Meet the Directors

Mrs. Dailey is a classically trained clarinetist and woodwind specialist with a passion for music education and student success. She currently serves as the Co-Director of Bands at Fort Collins High School, where she is entering her third year of full-time teaching. Prior to her current role, Mrs. Dailey was a sought-after woodwind coach and clinician throughout the Colorado Front Range, working extensively with both middle and high school music programs.

In her time at FCHS, Mrs. Dailey works with all three large ensembles, helping lead the Wind Ensemble to CBA State Concert Band Festival in 2025, as well as expand the Jazz Band Program to have two full sized jazz bands.  The program has also expanded to include multiple chamber ensembles.

Her teaching experience includes working with top programs such as Cherry Creek High School, Rock Canyon High School, and Horizon High School, where she has coached marching bands, concert ensembles, and woodwind sections. She also maintained a thriving private clarinet and saxophone studio, with students ranging from elementary through high school. Her students have consistently earned top placements in honor ensembles including Colorado All-State Band, Douglas County Honor Band, Cherry Creek Honor Band, Jeffco Honor Band, Continental League Honor Band, and Citywide Honor Band.

In addition to her educational work, Mrs. Dailey remains an active performer across Colorado. She frequently performs with local ensembles such as the Fort Collins Wind Symphony, Denver Philharmonic, Jefferson Symphony, and Colorado Wind Ensemble. She is also a versatile freelancer, often subbing in wind ensembles, orchestras, and musical theater productions across the state.

Mrs. Dailey's dedication to musical growth has taken her around the world. She has performed and studied internationally at festivals such as the InterHarmony Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy, and the University of San Diego Chamber Music Festival. In 2012, she traveled to Shenyang, China to study traditional Chinese music and instruments, and in 2020, she was invited to perform as principal clarinetist with the Denver Philharmonic on tour in Munich, Germany (canceled due to COVID-19).

Mrs. Dailey holds a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of Denver and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Northern Arizona University. Her primary teachers include Jeremy Reynolds, Abby Raymond, Jason Shafer, and John Masserini.

Outside of teaching and performing, Mrs. Dailey has experience in arts administration, having worked with the Colorado Symphony and Lamont School of Music Summer Academy. 

Mr. Hedding joined the Fort Collins High School learning community in 2025 and is now in his 18th year of teaching in Colorado public schools having taught everything from Kindergarten general music to a state championship marching band. He began his career in 2008 and previously taught at Liberty High School in Colorado Springs and Berthoud High School in Northern Colorado.

While at Liberty, his concert and jazz bands consistently earned Excellent and Superior ratings, and his Marching Band achieved a State Championship in 2016, never placing lower than 4th at State Finals between 2013 and 2019. While serving as the Assistant Director at Liberty, the Wind Ensemble was selected for the Musical for All National Concert Band Festival twice in three years, and performed at the Colorado Music Educators Association conference, and under his director the Symphonic Band was selected at the CBA State Concert Band Festival. As the head Director at Liberty, the Wind Ensemble was selected for the CBA State Concert Band Festival and earned a Superior with Distinction rating and received a Superior rating at the Dallas Wind Band Festival. As the Band and Choir Director at Berthoud High School, the marching band earned a 2nd place finish at the 2022 State Championships and was recognized as a top 5 finalist three different times, including that 2nd place honor. His concert band and show choir also regularly earned Excellent and Superior ratings under his direction and the show choir was selected as an "in the park" performance at Disneyland in 2023.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Hedding is an active composer, with works performed by professional military bands, collegiate ensembles, and high school groups across the United States. He is a proud member of Phi Beta Mu, has presented at the Colorado Music Educators Conference, and is nationally recognized as a resource in curriculum design for high school Music Appreciation courses. He is sought after as a clinician for concert, marching, and jazz bands and currently serves the Colorado Music Educators Association as the Technology Chair.

Mr. Hedding is in high demand as a trumpet player and has performed as a soloist for the Colorado Rockies seven times, was a member of the Denver Broncos Stampede Brass Band, 1st trumpet in the Rocky Mountain Wind Symphony, Solo Cornet and Flugelhorn in the Fountain Creek Brass Band (now the Pikes Peak Brass Band), and currently serves as Assistant Sectional Leader for the Foothills Symphonic Band where he also directors the Jazz Band and shares lead-trumpet responsibilities.

Mr. Hedding holds a Master's Degree in Music-Music Education from the University of Florida and a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. He is also a proud veteran and retiree of the Army National Guard, where he served as a military musician for 16 years in the 101st Army Band where he performed on trumpet, horn, trombone, guitar, and bass guitar.