Stephen Holland entering his 36th 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 100 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 has spent his entire teaching career and is in his 21st year as Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion Director at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, IA. He holds a B.M in Music from Iowa State University.
Mr. Hoover directs the Dowling Catholic Vanguard (Marching Band), Freshmen/Sophomore Concert Band, Drumline, Pit Orchestra, saxophone and clarinet choirs, as well as teaches courses in Music Theory, Music History, and Percussion Methods.
Under the direction of Mr. Hoover, ensembles have enjoyed success. The Freshmen/Sophomore Concert Band has received division I ratings in class 4A six times at the IHSMA State Large Group Festival. The Dowling Catholic Vanguard has received consistent division I ratings at the IHSMA State Marching Festival every year.
Mr. Hoover’s students have earned division I ratings at the IHSMA Small Group Festival, the Grand Champion Award eleven times at the Perry Band Olympics, and have individually placed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. The Drumline has competed/participated at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention four times, and has forty percussion caption awards in twenty years.
His professional memberships include the National Band Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, South Central Iowa Bandmasters association, and Percussive Arts Society. He resides in Ankeny, IA with his wife Mary, and children Jay, Miles, Annie and Simon.