NPHS hires new band director

John Pohland has been hired as New Prague High School’s new band director, pending approval by the New Prague School Board.

For the past 15 years Pohland has been the band director at Waconia High School where he taught three curricular bands, the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Symphonic Band. He also co-taught the ninth grade varsity band, as well as taught lessons for all students. He also taught courses in music theory and music appreciation. Outside of the day, he directed or co-directed all three high school jazz bands, the pep band, fall musical pit band, marching band and the varsity show choir band. In 2018, Pohland was named Waconia Public Schools’ “Teacher of the Year,” and was nominated for the State of Minnesota Teacher of the Year. In 2019, he was nominated for a Grammy for Music Education and was a quarterfinalist for this honor.

Pohland received his Master of Music in Music Education degree from Michigan State University and his undergraduate degrees in Instrumental Music Education and Trumpet Performance at the University of St. Thomas. While at St. Thomas, he was selected to the 2004 CBDNA Honor Band, and was twice chosen as a Festival Orchestra soloist, where he received the opportunity to play concertos with members of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Pohland has studied with trumpet professors Chris Volpe (St. Thomas) and Richard Illman (Michigan State University). He remains an active trumpet player in Grand Symphonic Winds (St. Paul) and has played with...

To see more on this story pick up the June 10, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times.