Nick Lieto - Director of Bands

Mr. Lieto is currently in his 12th year of teaching! He teaches 6th grade band at both Walkerton and North Liberty Elementary Schools, 7-8 Band at Urey Middle School, and 9-12 band at John Glenn High School. At JGHS, Lieto directs Concert Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, and the John Glenn Falcon Pride Marching Band! He is a 2014 Graduate of Western Michigan University and will be pursuing his Masters Degree in Wind Band Conducting through the American Band College. 

Previous to his appointment as Director of Bands at John Glenn School Corporation, he taught Band for grades 6-12 at LaVille Schools for 7 years. Previous to LaVille he worked for 1 year in Minatare Nebraska, where he taught 6-12 Band, 7-12 Choir, and K-6 Elementary Music. Nick has been a guest clinician for many director colleagues. He is an active member of the Indiana Bandmasters Association, and has served on both selection committee and teaching staff for All-District Honor Band. Lieto has also taught flute privately - He was a freelance flute teacher with his own studio from 2010-2013, alongside teaching flute lessons with the Sturgis Instrumental Music Association in Sturgis Michigan. He then served as private lesson faculty for Marshall Music in Portage Michigan in 2013 and Adjunct Flute Professor at Western Nebraska Community College in 2014-2015.  

Mr. Lieto is passionate about teaching and sharing music, and has a wealth of musical experiences behind him! He studied flute with Dr. Martha Councell-Vargas at WMU and has won master classes with renowned flutists such as Tadeu Coelho, Leone Buyse, and Jill Felber. He sat principal flute of the Western Michigan University Symphonic Band, and held principal positions in the University Symphony Orchestra. Lieto performed and taught internationally along with his Wind Quintet through collaboration between La Escuela de Musica Nacional in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and Western Michigan University in 2011. He traveled to South America to perform and Coach students who were selected through the Youth Orchestras of America program. Lieto was a marching and woodwind technician in many high school marching band programs during his time at WMU, averaging between 4-6 different programs each summer as well as all season teching. Nick is an Alumni of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity (Mu Delta Chapter), where he served as both Chapter Chaplain and Assistant Membership Educator. He was an active member in WMU's NAFME chapter and served as treasurer. 

Lieto has a keen eye for revitalizing and growing band programs. In just 1 year under his tutelage, both his band and choir in Minatare Nebraska became top prize winners in the state organized M.A.C. Music Contest in 2015. Alongside his wife, Nick rebuilt and revitalized the Marching Band program at LaVille Schools, taking the band to Semi-State for the first time in school history in 2019.  Lieto's students consistently receive Gold Ratings at I.S.S.M.A. affiliated events. John Glenn High School earned the prestigious I.S.S.M.A. All Music Award in 2024/2025 under his direction.

In addition to teaching, Mr. Lieto stays active in his performing career as well. He has subbed with the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra, in LaPorte Indiana, as well as the LaPorte City Band. He has performed with the formerly "Twin Cities Concert Band," now known is the IUSB Wind Ensemble. Nick is a praise and worship leader at his church, Cornerstone Community Fellowship in LaPaz, Indiana. Mr. Lieto is a 2009 Graduate of Monroe High School, and hails from Maybee, Michigan. He has 5 beautiful children, an amazing wife, and loves to spend time with his family. 
 

Danielle Lieto - Assistant Band Director

Mrs. Lieto serves as Assistant Band Director for John Glenn Bands, as well as K-6 Elementary Music Teacher for North Liberty Elementary School. She has taught Elementary Music for 4 years at John Glenn School Corporation. She was previously the Instrumental Assistant at LaVille Schools for 5 years. Mrs. Lieto was instrumental in the revitalization of the band program there. She team taught with Mr. Lieto throughout the day, and helped handle administrative tasks in the classroom. Danielle has extensive background in Instrument Repair. She was a paid intern at Barbour Music in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where she learned the ins and outs of instrument repair. Danielle is a 2013 graduate of Western Michigan University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Music with a minor in Business. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Elementary Education through Western Governors University.

Danielle studied Tuba and Euphonium with Dr. Deanna Swoboda in her years at Western Michigan University and traveled with the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble to perform around the USA! She served as both Section Leader and Drill instructor for the Western Michigan University Bronco Marching Band. She is an Alumni of Sigma Alpha Iota (Beta Eta Chapter), where she served as secretary on the executive board. 

Mrs. Lieto is a praise and worship leader at her church, Cornerstone Community Fellowship, in LaPaz Indiana. She loves Elvis, Reading, and spending cherished time with her Husband and 5 babies!