Natalie Pretzello, NBCT (she/her) joined the HMS team in 2023. She is the HCPSS 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for Maryland 2025-2026 State Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Pretzello attended Murray Hill Middle School and Atholton High School in HCPSS, graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education, and received her Master of Music degree in Music Education at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. She also holds her Administrator I Certificate from McDaniel College. Mrs. Pretzello is the co-director of the HCPSS Middle School GT Symphonic Band and is the percussion coordinator for the HCPSS Elementary School GT Bands. Prior to her appointment at HMS, Mrs. Pretzello was the band director at Gorman Crossing ES and served as the Elementary Band Representative on the HCPSS Music Leadership Team. 

Mrs. Pretzello instructs several award-winning marching bands, including the World-Famous Towson University Marching Band and the four-time state champion and USBands National Champion Marriotts Ridge HS Marching Band. She is a frequent clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and consultant for various concert and marching programs throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. Mrs. Pretzello is an alumna of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps of San Antonio, Texas. 

Mrs. Pretzello is a recipient of the Semper Fidelis award for Musical Excellence presented by the Marine Corps League and is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and has been recognized by HCPSS as an Outstanding GT Educator; she also serves at the HMS Related Arts Team Leader. Mrs. Pretzello is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, the National Association for Music Education, HCEA, and the Howard County Racial Equity Task Force Education Subcommittee. She loves reading, hiking, camping, and kayaking with her husband and dog. 

Mr. Piccirelli grew up in Howard County and attended Forest Ridge Elementary, Patuxent Valley Middle, and Hammond High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and a Master’s degree in Education Technology from George Washington University. He is also a National Board Certified Teacher.

He began his teaching career with Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, where he taught elementary strings for five years and worked with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. He then spent two years teaching Orchestra at American international schools in London and South Korea.

For the past six years, Mr. Piccirelli taught strings at Atholton Elementary and Cradlerock Elementary. He now lives in Baltimore, MD, and is excited to begin his new role as the Orchestra Director at Hammond Middle School.

Mykel Robinson-Collins is a versatile soprano with a passion for sharing the gift of music. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, a Master’s degree in Music Performance, and a Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy. Mykel has performed in choirs, operas, and special events, bringing warmth and artistry to every stage. She currently teaches general music and chorus while also offering private voice lessons, where she inspires students to discover their unique sound. Though she enjoys singing many styles, her favorite genre is jazz, which reflects her love of creativity, expression, and storytelling through music.