Brandon Cain became the Director of Bands at Bonney Lake High School in 2024, where the goal in his first year was to evaluate what has been, uphold the amazing culture & traditions of the previous directors, and continue to elevate the quality of the program one step at a time. The program is in a state of continued flourishing: the Field Show Band has won 1st place trophies at a multiple shows, and won awards at all competitions; the Parade Marching Band has been performing across the state; the Pep Band has played at the school football games, basketball games, and even other sporting events like volleyball; the Wind Bands have received high praises from one of the worlds greatest tuba players, Patrick Sheridan, as he adjudicated the Bonney Lake Wind Ensemble at the Northwest Regional Music for All Festival; the Percussion Ensemble/Drumline wowed the crowd at the Battle of the Sound Drumline Competition; Jazz Bands where they received invites to perform at prestigious festivals that showcase the best that jazz can offer in the PNW, and more.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ERA:

*Panther Band students have experienced growing success at regional and state Solo & Ensemble events. During the 2025–26 season, the program fielded a record 34 regional entries, with 10 qualifying for State. All five BLHS entries that ultimately performed at the WMEA/WIAA State Solo & Ensemble Contest earned Superior ratings, including two third-place State finishes. 

*Panther Band students extend their musicianship beyond BLHS through regional and state honor ensembles and community organizations, with recent participation in the Western International Band Clinic, PLU Honor Band, Tacoma Concert Band Side-by-Side, Tacoma Youth Symphony, Tacoma Junior Youth Symphony, Tacoma Wind Philharmonic, and additional collegiate and community performance opportunities. 

*Student creativity extends beyond performance. Panther student musicians regularly compose, arrange, and conduct music performed by BLHS ensembles, including original concert works, percussion music, drumline cadences, and even music for the competitive field show. Student composers have also received recognition through regional and national composition programs. 

*Continued growth in student participation and retention has expanded opportunities across the program. Recent milestones have included significant growth in Field Show Band participation, expanded Color Guard and Winterguard opportunities, record Solo & Ensemble participation, and the addition of a third curricular wind band for the 2026–27 school year—the first time in BLHS program history that three separate wind bands will be offered. 

*The Panther Field Show Band has earned consistent recognition at regional competitions, including multiple first-, second-, and third-place finishes and caption awards for music, general effect, and auxiliary performance. 

*The concert bands continue to pursue increasingly ambitious repertoire while demonstrating growth at adjudicated festivals. Recent milestones include the program's first appearance at the Music for All Northwest Regional Concert Band & Orchestra Festival and festival performances earning Superior-level recognition. 

*Collaboration is central to the Panther Band experience. Recent projects have brought students together with BLHS Choir, Cheer, Dance, Colorguard, fellow SBLSD bands, middle-school musicians, university educators, professional musicians, and the 133d Washington Army National Guard Band. 

*BLHS re-established and hosted the SBLSD Band Bash, bringing district band students together for a collaborative indoor festival and shared performance experience. 

*The program's 2026 Southern California Tour included the first Disneyland stage concert performance in BLHS Band history, along with educational workshop experiences emphasizing sight-reading, musicianship, and ensemble development. 

*Panther musicians regularly learn from guest artists and educators through an extensive clinician program spanning concert band, jazz, percussion, and marching arts. More than 20 clinic- and retreat-style rehearsals have supplemented students' regular classroom instruction. 

*Panther Band students serve their community both through music and volunteerism, with performances at senior and retirement communities, civic and district events, and participation in service projects including Beautify Bonney Lake and a holiday toy drive. 

*Student leadership is intentionally developed through Band Club, ensemble leadership teams, Field Show leadership, annual leadership retreats, and opportunities for students to take ownership of musical and organizational aspects of the program. 

*The 2025–26 school year introduced a new visual identity for Panther Band, including new marching and Color Guard uniforms, Panther polos, a coordinated parade banner, and tons of new program branding, and merch. The program's original uniforms were donated for continued use by Pacific West Music of the Blind. 

*Founding of the APB ("Alumni of the Panther Band") Association

During his time at BLHS, Mr. Cain has taught/directed the following classes/ensembles:

*Panther Studio Jazz Band

*Jazz Ensemble

*Bonney Lake Big Band

*Wind Ensemble

*Symphonic Bands A & B (B is Freshmen-Focus; A is Sophomore-Junior Focus)

*Bonney Lake Wind Band

*Percussion Ensemble

*Varsity Drumline

*Competitive Field Show Band & Colorguard (includes Winterguard after Fall)

*Panther Marching [& Pep] Parade Band

*Musical Pit Orchestra

*AP Music Theory 

In addition to all of the parades Bonney Lake partakes in (including the April 2026 Daffodil Parades marching jointly with Sumner), the Panther Band Program and its members have participated in the following performances/activities during Cain's time as Director of Bands: 

