Daniel Kexel - Director
Daniel Kexel took the reins as director of the Highline Community Symphonic Band at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. Daniel is a music teacher in the Franklin Pierce School District, and has previously taught middle and high school bands in Kent and Tacoma. Dan also was an instructor for the Tacoma Youth Symphony for 14 years, and was the co-director of the Auburn Summer Music Camp. Dan graduated from WWU in 1994 with a degree in Music Education and Performance and received his National Board Certification in teaching in 2007. In addition to being an HCSB band member for two years, he has previously performed with the Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Opera, Tacoma Symphony, Bellevue Philharmonic, and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Kexel took the reins as director of the Highline Community Symphonic Band at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. Daniel is a music teacher in the Franklin Pierce School District, and has previously taught middle and high school bands in Kent and Tacoma. Dan also was an instructor for the Tacoma Youth Symphony for 14 years, and was the co-director of the Auburn Summer Music Camp. Dan graduated from WWU in 1994 with a degree in Music Education and Performance and received his National Board Certification in teaching in 2007. In addition to being an HCSB band member for two years, he has previously performed with the Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Opera, Tacoma Symphony, Bellevue Philharmonic, and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra
Sarah Butler - Assistant Director
Sarah joined the band as a clarinetist in 2014 and has been the band's Assistant Director since 2014. She is currently the band and choir teacher at Cascade Middle School in White Center, WA. Sarah grew up in Richland, WA in a musical family. Sarah graduated from Richland High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Whitworth University in 2011. Once she graduated from Whitworth, she moved to eastern Oregon to be the band and choir teacher in Umatilla, Oregon at Umatilla High School and Clara Brownell Middle School. She recently completed her Masters Degree in Music Education at the American Band College of Sam Houston State University. In her spare time, Sarah loves spending time with her husband, Tyler, and her dog, Harvey, who make her see the lighter side of life every day.
Sarah joined the band as a clarinetist in 2014 and has been the band's Assistant Director since 2014. She is currently the band and choir teacher at Cascade Middle School in White Center, WA. Sarah grew up in Richland, WA in a musical family. Sarah graduated from Richland High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Whitworth University in 2011. Once she graduated from Whitworth, she moved to eastern Oregon to be the band and choir teacher in Umatilla, Oregon at Umatilla High School and Clara Brownell Middle School. She recently completed her Masters Degree in Music Education at the American Band College of Sam Houston State University. In her spare time, Sarah loves spending time with her husband, Tyler, and her dog, Harvey, who make her see the lighter side of life every day.