We are pleased to announce Nick Miller has been named the new Visiting Assistant Director of Bands, Associate Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band and Director of Marching Percussion at the University of Iowa. Mr. Miller has served for the last five years as our Drumline Instructor and a graduate teaching assistant for the HMB. He will graduate with his DMA in percussion performance this summer, and his position marks the first time in over thirty years the directing staff of the HMB has expanded, thanks to funding and support from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
It’s been my pleasure working in the band and percussion areas of the School of Music for the last five years. I’m thrilled to continue serving these incredible students as the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Iowa, and I’m grateful for all the mentors and friends that have helped me during my time in the graduate program. This school has provided invaluable opportunities for myself and my partner, Laura Beth. We’re thrilled to be staying in Iowa City. Go Hawks!
Over the past 4 years in band, and most recently as drumline captain, working with Nick has been an incredible experience because of his great mentorship and his dedication to the Hawkeye Drumline. His strengths as a drumline instructor are his effective teaching style, advanced knowledge of marching percussion, and his commitment to the success of his students, both musically and outside of band. I know he will bring a lot of passion and expertise to the position, inspire students, and will continue to contribute to the band’s success.
- Jenna Springer, Drumline Captain, Band 142
Nick has been an outstanding drumline instructor and graduate teaching assistant with the Hawkeye Marching Band over the last five years, and I am thrilled to now welcome him as a colleague in the University of Iowa School of Music. Nick has elevated the Hawkeye Drumline to a new standard of excellence, and I know he will only continue to grow the program and help it reach greater heights in his new role. As Assistant Director of Bands, Associate Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band, and Director of Marching Percussion, Prof. Miller will play a critical role in advancing our strategic plan and vision for the future of the Athletic Bands, and I know our entire program will thrive under his leadership.
- Dr. Eric W. Bush, Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band
Mr. Miller is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the Hawkeye Marching Band, working as the instructor and arranger for the Hawkeye Marching Band Drumline. He also serves as the principal percussionist in the Iowa Symphony Band; teaches private lessons in the Iowa Percussion department; and is an active performer, designer, and adjudicator throughout the midwest. He holds a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Iowa, a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri - Columbia, and he graduated from Webster Groves High School in St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Miller has held numerous professional appointments as an instructor and designer, including his appointments as a snare technician to the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 2017, Gateway Indoor in 2018, and Crossroads Percussion in 2019. In addition, Mr. Miller has served as an instructor at many programs throughout Missouri, including Webster Groves High School, Willard High School, Hickman High School, CPS United Indoor Drumline, and California High School.
His designing experience has continued to expand far beyond writing full scores and drill for the Hawkeye Marching Band. Mr. Miller has arranged percussion for Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri, Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and has recently been hired to arrange percussion for the Indiana Marching Hundred in Bloomington, Indiana.
Mr. Miller has extensive experience in numerous performance areas, including but not limited to, his time spent marching snare drum in WGI with Freedom Percussion in 2013, Marching Mizzou (2013-2014), Gateway Indoor (2016-2017), as well as with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2016 season. He has performed as a percussion soloist with the University of Missouri Percussion Ensemble, Iowa Percussion, and the Iowa Concert Band. Mr. Miller received Member of the Year, as well as the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association scholarship for the 2017 WGI season. He is completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Iowa (currently A.B.D.), where he studies with Dr. Daniel Moore. He resides in Iowa City, Iowa with his partner Laura Beth and their dog Ria.