St. Michael Hires Band Director for 2021-22

St. Michael is very pleased to announce it has hired Mrs. Melanie Gonzalez to be its Director of Instrumental Music for the 2021-22 school year. Mrs. Gonzalez has directed high school and intermediate school bands in California for eighteen years, most recently at Claremont High School (Claremont, CA), where she led the school’s Marching Band, Orchestra and Symphonic Bands for eight years. She has earned two Master’s degrees in Music—in Flute Performance and Music Education—and her undergraduate degree is also in Music Education. 

“We were blessed with many strong applicants for the position,”  says principal Faustin Weber, “but we believe Mrs. Gonzalez is the perfect fit for us. She moved to Fairhope last year due to her husband’s career, so one really knows about her in this area. But in southern California, her program was well regarded, earning high marks at marching competitions and music festivals in the most competitive, large school divisions in the region.  Former employers and colleagues I spoke with told me of her “passion for music, “ her “extraordinary work ethic,” and that “she makes music fun for the kids, even while demanding a high level of performance." I told her our students and families—and I believe the Eastern Shore itself—are yearning for a first tier music program at St. Michael, and I challenged her to ‘make it special here.’ I believe she will.”

“I am excited to be joining the excellent staff at St. Michael High School,” Gonzalez says, “and look forward to working with my students to develop a music program that is both challenging and fun. I believe that God uses music to speak to us and touch our souls. I hope to help students develop their skills and create a passion for learning. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 27:4 "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple."

Gonzalez continues: “I’d like to meet the students soon—both those in the program already—in the high school and in the middle schools—and those who might be interested,” she said, “I’ll work with Mr. Weber  to set up a time to meet the parents, to lay out my thoughts for the summer, to set up band camp, and to arrange some fun nights where students can simply come out and play.”

Mrs. Gonzalez is married to Joseph, her husband of 19 years. They worship at Coastal Church in Daphne. 

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To hear some of Mrs. Gonzales’ former bands and orchestras perform, we invite you click on the following links:

The Claremont High School Orchestra plays Vivaldi’s “Spring”

Claremont High School Marching Band, in a Marching competition

Claremont’s Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra at District Festival