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Drumroll please .... Noll band program welcomes new director
The Bishop Noll band program is striking a new chord with the announcement of Kirk Hickman as its band director. The Bishop Noll is invited to welcome him with a Meet and Greet at 5 p.m. May 6 at the school.
Hickman is excited to begin his new role and shared his vision for the future of the program.
Hickman is excited to begin his new role and shared his vision for the future of the program.
Drawing on a personal experience from his own middle school years, Hickman said he felt apprehensive when his band director moved away, and he hopes to provide a smooth and positive transition for Noll students.
“Please know that I can’t wait to meet you, get to work with you, and provide you the absolute best music education that I can,” he said. He hopes to become an influential figure in his students' lives, much like his own 7th-grade band director, Mr. Chiodo.
In an effort to tailor the curriculum to the students' needs and experiences, Hickman has requested families and students to complete an anonymous survey accessible via a provided Google Doc link (https://tinyurl.com/BNIband).
“Your thoughts and experiences mean a lot to me, and I want to try my best to make this transition work as smoothly as possible,” he said.
Hickman has an optimistic outlook for the BNI band program.
“The band program at BNI is on the way up, and I want to help move it further while keeping in place the systems that ensure students can be involved throughout BNI athletics and activities," he said. “I’m really excited to get to work with this group of students and feel that we can do some great things together.”
Hickman previously worked at high schools in Illinois including Lincoln-Way North High School, where he built a nationally recognized music program. He also has experience teaching marching percussion with the Capital Sound Drum and Bugle Corps and directed the McHenry Community College Percussion Ensemble.
Under his direction, ensembles have achieved significant accolades, including performances at the prestigious University of Illinois SuperState Band Festival and the Music For All National Festival. His jazz ensembles have also garnered recognition, with the Naperville North Jazz Ensemble performing at the 2019 Illinois Music Educator’s Convention and winning class 4A at Jazz in the Meadows that same year. The Lincoln-Way North Marching Band achieved remarkable success, becoming a seven-time Illinois State Class 4A Champion and a two-time Bands of America Class 3A Regional Champion.
Hickman is an active clinician and adjudicator for various music events. He has also served in leadership roles within the Illinois Music Educator’s Association. As a published composer, his works primarily focus on marching percussion and percussion ensemble, and he has contributed to music education publications.
As a performer, Mr. Hickman is a percussionist, proficient in drumset, mallet percussion, steelpan, and tabla. He has performed on recordings and at international festivals.
His dedication to music education has earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator (2020) and receiving multiple Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association and the National Catholic Band Association.
Hickman holds degrees from Northern Illinois University and the VanderCook College of Music, and he attended the Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy.
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“Please know that I can’t wait to meet you, get to work with you, and provide you the absolute best music education that I can,” he said. He hopes to become an influential figure in his students' lives, much like his own 7th-grade band director, Mr. Chiodo.
In an effort to tailor the curriculum to the students' needs and experiences, Hickman has requested families and students to complete an anonymous survey accessible via a provided Google Doc link (https://tinyurl.com/BNIband).
“Your thoughts and experiences mean a lot to me, and I want to try my best to make this transition work as smoothly as possible,” he said.
Hickman has an optimistic outlook for the BNI band program.
“The band program at BNI is on the way up, and I want to help move it further while keeping in place the systems that ensure students can be involved throughout BNI athletics and activities," he said. “I’m really excited to get to work with this group of students and feel that we can do some great things together.”
Hickman previously worked at high schools in Illinois including Lincoln-Way North High School, where he built a nationally recognized music program. He also has experience teaching marching percussion with the Capital Sound Drum and Bugle Corps and directed the McHenry Community College Percussion Ensemble.
Under his direction, ensembles have achieved significant accolades, including performances at the prestigious University of Illinois SuperState Band Festival and the Music For All National Festival. His jazz ensembles have also garnered recognition, with the Naperville North Jazz Ensemble performing at the 2019 Illinois Music Educator’s Convention and winning class 4A at Jazz in the Meadows that same year. The Lincoln-Way North Marching Band achieved remarkable success, becoming a seven-time Illinois State Class 4A Champion and a two-time Bands of America Class 3A Regional Champion.
Hickman is an active clinician and adjudicator for various music events. He has also served in leadership roles within the Illinois Music Educator’s Association. As a published composer, his works primarily focus on marching percussion and percussion ensemble, and he has contributed to music education publications.
As a performer, Mr. Hickman is a percussionist, proficient in drumset, mallet percussion, steelpan, and tabla. He has performed on recordings and at international festivals.
His dedication to music education has earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator (2020) and receiving multiple Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association and the National Catholic Band Association.
Hickman holds degrees from Northern Illinois University and the VanderCook College of Music, and he attended the Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy.
Bishop Noll Institute, a diverse, Catholic college preparatory school, partners with local faith communities to empower young adults to live their faith in Christ through ministry, scholarship, and leadership.