Staff & Graduate Assistants

Kara Duplantier serves as Business Manager for the LSU Department of Bands and has been with the organization since 2016. She takes care of back office operations for Tiger Band, Bengal Brass, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and Symphonic Band, and she handles all business operations for the department. Kara served on the steering committee for The Four Notes Club and works closely with the Board of Directors in their operations. In 2019, Kara was inducted as an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Beta Gamma, and she currently serves as financial advisor for Sigma Alpha Iota - Sigma Phil Chapter.

As a former Tiger Band (1993-1996) and Symphonic Band member, Kara understands the needs of the exciting world of LSU music. She served as piccolo section leader during her fourth year and even married her Tiger Band sweetheart. Kara still lives for the roar of the crowd on Saturday nights in Death Valley. She attends all home football games and is known to plan family vacations around LSU away games.

Kara holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Biology Education and has served in various teaching and support roles within the West Feliciana and Zachary school systems.  In her spare time, Kara serves as a CASA volunteer and loves to travel.  With a background in customer service and management, Kara is using her skills and knowledge to serve an organization she loves so much.

Lauren Bravo currently serves as the office assistant for Tiger Band. She is at LSU pursuing a master’s degree in horn performance and the alternative certification for music education. She was born and raised in New Orleans, where she also completed her undergraduate degree at Loyola University in music composition.

Music has always been at the heart of what Lauren does. She has been part of various music groups and festivals, from drum corps to jazz, classical, and chamber ensembles. She’s also had the privilege of having several original works performed by major ensembles in New Orleans. Her passion for music lies in performing and collaborating with others, and she hopes to develop this passion during her time at LSU.   

Maria Ortega currently serves as one of the office assistants for the Department of Bands. As a musician engaged with social impact, she has taught music to students from age 3 to adults and performed professionally in Venezuela (her home country), Chile, and the United States of America.  Currently pursuing a DMA in the LSU School of Music, she holds a master's degree in Cello Performance from LSU and a bachelor's degree in Modern Languages (English and French) from Arturo Michelena University.

She began playing guitar and cello in the well-known “El Sistema,” which sparked her interest for classical and Latin American music, playing symphonic works on cello and folk orchestra music on guitar. Ortega currently performs in different orchestras throughout the Louisiana region and teaches in various music academies in Baton Rouge.

Jess began her colorguard training at Denham Springs High School in 1996. While at LSU, she performed with the LSU Colorguard for five years, serving as a captain and choreographer for the 2003 & 2004 seasons. Since graduation, Jess has coached junior high and high school programs for over 17 years. 

She is a graduate of Louisiana State University where she received a BS in History. She currently serves as the Director of Communication at First Baptist Church in Denham Springs and as the head coach of the Denham Springs High School Colorguard. 

Blair began her dance training at Creative Dance Center and Northshore Academy of Dance in Covington, Louisiana. She continued her training at Tari’s School of Dance. While at LSU, she performed with the LSU Dance Ensemble and was an LSU Golden Girl for five years serving as captain and choreographer from 2002-2004. After graduate school, Blair moved to Houston where she danced with the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and worked as a nutrition coach for Life Time Fitness. Blair has taught dance in Louisiana (Tari’s School of Dance) and Houston (Connolly Dance Arts) and has choreographed for various groups, including the New Orleans Saintsations from 2008 - 2015. She was the jazz instructor for the LSU dance program from 2011 - 2019. In 2016 she became the director of the LSU Golden Girls. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University where she received a BS in Dietetics, a minor in dance, and a MS in Human Nutrition. She is a Registered Dietitian and currently teaches dance at Tari's School of Dance in Baton Rouge.