Directors & Staff

MR. BRANDON BUTERBAUGH

Director of Bands

Brandon Buterbaugh is the Director of Bands at Hershey High School in the Derry Township School District (Hershey, PA). At Hershey, he directs the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Trojan Marching Band, and Jazz Band. Ensembles under Brandon’s direction have consistently received Highest Ratings at PMEA Music Performance Assessments.

As a performer, Mr. Buterbaugh is a member of the West Shore Symphony Orchestra and the Berks Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra. Past engagements have included the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, the Ringgold Band of Reading, Berks Opera, and the Morgantown Community Orchestra. He freelances in the Reading/Harrisburg Region and maintains a private brass studio in Palmyra. 

Mr. Buterbaugh holds a BME from Penn State University, Master’s Degree in Trombone Performance from West Virginia University, and a Master’s Degree in Wind Conducting from Messiah University. While at West Virginia University, Brandon was a Graduate Assistant with the West Virginia University Bands, including three concert ensembles, the Basketball and Volleyball Pep Bands, and the 350-member WVU Mountaineers Marching Band - The Pride of West Virginia. 

In addition to his work at Hershey High School, Brandon also works at Interlochen Arts Camp (Interlochen, MI) as a member of the administrative team for the Intensives Summer Camp Program.

Brandon serves as the Vice-President of the Dauphin County Music Educators Association and is a member of the Board of Directors for Berks Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra (Reading, PA). His other professional affiliations include Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, National Band Association, and International Trombone Association.

MRS. KAITLIN OBIELECKI

Assistant Director of Marching Band

Hershey Elementary Band Director

Mrs. Obielecki is the Director of Bands at Hershey Elementary School, where she directs 4th grade band, 5th grade band, and 5th grade jazz band. Mrs. Obielecki holds a degree in Music Education from Indiana University of PA, a Masters in Instructional Technology Administration from Wilkes University, and a Masters of Music Education from The University of the Arts of Philadelphia. 

Mrs. Obielecki started her career as a middle school general music and choir teacher for Pen Argyl Area School District in the Allentown/East Stroudsburg area. She taught there for 5 years, and was also the high school musical production director. Following PAASD, Mrs. Obielecki worked from Williamsport Area School District teaching elementary band for 2 schools, middle school choir and musicals, and was on the high school marching band staff. 

Mrs. Obielecki has been with Derry Township School District for 4 years and aside from teaching elementary band she is the assistant director of the marching band and vocal director for the high school musical. 

When she is not teaching, Mrs. Obielecki loves spending time with her husband, Nick, and son, Oliver. She is also an avid reader and likes to travel. 

MS. HEATHER WHITE                                                                                        Color Guard Instructor

Heather is the Color Guard Instructor at Hershey High School, where she directs both the Outdoor Color Guard (with the Marching Band) and the Indoor Color Guard. She has been running the color guard program since 2015. Heather has spun with multiple color guards over the years, ranging from the high school level to world class and senior class. She has a degree in Entertainment Technology from Millersville University.

MS. ANGEL ROBINSON                                                                       Assistant Color Guard Instructor

Angel Robinson is a graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School and Millersville University. She holds a B.S. in Actuarial Science and a Masters degree in Secondary Math Education. Angel currently teaches Mathematics at Penn Manor High School. She has spun 8 outdoor seasons and 1 indoor season. Angel has taught color guard at other institutions for years, but the program at Hershey High School has become her favorite!

MR. GRANT BROWN

Percussion Instructor

Mr. Grant T. Brown (pictured on right) is a percussion designer, arranger, and educator based in southern York County, Pennsylvania. He serves as the Director of Percussion for Hershey High School, overseeing the marching percussion programs for both the fall outdoor marching band and winter indoor competitive percussion ensemble. Grant assumed this role in the winter of 2022, though he has been involved with these ensembles in varying capacities since the fall 2021 season.  

