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Waconia Band Program Overview
Waconia Band Program Overview
Waconia Bands offer students a rich and rewarding musical experience beginning in 5th grade and continuing through high school. Our program focuses on skill development, ensemble performance, and a lifelong appreciation for music. All bands perform regularly throughout the year, and students are encouraged to participate in our annual Solo and Ensemble Festival.
Waconia High School
Waconia High School
Varsity Band (Grade 9) - Designed for 9th-grade students, this course focuses on developing tone quality, scales, rhythms, and strong rehearsal techniques. Students will explore music in a variety of styles.
Symphonic Band (Grade 10, by audition) - This performance ensemble emphasizes musicianship fundamentals—tone, rhythm, balance, blend, technique, and musical understanding. Music from a range of styles is studied and performed.
Concert Band (Grades 10–12, by audition) - A performance-focused class dedicated to advancing students’ musical technique and ensemble skills. Students work on tone, rhythm, blend, and ensemble awareness through a variety of musical styles.
Wind Ensemble (Grades 10–12, by audition) - The most advanced concert ensemble. Students study and perform band literature from all genres. Curriculum includes music theory, history, terminology, and form through performance, listening, and discussion. Includes performances, contests, and annual tours.
Pep Band - The WHS Pep Band brings school spirit to home sporting events. All students are encouraged to participate in this energetic and fun ensemble.
Jazz I & Jazz II (Grade Level: 9-12, by audition) - These jazz ensembles meet outside the school day and perform a wide range of jazz—from classic standards to modern and exploratory works. They perform locally and attend clinics and festivals throughout the Midwest.
Show Choir Band (Grade Level: 9-12 , by audition) Students are encouraged to audition for the show choir bands, Megawatt and Watt. These auditions are held each fall for the current school year during jazz band auditions. Questions about Show Choir Band can be directed to Mr. Olson (aolson@isd110.org).
Lettering in Band
Lettering in Band
Students have the opportunity to earn a varsity letter in band. Students are responsible for keeping track of their letter points. Lettering Applications can be filled out during April and are awarded during the final concert. Click HERE if you would like to view the lettering form/requirements for WHS Band students. We complete lettering forms in class during the spring.
Students have the opportunity to earn a varsity letter in band. Students are responsible for keeping track of their letter points. Lettering Applications can be filled out during April and are awarded during the final concert. Click HERE if you would like to view the lettering form/requirements for WHS Band students. We complete lettering forms in class during the spring.
Waconia Middle School
Waconia Middle School
Gold Jazz Band (Grade 6) - An introduction to jazz for 6th-grade band students, focusing on jazz style and ensemble basics.
Purple Jazz Band (Grades 7–8) - Open to all 7th and 8th-grade students interested in jazz performance.
Wildcat Jazz Band (Grades 7–8, by audition) - An advanced jazz ensemble for experienced middle school students. Performs at additional concerts and participates in field trips.
Percussion Ensemble (Grades 6–8) - Open to all Waconia Middle School percussionists. This ensemble explores percussion-specific techniques and repertoire.
Middle School Pep Band (Grades 6–8) - Designed to provide a fun, energetic musical experience for all middle school band students. Pep Band events often align with high school varsity games.
Waconia Elementary Schools
Waconia Elementary Schools
Elementary band is offered at all three district schools:
Bayview Elementary
Laketown Elementary
Southview Elementary
Students begin their band journey in 5th grade and perform throughout the school year. All 5th-grade students participate in the district-wide Solo and Ensemble event.
A Tradition of Excellence
A Tradition of Excellence
From beginner to advanced ensembles, Waconia concert bands foster musical growth, teamwork, and performance excellence. Our programs provide students with the tools and opportunities to succeed musically—and beyond.
Band Directors
Band Directors
Nick Hansberry
Mr. Handsberry teaches band and music courses at Waconia High School and has been a department member since 2021. During the school day, Nick sees 3 curricular bands: the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band. He also teaches or co-teaches courses in music theory and music appreciation. Outside of the day, he directs the high school jazz bands, the pep band, the fall musical pit, and the Waconia High School Marching Band.
