xri board of directors

Board Members

Hunter Grace is a tax accountant, percussion educator, and longtime supporter of Crossroads Performing Arts. He earned bachelor's degrees in Accounting and Finance from Iowa State University and currently works at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines. Prior to joining Principal, he worked in public accounting as both an auditor and tax professional.

Outside of his professional career, Hunter serves as Treasurer for the board of Iowa Indoor Marching Arts. He has also held instructional leadership positions as Drumline Director at Grand View University, STORM Drumline Director at Iowa State University, and Battery Coordinator for River City Rhythm Drum Corps.

Hunter has been involved with Crossroads Performing Arts since its inaugural season and has served the organization in a variety of roles. He began as a member of the quadline, where he performed through his age-out season. The following year, he returned as a member of the educational staff, once again working with the quadline. During his second season on staff, Hunter joined the board of directors as Treasurer, a position he continues to hold. Following the 2025 competitive season, he assumed the role of President and Executive Director and is excited to help lead the organization's continued growth.

Sean Griffen, Originally from Red Oak, Iowa, graduated Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Engineering in 2021 and later received his masters of Engineering in the same field in 2024. In his day job, he is an Embedded Systems Engineer at Vermeer Corporation working on the software systems for small resource management equipment like stump cutters and brush chippers.

To start his marching career, Sean marched with the ONE Percussion WGI Indoor group out of Omaha, Nebraska his senior year in high school. He continued to be involved with the marching arts in college by marching in the Iowa State Drumline his entire undergrad tenure at the university and by performing in the 2018 - 2021 seasons of Crossroads Percussion. After aging out of the marching activities, Sean has continued to stay involved by volunteering to help instruct drumlines at Iowa State's GROOVE drumline club and Nevada Iowa Community Schools in the past. He currently instructs the "Marching Rams" high school drumline in Glenwood, Iowa.

Ellie Henson is a music educator, trombonist, and functional movement specialist from Des Moines, IA. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Iowa and her Master’s Degree from Sam Houston State University, both in music education.

In her 11th year in education, Ellie currently serves as the Director of Bands at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, IA. Her ensembles have earned high placements and numerous awards in a variety of activities. Ellie began a winter percussion program at Roosevelt in 2023. Ellie is also a Functional Movement Specialist with an emphasis on Rotational Movement Training, blending restorative movement with athletic performance.

Ellie has previously taught public school in Colorado and Texas, been on visual staff with the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps and Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, and been a personal trainer and group fitness coach.

Madison Mason is a Certified Nonprofit Professional with a B.A. in Performing Arts Management and a minor in Education Studies from the University of Northern Iowa. During her undergrad, she served as a Development Specialist and grant writer supporting nonprofits across the Iowa Cedar Valley, with a focus on strategic growth, grant development, and sustainable fundraising.
Now based in Warwick, Rhode Island, Madison serves as the Event Logistics Lead for WaterFire Providence, an internationally recognized public arts installation that routinely transforms the city's historic downtown and riverfront into a vibrant visual, musical, and culinary experience.
As a former Blue Stars baritone, Madison combines her passion for the arts with expertise in nonprofit administration. She has served in administrative roles with multiple Drum Corps International organizations, most recently as Production Manager for River City Rhythm, and is committed to fostering safe, equitable opportunities for youth in the marching arts.

Nick Feingold hails from and currently lives in West Des Moines, IA. He attended the University of Iowa for French Horn Performance and dedicated independent focus to the marching arts. While not performing and teaching where time allows, Nick is a musical instrument repair apprentice at Sleister Music in Ankeny, IA where he is training to be a technitian.

Nick was a five year member and section leader of the Hawkeye Marching Band mellophone section, marched Mellophone with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2022 and marched Cymbals with Crossroads Percussion in 2024. He now teaches and works for several organizations including The Colt Cadets (Brass/Cymbals/Visual), the Valley Marchmasters (Brass/Visual Design), and Roosevelt Indoor Percussion (Cymbals). Nick also works with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in varying capacities including serving as the Prop Manager for their 2025 summer tour.

Nick hopes to bring the perspective of a recent member, and his passion for member and staff experience and safety to the board as he rejoins the growing organization.

Advisory Board

Ashleigh Wright has been spinning, choreographing, instructing, directing or judging for the last 22 years. She began her color guard experience as a performer with the Waterloo West High School color guard from 2005-2008 under the direction of William Martin. In 2008, Ashleigh marched with Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corp. From there Ashleigh has directed, instructed and choreographed for many color guard programs for marching band and winter guard seasons in Iowa and Missouri. This includes instructing, choreographing and directing for the Crossroads Guard, an Iowa independent winter guard.

Ashleigh has been an instructor at the Central Iowa Color guard Camp as well as the Cyclone Academy for many years. Ashleigh has judged multiple Iowa marching band and winter guard competitions, along with marching band and winter guard competitions in Missouri and New Mexico. Ashleigh resides in Waukee, Iowa with her husband, two daughters and son.