Revere hires band director, assistant director
by Laura Bednar
The Revere music department has two new faces, with Tom Chiera taking the helm as director of bands and Montana Fassnacht as assistant director.
Chiera replaces Dr. Darren LeBeau, who retired in May. Chiera graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2003 with a degree in music education and was hired by Tipp City Schools as assistant band director. For the past 16 years, he has been band director at Norton City Schools and taught grades 5-12.
Chiera said he was born and raised in West Akron and attended Firestone High School. “I’ve been in the area all my life, and the Revere reputation precedes itself,” he said. He added that because the music community is relatively small, he already knew some of the Revere staff, including LeBeau.
Chiera said he looks forward to working with the music department staff to create an identity and “keep kids excited and keep music a part of their lives.”
In addition to leading the Minutemen marching band, Chiera will teach wind ensemble and a music theory class at the high school. He will also direct the Bath Elementary fifth-grade band. In between these commitments, he will assist Katie Pflueger, middle school assistant director of bands, working with students in small groups.
Fassnacht had a similar path as Chiera, growing up in Akron public schools and attending Firestone High School. She earned her music education degree from Kent State University and taught at Firestone, gave private lessons locally and directed local competition bands. In addition, she spent three years as the middle school band director in Massillon, also assisting with marching band, pep band and chamber ensemble at the high school.
Fassnacht said she also knew LeBeau and had moved in the same social circles as Chiera. “It’s nice that we know each other and get to go in and put our own spin on things,” she said.
She will co-direct Bath Elementary’s fifth-grade band, assist with middle school bands, teach a sixth-grade general music class and help with the high school marching, jazz and pep bands.
On July 31, Chiera will jump right into band camp, where students work on halftime shows. This year, students chose songs from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie soundtrack. Chiera said students have been leading their own sectionals over the summer.
“I love the initiative they’re showing,” he said, adding that he wants to foster relationships between students, teachers and the community.
One of his goals is to have an opportunity for bands to perform outside of the Revere community to expand the school’s reputation. ∞
