Staff

Brandon Larsen- Director Of Bands

Brandon Larsen is Director of Bands at Herriman High School, where he directs the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band I (Herriman Big Band), Jazz Band II (Herriman Little Band), Marching Band and pep ensembles. Mr. Larsen also serves, currently as the Performing Arts Department Head at Herriman High School. In addition he serves as president of the semi professional ensemble: The Salt Lake Symphonic Winds where he is also the principal tubist. Prior to his appointment at Herriman High School , Mr Larsen served for one year as Director of Bands at Fremont High School, three years as Director Of Music at Grantsville High School and one year at North Sevier High School as Director of Performing Arts. An active clinician and guest conductor, Mr Larsen has worked with middle and high school bands throughout the state of Utah.

Mr Larsen and his students have received numerous awards and honors including: Teacher Of The Year, Talkin Sports-Friday Night Rival Teacher Of The Week, and numerous superior ratings at the region and state levels.

Mr Larsen is an active member of the Utah Music Educators Association and currently serves on the Utah All-State Band Committe and The UMEA Band committee. He travels to many professional development conferences and clinics including: UMEA mid winter conference in St George, Utah, The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, and Instrumental Music Teacher Educators (IMTE) Conference in Perrysville, Ohio. Mr. Larsen has been published in the Utah Music Educators Association Journal and presented at the UMEA mid winter conference, at IMTE and has been invited to present at the 2020 NAFME Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Mr. Larsen was born and raised in Castle Dale, Utah where he graduated from Emery High School. He then received his Bachelors of Science in Music Education Degree at Southern Utah University. Mr. Larsen is currently pursuing a Masters in Music Education at the University of Michigan, doing course work in the summer and light writing during the school year. He currently resides in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah.

Nick Jackson--Director Of Orchestras/ Assistant Director/ Director of Percussion

Nick is an active performer, and educator in the state of Utah. While studying at the University of Utah, Nick has participated in several youth organizations across the country to further his musical and pedagogical skills. Nick’s goals are to further grow the culture and education of music and the arts in the state of Utah.
Nick has devoted his studies to music at the University of Utah. He holds a Bachelor of Arts for Music Education and has excelled amongst the percussion studio at the University. Nick has studied in all areas of percussion from keyboard and orchestral instruments with Dr. Mike Sammons and Doug Wolf, to drum set and timpani with Kelly Wallis and George Brown, respectively. Nick completed his student teaching semester at Riverview Jr. High in Murray, Utah with his cooperating teacher Zachary Giddings. While at Riverview he co-taught classes including Symphonic Band, Concert Orchestra, Beginning Orchestra, and Percussion.
While at the U, Nick has performed with a variety of ensembles including: Utah Wind Ensemble, Utah Philharmonia, Campus Symphony, and the University of Utah Percussion Ensemble. As a performer Nick has earned several awards at the yearly Utah Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion in the categories of Marimba and Rudimental Snare Drum. Nick is a substitute member of Cinq Percussion and has performed at elementary school outreach events under Utah Arts Inc.
Nick has taught percussion at several high schools and independent organizations around the state including:
Gold Spike Indoor Percussion (2018-Present)
The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps (2017-Present)
Weber State Indoor Percussion (2017-2018)
Riverton High School (2013-2017)
Davis High School (2014-2016)
Grantsville High School (2014)

Nick has a private lesson studio of various students he teaches weekly and lives in Salt Lake City with his wife and 3-year-old daughter.

Cameron Elliott-- Mountain Creek Middle Director Of Bands/ Herriman High Assistant Director Of Bands

Cameron Elliott is the band director at Mountain Creek Middle School in South Jordan, Utah, as well as an assistant director for the Herriman High School Marching Mustangs. Mr. Elliott is in his second year of teaching in Utah, and taught for two years in North Carolina prior. He graduated in 2016 from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. While at ECU, he was an active performer with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra, as well as various chamber ensembles. As an educator, Mr. Elliott has worked with some of the top marching band, concert band, and colorguard programs across North Carolina including White Oak High School, Green Hope High School, Cleveland High School, Archer Lodge Middle School, Northern Nash High School and two-time DCA A Class Champion - Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps. As a conductor, Mr. Elliott studied under Dr. Scott Carter (ECU), Dr. Jorge Richter (ECU), and has participated in conducting workshops with Dr. Travis Cross (UCLA), Professor Eugene Corporon (University of North Texas), Dr. Mallory Thompson (Northwestern University), Dr. Craig Kirchoff (University of Minnesota), Dr. Jack Stamp (retired, IUP), Professor Michael Haithcock (University of Michigan), and Dr. Frank Battisti (New England Conservatory). Mr. Elliott is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Music Education from the prestigious Hartt School Conservatory at the University of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut.

