Lead Instructor

Kelly Barnard is excited to return to the Gates Chili organization for the 22-23 season as the RA guard’s lead instructor.

Kelly has been spinning since 2004, finishing her time as a marching member of Gates Chili in 2007 before moving on to the Patriots Winterguard for 4 seasons. She has also spent 2 seasons with the Rochester Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.

Aside from the Gates Independent Winterguards, Kelly has also worked with the Gates Chili Marching Band, The East Irondequoit Lancer Marching Band, and the Patriots RA and Cadet Winterguards. 

Kelly is a Scorpio vegetarian and when she’s not teaching twirls you can find her drinking coffee or gardening, AKA planting a buffet for the neighborhood deer, with her husband and their zoo.

Emily Sattora is delighted to be joining the Gates Chili Winterguard instructional staff for the 2023 season! Her marching career began with Gates Chili back in 2010 where she marched four winter seasons, followed by four seasons with Patriots Winterguard. Emily began her teaching career with Patriots Too Winterguard in 2016 before moving to Ithaca, New York where she attended Cornell University and studied Neurobiology and Behavior. Emily is passionate about musical theatre, medical ethics, and of course, colorguard. She is thrilled to emerge from retirement and return to her roots as an instructor for the Regional A Winterguard.

Emily is returning as a fourth-year staff member this year, with this upcoming year being her second with the Gates Chili RA program.

Emily first joined the Gates Chili Color Guard organization back in 2008. After competing in five different classes over the course of 11 years, Emily finished her career by making WGI finals with the Gates Chili Independent A 2019 team.

Emily’s favorite part about teaching with Gates is seeing the members progress from the beginning of the season to the end. We learn a lot about the fundamentals of color guard in the RA group. Seeing the members apply their newly learned skills and grow within the program is one of the most rewarding feelings to Emily.

While this is only Emily’s fourth year teaching with Gates Chili, it is not her first experience working with children! Emily recently graduated from St. John Fisher College after pursuing a degree in Inclusive Childhood Education with a concentration in American Studies.

In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her friends and family as well as her two kittens, Fergie and Blair.