With two decades of experience, Tyson has competed, performed and instructed with a variety of equipment. As a member of the Hutchinson High School Color Guard, in addition to participating in field shows and solo/ensemble contests, Tyson contributed choreography to a field show, choreographed and designed a small ensemble and improvised a high scoring solo.
Upon moving to Ohio, Tyson improved upon his skills and used his flag, sabre and rifle skills to perform in several public events. Interested in furthering his expertise, Tyson participated in Mid-East Performance Association’s adjudication training. He also participated in adjudication training with the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA). Although both training programs enhanced Tyson’s abilities to educate in any color guard environment, Tyson did not continue his pursuit to become an adjudicator.
In college, Tyson was a founding member of the Washburn University Color Guard in Topeka, Kansas. During that year, Tyson also commuted to Kansas City, Kansas to compete with the Sky Ryder Independent Open Winter Guard. As a member of the Sky Ryders, Tyson competed in WGI Regionals, the Mid-West Championship and was an Open Class semi-finalist in the WGI Championships in Dayton, Ohio.
Tyson was a founding member of the Performance Arts Foundation, Inc. (PAFI) in Wichita, Kansas. This Independent A Winter Guard, part of the larger Winter Guard International (WGI) family, that had the same name as the foundation was renamed after Tyson’s departure to ICT Independent Winter Guard. During Tyson’s time with PAFI, he performed in WGI Regionals and during a Wichita State University Basketball Half Time.
As a color guard instructor, every group Tyson has worked with has qualified for OMEA State Finals each year of his instruction. From 2014-2016, Tyson was the Auxiliary Director for the Newark High School Color Guard in Newark, Ohio. His leadership in fundraising the guard’s budget, designing each field show, educating guard members in various equipment and techniques, founding a competitive winter guard program, providing educational opportunities and establishing an encouraging environment helped create one of the most improved color guard programs in the state. Applying that same approach, Tyson served as the Auxiliary Director for the Zanesville High School Blue Devil’s Marching Band from 2016-2017, as well as the Assistant Auxiliary Instructor for the New Philadelphia High School Quakers Marching Band in 2017 and Kaleidescope RA Winter Guard in 2018. The New Philadelphia Quakers Marching band achieved superior scores in all fields at state. The first time in several years. The Kaleidoscope Winterguard achieved 1st place in their division for the first time in nearly a decade, competing in the OIPA Regional A Championship Finals.
In addition to his color guard background, Tyson also has nearly a decade of experience in the circus arts. He is the Co-Founder of Pyrotechnika Fire & Light Group. His skills include juggling (4 Bags, 3 Balls, 3 Rings and 3 Clubs), fire & led spinning (Contact Staff, Poi, Wands, Fans, Ball and Snakes), stilt walking, puppetry, black light creation, projections, silhouettes, shape manipulation and basic balance beam. in 2013, He taught a summer course in Circus Arts at the respected Weathervane Playhouse located in Newark, Ohio. Highlights of his Circus Arts experience include: being mentioned on the international Bob & Sheri Radio Show and images and video of the performance published on their website, The City of Shadyside’s 100th Anniversary, City of St. Clairsville’s Summer Festivities, Y-Bridge Arts Festival, Cirque Fantazia: Luminaria Shows, The Zaney Follies, and Forest of Fright.