Nick is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education Instrumental (2015) and is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, MN. Upon graduation from UW-Eau Claire, Nick accepted the Associate Director of Bands position at La Crosse Central High School in La Crosse, WI from 2016-2019 and served as the director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the La Crosse Area Youth Symphony Orchestra during this time. Nick then relocated to Colorado and served as the Director of Instrumental Music at Arvada West High School in Arvada, CO from 2019-2021.
A strong advocate for the marching arts, Nick has served on various marching band and drum corps staffs throughout the year most recently on the visual staff of the Music City Drum and Bugle Corps based out of Nashville, TN. In addition to his teaching marching bands, Nick has also served as an adjudicator, designer, and consultant throughout Wisconsin and the Twin Cities area.
When not at school, Nick enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing his tuba, cooking, and cheering on his Minnesota United FC.
Jake Esterberg
Mr. Esterberg is the Band Director at Bayview, Southview, Laketown Elementary, and the Waconia High School. He also works with the WHS Marching Band Drumline during the Summer.
Mr. Esterberg is a graduate of UW–Eau Claire holding a Bachelor of Music Education. His primary instrument is Percussion, but enjoys playing all the Band instruments with the 5th Graders! Mr. Esterberg performed with the Wind Symphony, Blugold Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Contemporary Music Ensemble, Jazz Band, and University Band (playing Alto saxophone and Bassoon) while at UWEC. He also marched with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, MBI Indoor Percussion, and the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps.
Outside of Waconia, Mr. Esterberg is an active Marching Arts educator and designer across Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. He is currently the Percussion Caption Head for the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2019 DCI Open Class Finalist) as well as the Assistant Director of MBI Indoor Percussion. He has also instructed the Percussion section of the Minnetonka Marching Band since 2014 (Awarded Outstanding Percussion 2016, 17, 18).
When not teaching Music, Mr. Esterberg enjoys playing music (recently picking up Ukulele!) and listening to his growing record collection. He also enjoys exploring new things to cook and relaxing by the lake.
Phil Snyder
Mr. Snyder serves as the band director for Waconia Middle School. Mr. Snyder’s duties include conducting 6th and 7th grade concert bands, Middle School Jazz Bands, and small group lessons. Mr. Snyder also teaches high school marching band and jazz band.
Mr. Snyder is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he studied music education as well as the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire where he studied trumpet performance. At both institutions, Mr. Snyder held principal trumpet positions in top orchestras and wind ensembles.
On top of his teaching and performing schedule Mr. Snyder has become an accomplished marching band drill designer writing 7–10 competitive and noncompetitive marching band shows for bands throughout the Midwest. Bands that have used Mr. Snyder’s drill designs have been responsible for 11 state championships. Mr. Snyder is also on the instructional staff for The DCI World Champion Finalist Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, DCA World Champion Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, and DCI open class Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mr. Snyder is an outspoken advocate for music education at all levels and enjoys a busy schedule as a guest clinician, adjudicator, and freelance trumpet player.
Outside of the music world, Mr. Snyder enjoys distance running, nordic skiing, and spending time with friends in the greater Twin Cities area.
Alli Mottaz
In Waconia, Ms. Mottaz spends her mornings teaching the WHS bands, and her afternoons teaching the WMS bands – co teaching lessons and full ensembles with Mr. Snyder and Mr. Hansberry. She also works with the Waconia High School Marching Band, WMS Percussion Ensemble, Purple Jazz band, and WHS Jazz 1. She also teaches private lessons to some of our percussionists.
Ms. Mottaz is a 2016 Music Education graduate from UW-Eau Claire, originally from Stillwater, Minnesota. She was the principal percussionist in the UWEC Wind Symphony, played vibraphone in Jazz Ensemble I and II, and played bass drum in the Blugold Marching Band. She also was a front ensemble member of the Oregon Crusaders (2015) and Minnesota Brass (2016 and 2017).
Previous to Waconia, Ms. Mottaz completed her student teaching placement at Cumberland Middle/High School in Cumberland, Wisconsin. Post-graduation, she had the amazing opportunity to intern for Mr. Chris Gleason, the 2017 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Finalist during the 2017 spring semester. During this internship, she worked with Mr. Gleason’s 7th grade band students and conducted a world premiere at their spring concert.
In her free time, Ms. Mottaz likes to spend time with her friends and family, play board games, play in a community band, and watch Disney movies.
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