Hello! My name is Miss Van Zante and I teach band for grades 5-12 at Fertile-Beltrami. I direct 5 bands here - 5th grade band, 6th grade band, 7-8 junior high band, the 9-12 Concert Band, as well as the Jazz Band. I also give private lessons to all students enrolled in band. I am a fierce supporter of students participating in music - developing life-long skills such as teamwork & collaboration, self-discipline, and independence. Band is a place for all students - everyone is welcome!
I grew up in Fremont, Iowa and went to high school at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. Some of my highlights from participating in music through school were jazz band, marching band, concert band, various honor bands, and musicals.
I am a graduate of the University of South Dakota, where I earned my Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Music Education. While attending USD, I studied Saxophone with Dr. CJ Kocher. I performed in the USD Symphonic Band, The Sound of USD, USD Jazz 1, and the USD Orchestra while playing saxophone.
When I’m not teaching or making music, I love to spend time gaming, watching Criminal Minds and true crime documentaries, or reading. I love to spend time with my cats- Lily and Squidge, as well as my leopard gecko Luna, and my rat Lark.
Band is awesome! You’ll get to choose your instrument, learn to play fun and challenging music, and perform alongside your peers. You get to have the incomparable satisfaction of putting hard work and time into learning a piece of music and then hearing it all come together at concert time. Between the variety of instruments and musical selections we play, there is something for everyone in band!