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Fairview High Band under new direction



NANCY STEPHENS nstephens@mainstreetmediatn.com

FHS Director of Bands Nick Heilborn at work duriing the Fairview Veterans Celebration in Bowie Park November 13, 2021.BILL LOWRY

FHS Director of Bands Nick Heilborn at work duriing the Fairview Veterans Celebration in Bowie Park November 13, 2021.BILL LOWRY

The Fairview High School Sound ‘O Gold Band welcomed a new director this year. Nick Heilborn is Fairview High School’s new director of bands, and he has big plans for the program. “I hope to continue building up the program to become a flagship for Fairview throughout, not only the community, but throughout Williamson County and Middle Tennessee,” said Heilborn. A new resident of Bellevue, Heilborn is engaged to Emily, a music teacher in Metro Nashville Public Schools. “We met at Vanderbilt when she performed one of my compositions, a saxophone quartet, for a recital. He also has a Cardigan Welsh Corgi named Artoo. “Yes, after R2-D2,” Heilborn admits. Originally from High Point, North Carolina, Heilborn attended Vanderbilt University where he earned his Masters and Bachelor degrees. “I received my Bachelor of Music in Music Composition and Music Education, with a minor in Saxophone Performance in 2020,” shared Heilborn. He was a student teacher at Franklin High School, and graduated with his Masters of Secondary Education in K-12 Instrumental/General Music in the spring of 2021. “While at Vanderbilt, I was involved in the Spirit of Gold Marching Band, serving as a section leader in 2017 and a drum major in 2018. In addition, I also conducted the Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra and the University Concert Band, two non-music major ensembles on campus,” said Heilborn. This is his first year as a band director. However, I spent the prior summers in college working as a marching band tech and percussion arranger. He noted, “In addition, I worked as a student worker and a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt University, assisting the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra directors with multiple projects, including a book about ensemble musicianship now published by GIA publications.” In 2020, he won the Achievement in Teaching Award and the Calhoun Award in Composition from the Blair School of Music. In 2018, he was awarded the Blair Choral Call for Scores and had his choir piece performed by the Symphonic Choir. Despite all his prior achievements, Heilborn has new goals when it comes to the FHS band. “I want to see the band program at Fairview establish itself as a program for the community. My motto for the band is ‘It’s fun to be good, and it’s good to have fun,’” said Heilborn. He is being assisted at FHS by Adriane Baker with percussion, Hannah Bozung with color guard, Julia Culp with visual and brass, Noel Henniger as middle school director, Monica Laird with color guard, and Bryan Stringfield with drill and visual. Heilborn said the Fairview High School Sound of Gold operates from Core Values, referred to as “STINGER”: • Self-Expression — We see others as people first, and focus on the development of our whole selves. • Teamwork — Music brings people of all backgrounds together to work together and problem solve, as well as build leadership skills, make friendships, and make each other successful. • Independence — We must prepare ourselves not only to gain musical skills, but to gain the skills needed to continue to learn and grow past our time in the band room. • iNclusivity — Music should be experienced and enjoyed by all, regardless of varied abilities and backgrounds. A band program serves not just the students in its classes, but the students of the entire school and the community that surrounds it. • Growth — We are forward-thinkers, and fall-forward-fast as we learn and improve. • Engagement — The wants and needs of our students, parents, and community are important to us, and we care about and enjoy the work we do. • Reliability — We are dependable for ourselves and our peers, and are resilient in the face of challenge. In addition, the band recently completed their first March-a-thon through Fairview on October 30 which was a win-win, serving as a band fundraiser and raising awareness of the arts at FHS to future band members. “We are also planning on beginning a jazz band program at the high school,” Heilborn shared. The marching band is comprised of 34 students in 7th-12th grade. The concert band has around 35 members at the high school, and 10 students in the percussion ensemble. Heilborn said, “My hope is to continue to grow the program and offer as many students the opportunity to participate in an excellent ensemble as possible!” The theme for this year’s football halftime show was entitled “Black,” and featured Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones, Blackbird/Yesterday by the Beatles, and My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light ‘Em Up) by Fall Out Boy. Heilborn said he wanted to create a show that was both fun to perform and fun to listen to. He succeeded, and after a year of not being able to have marching band, Heilborn said it was great to see the band back out on the field and playing for the community. “The Fairview High School Band program is longstanding and full of history and supportive alumni, and we are always eager and looking for opportunities to get out and share our music with the world,” stated Heilborn. If you have an interest in supporting the music program, you can donate through the band website www.fairviewhighschoolband.org. Outside of work, Heilborn enjoys playing disc golf and taking hikes with his fiancé Emily and Artoo. When asked what might surprise our readers to know about him, Heilborn replied, “Despite becoming a band director, I actually did not grow up playing a band instrument — I was a violinist in Middle School!”

