66. Conversation with Heather Nieto of Hamilton Southeastern High School in Indiana

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

A graduate of Butler University in 2002, Heather Nieto is in her twenty-first year as a music educator. She started her career at Belzer Middle School in Lawrence Township, Indianapolis, Indiana, where she taught elementary and junior high string orchestra for eighteen years. Heather also served as the Belzer Middle School Performing Arts Department Chair and Lawrence Central High School Assistant Orchestra Director. During her time in Lawrence, Heather sat on various committees including the Performing Arts Curriculum Redesign, Equity and Access Committee, and the Lawrence Township Performing Arts Council. While always looking to expand performance opportunities for her students, Heather co-founded the Lawrence Township Honor Orchestra performing at Disney World and the Belzer PopZ Orchestra performing for various school games and community events. Her groups have been invited to perform for the ASTA National Orchestra Festival as well as IMEA Honor Orchestra Ensembles. Additionally, Heather was named the Belzer Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2018 and recognized in four different years by Top 30 Seniors as an honored educator.

The 2023-2024 school year marks Heather’s third year as the Director of Orchestras for Hamilton Southeastern High School. In just a few short years, Heather has worked with Associate Director, Charles Kunz to create a culture that promotes respect, fosters pride, and inspires excellence with the Southeastern orchestras. During her first year she led the Southeastern Symphony Orchestra to ISSMA State Finals for the first time in the history of the program and she continues to hold the program to a high standard of performance.

Volunteering her time beyond the classroom, Heather has spent time working with DePauw University as a part of their Unit Assessment System Review Committee in addition to their Music and Teacher Education Program. She has presented sessions at DePauw, IMEA, and INASTA and was a featured clinician for the String Teacher Workshop at the Luebke String Festival in 2019.

Heather currently serves as President for the Indiana chapter of the American String Teachers Association, where she works to support orchestra directors across the state of Indiana. During her time with INASTA Heather has continued to grow the chapter and event opportunities for its members. She continues to advocate for string education and maintains a focus on creating opportunities for members to communicate, collaborate and support one another.

Heather currently lives in Noblesville with her husband, Victor, two children, Sophia (13) and Ivan (9) and their dog, Hachi.

[e-mail]

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/orchestrateacher/support