The West Orange High School Color Guard
Join the West Orange High School Color Guard
Calling all current 8th graders through juniors!
🚩 Are you ready to add some color to your high school experience? Join us for the West Orange Color Guard “Spring Training” nights on May 21 and 28, and June 11! Come to the Band Room (entrance 19) at West Orange High School!
🎵 Whether you’re a seasoned performer or completely new to color guard, these Spring Training nights are the perfect opportunity to dip your toes into the world of spinning flags, dancing, and performing alongside the state champion West Orange High School Marching Mountaineers!
Why join the West Orange Color Guard and Marching Band?
1️⃣ Be a part of a nationally ranked marching band program that’s celebrated for its excellence and camaraderie.
2️⃣ Experience the thrill of performing on the field during electrifying halftime shows and competitions.
3️⃣ Develop valuable skills like teamwork, discipline, and leadership that will serve you well beyond high school.
4️⃣ Make lifelong friendships with fellow band and guard members who share your passion for music and performance.
No experience necessary - just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to learn! Remember to enter through Door 19 at West Orange High School.
Have questions or need more information? Reach out to elagatic@westorangeschools.org and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Spring Training dates are May 21, May 28 and June 11 from 6:30-8:30pm.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of something truly special. See you at Spring Training!
Meet the Staff of the West Orange
Color Guards
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Christina Doherty, WOHS Color Guard Director
Christina has served as a color guard instructor at West Orange since Fall of 2017. Before West Orange she served as an instructor at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Arlington High School, Kingston High School, and Roselle Park High school. She also served as color guard director at Somers High School.
Her performance experiences include the Hawthorne Caballeros (2008-2018) and the Sunrisers drum corps (2007). Her winter guard performance experience includes Blessed Sacrament (2010-2014), Emanon(2008), and Q.E.D. (2004, 2006).
Christina is a reading and math teacher for elementary students. She works with students who need small group support at a charter school in Newark.
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Stephen Girard, WOHS Assistant Color Guard Director
Stephen, a Massachusetts native currently serves as one of the color guard instructors at Basking Ridge High School in New Jersey as well as a show designer at West Orange High School Stephen has also taught and designed for other programs across Massachusetts and New Jersey.
His performance experiences range from his old High School Marching Band in Tewksbury Massachusetts as a Trumpet player to his colorguard endeavors with St. Johns Open of Beverly Mass as well as Blessed Sacrament World color guard from Cambridge Massachusetts( 2008-2015) and AMP World (2020). He has also performed with Citations from Burlington Massachusetts (2004-2007), The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps ( 2008 -2009) as well as the Hawthorne Caballeros for a combination of 8 years.
Stephen Currently lives in Middlesex, NJ and works for a commercial real estate company and has his Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting.
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Dan Dufresne, Instructor
Dan is a graduate from WOHS class of 2006! This will be his first year with the color guard. He has previously worked as an instructor with Fairlawn High School Marching Band and winter guard as a technical assistant and choreographer.
His performance experience includes West Orange High School Marching Band (2004, 2005) WOHS Winter Guard (2004-2006), Emanon Winter Guard (2007) Alter Ego Winter Guard (2009, 2010) Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps (2007) Bushwhackers (2008), and Fusion Core (2017).
Dan currently works as a high school biology teacher in the Newark Public Schools district.
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Brianna Todman, WO Middle School Color Guard Director
Brianna, a West Orange alum (2015), has worked for West Orange Colorguard since Fall of 2016. Her performance experience includes the AMP winter guard and our very own West Orange Colorguard. She’s just recently graduated from LIM College with a degree in Visual Merchandising. She aspires to be a store designer and currently works at Macy’s as a Digital Merchandise Assistant.
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Alli Gibbons, WO Middle School Color Guard Assistant Director
Alli has worked in the West Orange Public School District since 2014, teaching general and vocal music at Gregory Elementary School for 8 years before earning a master’s degree in Educational Technology and stepping into her current role as the district’s Elementary Technology Integration Specialist. She has also spent several seasons working with the West Orange High School Marching Mountaineers. Previously, Alli also spent a season marching with the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps.
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Conal Donagher, Sound Design and Production
Conal is a WOHS graduate (Class of 2015). This is his first year with the Winter Guard after doing live audio and sound design work for the Marching Mountaineers since the 2021 season. He is a graduate of Drexel University’s Music Industry program and has been doing freelance music and audio work since college. Conal also works for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in their TV department.
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Erin Lagatic, Band Director, Color Guard Advisor
Mrs. Lagatic has served as the associate band director at West Orange High School since 2005. Her duties at West Orange include directing the Symphonic Winds and Concert Band ensembles, co-directing the Marching Mountaineers, coordinating the honors chamber music program, conducting the Pit Orchestra, teaching music theory, woodwind lessons, and overseeing the color guard program.