Miss Heather Nowell
Heather is the band director at Martinsburg South Middle School (WV) where she teaches beginner band, middle school band, jazz band, and marching band. Prior to her current position, she served as the music teacher at St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, WV for 10 years. While at SJS she taught general music to grades PK-5, 4th & 5th grade band, middle school band, and music theatre. She directed several musicals at SJS including Disney's The Lion King JR, Mary Poppins JR, The Little Mermaid JR, Alice in Wonderland JR, and Aladdin JR; in addition to ten Children's Christmas Musicals and several other various children's musicals. She is the Co-Musical & Technical Director for Artistic Endeavors (Inwood, WV), producing Beauty and the Beast JR and The Addams Family Musical. Heather was also the sound technician for the Hagerstown Community College production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2021).
Heather stays active as a marching percussion technician in the local area. She is currently the Percussion Instructor for the Hedgesville High School Marching Band, where the percussion section most recently placed in the top-10 at the 2022 Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships (2A). She has taught percussion with the Shepherd University (WV) Ram Band Drumline, Thunder Brigade Performance Ensemble (MD), Greencastle-Antrim (PA) High School, Williamsport (MD) High School, and various others. She played snare drum with the 2011 & 2012 Windsor Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (former DCA), where she served as Percussion Sergeant for the 2012 DCA season. Windsor Regiment placed a prestigious third place at the 2012 DCA Championships in Annapolis, MD.
Heather graduated from Shepherd University (WV) in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in music education. She has studied percussion with JR Bechtel and Rocco Richardson, Michelle Humphreys, Ronnie Shaw, Jonathan Whitney, and Frank Russo. While at Shepherd, Heather participated in many ensembles including the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony (principal percussionist), Ram Band (drumline captain), Preparatory Orchestra (principal percussionist), Percussion Ensemble, and the Masterworks Chorale. She has also performed as a percussionist and timpanist with the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, Masterworks Chorale, Chamber Singers, and Women’s Camerata. Heather has been a percussionist for the theatrical productions of Pirates of Penzance, The Secret Garden, Into the Woods, The Goodbye Girl, and Guys and Dolls. She was a member of the Wind Ensemble for their tour of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in May 2009.
She loves her pets (Beau, Loki, & BK) and misses Shep, is a huge fan of the US Women's National Soccer Team, loves camping, loves Mumford & Sons and the Avett Bros, and enjoys puttering around her backyard. She tries to recycle as much as possible and uses reusable bags at the grocery store. She likes to shop for antiques (junk) and likes old vinyl (or new!) records.