Connor Challey is the Director of Athletic Bands and Instructor of Low Brass at North Dakota State University. In addition to Athletic Band commitments, he instructs brass chamber ensembles and a variety of courses at the Music School, as well as teaches private lessons for all Low Brass at NDSU. Challey performed as a soloist with the NDSU Wind Symphony on the 2018 concert tour. Prior to his time at NDSU, he instructed Breathing Gym at The University of Miami and with System Blue, a division of Blue Devils Performing arts on their Blue Devils International Tour. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Tuba Performance from Colorado State University. His teachers include Samuel Pilafian, Patrick Sheridan, Aaron Tindall, Stephen Dombrowski, and Velvet Brown.

Growing up in California, Challey was involved in a range of musical activities. While living in the Bay Area, he instructed Guitar, Bass, and Drum Set lessons while also playing in multiple Rock, Metal, and Punk Bands. Challey is a chartering member of the Beta Psi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and a member of The International Tuba Euphonium Association. He currently resides in Fargo, North Dakota.

Dr. Matthew Winarski is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at North Dakota State University. Dr. Winarski has worked with the Gold Star Marching Band in various capacities since 2017, when he started as a graduate assistant at NDSU. With over a decade of marching band teaching and leadership, he brings a wide depth of experience and knowledge to the GSMB staff. He has worked with both high school and collegiate marching bands across the United States, including Alexandria Area High School Marching Band (MN), the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band and Athletic Band, and the University of Memphis "Mighty Sound of the South" Marching Band. Dr. Winarski has also worked with marching ensembles internationally, including the Colegio De Bagaces Marching Band in Bagaces, Costa Rica, and the Stabekk Skoles Musikkorps Smgardistene in Stabekk, Norway. Outside of his marching band role at NDSU, he also works also the Instrumental Ensembles Manager at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.

Dr. Winarski earned his D.M.A. in Instrumental Conducting degree from the North Dakota State University's Challey School of Music, where he also received his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting and Music Education. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from UW - Eau Claire.

Dr. Winarski is a member of several music organizations on the regional and national level, including the College Music Society, National Association for Music Educators, Minnesota Band Directors Association, the Minnesota Music Educators Associations, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Tau Beta Sigma. He lives in Fargo with his husband and their dogs; Colby and Cheddar. The four enjoy traveling around the upper Midwest and visiting various state and national parks.