• Our Conductor

     

    Dave Stangland, Band Director & Jazz I Director

    Mr. Stangland was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. He attended the public schools where he began playing clarinet in 5th grade, and then switched to saxophone in 7th grade. He started playing bassoon in 9th grade and took private lessons through high school from Dr. Edwin Rosenkranz, professor of bassoon at the University of Montana. Mr. Stangland continued to play tenor sax in Jazz Band, Marching Band and Pep Band through high school as he advanced as a bassoonist, where he played in Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, All-State Band and All-State Solo/Ensemble Contest. Upon graduating from high school, Mr. Stangland attended the University of Montana for two years, and then transferred to North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), where he studied music and jazz education. He received his Bachelors in Music Education from NTSU in 1980, and then moved to the northwest.

     

    Mr. Stangland began his teaching career as a band director in the public schools in Oregon in 1985, and received his Master's Degree in Music Education from Portland State University in 1990. He and his family moved to Washington, where he began teaching at Heatherwood Middle School in the fall of 1991.

     

    In addition to his private study on saxophone, and bassoon, Mr. Stangland has also studied clarinet, flute and oboe privately. His most influential teachers include his elementary/junior high school band director director Roy Lyman, Los Angeles recording artist Dan Higgins and jazz legend Don Lanphere.

     

    Mr. Stangland has performed in the Pacific Northwest as a woodwinds performing artist in a variety of settings which include big bands, jazz combos, symphony and chamber orchestras, musical theater, opera orchestras, chamber music groups, rock bands, rhythm and blues and concert bands. Performances include the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Police, Mukilteo Jazz Orchestra (Mo-Jo), Oregon Symphonic Band, Skagit Opera Orchestra, Starry Night Orchestra, Everett Symphony and the Thalia Symphony. He continues to maintain a busy schedule as a performer, clinician and private lessons teacher.

     

    Mr. Stangland received an Outstanding Educator award in 2005 from the Heatherwood PTA. Heatherwood Bands under his direction consistently earn Superior ratings at Band Festivals.