As the 2021 season rapidly approaches we are continuing to evaluate the state of the world and our activity to come to an informed decision about our role in the upcoming WGI and WGAZ seasons. The Oasis board and staff have been in constant communication over the last six months to ensure we evaluate all the options as soon as new information is known. At this time, it is decision of the Board of Directors and Winterguard Staff that Oasis Ensembles will not field a competitive winterguard team this season. It is our intention to continue to offer educational opportunities through Superstition Dance and the Oasis Winterguard Trainee Program while following strict health and safety guidelines to ensure everyone participating can learn in a safe environment. We will also allow members of the Trainee Program to enter and compete in WGI and WGAZ sponsored I&E events with the help of the winterguard staff. While this was an incredibly difficult decision to make, the Board and Staff feels that allowing our members to continue to learn in an environment that is more flexible and diverse is a better fit for the world we are living in today. We are excited to be able to continue offering education in the marching arts this season and look forward to meeting all of your beautiful masked faces.
​-Austin Yost, Executive Director

2020 Members

Alyssa Ruiz
Analeisha Gallegos
Anvie Dao
Ashley Grassi
Ben Robles
Brooke Blanchard
Caitlin Nardozzi
Cassie Wyatt
Coryn Felix
Dylan Miner
Elizabeth Kasel
​Isaiah Verduzco
Jamy Contreras
Jenny Ordaz
​Jillian Clark
​Joseline Duran
Katie Shaver
Kiarra Free
Lydia Castillo
Nic Schlip
Omar Hinogiante
PJ Robles
Racine Merritt
Sabrina Nunez
Sofia Vine

Our Staff

Austin Yost Director/Designer

Austin's performing arts journey began at Highland High School where he participated in the Marching Band Colorguard, Winterguard, Concert Band, Orchestra, and Choir programs. Once his high school days were over he began his Drum Corps career at The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013. The following summer he auditioned for the Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio where he spent the summers of 2014-2017. While marching at the Bluecoats, the corps saw some of it's highest placements in competition ever, including receiving their first gold metal at DCI World Championships in 2016. He also spent a season marching winterguard with FeniX Independent World in 2014. Aside from his performance career Austin has also been teaching colorguard in Arizona since his graduation from High School in 2013. He has served as the Colorguard Director and Visual Designer at Mesa High School since 2014 and as the Colorguard Director at Higley High School since 2018. Austin also serves as a Colorguard Instructor at the Academy Drum and Bugle corps. Austin founded Oasis Ensembles in 2016 and has since pushed to expand the program to include as many young performers in Arizona as possible. Aside from the world of the performing arts, Austin also works as a Casting Director for the Sanctum of Horror Haunted House which has been recognized as Arizona's Best Haunted House in both 2016 and 2017.

Lydia Page Asst. Director

Lydia Page began her colorguard career at Highland High School, performing in the Marching Band and Winterguard. While attending High School she also participated in Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra. After graduating in 2013, she began her drum corps career with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. She continued marching at the Academy serving as Colorguard Captain from 2014-2016. She helped to lead the corps to their highest placement ever in 2016 when they became first time world class finalists at Drum Corps International World Class Championships. Lydia has also performed with FeniX Independent World in 2016 and 2017. Her teaching career began in 2014 at Highland High School where she joined the staff and helped to expand the program to two winter teams for the first time ever. She also has taught at Mesa High School from 2015 to 2016 and at Campo Verde High School from 2017 to 2018. Lydia is currently the Assistant Director at both Higley High School and Oasis Winterguard as well as serving as the Board President of Oasis Ensembles. Lydia graduated from Arizona State University in 2017 with a degree in Psychology and currently works at Ivis Technologies as a Customer Service Representative. 

Xenia Vandendriessche Technician/Choreographer

Xenia Vandendriessche started colorguard in the summer of 2009 at Gilbert High School where she spun all four years until graduating in 2013. In June of 2013, Xenia filled a spot with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. Xenia then went on to participate in the ASU Fall Color Guard from 2013 to 2016 and FeniX Independent World from 2014 to 2017. Xenia has a passion for teaching and educating the next generation of spinners. She taught at Mesa High School from 2014 to 2016 and is currently in her third year teaching at Mountain View High School. During the day Xenia works as an Office Coordinator at Medix. 

Erin Owens Gonzalez Technician

Erin Owens began her colorguard career at Sevier County High School in Sevierville, TN. After graduating in 2011 she began her collegiate level performing with the University of Tennessee Colorguard where she would later hold positions as a Squad Leader and Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for the Colorguard. During her undergraduate Erin also performed with Attraction Winterguard and began her 8 year teaching career with many notable guard programs in the greater Knoxville area such as Heritage HS, Sevier County HS, Alcoa HS, Oak Ridge HS, and currently Jefferson County HS, where she is lead Designer and Choreographer. After graduating with bachelors in Music Education Erin continued being an music educator and colorguard instructor as well as a traveling choreographer. Recently, Erin spent the 2018 winter season in Northwest Arkansas with Avant Independant in Fayet​teville, AR and Bentonville High School Winterguard programs in Bentonville, AR. Since her move to Arizona, Erin has joined the staff of Mountain Ridge High School, Oasis Ensembles, and The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. Erin now resides in Mesa, AZ and enjoys hiking and spending time with her two dogs.

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Sarah Williams Technician

Sarah began her colorguard career at Rancho Cucamonga High School where she served as the captain for her senior year. She then went on to march at The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2015, 2016, 2017 and aged out on 2018. Sarah marched with FeniX Independent World in 2018 and now teaches with Oasis Ensembles. Sarah studies Linguistics at Arizona State University and is set to graduate in 2019. 

Chance Webb Choreographer

David Baker Choreographer