Klemmensen, Filipiak Join Veteran Design Team for Spirit of Atlanta in 2025
Gilles Ouellette Moves into Program Coordinator Role as Corps Prepares for the Upcoming Season
ATLANTA – Spirit of Atlanta is excited to announce the 2025 design team, which includes the promotion of Gilles Ouellette to Program Coordinator, alongside the addition of Brad Klemmensen as the new visual designer and Andy Filipiak as the new front ensemble and audio designer.
Ouellette, who began his journey with Spirit of Atlanta in 2016 as staff coordinator, brings a wealth of expertise to his new role as Program Coordinator. A freelance Visual Designer, Technician, and Adjudicator, Ouellette has worked extensively with high school marching bands, drum corps, winter guards, and winter percussion ensembles across the country. His design credits include serving as the Visual Designer for the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps from 2001 to 2007, and again from 2010 to the present. Under his direction, the Spartans earned two DCI Open Class World Championships. He has also worked with the Boston Crusaders and Glassmen. Ouellette is also an active adjudicator with Winterguard International (WGI), and currently resides in Nashville, TN.
Klemmensen brings a wealth of experience to his role as Spirit of Atlanta’s new Visual Designer, previously serving as the Assistant Visual Caption Head for the corps since 2023. Prior to joining Spirit, he was a visual tech at Carolina Crown from 2016-2018 and The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from 2019-2022. Outside of drum corps, Klemmensen has taught some of the nation’s most esteemed marching bands, including the Avon High School Marching Black and Gold, Harrison High School, and The Franklin Band in Franklin, TN. His drill design has been showcased at BOA Regional Finals and Indiana Class A State Finals.
Andy Filipiak is an accomplished arranger and music educator with a primary focus on the marching arts. He has served as the Front Ensemble Coordinator and Arranger for some of the world’s premier marching ensembles, including Monarch Independent, and The Woodlands High School. Filipiak’s extensive experience in the activity includes a long tenure with The Boston Crusaders from 2012-2019 and most recently as the front ensemble caption head with the Mandarins. In 2017 he guided Tomball High School to their 2017 PSCO World Championship.
Returning for their ninth seasons with the corps, Chris Moore (Corps Director) and David Coheley (Assistant Director) will continue to provide leadership as they guide Spirit through another exciting season. Sal Salas, a long-standing member of the Spirit of Atlanta family and a DCI Hall of Fame inductee, will move into a consultant role, where his decades of experience will continue to influence the corps' artistic direction.
On the music front, Michael Martin returns for his fourth season as Brass Arranger, alongside Adam Wiencken, also return for his fourth season as Battery Arranger. Leading the Color Guard Design, Tavius Cooper will bring his vision and creativity to Spirit of Atlanta. Will Pitts also returns for his third season with Spirit as Ensemble Coordinator.
“This design team represents the perfect blend of experience and creativity,” said Ouellette. “With veterans who know the corps inside and out, combined with new team members bringing innovative ideas, we are poised for an exciting 2025 season.”
As Spirit of Atlanta enters its 49th season, anticipation is building around what this talented design team will create. For prospective members interested in joining Spirit of Atlanta for the 2025 season, the first audition is set for November 9th in Atlanta. To begin your journey, you can purchase an audition packet and get detailed information about the audition process by visiting www.spiritofatlanta.org/join. There, you’ll find information on video auditions, in-person audition experiences, and callback camps. Make sure to register early and secure your spot as part of the next Spirit of Atlanta cast.