Fishers High School Tiger Band

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.

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.

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.

Thomas Wharton is a musician, educator, and composer hailing from Southeast Michigan. He is extremely excited to be moving to Indiana to begin his work with Fishers! He began his marching arts career as a member of The Cavaliers, Carolina Crown, Northcoast Academy, and Cavaliers Indoor Percussion.

Today, he performs as a section percussionist with the Macomb Symphony and Warren Symphony, and also regularly plays with other bands, orchestras, and musical theater production companies around the region. In 2020, Thomas founded Harmonic Percussion, an indoor percussion show design company whose productions have earned multiple state championships and appearances at WGI World Championship Finals. He currently serves on the instructional staffs of The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps and Redline Percussion, and has previously taught at Lake Orion High School, Dakota High School, Cap City, Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, Ferndale High School, and many other programs throughout the region. Thomas attended Oakland University where he double majored in Philosophy and Music. Thomas is an Innovative Percussion educational artist—his favorite mallet is the IP1003.