PNH Band Staff
Andrew LaRose, Director of Bands
Mr. LaRose is in his fifteenth year teaching at Parkway North High School. His teaching responsibilities include teaching Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion, Piano and Guitar classes at North High School. Mr. LaRose also serves as the director of the Marching Viking Band, Viking Pep Band and various Wind and Percussion Ensembles.
Mr. LaRose received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis along with certificate completion from the Pierre Laclede Honors College in 2005. Mr. LaRose has also received a Masters in Education from Southwest Baptist University along with many additional graduate hours. From 2005-2019 Mr. LaRose served as the assistant band director at Parkway North. In the Fall of 2019 Mr. LaRose began his tenure as Director of Bands.
Mr. LaRose is a lifelong resident of Saint Louis and is married to his wife Gina and together are raising three boys, Colten, August and Crosby.
Mr. LaRose is in his fifteenth year teaching at Parkway North High School. His teaching responsibilities include teaching Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion, Piano and Guitar classes at North High School. Mr. LaRose also serves as the director of the Marching Viking Band, Viking Pep Band and various Wind and Percussion Ensembles.
Mr. LaRose received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis along with certificate completion from the Pierre Laclede Honors College in 2005. Mr. LaRose has also received a Masters in Education from Southwest Baptist University along with many additional graduate hours. From 2005-2019 Mr. LaRose served as the assistant band director at Parkway North. In the Fall of 2019 Mr. LaRose began his tenure as Director of Bands.
Mr. LaRose is a lifelong resident of Saint Louis and is married to his wife Gina and together are raising three boys, Colten, August and Crosby.
Joel Fischer, Assistant Director
Mr. Fischer is in his fourth year of teaching, and first at Parkway North after completing three years as Director of Bands at Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri. In his time at Central, the two high school bands earned consistent “Superior” ratings at the MSHSAA State Large Ensemble Festival and the marching band earned numerous awards, including “Grand Champion” at regional festivals in the Kansas City Area. Students also individually achieved membership in the Northwest Missouri Music Educator’s Association All-District Band, Missouri All-State Band, NAfME All-National Ensembles, Drum Corps, and top music schools across the country.
Originally from Perryville, Missouri, Mr. Fischer received a bachelor of arts in music with a jazz studies minor from Truman State University. Mr. Fischer has also recently completed a Masters of Arts in Instrumental Conducting and a Master of Arts in Education from Truman State University. In 2011, Mr. Fischer was named the winner for the Missouri Music Teacher Association Young Artist competition in the woodwind division, as well as, a runner up in the Music Teacher National Association Chamber Music Competition state division with the Auftakt Four Saxophone Quartet. Mr. Fischer is an active member of Missouri Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the National Association for Music Education. Mr. Fischer also coordinates music, drill, and show concepts for marching bands in Missouri and Iowa.
In the Parkway School District Mr. Fischer will be teaching band and guitar classes at Parkway North, as well as teaching the concert band at Parkway West High School.
Mr. Fischer is in his fourth year of teaching, and first at Parkway North after completing three years as Director of Bands at Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri. In his time at Central, the two high school bands earned consistent “Superior” ratings at the MSHSAA State Large Ensemble Festival and the marching band earned numerous awards, including “Grand Champion” at regional festivals in the Kansas City Area. Students also individually achieved membership in the Northwest Missouri Music Educator’s Association All-District Band, Missouri All-State Band, NAfME All-National Ensembles, Drum Corps, and top music schools across the country.
Originally from Perryville, Missouri, Mr. Fischer received a bachelor of arts in music with a jazz studies minor from Truman State University. Mr. Fischer has also recently completed a Masters of Arts in Instrumental Conducting and a Master of Arts in Education from Truman State University. In 2011, Mr. Fischer was named the winner for the Missouri Music Teacher Association Young Artist competition in the woodwind division, as well as, a runner up in the Music Teacher National Association Chamber Music Competition state division with the Auftakt Four Saxophone Quartet. Mr. Fischer is an active member of Missouri Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the National Association for Music Education. Mr. Fischer also coordinates music, drill, and show concepts for marching bands in Missouri and Iowa.
In the Parkway School District Mr. Fischer will be teaching band and guitar classes at Parkway North, as well as teaching the concert band at Parkway West High School.
Additional Staff
Arin Davies, Colorguard Instructor
Emilee Bridgeman, Colorguard Instructor
Steven Kruszka, Percussion Instructor
Glen Blattman, Music Instruction & Assessment Coach
Jim Tejcek, Visual Instructor
Greg Hamilton, Drill Designer & Show Coordinator