“Five, six, five, six, seven, eight!”

The routine rhythm flows throughout the rehearsal room, assisted by the clapping of hands. At that moment, dazzling flags swiftly propel into the air in unison, encapsulating the room in a shower of color. A smile takes over Coppell Color Guard director Justin Lum’s face as he visualizes the effort poured in by the group.

Surrounded by the sounds of marching band in high school, he was exposed to color guard by his section leader. After trying it out and joining, he realized it was meant to be.

“I loved getting to perform in front of people,” Lum said. “I loved getting to show off all the hard work we put in during practice, have that show up in the performance and have people go crazy and cheer for all those achievements.”

Years later, Lum brings the same challenging yet rewarding environment to the students at Coppell High School.

“Color guard is learning how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Lum said. “There are very little aspects that feel natural or normal. With the added pressure of having to throw flags and rifles in the air, learning new dance skills underneath it and having to rely on teammates, you have to learn how to deal with pressure quickly. It is cool that it is a safe space here where we get to learn how to do that together.”

Previously, Lum served as CHS assistant director under director Matthew Rummel beginning the position in 2018. After Rummel moved to Colorado in 2024, Lum transitioned into the role of head director. Additionally, Lum has worked on the staff of Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, an independent color guard in Dallas.

Senior captain Aryahi Ravi has seen a change in Lum after becoming head director.

“When he was assistant, he still made a lot of choreography and interacted with the team a lot, similar to how a director would,” Ravi said. “Then, when he became director, he had a lot more responsibilities and he was fully involved in writing the shows. He always kind of made the choreography and he always had the same dynamic.”

As director, every week requires hours of planning routines, choreography and shows.

“He dedicates so much time towards creating everything,” junior captain Kate Sierra said. “He will usually come up with it on his own time, and he will take time out of his day in another class period to think through the choreography and skill sets. He makes sure that they are perfect for us, and that we would be able to do it.”

One main message stands clear through his work: growth.

“If he sees us struggling on a part of choreography, he will change it so that it is easier for us until we can get the other part in our hands better,” Sierra said. “If he sees that part is easy, he will make it harder for us so that we are challenged. If he sees us struggling as a whole, he will call us in and ask ‘What can I do to help you guys?’”

Lum works with director of bands Kimberly Shuttlesworth to coordinate the creative vision between the color guard and the marching band.

“This is a speciality that not many can do, along with do well,” Shuttlesworth said. “I have watched him develop into a great leader for our students from being the assistant guard director to now leading the team. He has a great team that he knows understands the standards and expectations. It is always a group effort.”

Through leading the team, he aids in fostering a sense of community. This comes with a strict divide between fun and practice.

“I always tell students that inside rehearsal, it is business,” Lum said. “Outside of class is where we get to develop the relationships and interpersonal skills. If kids are struggling with classes or pressure, that is where we get to have more one-on-one chats.”

Lum coaches students to flourish, gaining confidence with time.

“Out of a lot of sports that I have been a part of, I feel like color guard is the one where I can be myself because of him,” Sierra said. “I am never scared to go up to him and tell him if we need to change something or if there is any way he could be better or I could be better. It is a great dynamic between the group because everyone is really heard and no one is ever alone with themselves.”

Outside of the sport, Lum enjoys the magic of literature, words in stories adding on to his expressive visions. With this approach, it empowers him to blend interdisciplinary arts through storytelling, both physical and linguistic.

Through multiple mediums, he is there for the performers in more ways than one.

“I was an English literature major in college, so anytime a kid has an essay in an English class or a history class, I always say ‘Bring it to me,” Lum said. “I read over college essays. I read over a majority of our college essays from last year’s senior class.”

In the past, Lum has helped his group advance to Winter Guard International Regionals, where it won first place.

“One of my fondest memories is going down to Austin a couple years ago, and the kids had a fantastic run,” he said. “They ended up winning the region, and it was the first time Coppell had ever won a regional.”

Beyond just competitions, Lum helps students beyond their high school careers.

“I have had lots of alumni from CHS reach out to me about how much color guard prepared them for college, internships or jobs they have simply due to being able to manage time, stress and being able to perform under pressure when there are a lot of expectations,” Lum said.

Lum’s dedication does not fall short to boundaries — it sees new horizons.

“We are in the business for the passion and the creativity,” Shuttlesworth said. “That is what he is. He is passionate about the color guard craft.”

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