HeilbornSUBMITTED

HeilbornSUBMITTED

Fairview High Director of Bands Nick Heilborn at work during the Fairview Veterans Celebration November 13, 2021.BILL LOWRY

Fairview High Director of Bands Nick Heilborn at work during the Fairview Veterans Celebration November 13, 2021.BILL LOWRY

The Fairview High School Sound ‘O Gold Band welcomed a new director this year. Nick Heilborn is Fairview High School’s new director of bands, and he has big plans for the program. “I hope to continue building up the program to become a flagship for Fairview throughout, not only the community, but throughout Williamson County and Middle Tennessee,” said Heilborn.

A new resident of Bellevue, Heilborn is engaged to Emily, a music teacher in Metro Nashville Public Schools. “We met at Vanderbilt when she performed one of my compositions, a saxophone quartet, for a recital. He also has a Cardigan Welsh Corgi named Artoo. “Yes, after R2-D2,” Heilborn admits.

Originally from High Point, North Carolina, Heilborn attended Vanderbilt University where he earned his Masters and Bachelor degrees. “I received my Bachelor of Music in Music Composition and Music Education, with a minor in Saxophone Performance in 2020,” shared Heilborn. He was a student teacher at Franklin High School, and graduated with his Masters of Secondary Education in K-12 Instrumental/General Music in the spring of 2021.

“While at Vanderbilt, I was involved in the Spirit of Gold Marching Band, serving as a section leader in 2017 and a drum major in 2018. In addition, I also conducted the Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra and the University Concert Band, two non-music major ensembles on campus,” said Heilborn.

This is his first year as a band director. However, I spent the prior summers in college working as a marching band tech and percussion arranger. He noted, “In addition, I worked as a student worker and a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt University, assisting the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra directors with multiple projects, including a book about ensemble musicianship now published by GIA publications.”

In 2020, he won the Achievement in Teaching Award and the Calhoun Award in Composition from the Blair School of Music. In 2018, he was awarded the Blair Choral Call for Scores and had his choir piece performed by the Symphonic Choir.

Despite all his prior achievements, Heilborn has new goals when it comes to the FHS band. “I want to see the band program at Fairview establish itself as a program for the community. My motto for the band is ‘It’s fun to be good, and it’s good to have fun,’” said Heilborn.

He is being assisted at FHS by Adriane Baker with percussion, Hannah Bozung with color guard, Julia Culp with visual and brass, Noel Henniger as middle school director, Monica Laird with color guard, and Bryan Stringfield with drill and visual.

Heilborn said the Fairview High School Sound of Gold operates from Core Values, referred to as “STINGER”:

• Self-Expression — We see others as people first, and focus on the development of our whole selves.

• Teamwork — Music brings people of all backgrounds together to work together and problem solve, as well as build leadership skills, make friendships, and make each other successful.

• Independence — We must prepare ourselves not only to gain musical skills, but to gain the skills needed to continue to learn and grow past our time in the band room.

• iNclusivity — Music should be experienced and enjoyed by all, regardless of varied abilities and backgrounds. A band program serves not just the students in its classes, but the students of the entire school and the community that surrounds it.

• Growth — We are forward-thinkers, and fall-forward-fast as we learn and improve.

• Engagement — The wants and needs of our students, parents, and community are important to us, and we care about and enjoy the work we do.

• Reliability — We are dependable for ourselves and our peers, and are resilient in the face of challenge.

In addition, the band recently completed their first March-a-thon through Fairview on October 30 which was a win-win, serving as a band fundraiser and raising awareness of the arts at FHS to future band members.

“We are also planning on beginning a jazz band program at the high school,” Heilborn shared.

The marching band is comprised of 34 students in 7th-12th grade. The concert band has around 35 members at the high school, and 10 students in the percussion ensemble. Heilborn said, “My hope is to continue to grow the program and offer as many students the opportunity to participate in an excellent ensemble as possible!”

The theme for this year’s football halftime show was entitled “Black,” and featured Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones, Blackbird/Yesterday by the Beatles, and My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light ‘Em Up) by Fall Out Boy. Heilborn said he wanted to create a show that was both fun to perform and fun to listen to. He succeeded, and after a year of not being able to have marching band, Heilborn said it was great to see the band back out on the field and playing for the community.

“The Fairview High School Band program is longstanding and full of history and supportive alumni, and we are always eager and looking for opportunities to get out and share our music with the world,” stated Heilborn. If you have an interest in supporting the music program, you can donate through the band website www.fairviewhighschoolband.org.

Outside of work, Heilborn enjoys playing disc golf and taking hikes with his fiancé Emily and Artoo.

When asked what might surprise our readers to know about him, Heilborn replied, “Despite becoming a band director, I actually did not grow up playing a band instrument — I was a violinist in Middle School!”

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