- HOME CONCERTS: 

*2024 Fall Band Concert

*2024 Winter Joint Holiday Band Concert with the 133d Army National Guard Band

*Fwinter Band Concert

*Chamber Music Marathon (Solo & Ensemble + Jazz Combos)

*Band Festival Preview Band Concert & Gold Standard Chamber Series (State S&E Preview Performances)

*BLHS Jazz Night Invitational

*SBLSD Band Bash "May the 4th Be With You"

*Spring Band Concert & Senior Sendoff

- LARGE FESTIVALS:

*VMEA Large Group Contest

*Music for All Larry Gookin Invitational: Northwest Regional Concert Band & Orchestra Festival

*PLU Invite-Only Weathermon Jazz Festival

*CWU John Moawad Jazz Festival

*Invite-Only Spanaway Lake Jazz Party

*Invite-Only North Bend Jazz Walk

- OTHER PERFORMANCES:

*Multiple Field Show Band Competitions (Peninsula Classic; Puget Sound Festival of Bands; Sunset Festival of Bands; Auburn Vets Day Marching Competition; NWAPA Kamiak Music in Motion; Harvest Marching Band Festival; West Salem Marching Band Festival Music for All [Bands of America] Affiliate Event)

*Many Parades (Western Rodeo Parade; Homecoming Parade; Auburn Vets Day Parade; Puyallup & Sumner Santa Parades; Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Orting Daffodil Parades; School Day Mini-Local Parades, etc)

*WRHS Evening of Jazz

*Sumner Jazz in the Valley ("Big Band Dance")

*Jazz Performance at Daffodil Princess Selection Night Coronation

*Jazz Performance at “Senior Showcase”

*Jazz Performance at Wesley at Tehaleh Retirement Home

*Jazz Performance at Bonney Lake Sr Center

*Bonney Lake Community Spaghetti Feed ("Panther Pasta Party")

*Orting Battle of the Sound Drumline Competition

*Jazz Performance at “Senior Soiree”

*Willow Street Jazz Combo Fest

*ShoWare Center Graduation

*Southern California Tour + Disneyland Performance

*SBLSD Convocation

*72nd & 73rd Husky Band Day

*Home football & basketball games (includes alumni night, 8th grade night, senior night, “Pack the Gym”, etc)

*Pink Out Volleyball Game

*"Build The Hill" LMS vs MMS Football Game

*253 Night Markets Beats & Bites “Battle of the Bands”

*VMEA & WMEA Solo/Ensemble Competition 

*School Assemblies with Band Performances (Vets Day, Winter, Spring, Roll-Up, etc)

*SBLSD State of the District

*Winterguard Competitions

- STUDENTS IN HONOR BANDS:

*Western International Band Clinic (WIBC)

*PLU Northwest High School Honor Bands

*NAfME All-NW/WMEA All-State

*Tacoma Youth Symphony

*Tacoma Junior Youth Symphony

*Tacoma Wind Philharmonic

*PLU Trombone Choir 

*DCI

*Tacoma Concert Band Side-by-Side

*Pacific Northwest Drum Major Leadership Camp

*UW Husky Band Jr/Sr Day

- EXCHANGES:

*Graham-Kapowsin High School Wind Ensemble 

- SPECIAL OCCASIONS:

*Future Freshmen Night

*Alumni Night

*Former Musician Night

*Leadership Retreats

*Band Camp

*Percussion Workshops

*Woodwind & Brass Workshops

*Jazz Retreats/Clinics

*Disneyland Educational Workshop

*SoCal Tour CSU LB Wind Band Clinic

*Band Banquet & Awards Night

*Monthly Fundraiser Occurrences

*Annually over 20+ “Clinic/Retreat Style Rehearsals” with guest teachers/artists brought to the school

- AUX ORGS:

*"Band Club"

*Panther Band Alliance (“PBA”) — Boosters

*Valley Region Music Educators Association

-COMMUNITY SERVICE:

*Beautify Bonney Lake

*Holiday Toy Drive

-CONSORTIUMS:

*Women ~ Erin Keeton-Howard (consortium led by Danielle Davey, Mt. Hood Community College)

*Frenetic ~ Charles Halka (consortium led by Paul Bain, Western Washington University)

OTHER BAND STAFF/COACHES DURING THIS ERA:

*Jazz Band Assistant Director~ Lee Redfield

*FSB~ Andrew Neumann, Brandon Mackley, Dean Johnson, Elisa Matthews, Gabriella Bythrow, Kristin Mackley, Lucas Webster, Luke Tangen, Madison Gordon, Reanne Lokelani Nakapa'ahu, Ryan Randolph 

*Student Teachers~ TBD

PERSONAL AWARDS:

