Staff
The Fishers High School Band is overseen by a team of talented directors and staff 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.
Professionals dedicated to inspiring students through music and movement.
Chad Kohler
Director of Bands
Chad Kohler currently serves as the Director of Bands, including the Tiger Marching Band at Fishers High School where he teaches Concert, Marching Band, and Percussion Ensembles, as well as Dual Credit IB Music History and AP Music Theory. Under Chad’s direction his ensembles have received Gold with distinction ratings at ISSMA and the Fishers percussion ensembles have consistently won the Indiana Percussion Association State Championship ELEVEN times and the WGI Concert World National Champion in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. Chad received his Bachelors in Music Education and Percussion Performance from the University of Kentucky and Masters of Music from the University of Akron. Chad is also a Graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University in School Administration.
Chad has performed and instructed the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, served as Percussion Caption Head for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and had adjudicated for the Drum Corps activity. In addition, Chad regularly performs throughout the Indianapolis area most consistently with the Nickel Plate Jazz Orchestra and Fishers Wind Symphony. In addition to teaching and performing, Chad composes and arranges for ensembles throughout the Midwest.
Before Fishers High School, Chad served as the Percussion Director for Lawrence Central High School. Chad is a sought-after composer, arranger and clinician mainly as a Ludwig/Musser Artist Clinician, Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician, and Educational Artist with the Remo Corporation and Innovative Percussion. Chad has and is currently adjudicated with BOA, IPA, CSPA, and MEPA. Chad also served on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Percussion Association, Percussive Arts Society, and Percussion Advisory Board for WGI.
Elijah Gardner
Assistant Band Director
Elijah Gardner is an educator and musician teaching band at Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana. His education includes a degree in Music Education and Wind Band Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
During his time at IU, Elijah spent 5 years studying euphonium, as well as wind band conducting under Eric Smedley, Rodney Dorsey, and Jason Nam. At IU, Elijah had the opportunity to premiere several new wind band commissions and perform in ensembles with soloists such as Otis Murphy, Daniel Perantoni, and Joey Tartell. Elijah further developed his abilities by briefly studying jazz performance, theory, and pedagogy with Thomas Walsh.
Elijah has been a performer and educator in the marching arts for over a decade; he was a member of the Blue Stars in 2016 as a trumpet player and the Bluecoats in 2019 and 2020 as a baritone/euphonium player. He is currently on the brass staff with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. Outside of music, Elijah loves participating in popular culture, collecting sneakers, creating art, and traveling.
Nico Johnson
Assistant Band Director
Nico Johnson is a music educator, woodwind specialist, and performer from Mason, Ohio. Nico is very excited to join the band faculty and continue the excellence of the Fishers band program.
After graduating from William Mason High School in 2019, Nico went on to study Instrumental Music Education, along with a Thematic Sequence Concentration in Critical Youth Studies, at Miami University, located in Oxford, Ohio. During his time at Miami University, Nico was a member of the Miami University Clarinet Studio, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Marching Band, and Steel Band. During his time in Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Nico has served time as a principal clarinetist and has performed on other auxiliary instruments.
Nico has formerly worked with Beavercreek High School William Mason High School as a visual and music sectional instructor. As a performer, he has played in various ensemble settings including wind ensemble, marching band, orchestra, clarinet choir, and chamber music. The groups that he has performed with have traveled to perform at selected conferences and venues such as The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, Music for All National Concert Band Festival, Ohio Music Educators Association Conference, College Band Directors National Association North Central Conference, and Music Hall in Cincinnati.
Nico holds professional affiliations with NAfME and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Outside of work, Nico has various hobbies including cooking, traveling, collecting vinyl records, sports, and participating in volunteer work. Nico also enjoys spending quality time with his family and close friends.