DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR
Emily Strother
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Emily Strother discovered her passion for the pageantry arts as a member of the Union High School color guard program (2007-2013). She continued her performing career with the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps (2013), Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps (2015-2016), Eclectix Independent Winter Guard (2015), and CGT (2018-2020).
Emily has 13 years of instructional experience specializing in color guard instruction, choreography, and movement. Her educational experience includes Union HS, Braswell HS, Lebanon Trail HS, Allen HS, Blue Valley West HS, Blue Stars, Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets, Ménage, Mirage, and others. She has been co-founder and co-director of Mirage Performance Ensemble since 2021.
Outside of color guard, Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is an active advocate within the DFW mental health community. She is also a certified yoga teacher and enjoys incorporating principles of mindfulness, breath, and body awareness into her teaching.
When she isn’t teaching, Emily can usually be found at a yoga studio, spending time outdoors, or with her dog, Jellybean.
DIRECTOR
Malan Messemore
Malan Messemore is a Dallas, TX local. He was born and raised in the Rowlett, TX and currently lives in the Las Colinas area. Malan is one of the founders of Mirage Performance Ensemble where he has served as a co-director since 2021. He is a Color Guard Caption Lead at the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps where he has been a part of the color guard staff since 2019. Malan holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Arlington where he studied film, graphic design, and drawing.
Malan has 14 years of educational experience specializing in color guard instruction, weapon technique, staging, choreography, and artistic design. His experience includes Berkner HS, Red Oak HS, Lebanon Trail HS, Allen HS, Keller HS, Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, Mirage, Ménage, and others.
Malan works as a designer and creative at Band Today, joining the team in 2024. There he produces costumes, flags, prop graphics, and more. Malan also works with various local and national programs providing staging services, choreography, and full package programming.
His performing experience includes CGT (2015-2020), the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-2015), Black Gold Winterguard (2012-2014).
Aside from work, Malan enjoys spending time doing yoga, running, fitness, and spending time with friends.
PROGRAM DESIGNER
PROGRAM DESIGNER
Byron K. Valentine
Byron K. Valentine is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, who studied education and design before relocating to Dayton, Ohio, where he now serves as Lead Stretch Wear Designer for Fred J. Miller, Inc. (FJM), a national supplier of marching band and colorguard uniforms and costumes.
With more than 30 years of experience in the pageantry arts, Byron specializes in costume design, program design, and visual development for marching band and winter guard. His work is especially recognized for its focus on the human condition, creating productions that are thoughtful, emotionally meaningful, and unapologetically theatrical.
His design and choreography credits include Centerville HS, Bellbrook HS, Miamisburg HS, Foster HS, Germantown HS, Bluecoats, Colts, Carolina Crown, Allegoria Winter Guard, Homage Winter Guard, Artistry in Blue, Juxtaposition Winter Guard, and Lexis Winter Guard, among many others. He has also served as a guest clinician and performance coach for the United States Twirling Association, mentoring members of the U.S. National Team in preparation for their Olympic performance in Paris, France.
As Executive Director and Artistic Director of Zydeco Colorguard, Byron helped guide the ensemble to multiple WGI World Championship finals, two World Championship medals, and a World Class Fan Favorite Award.
Now entering his tenth season as Artistic Director of Étude Winter Guard, Byron also serves as Artistic Director for the Dobyns-Bennett High School and Mason High School Winter Guard programs. He previously taught in the FJM Summer Clinic Program, including five years as Colorguard Coordinator, and was recently a featured presenter at the Bands of America Color Guard Instructor Academy. In addition, Byron is an accomplished equipment, movement, and general effect adjudicator for regional and national circuits.
His performing experience includes Infiniti Winterguard (SC), Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, Crown Guard, and the Pride of Cincinnati. Outside the pageantry arts, Byron enjoys home renovation projects, spending time with fellow artists and friends, and has never met a dog he didn't want to befriend.