Staff

Mr. Darren Falk

Band Director, New Albany High School

Darren Falk is the Director of Bands at New Albany High School and has been on faculty in the New Albany music program since 1998. Mr. Falk Directs Concert Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, Gold Jazz Band, Maroon Jazz Band, the Marching Band, teaches 6th grade band and is the assistant director for 7th grade band. In addition to his band classes, Mr. Falk currently teaches Senior Seminar. He has also taught Introduction to Music Theory, AP Music Theory, the History of Rock & Roll 1, and 8th Grade Band. Mr. Falk is currently the New Albany High School Performing Arts Department Chair.

Mr. Falk earned his Bachelors of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University in 1998, his Masters of Music Education degree from the VanderCook College of Music in 2004, and the Masters of Music in Music Technology from Southern Utah University in 2023. In 2007, he founded the New Albany Community Band (now named New Albany Winds) as part of his belief that all student musicians should continue to perform on their instrument after graduation from High School. He is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association and serves as a board member and musical director of the Ohio State University Men's Glee Club Alumni Society. He lives in Westerville, OH with his wife, three daughters and dog Carmen.

Mr. Brian Coon

Band Director, New Albany Middle School

Brian Coon graduated from Capital University in Columbus and began his teaching career in 1991 in the Teays Valley Local Schools District. After 9 years at Teays Valley, he spent 8 years at home being "Mr. Mom" for his two daughters until and was hired at New Albany in 2008. Since returning to classroom duties, he has received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Kaplan University and State of Ohio Master Teacher certification.

Mr. Coon has also been an active performer locally and regionally for more than 20 years. Mr. Coon has had the good fortune to perform with many national acts, play with the Columbus Symphony (on pops concerts that use a saxophone section), and play as a member of several jazz, rock, country, Jewish, Salsa, and other bands. Currently, Mr. Coon is a member of The Conspiracy Band, The Kevin Patrick Sweeney Band, The Dwight Lenox Band, and is a saxophonist for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Coon lives in Gahanna with his wife, daughters, and three rescue dogs that now heel beautifully.

Mr. Coon is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the Ohio Music Educators' Association, the National Association for Music Education, and in 2011, Mr. Coon became an artist endorser for Antigua Winds Saxophones.

Amber Townsend, Color Guard Advisor

Amber Townsend is a graduate of New Albany High School, where she participated in color guard.  After high school Amber graduated from Norther Kentucky University in 2019 with a degree in History with a focus in Education.  Amber currently resides in Johnstown Ohio with her dog Minnie.  

Grant Kresina, Drumline Instructor

Grant Kresina is the current Drumline Instructor at New Albany High School.  As a recent alumni of New Albany High School, after being heavily involved with the band program, Grant discovered his love of music and is now attending The Ohio State University with plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Music with a specialization in Sonic Arts.  Grant has also recently attended The Recording Workshop, a 7-week long recording program geared towards sound, mixing, mastering, and production.