Staff

Geoff Fotland
Band Director
fotlandg@hsd.k12.or.us

Our band director Geoff Fotland is a native Oregonian and for the past 20 years has been active in the Pacific Northwest as a saxophonist. He has also spent many years in the entertainment industry as an orchestra musician for Carnival Cruise Lines and entertainers locally and nationally to many too mention. Geoff holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Masters Degree in Education. Geoff enjoys more than anything being the band director at Hillsboro High School.

Derek Bernier, Assistant Band Director & Percussion Instructor
Originally from Rhode Island, Derek has his Bachelor's of Music Education in percussion with honors in from the University of Montana and student taught in Meridian, Idaho.  He has marched with the Bozeman High School, Montana State University "Spirit of the West," and the University of Montana Grizzly Marching Bands at many event including the 2003 NCAA Div. I-AA Football National Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee; the 1999 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California; and the 2001 Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.  Derek enjoys hockey, baseball, backpacking, hiking, and camping in his free time.

Nancy Melendez, Drill Team Coach
Nancy began her marching band career in 7th grade playing the flute and marching parades with her junior high band in Pocatello, Idaho. You'll have to guess the year!! In 9th grade she marched with the flags and wore majorette boots with colored tassles! As a sophomore in high school Nancy marched both flute and flags - you'll have to ask her how - she doesn't recommend it. The last years of high school she marched flute and was involved in the band student leadership. While in college getting her secondary teaching degree she coached color guard at local high schools.
Her and husband, John, moved to Utah where she coached 4 years at West Jordan High. While there she served on the Utah Winter Guard Association
Board and took her guard to WGI Championships in Phoenix. Nancy took a
break from coaching when she moved to Oregon and had 3 kids. When she moved into the neighborhood of Hilhi and heard the drums practicing, her passion for marching band and color guard was reignited. She contacted Geoff and was eager to come on board at Hilhi. Outside of marching band she is mostly a busy mom but also teaches preschool music classes, loves to travel, read, watch movies, play games, and scrapbook.

Key Poulan - Music Composition for Marching
Visit the KPM Website
Key Poulan is the brass composer and arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard. Key also serves as an arranger or composer for the Spartans, Renegades, Skyliners and Millennium (Italy) Drum and Bugle Corps. As the owner of Key Poulan Music, he has been recognized as one of the country’s top arrangers and composers in the area of contemporary marching band and has several concert band works to his credit. His marching band arrangements have won several national titles at the Bands of America Grand Nationals Championships. His works have won many state titles throughout the United States, and has been performed in Canada and Japan.