»  BLHS: Senior Showcase Inspirational Staff Member (May 2026)

»  Bonney Lake High School: Staff of the Month (September 2024)

Meredith Heinzmann, “H”,  was the Band Director at Bonney Lake High School from the fall of 2015 through the spring of 2024. During her tenure, she taught a variety of ensembles including Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Beginning Guitar, in addition to directing the award-winning Panther Marching Band and the Pit Orchestra for the Spring Musical each year. Mrs. Heinzmann was honored to be selected as the BLHS Teacher of the Year in 2019, Faculty Speaker at BLHS’s 2020 Graduation Ceremony, and as the Daffodil Educator of the year in 2022. She also held leadership roles at the school and district level including serving as the BLHS Arts Department Lead, the SBLSD Band Team Lead, and the SBLEA Early Career Educator Chair. 

Over the nine years Mrs. Heinzmann was at BLHS, the band program grew by over 50%, and course offerings were expanded to include Advanced Placement Music Theory. During this time, the band traveled to a variety of destinations and festivals, ranging from district and community events to once-in-a-lifetime experiences like marching down Main Street in Disneyland. Traveling with the Band was only possible with the help of a vibrant and engaged Booster organization, and Mrs. Heinzmann is forever grateful to the many parents and family members in the Panther Band Alliance who volunteered their time and energy to ensure that students could have access to a wide variety of musical opportunities. Mrs. Heinzmann was also thrilled to be a part of the planning committee for the BLHS Performing Arts Center (PAC), and hopes the space will continue to host live student and community performances for years to come. 

Some favorite memories of Mrs. Heinzmann’s time at BLHS include traveling with the Jazz Band to a recording studio to make professionally produced recordings, premiering new commissioned works from composers Erin Keeton-Howard and Greg Yasinitsky, sponsoring student collaboration with guest artists, being gifted a pineapple at every home football game, pulling a nearly 24-hour day with the Marching Band when they made it to finals at Cavalcade of Bands, and finally reuniting with the band to make live music in person after the COVID-19 shutdown. “H” is truly inspired to reflect on what an honor it was to work with the students of BLHS as they grew as musicians. She recalls many wonderful “aha” moments with student composers, competitors at Solo & Ensemble Festival, future music educators, and so many more. 

At time of writing, Mrs. Heinzmann now teaches at Auburn Mountainview High School in Auburn, WA. She is an active performer in the region, most prominently with Formation Wind Band’s Wind Ensemble. When she is not teaching or performing, Ms. Heinzmann enjoys spending time with loved ones and pursuing creative hobbies. She remembers her time at BLHS fondly and can’t wait to see what the Panther Band accomplishes next!

OTHER BAND STAFF/COACHES DURING THIS ERA:

*Jazz Band Assistant Director~ Dr. David Lambert

*FSB~ Ashley Brewer, Ashton Allen, Brandon Mackley, Brandon Ornellas, Calvin Gorman, Chance Maggiacomo, David Limanni, Dylan Patrick, Elisa Matthews, Emmanuel "Cookie" Olaiya, Heather DelaTorre, James Vu, Jeff Ludlow, Kristin Mackley, Logan Anderson, Luke DeDominces, Luke Tangen, Reanne Lokelani Nakapa'ahu, Ryan Randolph, Teena Bailey 

...Info Loading...

OTHER BAND STAFF/COACHES DURING THIS ERA:

*FSB~ Alex Haack, Chance Maggiacomo, Dylan Patrick, Elisa Matthews, Emmanuel "Cookie" Olaiya, Eric Sutton

Don Neptun was the Bonney Lake HS Band Director from 2006 until 2012. He followed in the footsteps of Vanessa Seilert, helping to establish a still-new band program.  During his time at BLHS he taught the Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and 20th Century American Pop Music (general music). During his second year he founded the competitive field show version of the Panther Marching Band, as well as the Percussion class and, later, the Beginning Guitar class. The concert bands, jazz band, and marching band participated in numerous local & regional performances, events, and competitions, all while focusing on developing well-rounded & high-quality student musicians. He took the Jazz Band as far as the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Idaho, and the marching band as far as Disneyland in California where they performed a parade in the park & performed in the Disney recording studio. Mr. Neptun is an active music composer & arranger and, during his time at BLHS, wrote every marching band field show (music & drill), as well as wrote numerous compositions & arrangements for the Jazz Band, Concert Bands, & Percussion Ensemble. The Percussion Ensemble earned a Superior rating at the Washington State Solo & Ensemble Competition while performing one of his compositions written especially for his percussionists in the program.

