Aaron Hotelling

Aaron Hotelling serves as the Director of Bands for Gaylord Community Schools, where he teaches 6-12th grade bands. Under his leadership, the Gaylord High School Band has grown to more than 100 members and has earned a reputation for musical excellence, consistently receiving First Division ratings at District and State Band Festivals. His students regularly participate in MSBOA events including Honors Band, District and State Solo and Ensemble festivals, and regional music events throughout Northern Michigan. The student members of Gaylord Bands are not only recognized for their musical skill, but also for being friendly and helpful human beings. His philosophy of helping students become “better today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today” is reflected in both the achievements of his ensembles and the character of the students he teaches.

Beyond his work in the classroom, Aaron has been an active leader within MSBOA District 2, serving in numerous roles including Secretary, Vice President for Solo & Ensemble, High School Honors Band Chair, and host for various honors bands, festivals, and other events. His dedication to music education extends far beyond Gaylord, supporting opportunities for students

and educators throughout the region.

Aaron is also deeply committed to serving his community. Whether assisting neighbors during natural disasters, volunteering at community events, or supporting local initiatives, he leads through service and example. His passion for education, dedication to students, and commitment to his community make him a respected educator, colleague, and mentor.

John Szczerowski

John Szczerowski is completing his fifteenth year as a music educator and currently serves as Director of Bands at Grand Ledge High School, where he has led the band program for the past decade. He directs the Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, Concert Band, and the award-winning Grand Ledge Marching Band while also co-teaching middle school band as part of the district’s collaborative music program. Through his work at both the middle and high school levels, Mr. Szczerowski is committed to creating a culture where students are challenged to pursue musical excellence, develop leadership skills, build meaningful relationships, and experience the lifelong value of music education.

Prior to joining Grand Ledge Public Schools, Mr. Szczerowski taught grades 6–12 band at Reed City Area Public Schools for five years, where the high school band program grew from 32 to 103 students. He also served MSBOA District 1 as Vice President of Marching Band.

An active member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), Mr. Szczerowski currently serves District 8 as Vice President of Adjudication and has previously served as Vice President of High School Solo & Ensemble and District All-State Chair. He regularly adjudicates festivals throughout Michigan, has hosted numerous MSBOA events, and remains committed to supporting music education beyond his own classroom and community.

Under his leadership, Grand Ledge ensembles consistently earn First Division ratings at MSBOA District and State Festivals, while chamber ensembles and individual students continue to distinguish themselves at the regional and state levels. Grand Ledge chamber ensembles were selected to perform at the MSBOA Spring Honors Festival in 2017, 2018, and 2022, and Grand Ledge students are regularly represented in the MSBOA All-State Band and Orchestra.

The Grand Ledge Wind Symphony was selected to perform at the Michigan Music Conference in 2022 and 2026. In 2022, the ensemble also appeared at Western Michigan University’s Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music as featured guests of composer Julie Giroux. A strong advocate for meaningful musical experiences and the creation of new music, Mr. Szczerowski has participated in numerous commissioning and consortium projects and most recently welcomed Dr. Frank Ticheli to Grand Ledge for a residency centered on music-making, collaboration, and student learning.

Mr. Szczerowski is especially passionate about mentoring young music educators. During his tenure at Grand Ledge, he has worked with numerous student teachers, many of whom now serve students in music programs throughout Michigan and across the country. He believes that any success he has experienced in the profession is directly connected to the mentors, colleagues, and students who have shaped his career, and he is committed to paying that investment forward through service, mentorship, and leadership.

Mr. Szczerowski and his wife, Laura Antonius, have been married for twelve years and live in Lansing with their dog, Franny. Laura’s encouragement, support, and unwavering belief in his work have been a constant source of strength throughout his career. He credits much of his success to her partnership, friendship, and steadfast support.

Mr. Szczerowski is deeply grateful for the opportunity to teach in communities that value music education and for the students, families, colleagues, mentors, and fellow educators who continue to inspire and support his work.

Dave Zamborsky

Dave Zamborsky has served as the Director of Bands at Jenison High School for 24 years. He began his career as the Director of Bands at Parkway West High School (his alma mater) near St. Louis, Missouri, where he taught for 8 years. Dave earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University and his Master of Music Education degree at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. 

Dave’s teaching responsibilities at Jenison include Wind Symphony and Marching Band, as well as shared responsibilities team-teaching 6th, 7th and 8th grade band students. Under his direction, the Jenison concert bands and marching band have achieved consistent success and recognition at the state, regional and national level. The Jenison Wind Symphony has been selected to perform at the Michigan Music Conference three times (2013, 2019 and 2027) and has been a featured ensemble at Western Michigan University’s Spring Conference (2016). The Jenison Marching Band has been the MCBA Flight II State Champion 13 times. They have been a Bands of America Regional Champion and a National Semifinalist many times. The Jenison Marching Band was honored to represent the Jenison community and the great state of Michigan in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Dave is thankful to work with outstanding colleagues in the Jenison band program and music department, as well as tremendously supportive administrators who believe strongly in the importance of music education. He has mentored many student teachers, as well as aspiring music educators on the Jenison Marching Band instructional staff. He has presented at the Michigan Music Conference (2020) and multiple times for the NAfME chapters at Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University and Central Michigan University.

