The 2025-26 school year will be Mr. Richardson's 29th year of teaching instrumental music.  This is his 13th year at Indianola High School.  He directs the Wind Ensemble, Jazz 2, co-directs The "Pride" of Indianola Marching Band and Pep Band, and teaches band lessons.  Prior to coming to Indianola, Mr. Richardson taught middle school and high school band in the Fort Dodge Community School District from 2000 to 2013.  He previously taught 7th-12th grade band at North Central-Manly (now Central Springs) for two years and one year as the 6th-12th grade band and choir director at the American-Nicaraguan School in Managua, Nicaragua.  During his teaching career, Mr. Richardson’s bands have received numerous Division I ratings at the IHSMA festivals, appearances at the Iowa Jazz Championships and numerous other festival awards.  He has been an active adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor throughtout the state these past two decades.  Mr. Richardson also has taken band trips to Phoenix, Orlando, San Antonio, Chicago, and the Wisconsin Dells.

 A graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High, Mr. Richardson received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1997 and earned his Master’s of Music degree from the American Band College (Southern Oregon University) in 2009.  He has also completed graduate work at University of Iowa, Eastern Illinois University, the University of South Dakota, Simpson College, Drake University, and the University of Northern Iowa.  Mr. Richardson has been an approved adjudicator for the Iowa High School Music Association since 2002 and served as NCIBA (North Central Iowa Bandmasters Association) President from 2011-2013 and is currently the President-Elect for SCIBA (South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association)..  He also served on the Iowa High School Music Association District Advisory Group from 2019-2022. 

  Mr. Richardson is a former member of the Karl L. King Municipal Band in Fort Dodge and the Mason City Municipal Band as a trombone player.  He also directed the bell and chancel choirs at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge from 2001-2011.  He and his wife, Sara, reside in Indianola with their two children (Ben-24 and Betsy-21).  Mrs. Richardson is the secondary teacher librarian at Indianola High School & Middle School.

 Mr. Richardson’s hobbies include traveling (been to 19 countries and 33 states), watching movies, spending time with his family, and bicycling (done RAGBRAI 4 times).  He a golden doodle named Maisel and a cat named Fredy.

Mr. Swanson is the co-director of bands with Mike Richardson. He directs the Symphonic Band, Jazz 1, co-directs The "Pride" of Indianola Marching Band and Pep Band, and also teaches band lessons. Mr. Swanson is entering his first year of instruction at Indianola and teaching in general.

After graduating from Alta-Aurelia High School in northwest Iowa, he received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree and Bachelor of Instrumental Performance from the University of South Dakota in 2019. During his time at the University of South Dakota, he served as principal saxophonist in the Symphonic Band, The Sound of USD, and Jazz I programs. He was also the secretary, treasurer, and eventual president of the university's National Association for Music Education chapter.

Mr. Swanson's main instrument is the alto saxophone, with emphasis on clarinet and flute. He has performed with numerous municipal bands in northwest Iowa, the Jazzed Up Big Band, the High Society Big Band, and was a featured soloist with the University of South Dakota's Symphonic Band.

Mr. Swanson enjoys biking, watching sports/movies, and practicing the saxophone. He listens to classic rock and jazz, is a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, and enjoys watching The Lord of the Rings and The Dark Knight trilogy.

This will be Ms. Hagener's 34th year at IHS!!! Time flies! She started her teaching career as a K-12 vocal music teacher in the Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock School District.  She currently directs the A Cappella Choir, Bel Canto, and will co-direct Cantare this year. She also the assists with both Side One and Far Side.

Raised on a farm in northern Iowa, Valorie graduated from Sheffield-Chapin High School and then attended the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Idaho. She graduated from UNI with her BME degree in and has earned graduate credits through Drake University and the University of Iowa. 

As an active church musician, Valorie has directed the Youth Choir and Middle School Choir.  She has also been the director of the Sunday School music for over 15 years and has done many summer Bible School music gigs. She is an active member of the Iowa Choral Directors association and attended their summer convention for 25 consecutive years.

Valorie has 2 daughters, Joslyn and Terrill.  She enjoys spending time with her family, biking, traveling, biking, being outdoors, biking and and dining out.  Give her a bike and a semi-flat trail with trees, and life is good. 

nathanael.smale@indianola.k12.ia.us

515-961-9510 ext. 8260

Nathanael Smale began teaching in Fall 2018, and he is excited to return to the Indianola music team this year.  He directs the Indianola Singers, Apollo Chorus, co-directs Cantare, and he serves as the director for Indianola’s premier show choir, Side One, as well as the director of the annual spring musical.  He formerly taught for one year at Emerson Elementary in Indianola, where he taught K-5 General Music, 5th Grade Chorus, and stage directed the high school musical.  Most recently, Mr. Smale spent six years at Norwalk High School, where he taught 8-12 Vocal Music and directed extracurricular show choirs and musicals.  He earned his Bachelor of Music Education ('18) and Master of Music in Choral Conducting ('21) from Simpson College in Indianola, IA.

Mr. Smale grew up near Cedar Rapids, IA in a musical family.  He was highly involved in musical activities, including private voice, piano, & percussion lessons, community & school theatre, community youth chorus, and more.  His passion for music has afforded him many opportunities to create beauty in the world.  Mr. Smale was honored to conduct both the Iowa Choral Directors Association Southwest District's 7th & 8th Grade Mixed Honor Choir and North Central District’s 7th & 8th Grade Bass Clef Honor Choir in March 2024 and November 2024, respectively.

In his free time, Mr. Smale enjoys spending time with friends, trying new restaurants/cuisines, exploring the rich repertoire of musical theatre, and reading a great novel.  He is also a proud member of the semi-professional community choir, the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble.

Heidi Terrell teaches 5 - 12 orchestra and serves at Indianola High School, Indianola Middle School, Wilder, Emerson, and Irving.

After graduating from Quincy High School in Quincy, Illinois, Mrs. Terrell earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Drake University (2016) and a Master's of Music Education from University of Northern Iowa in 2024.

Mrs. Terrell’s primary instrument is viola, which she enjoys playing in the Simpson College Community Orchestra and in quartets for weddings and other gigs. In addition, she also plays violin and piano.

Outside of school, Mrs. Terrell loves cooking (and eating), going to live music events, and going to the movies.