Mr. Neptun left Bonney Lake HS to pursue a career in writing & arranging music, one of his passions. It only took a brief moment away from teaching before he realized that his biggest passion is teaching music & helping young musicians achieve excellence & joy in music, but it was too late. He had already resigned & a new director had the job. He learned, the hard way, of the value of a sabbatical instead of a resignation. Even so, he went on to pursue a career in writing & arranging. Mr. Neptun spent 5 years developing his business, writing for concert bands, jazz bands, marching bands, and even developed a 4-year Percussion Curriculum titled All Hands. 

In 2017 Mr. Neptun returned to the classroom as a full-time music educator. He became the band director for Cascade Christian Schools in Puyallup, WA, where he taught beginning elementary band, junior high band, and high school band. At CCS he took a fledgling program of 6 high school band students, 15 junior high band students, and over 100 elementary band students, and turned it into a robust & high quality program. He also established a Percussion class, and a guitar/bass/piano/drum class called Rock Lab. After 4 years at CCS, it was time to return to public school, though the CCS band program is still going strong, both in participation and quality.

In 2021, Don Neptun was hired as the band director at Sumner Middle School. He was pleased to return to the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District where he started his band teaching career. It felt like coming home. Mr. Neptun followed in the footsteps of the prior SMS director, Steve Gallagher, who taught at SMS for 42 years and left a legacy of excellence in music. He is currently continuing in this legacy of excellence by teaching beginning 6th grade band through 8th grade band. Mr. Neptun introduced a robust Chamber Music unit along with a Chamber Music Concert. In recent years SMS sent 40-50 students to the Solo & Ensemble Contest, immediately following the Chamber Music unit & Concert. Regarding the SMS Jazz Band, Mr. Neptun introduced a strong focus & culture of improvisation within the program. To support this and provide another performance opportunity for improvising musicians, he founded the Willow Street Jazz Combo Festival, one of only a handful of Jazz Festivals for small groups only. Mr. Neptun is still thrilled to be teaching at SMS, all while continuing to write & arrange for his students, and occasionally for other schools. He hopes to, someday (many years from now), leave another long legacy of excellence in music at Sumner Middle School.

OTHER BAND STAFF/COACHES DURING THIS ERA:

*FSB~ Andrew Frame, Dylan Patrick, Eric Sutton, Teena Bailie 

Vanessa was hired as the first band director by principal Linda Masteller and vice principal Sharon Fochtman at Bonney Lake High School during the planning stages, about a year and a half before the school opened its doors in 2005. She was hired from her first full-time teaching appointment at Lakeridge Junior High School (2002-2005). BLHS was opened as a second high school in the Sumner School District. Prior to 2005, Sumner High School was the only high school in the district, serving students in grades 10-12. During this initial year, SHS welcomed 9th grade students in addition, and BLHS welcomed students in grades 9-11. All seniors stayed at SHS through their graduation.

As a part of the planning team, she was able to order a full complement quality school-owned of concert instruments and a library of music for concert, jazz and pep bands. She also ordered music software for ear training and theory that we were able to use as a class on the “computers on wheels” or COWS that the school purchased. At the time, the district used a modified block schedule, where all music classes ran for 90 minutes, every day. This was a true luxury, and offered her the time to spend on ear training, music theory, history and traditional rehearsal on a regular basis. There were three band classes every day: Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Combo. The notion was to move to a full jazz band in the second year (with seniors), but to begin to establish a culture of improvisation with the initial combo. The jazz band would move to a period before school, 45 minutes per day, and then I would teach an additional course - History of American Popular Music - one semester per year. Of course, I never saw this come to fruition, so I’m not sure if these were the courses that were ultimately taught.

Because Mrs. Sielert was a part of the planning phase of BLHS, she was able to choose the fight song. She chose the fight song of the University of Idaho, her alma mater ---> Go Vandals! To her knowledge, BLHS is the only high school that uses this fight song. She rewrote the words to the fight song to align with the Panthers with the help of the band boosters. "We had an incredible team of arts teachers, who all worked well together". As a group, we taught all of the students together—drama, choir and band—a unit on opera, and took the students together on a trip to see the Seattle Opera. This type of collaboration was a wonderful opportunity for all of the students.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Sumner School District and had intended on completing my career at Bonney Lake High School. I had a tremendous amount of support from administration, staff, parents and students. My husband Vern and I moved to the Seattle area in 2001 after completing our doctoral coursework at the University of Illinois, as Vern had been hired as Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Washington. We were both happily employed by day and enjoyed performing in the evenings, on weekends and in the summer. However, we were both hired to teach at my alma mater, the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho in the fall of 2006. This was a dream opportunity - for a couple to be hired at the same university. I was hired as Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Vern was hired as Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies. We have both since been promoted to full professor and I spent six years as Director of the LHSOM during my time. While we are very happy to have landed together in Moscow, I am forever grateful to the Sumner School District and Bonney Lake High School for giving me my start. Go Panthers!"