Band Director Announced

Post date: Jul 28, 2015 5:01:34 PM

Stewarts Creek High School has its first band director. The Red

Hawks have hired Michael Chester to lead their inaugural band.

Chester, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, has been completing his Master’s degree in conducting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He previously served as director of bands in Metro Nashville at Hillwood High School from 2007-2011 and H.G. Hill Middle School from 2004-2007. In addition, Chester served on the pre-college faculty at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music from 2009 until 2011 and as Assistant Conductor of the Curb Youth Symphony from 1999 until 2011.

“We feel privileged to have someone of Michael’s caliber working with our students,” stated Principal Clark Harrell. “His education and experience will lead the Red Hawk band in a great direction.”

An active member of the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, Chester served a two-year term as a member of the organization’s executive board in 2011. In addition, he served in the capacity as site host coordinator for the MTSBOA Middle Tennessee Junior and Senior High School Orchestra and Jazz Band regional auditions and as chairperson for the MTSBOA Middle Tennessee Senior High School Orchestra.

In 2000 Chester was the recipient of the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts Outstanding Teacher accolade. The faculty of the Middle Tennessee State University School of Music also honored Chester, with three consecutive awards (2002, 2003, and 2004) for Outstanding Achievement in Orchestral Conducting. Additionally, Chester was elected into Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity in 2011, the American School Band Directors Association in 2009, and the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society in 2006.