Helix Music Program History
Joshua Murray
Joshua Murray was the music teacher in the Helix School District for 2 years from 2022 - 2024.
Mr. Murray has helped bolster a culture of meaningful experiences in the Helix music program with opportunities to perform in Spokane, Pilot Rock, Oakland, La Grande, Pendleton, and Seattle. During Mr. Murray's time, the band travelled often and performed well at local and regional festivals. It's his mission to foster an environment of fun and exceptional music making.
Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler was the music teacher for the Helix School District for 10 years from 2012 to 2022.
During his time in Helix, Mr. Butler helped maintain a steady number of dedicated musicians and helped provide Helix students with an enjoyable band experience and helped provide exceptional musical experiences for the Helix community.
Jonathan Nitz
Jonathan Nitz was the music teacher in Helix for 2 years from 2010 - 2012. Nitz worked tirelessly to establish storage spaces for instruments and music alongside the woodshop teacher at the time. His contributions have kept Helix well organized and also kept our classroom sustainable for years to come.
Nolan Frost
Nolan Frost was the music teacher in Helix for 6 years in 2004 - 2010. Frost's contributions helped Helix thrive in the local parade circuits, bringing home several awards in the Dress-Up parade. Mr. Frost also helped the Helix music program bring home a few awards in the district basketball pep band competition.
Tom Whaley
Tom Whaley was the Helix Band Director for 30 years from 1974 to 2004. Whaley had an exceptionally long tenure with the Helix band and many community members to this day had Mr. Whaley as their band director at one point or another.
Mr. Whaley helped found the Helix Drum and Bugle Corps which brought home several awards for best pep band at the district and state basketball competitions throughout the late 70's all through the early 2000's. During his time, Mr. Whaley also propelled the Helix music program to success in the concert band area with exceptional outings at the OSAA regional band festival, including an appearance at the state competition in 2003 in Corvallis, OR.
Mr. Whaley retired from teaching just a few years ago and currently resides in Vale, OR.
David Thornton
David Thornton was the Helix Band Director for 2 years from 1972 to 1974. Thornton did an excellent job of garnering student interest in band and ensuring as many kids as possible in Helix were involved in the band.
Kathy Drew
Kathy Drew was the Helix Band Director for an unconfirmed number of years up to 1972 (likely between 1 - 7 years). There is not much record of her time in helix; however, it does appear that she was in fact the first female band director to serve the Helix band.
Peter Hallgrimson
Peter Hallgrimson was the Helix Band Director for an unconfirmed number of years most likely sometime throughout the 60's and possibly the 50's. There is not much record of Peter's time and/or influence on the Helix Band.
Archie Huson
Archie Huson was the Helix Band Leader in the late 1800's during a time when the Helix Band was considered "The best band in Umatilla county". Archie can actually be seen in the cover photo of this page towards the top left of the historical - Helix Band Wagon -