Dowling Catholic High School Bands

Steve Holland

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Mr. Holland is beginning his 17th year as Director of Bands at Dowling Catholic High School.

When he began in 1989 the instrumental music program had an enrollment of 52 students. Today there are more than 140 students involved in the marching band and the program includes two concert bands, two-three jazz bands, drumline, several percussion ensembles, numerous chamber music ensembles, pep band, musical pit orchestra, colorguard, winter guard, and indoor drumline.

Mr. Holland conducts the Symphony Band, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, Brass Choir, various chamber brass ensembles, and serves as the Executive Director of the instrumental music program.

He holds degrees from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.

Nicholas Hoover

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Nicholas Hoover is in his fourth year as Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Percussion Activities at Dowling Catholic High School. He is a graduate of Iowa State University, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree.

While at Iowa State University, Mr. Hoover was an active member in many performing ensembles including Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band. He studied conducting techniques and rehearsal strategies privately with Director of Bands Dr. Michael Golemo and had the opportunity to conduct the ISU Wind Ensemble as a student conductor. As a percussion specialist, he performed with the ISU percussion ensemble and studied with emphasis in keyboard percussion under Associate Professor of Percussion Dr. Barry Larkin.

Mr. Hoover's experience with marching percussion is extensive. As co-captain and captain of the Iowa State Drumline and president of the ISU Groove Drumline Club from 1999-2002, he taught techniques and composed/arranged music for those ensembles. In the drum and bugle corps activity, he was a Drum Corps International finalist member of the Colts in both 1994 and 1995, and performed as a member of the snareline for the Glassmen in 1999 - whose drumline took 4th place in percussion at the Drum Corps International World Championships. As a clinician and instructor, he has instructed high school drumlines in Ames, Urbandale, Ogden, and has given clinics for Winterset High School, La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, NM, and for several drumlines at the Central Iowa Drumline Clinic - hosted at Dowling Catholic High School.

Currently Mr. Hoover teaches courses in marching band, concert band, percussion methods, percussion independent study, music theory, music history, and maintains a private lesson studio of 20 percussionists. Other ensembles under his baton include the marimba band, percussion ensemble, pit orchestra, and the award winning Dowling Catholic drumline. He is also active in composing music for percussion ensembles, solos, and marching percussion.

He is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society and the Iowa Bandmasters Association.