Mr. Samuel McKenzie

Samuel McKenzie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Montana in 2009, a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Akron in 2012, and a Master’s Degree in Wind Band Conducting from The University of Akron in 2014.   Samuel has studied with Larry Snider, Robert Jorgensen, Galen Karriker and Robert LedBetter.  After graduating from The University of Akron, Samuel was the music director at Summit Academy School in Akron, Ohio for two years and recently was the Director of Bands at Meadow Hill Middle School in Missoula, MT.

        Samuel has performed with the Missoula Symphony, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Ed Norton Big Band, Akros Percussion, Joe Augustine, Gary Herbig, Eden Atwood, Liam Teaque, SO percussion and Michael Spiro.  In 2014, Samuel performed as the drumset artist on the Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship.

Outside of teaching, you might see Mr. McKenzie out and about hiking, camping, golfing, and going on cat walks with Jinx (the official band cat at Senior High!) 

Barry Snodgrass

Barry Snodgrass is the current band director at Riverside Middle School.  He previously taught at Sweet Grass County and Hardin.  He has a B.A. in Music Education from Rocky Mountain College and a Masters in Music Education from Montana State University.

Jinx - The Band Cat

Jinx is the official band cat at Senior High.  She spends her time napping and composing music.  During her tenure, Jinx has composed several stand tunes for the band including Muscle, Three, Bounce and has arranged the Fight Song for the band.  Jinx enjoys eating, sleeping and composing and arranging music for the Senior High Band program, as well as other bands in Montana.  Jinx's motto is "Living the Dream"