scene, drawing on his experiences with the Boston Crusaders, Oregon Crusaders, and Madison Scouts. He talks about the importance of building trust with students, focusing on process over product, and prioritizing rehearsal culture before technique. Dan’s advice for educators? Teach with empathy, move slowly and intentionally at the start of the season, and don’t mistake lack of skill for lack of effort.

Sierra, an Arizona native, ASU alum, and veteran of The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, brings fresh perspective on making visual learning fun and accessible. She emphasizes creativity, comfort, and body awareness, reminding instructors that students need space to explore before they can refine. Her biggest “don’t”? Don’t start with the elite-level movement vocabulary you just did in drum corps—start simple, build confidence, and then layer complexity.

The conversation also covers: 🎯 How to teach rehearsal etiquette from day one 🧠 The importance of understanding the “why” behind every exercise 💪 Effective cleaning strategies and knowing when to simplify drill 🎶 Incorporating music and creativity to keep visual warmups engaging 📈 Evolving design trends in the marching arts—from the high-drama visuals of the 2010s to a return to strong, purposeful drill

The episode wraps up with heartfelt shoutouts to the mentors who shaped both educators’ careers and a reminder that when you build culture, excellence follows.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Sponsored by the Arizona Marching Band Association and our incredible partners: MVP Apparel, Vic Firth, Band Shoppe, Encore Gifts, Synced Up Designs, Milano’s Music, IMC, Music for All, Mack Pack, Music Celebrations International, School Funder, the Arizona Cardinals, Bravwell Video Creations, and Yamaha.