09/28/2026
Meet the 2026-27 Marching Royals coaching staff.
Matt Tracey — Director
Mr. Tracey leads the Fine & Performing Arts and Physical Education departments for Ridgefield Public Schools. As director of Ridgefield’s instrumental ensembles, he took the Marching Royals and associated groups to performances across Canada and the U.S., including Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Chicago, and more. Under his leadership the ensembles earned consistent superior ratings at competitions and played major events such as halftime for the New York Jets.
They have performed for artists and organizations including Michael Jordan, the Walt Disney Company, Paramount Pictures, and have appeared at Madison Square Garden more than sixty times.
A seasoned member of the Marching Arts, Mr. Tracey marched with the World Champion Garfield Cadets and the Bayonne Bridgemen, and later taught brass with the Bushwacker Senior Drum & Bugle Corps and Dutchboy Drum & Bugle Corps (1984–1991).
He is a professional trombonist who has performed and recorded with many leading artists across Latin, jazz, gospel, funk, R&B, and classical genres — serving as musical director for artists such as Frankie Negron and performing with Tito Puente, Ray Sepulveda, Raulin Rosendo, George LaMond, Lizette Melendez, Tito Nieves, Ruben Blades, Frankie Ruiz, Larry Harlow, Brenda K. Starr, and many others. Mr. Tracey has appeared on numerous platinum-selling albums, in films, music videos, and television.
He is pleased to return as director of the Marching Royals after an eight-year hiatus and looks forward to working with his talented coaching staff and Ridgefield’s outstanding students.
• Jessica Abrams — Assistant Director
Jess Abrams has been involved with the Marching Royals for more than 25 years as both participant and staff. A Ridgefield Memorial High School graduate, she spent 14 years teaching as drumline caption head, assistant director, and high school assistant band director. Jess is a professional percussionist and conductor. After leaving Ridgefield she relocated to South Jersey, where she currently teaches special education music and also instructs at Bergen Community College. She is excited to return to the Marching Royals.
• Oliver Islambouli — Percussion Specialist
Oliver Islambouli is a percussion and marching specialist whose life has been shaped by marching band. He marched for four years at Ridgefield Memorial High School, then continued with the Rutgers University drumline, performing at college stadiums nationwide and at events including Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. Oliver is an AP Physics teacher at Ridgefield Memorial High School and has worked with the marching band for eight years, including five years as director. He is excited to continue the tradition of excellence with the Marching Royals.
• Do Yeon Shim — Logistics Coordinator
Ms. Shim has been involved with the Marching Royals nearly as long as Mr. Tracey. She was a member of his inaugural marching band during the program’s rebuilding in the late 1980s. After earning education degrees at Rutgers University, she returned to Ridgefield to serve as an elementary school teacher. Ms. Shim has taught flute in the Ridgefield summer music program and has been a valued member of the marching band staff for many years. We are delighted to welcome her back as our Logistics Coordinator.
• Randy Accardi — Color Guard Choreographer
Randy “Mr. Randy” Accardi began in Drum & Bugle Corps and later founded his own indoor color guard, Conquest, which ran for eleven years and stood out for its innovative competitive approach — notably as one of the first guards to use moving scenery and backdrops to enhance performance intimacy. While leading Conquest, Randy taught the New York Skyliners drum and bugle corps for four summers and instructed more than twenty-five high school color guards across the tri-state area and South Carolina. He marched with the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps (1986–1987) and served as their color guard captain from 1988–1991, leading them to three straight Best Color Guard trophies. Randy spent over a decade in DCA, winning four DCA Championships and three Best Color Guard titles as caption head and performer. Transitioning into theatre, he has worked as director, choreographer, and performer across the tri-state area and for the past ten years has run Interactive Entertainment, producing shows for care centers, schools, and private events. We’re excited to welcome Randy back for his 15th season with the Marching Royals.
• Kristy Yoon — Color Guard Advisor
Kristy spent six years in the Royals Color Guard at RMHS and participated in concert band, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, musical, and concert choir. She studied nursing at Villanova University and now works as a neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurse. For the past three years Kristy has served as Color Guard Advisor. We are happy to have her continuing to guide and support our color guard this season.
