Mike Simpson - Director

Mike Simpson holds bachelor degrees in Music and Education, as well as a master’s degree in Music Teaching, all from the University of Washington, Seattle. He has taught in the public schools of Snohomish, Renton, and Kent.

Mike has also been awarded a graduate fellowship to Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, has been recognized as the outstanding secondary teacher in the Renton Schools, and has won a Grammy Award for his Kentwood High School Music program. He has studied conducting with Vilem Sokol, John Paynter, and Timothy Salzman.

Holly Pope - Assistant Director

Holly Pope holds bachelor degrees in Music Education and Japanese from Central Washington University and a master’s degree in Music Education from Rutgers University. She currently is the band director at Meridian Middle School in the Kent School District. Holly has received numerous awards in music education, including Music Educator of the year for the Green River region, and the Kent PTA outstanding educator award.