Fishers High School Tiger Band
Pursuing excellence
Fishers High School, which opened in 2006, is one of two high schools in the Hamilton Southeastern school district in Fishers, Indiana, recently named the best place to live in the United States. Nearly 400 students are enrolled in the Fishers High School Band program, which offers concert bands, jazz bands, percussion class, chamber ensembles, and many popular and successful extracurricular groups such as Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Lab Band, Pit Orchestra, Solo & Ensemble, Winter Percussion, and Winter Guard.
Concert Band
The five Fishers High School concert bands consistently receive Gold and With Distinction ratings at ISSMA Organization Contest. Wind Ensemble has become a consistent Indiana State Finalist.
Marching Band
The all-volunteer Marching Tiger Band has been an Indiana State Finalist, BOA Regional and Super-Regional Finalist, and BOA Grand Nationals Finalist. The Tiger Band has recently performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade (2023), Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade (2015) and the Hollywood Christmas Parade (2017). The band hosts the Fishers Invitational, a very popular marching band contest, drawing bands from all over Indiana and nearby states.
Percussion
Winter Percussion Ensembles have won six Indiana state championships and regularly appear in WGI National Finals. In 2018, the Concert World-class ensemble won the WGI World Championship in Dayton, OH. Members of the band’s drum line were also selected to perform with Madonna during her 2012 Super Bowl halftime performance at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Guard
The Winter Guards have earned state and national recognition, finishing in the top tier of the IHSCGA competitions and WGI National Finals in Open Class.
State Solo and Ensemble
Every year, many Fishers band members are selected into prestigious honor ensembles such as All-State Band, All-State Jazz Band, All-State Orchestra, the ISO Side-by-Side program, and the IMEA Honor Concert Band, among others. Hundreds of students perform each year at solo and ensemble competition. Student-led chamber ensembles are very popular, especially from December-February. Many band students at Fishers study privately with various professionals in the Indianapolis area, including from members of the Indianapolis Symphony.
Jazz
The three Jazz Bands at Fishers are high-level performing ensembles that perform at local and area festivals, including our annual Jazz Cafe. The advanced jazz ensemble is a consistent ISSMA jazz band state finalist. The Jazz Ensemble meets as a class (by audition only), and includes the traditional instrumentation of trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, bass, guitar, drum set, and sometimes additional percussion. Lab bands meet after school two days each week, mostly during the spring semester. The Fishers Jazz Band members have performed with many outstanding world-famous soloists, and received numerous solo awards at festivals.
Music Facts & Figures
Students participating in the Fishers band program are encouraged not only to develop their musical talents, but to pursue academic excellence, as well. As a testament to this goal, 91% of Fishers High School band students are involved in Honors, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes.
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of superintendents say music courses build creativity. ~ Americans for the Arts
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of Americans polled believe that music is a key component in a child’s well-rounded education. ~ Gallup Poll, “American Attitudes Toward Music
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of business leaders say that creativity is the number one skill they are seeking when hiring. ~ Americans for the Arts
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Students in elementary schools with superior music education programs scored an average of 21 percent higher on standardized tests. ~ Christopher Johnson, University of Kansas, 2007 study
Nine out of ten adults and teenagers who play instruments agree that music making brings the family closer together. ~ Music Making and Our Schools, American Music Conference
- Graduation Rate 90.2%
- Attendance Rate 93.9%
Schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2% graduation rate and 93.9% attendance rate. ~ Americans for the Arts
Fishers Band Staff
Professionals dedicated to inspiring students through music and movement
The Fishers High School band program is overseen by a team of talented directors and staff, who are dedicated to inspiring and motivating students. The band program includes a variety of opportunities for students to pursue their own, personal interest in music, whether it is marching on the field at halftime, swinging on the stage with the jazz band, or playing in the pit supporting one of the school’s many theater performances.
