RDCBS Staff

Calista Lonsdale-Pangle - Red Deer Royals Director

Ms. LP has been teaching middle school band and elementary music at GH Dawe in Red Deer since 2016. She graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance followed by a Bachelor of Education with Distinction. She is also a proud alumna of the Red Deer College Music Diploma program. 

Her previous experiences include serving as the Music Program Educator with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, instructing children grades 3-5 in the Music Plus Explorers after school program. She has also worked as a clinician and private instructor in Red Deer and through the University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music, and performed for several seasons as a member of the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra. Ms. LP is also excited to be a new member of the Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra. 

Ms. LP has been working with the Royals in various staff positions from 2007-2009, and again since 2016, including Marching Technician, Woodwind Instructor, Full Ensemble Instructor, Assistant Director, and currently as Director. She is a product of “Once a Royal, Always a Royal”, having been a member for seven years before attending post-secondary.

Ms. LP and her husband enjoy spending time outdoors with their greyhound Samson, and traveling together to places near and far.

Other Staff of the Red Deer Community Band Society

Hanna Hensch - Colour Guard Instructor

Hanna is thrilled to be teaching at the Royals again! She has been dancing for 19 years, competitively dancing at SPARC Studio in Sylvan Lake and performing in colorguard for 11 years, starting with the Royals and eventually moving to Calgary Stampede Showband, Escalade Winterguard, and Dynamic Winterguard. Hanna has had the opportunity to teach dance at Cornerstone Youth Theatre here in Red Deer and at Boundless Dance Studio in Calgary. Hanna loves being able to share her love of the sport with those she is able to teach and see the improvement that they can achieve throughout the season. She is thrilled to be teaching colorguard this year and is excited to see what the year brings!

Lily Pollreis - Colour Guard Instructor

Lily is a colour guard fanatic who started as a member of the Royals in 2012. She has since participated in Calgary Stampede Showband, Dynamic Winterguard, Escalade Winterguard and even started her own Winterguard called Sempra. 

She has enjoyed the performing arts her whole life and looks forward to transferring this passion to the newest generation of Royals.

Riley Parker - Percussion Instructor

Riley is excited to return for his 7th year as a percussion staff with the Royals. He has marched summer field shows with both the Royals and The Calgary Stampede Showband. Music, percussion, and marching band are his biggest passions in life. He hopes to pass on to his students the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and self-improvement, so that they may spend their time in this organization creating lifelong memories.

Ethan Rose - Percussion Instructor 

Ethan Rose embarked on his musical journey with the Royals in 2019, where he honed his skills as a tenor drummer for four years. His passion for music has only deepened since then, leading him to pursue a Digital Audio Certificate of Achievement. With a vision of forging a successful career in the music industry, Ethan is dedicated to mastering the art of sound and production, eager to make his mark and share his musical talents with the world. 

He feels honored to spend time with exceptionally talented young musicians, and he is committed to supporting them in any way he can as they embark on their musical journeys. He takes great joy in sharing his knowledge and experiences and helping them grow in their passion.

Scarlet Thompson - Percussion Instructor

Scarlet Thompson, is one of the front ensemble staff. Her music journey began at the age of seven with Royal Conservatory piano lessons, where she achieved her grade 6 certification. Her passion for music ignited in junior high when she joined the Round-Up Band. Her journey continued as she became a member of the Stetson Showband and eventually the Calgary Stampede Showband, spending 10 years within the Bands of Calgary. Scarlet is incredibly excited to bring her experiences to the Red Deer Royals and to help inspire the next generation of musicians. She looks forward to working with your students to foster their growth and love of music. 

Arthur Jenkins - Percussion Instructor 

Arthur began his Royals career as a member in the alto saxophone section in 2019 when the band toured to England and Ireland and got to compete in WAMSB in Calgary. In his second year, Arthur switched over to playing quads in the drum line section and stuck with that in Royals ever since, while continuing to play saxophone outside of this group. He started his musical experience quite young with piano lessons, and progressed on to play the alto saxophone in his 7th grade concert band. While attending high school at Lindsay Thurber, Arthur played in nearly every musical ensemble that was available to him from the musical pit band to senior jazz and even created some ensembles with friends and Mrs. Mann, such as the advanced wind ensemble. Over the years, Arthur has played every saxophone in the standard saxophone family in the various ensembles at Thurber, as well as a few honour bands, and most recently at the University of Calgary in their jazz ensemble. Arthur is thrilled to be starting his time teaching at the Royals this year as one of our front ensemble instructors and hopes to stick around for many more years!

Vanessa Pastor - Woodwind & Visual Instructor

Vanessa has a music diploma from Red Deer College, a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Alberta, and an after-degree in Secondary Music Education from the University of Alberta. Vanessa has taught private flute lessons and clinics throughout Edmonton and Red Deer. 

Vanessa Pastor is currently a junior high band director and elementary music teacher at Ecole Holy Cross Academy, Edmonton. She is also on the board of directors for the Alberta Band Association. 

Vanessa became a member of the Royals in 2010 as a flute player. She was a part of the drum major team from 2013-2015. During her membership, she received the President's, Marching Showmanship, and Sousa awards.

Vanessa is in her 8th year as a Royals instructor. She started her Royals teaching career as a pit instructor, the social media and recruitment specialist, and later added woodwind and marching instructor to her roles. Vanessa is currently the Visual Coordinator and Woodwind Instructor.

Macy Lyon - Brass Instructor 

Our brass instructor is Macy Lyon. Macy is a Red Deer Royals Alumni, and played trumpet in the band for 4 years. She is in her third year at the University of Lethbridge pursuing a Bachelor of Music. Macy is a big advocate for ensemble playing, she is in 5 ensembles in Lethbridge including the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra. Outside of Royals, her teaching experience includes running trumpet clinics and teaching private lessons.

Gillian Corsiatto - Social Media & Recruiting

Gillian joined the Royals in 2013 on tuba. In her third year, she was tuba section leader and first chair. After taking a break from marching band to study music at the Red Deer College’s now nonexistent music program, she came back and joined the front ensemble. She played in the pit for two years and eventually aged out of the band in 2019. She was asked to come back and be on staff mainly because her job outside of Royals consists of lots of public speaking and presentations, so she was the ideal candidate to take over the recruitment role. She’s also the social media person and photographer for the band. You’ll find her and her trusty Nikon camera at nearly every performance! A fun fact is that Gillian has a Royals themed tattoo on her left arm that was designed by another former Royal who now does tattooing for a living.