Area - Visual - Indoor Guard Equipment, Visual - Indoor Guard Movement, Visual - Indoor Guard Design Analysis, Visual - Indoor Percussion Visual, Visual - Outdoor Visual Analysis, Visual - Outdoor Colorguard

MJA Member since 2024

Contact: lesley.rider@gmail.com

Experience - >15 years

BIO:

Lesley has been involved in the pageantry arts for over 40 years as a performer, instructor, director, consultant, and adjudicator. Her story began in the Mid-1980’s when she joined her high school marching band and winter guard, Canandaigua Academy. She quickly transitioned from performer to staff member in 1986, working alongside a successful national designer after graduation.

After finishing her college education in Graphic Design, Lesley began working as the Director of Guards at Canandaigua Academy (1994-1998) and joined the color guard staff for the Webster High School Marching Band (1995-1998). In 1998, Lesley joined the Victor High School Marching Band and Color Guards as the Caption Head and Director/Designer of Guards for over 12 seasons. Additionally, Lesley was the body and movement choreographer for the Victor Indoor Percussion Ensemble, which earned the WGI PSA 2017 Bronze Medal at WGI Finals. She has also provided color guard consulting and design services for several high school groups in New York (Eastridge, Marcus Whitman, Victor, and Medina) and Dublin Scioto High School in Ohio. During this same timeframe, Lesley marched several seasons with the Empire Statesmen color guard (1997-2000, 2004) and joined the staff while marching in 2000.

Lesley has been judging winter guard locally for the NYFCJ for over 16 years and continues to enjoy a great relationship with the NYFCJ community and winter guard circuit partners. Lesley has been on the Championship panels for both the Mid York Color Guard Circuit and the Northeast Color Guard Circuit multiple times. Lesley is also a visual judge for the NYS Percussion Circuit, New York Field Band Conference, Cavalcade of Bands, and provided adjudication for several of the area spring pageants and parades. Lesley attended the WGI Judges Academy in 2015 and became a WGI roster judge in the caption of movement. Lesley enjoyed several years judging nationally for WGI. Professionally, Lesley is the Administrative Coordinator for the Arc of Ontario. Lesley is married to Mark, and proud mom to daughters Claire and Lauren, fur-babies Flynn, Oliver, and Mary Sparkles.

Marching Arts Affiliations:

Judging: NYFCJ, Mid York Color Guard Circuit, Northeast Color Guard Circuit, WGI, NYS Percussion Circuit, New York Field Band Conference, Cavalcade of Bands.

Lesley began working as the Director of Guards at Canandaigua Academy (1994-1998) and joined the color guard staff for the Webster High School Marching Band (1995-1998). In 1998, Lesley joined the Victor High School Marching Band and Color Guards as the Caption Head and Director/Designer of Guards for over 12 seasons. Additionally, Lesley was the body and movement choreographer for the Victor Indoor Percussion Ensemble, which earned the WGI PSA 2017 Bronze Medal at WGI Finals. She has also provided color guard consulting and design services for several high school groups in New York (Eastridge, Marcus Whitman, Victor, and Medina) and Dublin Scioto High School in Ohio. During this same timeframe, Lesley marched several seasons with the Empire Statesmen color guard (1997-2000, 2004) and joined the staff while marching in 2000.