Elijah Gardner
Director of Marching TIGER Band and Jazz Ensembles
Mr. Elijah Gardner serves as the Director of the Marching TIGER Band and Director of Jazz Ensembles. In this role, he will oversee the continued growth, development, and management of the Fishers High School Marching TIGER Band and Jazz Ensembles. Mr. Gardner is primarily a trumpet player and brass specialist from Indianapolis. Mr. Gardner co-directs 2 of the curricular Symphonic Bands, the Wind Ensemble, and both Jazz Ensembles. He also assists with other extracurricular ensembles such as the pep band, jazz lab band, and Silver Linings show choir band. Under his direction, the concert bands and jazz ensembles consistently receive gold ratings at ISSMA adjudicated contests.
Prior to joining Fishers High School, Mr. Gardner graduated from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, earning a Bachelor of Music Education in Instrumental Music Education (K-12), and a minor in Wind Band Conducting studying under Eric Smedley, Jason Nam, and Rodney Dorsey. His other undergraduate studies included brass pedagogy, jazz pedagogy, and euphonium performance. As a performer, Mr. Gardner has had the honor to perform with ensembles at the Ohio Music Educators Association Conference and North Central Division Conference of CBDNA. Mr. Gardner has also been a performer and educator in the pageantry arts for over 12 years. He was a member of the 2016 Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps as a trumpet player, and a member of the 2019 and 2020 Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as a baritone and euphonium player. He also taught at The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2023 and 2024 seasons as a member of the brass staff.
Mr. Gardner holds professional affiliations with the Jazz Education Network, Essentially Ellington, and the Indiana Bandmaster’s Association. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, collecting sneakers, and spending quality time with his girlfriend Leah and their dog Poppy.
Nico Johnson
Director of Concert Bands
Mr. Nico Johnson now serves as the Director of Concert Bands. In this role, he will oversee the continued growth, development, and management of the Fishers High School Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensemble. Mr. Johnson is primarily a clarinet player and woodwind specialist from the Cincinnati area. Mr. Johnson co-directs each of the curricular concert bands and the Intermediate Jazz Ensemble. He also assists with extracurricular ensembles such as the marching band, pep band, and jazz lab band. Under his direction, the concert bands and jazz bands consistently receive gold ratings at ISSMA adjudicated contests.
Prior to joining Fishers High School, Mr. Johnson graduated from Miami University located in Oxford, Ohio. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education in Instrumental Music Education (K-12), along with an emphasis on Critical Youth Studies. His other undergraduate studies included woodwind pedagogy, clarinet performance and repertoire, wind band conducting, and wind band repertoire. His mentors, such as Gary Speck, Wallis Vore, Ed Protzman, Zach Hinson, Avious Jackson, and Diana Gipson have been fundamental in shaping Mr. Johnson into the educator he is today. As a performer, Mr. Johnson has had the honor to perform with ensembles at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Ohio Music Educators Association Conference, Music for All National Concert Band Festival, and CBDNA Regional Conference. He holds professional affiliations with the National Association for Music Educators, Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana Bandmaster’s Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, attending sporting events, watching films and tv shows, and spending quality time with his friends and family.
Zach Langbein
Director of Indoor Ensembles
Mr. Zach Langbein now serves as the Director of Indoor Ensembles. In this role, he will oversee the continued growth, development, and management of the Winter Color Guard and Percussion Ensembles. Mr. Langbein will co-direct each of the concert bands, along with the Intermediate Jazz Ensemble.
Mr. Langbein is a passionate music educator from Mason, OH. He is a proud graduate of William Mason High School and The Ohio State University, where he holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis in Instrumental Music and Saxophone. Most recently, Zach was a band director at Riverside Junior High, where he taught 6-8 grade concert band, general music, and jazz band. All ensembles under his direction proudly received gold ratings at ISSMA adjudicated contests. Additionally, Zach has 6 years of brass experience, where he played Euphonium with Dublin Metro Brass and Crossroads Brass Band. Notably, he has an extensive background in visual training through both his teachings and active participation in marching band and indoor percussion. Zach is also a proud visual adjudicator with the Central States Judges Association. During his free time, he enjoys golfing, adjudicating, running, and spending quality time with friends and family.