Grand Pacer Marching Band welcomes new staff
Alan Notestine and Brittany Green have left a permanent mark on the Grand Pacer Marching Band. As they move on to a new chapter of their lives, they allow room for new faces and with those, new traditions and styles of teaching.
The 2025-26 Delaware Hayes Marching Band show, “What’s Opera Doc?” will move listeners through the story of Looney Tunes characters with music from The Marriage of Figaro; Eine Kleine Nachtmusik; Ride of the Valkyries and Vesti la Giubba.
The show was revealed to the band in April as well as the presentation of the new assistant band director, Zak Wilkins. Prior, in February, Green announced her departure from the program in order to pursue her medical career.
Notestine had been in the music department for 25 years before he decided to retire. Wilkins will be fully taking on Notestine’s role both as Director of Bands at Dempsey and as the assistant director at Hayes.
For the colorguard, Green had coached for the past 3 seasons. Johnette Kesterson will be coaching both the Winter Guard and the colorguard.
Wilkins is coming from Lexington High School, where he has been teaching for nine years. He was also part of The Ohio State University Marching Band and was an OMEA (Ohio Music Association) adjudicator at the state level.
Lexington High School is known for their spectacular sound and their reputation as a consistently successful competition band with 33 superior ratings.
“It was an outstanding chapter of my career—but I couldn’t be more excited to bring that experience and energy to the students at Hayes and Dempsey,” Wilkins said.
Similarly, Keterson has been working with guards since 2023, coaching people from ages eight to 22, but has never coached a high school team by herself. She is also a full time medical assistant and has a degree in Medical Assisting.
“I look at all the kids [on the team] almost as my own kids,” Kesterson said. “I don’t want anybody getting hurt… I definitely think my medical background helps a little bit with making sure the kids are staying healthy.”
Kesterson works with the Columbus Saints, an Ohio-non-profit dedicated to providing access to performing arts to teens. She had previously worked with the Winter Guard in the 2025 season, helping Green with choreography and general basics. There, Kesterson learned about the newly opened position and was excited to help out more in the new season.
“[Brittany] felt comfortable with me taking over the guard this year, and she knew that she was leaving it in good hands,” Kesterson said.
When Wilkins learned of the open position at Dempsey he went in for an interview with all the music department staff and Dan Bartha, the Dempsey principal. He also helped at Hayes in college while getting his degree.
“I’m excited to be part of a district that values music education so deeply,” Wilkins said. “The chance to work with Mr. Fowles and be closer to home was the icing on the cake.”
Both new members hope to conserve the spirit of the program but keep adding and making it better.
One of Wilkins’ goals for the program is to create captivating and exciting performances, as well as making students comfortable in the band.
“I want every student to walk away from Band feeling proud of what they’ve accomplished and excited to come back the next day,” Wilkins said.
Kesterson, on the other hand, would like to focus on creating memorable experiences for the guard and the seniors. She already has plans for the next winter show and taking the guard to WGI (Winter Guard International).
“I want to make [the seniors] feel comfortable that when they leave Hayes, that they have the confidence to go march where they want,” Kesterson said.
The new staff is ready to hit the ground running and will help the performing arts program flourish.
“I’m truly looking forward to building new relationships, making great music, and starting something special here,” Wilkins said.