MEET OUR STAFF

Ms. Kira Gileza, Director of Bands

Welcome our new Director of Bands, Ms. Kira Gileza!


Hello! My name is Kira Gileza (Ms. G), and I am the new band director at Butler High School. I am a proud alum of Butler High where I graduated from in 2017. I went on to study Music Education at Western Carolina University. I primarily play the piccolo, flute, and bari saxophone, and my favorite kinds of music to play are jazz and show tunes.


Some hobbies of mine include gardening, playing video games, being outdoors, and spending time with my friends and four siblings. My biggest passions are teaching and traveling. 


My goal as a teacher is to provide a safe environment for my students to learn and express themselves. I value and strive to develop strong leadership skills, lifelong learning, and 21st century skills. I want my students to become the best versions of themselves, to be well-rounded members of society, and to find a passion for music and the performing arts.


The Butler band program plays a key role in the success of our students as it provides a place to express oneself, take on leadership roles, reinforce core curriculum, explore new experiences through travel and competition, and many other benefits. I am extremely excited to have you in band class, and I look forward to seeing all the progress you make! 


PERCUSSION STAFF

Looking to join the team? We are in search of percussion staff! See details below!

COLORGUARD STAFF

Jack Agner

Color Guard Instructor

A graduate of Butler, Jack Agner has assisted with color guard instruction at Butler High School for many seasons, also assisting the school's color guard club! 

WINDS - VISUAL - DESIGN STAFF

Joshua K. Potter

Drill / Visual Design

A native of Burlington, NC, Joshua K. Potter is currently the Director of Bands at Sun Valley High School in Indian Trail, NC. Previously, he held the position of Director of Bands position at the newly opened Palisades High School in Charlotte, NC for the 2022-2023 school year. Before his appointment at Pallisades, he held the Director of Bands position at Providence Senior High School in Charlotte, NC. Mr. Potter was also the Director of Bands at Raleigh’s Wakefield High School for eleven years – beginning with its opening in 2000. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed a Masters in Wind Band Conducting at East Carolina University. Prior to his appointment at WHS, Mr. Potter served as the Director of Bands at West Rowan High School where he introduced a full-season competitive marching band and the band earned the first recorded superior rating at the state band festival in the school's 50+ year history. In addition, Mr. Potter served as the Director of Bands at Charlotte Catholic High School for the 2011-2012 school year.


During his time at Wakefield, the band program grew from a mere 40 students to more than 200. The Wakefield Band program developed into a comprehensive music education program that featured three concert ensembles, two jazz bands, a percussion ensemble studio and a winter percussion ensemble, four winter guards, a chamber music program, and a music theory and AP Music Theory program. The bands consistently earned top marks at all marching and concert band festivals and competitions. The marching band performed regularly across NC and the eastern USA and was a Bands of America Regional Championship Finalist on multiple occasions and Class Champion of the Massillon, Ohio Regional. The Maroon Winter Guard was a four-time Winter Guard International World Championships finalist and was promoted to Open Class after its fourth-place finish in 2008. The Silver Winter Guard was a WGI Regional Championship finalist and Atlantic Indoor Association Scholastic A class Gold Medalist. The Wind Ensemble and Concert Bands earned consistent superior ratings at state Music Performance Adjudication events. The Wakefield band program was featured twice at the NC Music Educator’s Conference concert performance in 2005 and a presentation and performance by the Chamber Winds in 2011.


 During his time at Providence, Mr. Potter has worked to continue the legacy of outstanding music education that has been a consistent part of the school’s 25-year history. As part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration, the Providence High School Wind Ensemble was a featured ensemble at the 2013 NC Music Educator’s Conference. In addition, the Pride of Providence Marching Band was a finalist at the 2013 Bands of America Winston-Salem Super Regional, the first band from Charlotte to earn this honor. The Wind Ensemble has shared concerts with the Carolinas Wind Orchestra and the UNC-Greensboro Wind Ensemble.  It was also selected for a performance at the 2017 Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival in Atlanta, GA.  


Mr. Potter has been recognized by the NC Bandmasters as the 2007 Central District Band Director of the Year and with the 2008 Award of Excellence. He completed two different terms on the NCBA State Marching Band Committee where he served as chair for two years. He also recently completed his time as the SCBDA District President from 2020-2022. 


Mr. Potter is a member of the American School Band Director’s Association, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the NC South Central District Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (Alpha Rho chapter). He is active as an adjudicator and clinician for marching and concert bands throughout North and South Carolina. He enjoys doing drill design and consultation for marching bands also.  In addition, he serves as a Winter Guard General Effect judge for the Atlantic Indoor Association and other circuits throughout the country.


Mr. Potter currently resides in Matthews, North Carolina with his wife Caren, an elementary school counselor as well as a color guard instructor and adjudicator. They welcomed their first daughter, Carrington, in September of 2014.

FREQUENT CLINICIANS

Cole Freeman

Music Ensemble

Scott Clowes

Music Ensemble

Howard Joye

Woodwinds

Justin Brewer

Sound Design 

Jerry Lowe

Jazz Ensemble

Dr. Will Campbell

Jazz Ensemble

Interested in Joining the Team?

We are looking for qualified and professional individuals to assist in the following categories: Percussion (Front Ensemble Lead), Brass (Music Tech), Color Guard (Choreographer). Please send any inquires/resumes to Ms. Gileza through email: kiral.gileza@cms.k12.nc.us