The ‘music bug’ first bit Grant at the young age of four years old. He would put on concerts in his parents kitchen using wooden spoons on pots and pans until they bought him his first drumset at age 6. His interest and passion for music and drumming only grew from there, and Grant played his first paid gig as a musician at age 7. Grant has been active in the concert and marching percussion world since that time as a performer, arranger, and designer. 

In addition to Hershey High School, Grant has also worked with Spring Grove High School (York, PA), and Dover Area High School (York, PA) where he also currently serves as Percussion Director, arranger, and audio consultant for the performing arts organizations. Ensembles under Grant’s instruction have performed across multiple competitive circuits including KIDA and TIA, and at venues in Honolulu, New Orleans, Wildwood, NJ, and Williamsburg, VA.  

Grant holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State University, and has also completed additional studies through New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music, Masterclasses with Ian Grom, and the educator series presented by Frank Troyka and The Blue Devils performing arts organization. In addition to writing and teaching, Grant is an in-demand percussion accompanist – including the resident percussionist for the York County Honors Choir organization – and plays for various regional and community theaters and houses of worship. He lives in and maintains a private studio in southern York County, and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society. 

MRS. MAGGIE DICKERSON

Woodwind Instructor

Maggie VanBrakle is an alumni of Hershey High School, and she is excited to continue serving her alma mater as a member of the marching band staff. Maggie studied Music Education at Penn State University, where she played alto saxophone in the Blue Band. In addition to saxophone, Maggie enjoys playing clarinet, flute, guitar, ukulele, and piano. Maggie teaches kindergarten and 1st grade music at Wallace Elementary School in the West York Area School District. 

MR. JACK FRANCIS

Front Ensemble Instructor

MX. ADELYN RUTH

Brass Tech

Addy Ruth is a junior Music/Music Education student at Lebanon Valley College, where she marches mellophone with the Pride of the Valley and studies horn performance. Addy is a graduate of Cedar Crest High School and member of the Perseverance Band of Lebanon, and is always eager to share the joy of music with others.

MR. SETH KELLER

Hershey Middle School Band Director

Mr. Keller obtained his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education degree from Mansfield University, graduating magna cum laude. While attending Mansfield, he studied French horn with Dr. Rebecca Dodson-Webster.  Additionally, he performed as a member of the Northern Tier Symphony Orchestra in its inaugural season and seasons to follow.  In 2012 Mr. Keller traveled to London, England to perform several events during the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2016, he graduated with his Master of Science in Education degree through Walden University.

Mr. Keller started his career in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada at Cimarron-Memorial High School, serving as both Director of Bands and Director of Choirs. In this role, he was given the task of teaching grades 9-12 Beginning and Advanced Bands, Marching Band, Glee, Concert Choir, and developing a curriculum for Music Appreciation at CMHS. There, he was awarded the CCSD “New Teacher of the Year” in recognition of outstanding educational contributions. Under Mr. Keller’s tutelage, the bands had the honor of playing at various events, including the Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade and community events that were open to the public. While teaching in Nevada, Mr. Keller performed with the premiere contemporary wind symphony of Las Vegas, “The Desert Winds,” under the artistic direction of Charles Maguire.

Mr. Keller then served as the Director of Bands for the Dover Area Middle School until 2021. His duties included overseeing the instrumental music program, teaching lessons and various small ensembles, as well as music classes and band lessons. During the 2015-2016 school year, Mr. Keller pioneered an international partnership with the James Hornsby School, located in Basildon, England. In the fall of 2016, Mr. Keller traveled to Basildon, England where he served as guest conductor and clinician for the James Hornsby Band.  Mr. Keller also served as Assistant Director of the Dover “EAGLE” Marching Band for six years.

Currently, Mr. Keller serves as the Director of Bands at Hershey Middle school, where he teaches grades 6 through 8 concert bands and jazz bands. Mr. Keller also works with the Hershey Trojan Marching Band.  He resides in the York area where he maintains a private studio and is an in-demand brass soloist and accompanist.