Keith Davis-- Copper Mountain Middle Director Of Bands/ Herriman Assistant Director Of Bands

This is Keith Davis and he is proud to be the Director of Bands at Copper Mountain
Middle School and the Assistant Director of the Herriman High Marching Mustangs. He is in his
27th year of teaching Band and Orchestra in both Jordan and Canyons School DIstricts at three
different schools; Butler Middle School (twice), Elk Ridge Middle School and now currently at
Copper Mountain Middle School. He is a graduate of the University of Utah with a degree in
Music Education. He has been nominated as a finalist for Teacher Of The Year in Jordan as
well as Canyons School Districts with just recently this year being named Teacher of The Year
at Copper Mountain by the South Valley Board of Regents. Also, during his tenure at all three
above mentioned schools, he has been successful at taking multiple bands from each school to
the UMEA State Jr. High Festival.
Mr. Davis has been involved with Marching Band for many years. Back in the day he
marched for both Bingham and West Jordan High Schools. He continued to march during his
time at the University of Utah where he was awarded the first ever Sally Burbidge Marching
Band Scholarship. After graduation and years of teaching at a “non-MB school’” he was given
an opportunity to join the staff at Bingham High School where he was Assistant Director over
the High Brass. Then the opportunity came to join the Herriman Marching Band and for the last
2 years he could not be more happy to be involved with such a wonderful organization! It is hard
for him to believe but he has over 22 years of marching experience!
His main instrument is the trumpet and during his teaching career he has also been
blessed with many opportunities to pursue a professional playing career as well. Some of the
more notable opportunities have been with the Utah Symphony, Grand Teton Music Festival,
Salt Lake City Jazz Festival, Manhattan Transfer, the Temptations and The Four Tops among
many others. He currently plays lead trumpet in 3 different Jazz Bands in the Salt Lake area,
plays in the trumpet section with Orchestra at Temple Square, and also plays in the trumpet
ensemble Gabriel, who performed with the Tabernacle Choir on their Christmas Concert the
past 2 years.

Marching Band Staff:

Melvin Chicas-- Front Ensemble Tech

I am happy to be joining the team. I have been in the preform arts for 8 years now. I have travel to many different states getting experience from many instructors. I moved to Utah one year ago, and I am currently enrolled at SLCC with the major of Hospitality Management. I’ve had the opportunity to learn many different styles and techniques to bring back to the students. My main mission is to make sure everyone has fun and improves day by day. I was also a middle school band assistant, and a front ensemble coach while in Vegas

Bradly Olson-- Visual Caption Head

-10 years active in the Marching Band community
- West Jordan High School Drum Major
- Marched With Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps 2013 and 2016
- Marched with Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps
- Currently going to UVU for music education and trumpet performance

Kristen Blackham-- Woodwind Caption Head

Kristen Blackham is a music educator and flutist in the Salt Lake area. She has spent the last few years as the band and orchestra director at South Ogden Junior High and a flute teacher in the Davis school district area. Ms. Blackham graduated from Brigham Young University in 2017 with a degree in instrumental music education. She performed in her high school marching band in Chicago, the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, and the BYU marching band, for a total of 6 years of marching experience. She has previously staffed as a woodwind caption head at both Herriman and Lehi high schools.

Ms. Blackham is an active member of the Utah Music Educators Association, Utah Bandmasters Association, the National Flute Association, and the Utah Flute Association. She also enjoys subbing as a performer with the Utah Wind Symphony on flute. Her favorite instruments to play and teach are flute, clarinet, and saxophone! She is very excited about her first year back with the Herriman High School marching band!

Stephanie Pederson-- Colorguard Coach

I’ve been involved in Colorguard for 10 years. I went to school at Copper Hills High School where I spun for 4 years there. Upon graduating I joined an independent guard called Urban Expressions for one season. I attended school at Weber State and marched 3 seasons with the Weber State Independent Guard. Most recently I marched my ageout year with the Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps and Wasatch Independent Guard. I have been teaching guard for 5 years. I taught one year at Provo High School, 2 years at Copper Hills High School as their assistant. My first year as a director was here at Herriman in 2017 and have been here since.

Todd Tippetts-- Colorguard Assistant

I’ve had 6 years of experience with Colorguard including my time with organizations such as The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps and Wasatch Independent, I specialize myself in dance, flag and rifle. I believe that learning is growth and opening myself to new experiences helps me strive to improve and better myself in the process. I want nothing more than to teach in a positive and constructive environment to help students be the best version of themselves.