Dave has served as the MSBOA District 10 Vice-President for Band & Orchestra Festival for five years (2012-16; 2025-26). He helped initiate the pilot project which eventually resulted in the state adoption of the UIL Sight Reading system. Jenison has proudly hosted District 10 Band & Orchestra Festival for over twelve years. 

Additionally, Dave has served on the Michigan Competing Band Association executive board for fourteen years in various roles, including currently serving as the organization’s Treasurer and Judge Evaluation Committee Co-Chair. Dave is a member of ASBDA and Phi Beta Mu.

Please Login To Vote.

You must be an active member of MSBOA to vote.

Becky Bush

Becky Bush, Orchestra Director and founder of the Hudsonville Public Schools Orchestra Program in Hudsonville, Michigan grew the program to 300 students in 5 years and when returning to Hudsonville in 2021, grew the program from 350 to 550 string students who earn First Division ratings at MSBOA District Festival and Solo and Ensemble.

She is co-author of Sound Differentiation for Beginning String Orchestra and author of a young orchestra piece, Arctic Crossing, both published by Alfred Music. She was String Acquisition Editor and Suzuki Strategist at Alfred Music Publishing, Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Grand Valley State University, and Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Calvin College.

In addition to teaching Instrumental Methods, String Methods, and supervising student teachers at the collegiate level, she hosted many student teachers, directed the St. Cecilia Music Center Sinfonia and Concert Youth Orchestra and was Orchestra Director at Jenison Public Schools, a GRAMMY Signature School and a NAMM 100 Best Community for Music Education. Bush brings her staple energy, enthusiasm, and comprehensive pedagogy training into every endeavor!

A graduate with a Bachelor of Music Education from University of Michigan and a Master of Education from Grand Valley State University, she has been Music Director at the Michigan ASTA String Camps, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camps, and Phillips Family Fiddle Camps and performs with the Signature String Quartet. She has presented multiple sessions at The Midwest Clinic, The National ASTA Conference, Ontario Music Educators’ Association Conference, NAfMe Northwest Music Conference, Texas Music Educators Association Conference, New York State School Music Association Conference, California All-State Music Education Conference, Michigan Music Conference, The Ohio State University String Teacher Workshop, other state conventions and has been an active guest conductor throughout Michigan including MSBOA String Clinics and MSBOA District Honor’s Orchestras.

Natalie House

With 27 years of experience in the Waterford Public Schools and a tenacious commitment to excellence in music education, Natalie House has taught string orchestra students in grades 5–8, as well as beginning woodwinds (grade 6), general music (grades 6–8), and piano keyboard and guitar classes. She has also taught Suzuki violin to students in kindergarten through second grade.

Natalie is proficient in viola, violin and piano. In addition to her classroom teaching, she has performed professionally on violin and viola for numerous gigs and high school musicals, including Camelot (viola) and Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera (first violin), among many others. She also directed children’s choirs and musicals at Detroit Korean United Methodist Church for 13 years, led an after-school fiddle club for 18 years, and taught private viola, violin and piano lessons for many years.

When she is not adjudicating violin, viola, or piano performances at Solo & Ensemble, State Solo & Ensemble, or Band and Orchestra Festival, she works as a piano accompanist for middle and high school Solo & Ensemble events. Natalie House is the Orchestra Director at John D. Pierce Middle School in Waterford, where her orchestras routinely earn top ratings at District Orchestra Festival. She also serves as the MSBOA District IV Vice President of Band and Orchestra.

Justin Valla

Justin Valla is the Director of Orchestras at Okemos High School, and Co-Director of Orchestras at Chippewa Middle School.  Over the course of his 25-year career, his approach to music education has inspired him to bring a varied repertoire of genres and styles to his students.  

Justin earned a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelors of Double Bass Performance from Michigan State University in 2000.  He then earned his Master of Music Education in 2010, also from MSU.  Justin taught in the Lansing School District, Marshall Public Schools, and St. Johns Public Schools before coming to Okemos.  He has taught everything from beginning strings to musical pit orchestras to advanced chamber ensembles.  He has also mentored student teachers from multiple universities and colleges, and is frequently asked to clinic, conduct, coach, and provide feedback for school orchestras across the state, as well as arrange music for various choral and string ensembles.  Justin became an official MSBOA S&E judge this year and has enjoyed meeting and working with students and teachers from other districts.  He is looking forward to more opportunities to judge in the future.  He also became the Officer of Orchestra Activities for District 8 this year.

In 2019, Justin gave a presentation on how to introduce the blues and improvisation to instrumental ensembles at the MMC.  The Okemos Philharmonic Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2023 MMC.  Along with having his students perform with Mark Wood, and Time For Three, this remains one of the highlights of Justin’s career.  Justin has been selected as the MSBOA District 8 orchestra teacher of the year for 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.  He was also selected as one of the three finalists for MSBOA’s State Teacher of the Year in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.   

Outside of the classroom, Justin performed with the Lansing Symphony, the West Shore Symphony, various community orchestras, and in many pit orchestras for local theaters.  In 2022, Justin became a co-conductor of the Mid-Michigan Youth Symphony, allowing him to work with students around the greater Lansing area and help provide a symphonic orchestra experience for students that may not have that opportunity in their other ensembles.  He also plays every Sunday for a local church in Lansing.   Currently, Justin lives in East Lansing with his wife, Samara, who is a choir teacher in Haslett. Together, they have three daughters; Myah, Julia, and Lara.  Outside of school, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, cooking, arranging music, and performing for his neighbors with his dad-band.