Directors

Nicholas Young, Director of Bands

Contact:  Nicholas_Young@plsd.us

Mr. Nicholas Young serves as Director of Bands at Pickerington High School North, beginning his tenure at PHSN in the 2025-2026 school year.  Mr. Young has been teaching and directing bands in Ohio since 2020, and is responsible for directing the Pickerington North High School Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band I, and Jazz Ensemble, in addition to teaching beginning band classes in the sixth grade.

Prior to his arrival at Pickerington North, Mr. Young led the Gallia Academy High School Marching and Symphonic Bands to consistent Excellent and Superior ratings at the district and state levels.  In 2023, the Gallia Academy Marching Band earned a Superior rating at OMEA State Marching Band Finals for the first time since 1997.   In 2025, the Gallia Academy Symphonic Band qualified for the state level for the fourth consecutive year in a row. 

Mr. Young grew up in Grove City, Ohio, just southwest of Columbus, graduating from Grove City High School, where he was heavily involved in the instrumental music program.  Mr. Young earned his bachelor's degree in Music Education with a classical saxophone emphasis from The Ohio State University in the spring of 2020.

During his time at The Ohio State University, Mr. Young was a four-year member of The Ohio State University Marching Band (M-Row), where he led his row as squad leader.  While at Ohio State, he was also a member of the top wind ensemble at the university, The Ohio State University Wind Symphony, and was a member of one of four saxophone quartets, where he performed at various saxophone clinics and conferences around the country.  Mr. Young is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAFME).

Matt Guirreri, Assistant Band Director/Lakeview Jr. HS Director

Contact:  Matt_Guirreri@plsd.us

Matt Guirreri is currently in his 22nd year of teaching.  He is in his 20th year as a director in the Pickerington Local schools and is now the Lakeview Band Director, as well as an assistant at Pickerington North High School.  Prior to his time in Pickerington, Mr. Guirreri taught in the school district of Southeastern, where he taught band 5 -12, choir 9-12, and general music.  Under Mr. Guirreri’s direction, multiple bands at the High School and Junior High levels have been led to Superior Ratings at OMEA Adjudicated events.

Mr. Guirreri received his Bachelor of Music Education at The Ohio State University and his Masters of Instrumental Music from Capital University.  During his time at the Ohio State University, Mr. Guirreri was a five-year member of the Ohio State University Marching Band and was named the Most Inspirational Bandsman by his peers in 2001.  He has served with OMEA as an adjudicator, as well as the All-State band coordinator.   He also was recently admitted as a member of Phi Beta Mu Ohio Chapter.  Mr. Guirreri also enjoys performing with the Nexus Saxophone Quartet.

Mr. Guirreri currently resides in Pickerington, Ohio, with his wife Janelle, eleven-year-old son Jonathon, and seven-year-old daughter Mia.  They enjoy traveling and serving at Reynoldsburg Community Church.

Chris Carmean, Assistant Band Director/Percussion Director

Contact:  Chris_Carmean@plsd.us

Chris Carmean has served as an Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor in the Pickerington Local School District since 2001.  Under his direction, the PHSN Percussion Ensemble performed at the OMEA Professional Development Conference in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and in 2023 he founded the PHSN steel band, The Steel PANthers.  PHSN has had 35 percussionists selected for OMEA All-State Ensembles.

Mr. Carmean earned a B.M. from Miami University and an M.M. from Duquesne University.  He marched snare drum for two seasons with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, the Naples Philharmonic, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and performs regularly with the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra.  Mr. Carmean is a percussion adjudicator for OMEA Solo & Ensemble and Marching Band Adjudicated Events, and served as Junior High Affairs Chair and Marching Band Adjudications Chair on the OMEA Adjudicated Events Committee.  He has six works for percussion ensemble available through C.Alan Publications.

Mr. Carmean is married to professional flutist Lindsey Goodman, and they reside in Pickerington with their chaos creator Bichon Frise dog, Beau.