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Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — Reece Zeller, 24, was hired as Hart Public Schools band director right before the start of the school year.
Zeller took over for John Breitenbach, who was hired as band director at Pinewood Middle School in the Kentwood Public Schools district. Prior to taking the Hart job, Zeller worked at an elementary school in the Pontiac school district.
A Fruitport native, he obtained a bachelor of music education degree with performance honors at Grand Valley State University. He spent four years in the classroom at GVSU, followed by one year of student teaching.
“Throughout the years, I spent time working with different marching bands. I spent my time subbing at middle and high schools all throughout west Michigan, like Reeths Puffer, North Muskegon and Fruitport.
“I started learning the piano when I was about 8,” he said. In middle school, he started playing trombone and switched to the euphonium/baritone. “I’ve been playing that for 13 years.” In 2017, he attended Blue Lake International Exchange Program and went abroad for a month, performing in France and Italy. He also attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp during his summers as a youth.
He performed in the marching band at Fruitport High School for five years, moving up to the high school level in eighth grade. During his sophomore year, he was a co-section leader; junior year, he was section leader; and senior year, he led the band as drum major. “I had a lot of different leadership roles throughout my high school career.”
The connections that music creates brings him joy. ”When you play something and connect with it and connect with the people you’re performing with, nothing beats that. That’s something I want to share with a bunch of high school and middle school kids.”
Zeller’s high and middle school students will perform a Christmas band concert Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. in the high school gym.
The band director oversees 128 total students — 47 high school students, 28 eighth graders, 23 seventh grade students and 30 sixth graders. Pep band is taking a hiatus from the bleachers this basketball season, but it will return next season, he said.
Zeller is currently living in the Muskegon area and would like to find a home in Hart or closer to Hart. He’s looking for a place in Oceana County or the White Lake area.
“It’s great,” he said of his new role. “I am very grateful that I have this job.”
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