EDUCATIONAL STAFF

Alex Woodside

Head High School Director

Alex Woodside is currently in his third year as the head band director at Gretna High School and his 8th year in education. His teaching responsibilities include co-directing the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Freshman Band, Marching Band, Jazz Bands, and Pep Bands. He also assists in directing the bands at Gretna Middle School. He has previously served as one of the 5-12 grade band directors for Lexington Public Schools in Lexington, NE.

In addition to his regular teaching, Mr. Woodside is also active as a clinician, adjudicator, and percussion instructor around the state of Nebraska. He was selected to direct multiple selective percussion ensembles including the 2022 Class C All-State Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Woodside has worked as a percussion and drumline instructor for various groups across the state including the Kearney Area Percussion Ensemble and the Kearney High School and Lincoln East High School Drumlines. Mr. Woodside is an active member of the Nebraska Music Educators Association and the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association.

Alex Woodside has performed with a number of ensembles all around the country. Most notably, he performed as a member of the UNL Percussion Ensemble and was part of their 2016 PASIC showcase performance and their performance at the 2014 McCormick Marimba Festival. He has also been a member of the Cornhusker Marching Band and the UNL Wind Ensemble. Mr. Woodside has had the pleasure of learning from many percussion teachers including Dr. Dave Hall, Anthony Falcone, Leigh Howard Stevens, and Ben Coleman.

awoodside@gpsne.org

Noah Hickman

Assistant High School Director

Noah Hickman is currently in his third year as the assistant band director at Gretna High School and 7th year of teaching. His teaching responsibilities include co-directing the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Freshman Band, Marching Bands, Jazz Bands, and Pep Bands. He also assists in directing the bands at Gretna Middle School. Previously, he served as the 5-12 band director for Woodbury Central Community School District in Moville, Iowa.

During his tenure at Woodbury Central, his bands consistently received excellent or superior ratings and high praise from judges in Iowa and South Dakota. In 2020, the Woodbury Central Jazz Band was one of 14 groups from across the state to be selected to perform at the Iowa Jazz Championships in Class 1A. He also gave a presentation at the 2022 Iowa Bandmasters Association Annual Conference.

As a performer, Noah Hickman has had the opportunity to travel to many unique places. In 2013, he successfully auditioned to be a part of the United States Army All-American Marching Band. While studying at Wartburg College, he traveled across the nation and Europe performing with the Wartburg College Wind Ensemble, Castle Singers (chamber choir), and Ritterchor (tenor-bass choir). In August 2023, he completed his Master's Degree program through the American Band College of Central Washington University

nhickman@gpsne.org

Seth McKenzie

Percussion Instructor

Seth McKenzie holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in K-12 Music Education and Percussion Performance and a Master of Music degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Percussion Performance.

His principal teachers have been Brad Moran, Tomm Roland, and Ayano Kataoka.

Seth has taught and performed in a variety of musical settings throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has given clinics and masterclasses to multiple levels of music education, most notably at UMass-Amherst and Gretna Public Schools in Gretna, NE.

Seth is the Percussion Director for the Gretna Public School’s Instrumental Music Program. He is currently in his 9th year of teaching in Gretna and his 16th year as a music educator.

smckenzie@gpsne.org

Chris Tucker

Gretna Middle School Band Director

Chris Tucker is in her 38th year in the Gretna Public Schools. She is currently the Director of Middle School Bands at Gretna Middle School and assists both the Varsity and Freshmen Bands at the high school. She received her Bachelor of Music in Education (1987) with Highest Distinction and her Master of Music (1992) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 1993, Chris was awarded the Jack R. Snider Young Band Director Award, and in March of 2004, she received the Distinguished Service Award from NSBA for serving on its Executive Board for nine years in the role of Treasurer. Chris has presented clinics at both the NMEA Conference and the NSBA conventions. In addition, she has been a frequent adjudicator for many area contests and guest conductor and clinician for regional schools and honor band festivals. Chris was the Associate Director of the Nebraska Wind Symphony from 2001 – 2012, and she served as Interim Director for the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra’s Conservatory Orchestra in 2010. In 2022, Chris was a member of an all-adult marching band that performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. In addition to NSBA and NMEA, other professional organizations include Nebraska State Education Association, National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu, an international honorary society for band directors.

ctucker@gpsne.org