Our Staff
Dr. Michael Holland, Director of Bands
Dr. Holland is the head band director at Franklin High School. He previously taught at Franklin High School in 2008 and joined the staff as Assistant Marching Band Director and Percussion Director in 2009. He was hired as one of the Band Directors at Grassland Middle School in 2012 and continued in those roles with the Franklin Band. He also served as the Assistant Band Director at Nolensville High School from 2018 – 2022. Dr. Holland has been selected as a CMA Music Teacher of Excellence three times. He is an Innovative Percussion Artist and a Pearl/Adams Educational Artist. He and his wife Whitney have three children, Kinley, Beckham, and Easton.
Nicholas Blue, Assistant Director of Bands
Nicholas Blue is the Assistant Director of Bands at Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, where he team teaches the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band. Mr. Blue was the Band Director at Grassland Middle School in Franklin from 2020-2024, and worked closely with the Franklin High School Bands during that time. Ensembles under Mr. Blue’s direction consistently earn Superior ratings at regional concert festivals and have performed at the Belmont University Regional Wind Band Festival sponsored by Music For All (Grassland Middle School Symphonic Band) and the Tennessee Music Education Association’s Annual Conference (Franklin High School Wind Ensemble).
The Franklin High School Marching Band has been a perennial Bands of America Regional finalist and Grand Nationals Semi Finalist throughout Mr. Blue’s time with the group. The band was named Grand Champion at the MTSU Contest of Champions in 2024 and performed in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade in 2026. Under Mr. Blue’s direction, the Grassland Band grew to 240 members, was twice awarded the Tennessee Bandmasters Association Sweepstakes Award, and was awarded the American School Band Directors Association Award of Distinction in Concert Performance on three occasions. During his tenure, 40 percent of the school’s population participated in Band or Orchestra.
Mr. Blue is the founder and coordinator of the IMPACT! Middle School Summer Band Camp, a summer camp for middle school band students in Williamson County, TN, serving nearly 200 students annually. Mr. Blue has presented professional development clinics for the Midwest Clinic, the American String Teachers Association, and the Tennessee Music Education Association. In 2025, Mr. Blue was named a “40 Under 40” Music Educator by Yamaha, a “Music Teacher of Excellence” by the Country Music Association Foundation, and received a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association.
Originally from Indiana, Mr. Blue is a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and is pursuing certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. He enjoys traveling and Portillo’s Italian Beef.
Levi Brandenburg, Color Guard Director
A graduate of Purdue University, with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Graphics Technology, Levi began his color guard career during his freshman year at Scottsburg High School, in Scottsburg, IN. After high school, he performed with Hypnotix Winterguard in 2006, Onyx World Winterguard in 2007, 2008, 2010, and The Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps Color Guard in 2007 and 2008 (his age-out year). Levi has worked with several color guard programs, including his role as caption head for the Music City Drum & Bugle Corps Color Guard in 2011, 2012, and 2013. He currently lives in Nashville, TN. When not teaching color guard, Levi works as a brand manager with an advertising firm in Nashville.
Michael Horvath, Color Guard Director
Originally from O’Fallon, IL, Michael Horvath earned his B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. He works as a Project Manager for Designed Conveyor Systems in Franklin, TN, and he currently resides in Nashville. Michael performed with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2006 and the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from 2007-2009, including Phantom’s 2008 Drum Corps International (DCI) victory. He has also performed with various winter guards, including the Pride of Cincinnati in 2010. From 2011 through 2013, Michael choreographed for the Music City Drum & Bugle Corps. He has also directed and choreographed for numerous other high school and college color guards throughout the South and Midwest.
Aaron Farris, Percussion Director
A graduate of the University of Kentucky (UK) and former student at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), Aaron was afforded an abundance of opportunities to perform in a variety of musical endeavors. He proudly conveys the honors of having worked with some of the best in the music business, while enrolled. During his collegiate years, Aaron was fortunate to study privately with Dr. Jason Koontz of EKU. In addition, he performed in numerous ensembles, including: jazz band, jazz combo, world percussion, steel band, orchestra, wind, percussion, and drumline. While at UK he participated in jazz band, jazz combo, under Paul Deatherage along with being mentored by Jim Campbell.
Aaron has been involved in the Drum Corps activity since 2011, where he started playing bass drum with the Canton Bluecoats (2011-2013) Additionally, he spent 3 years as a performer at WGI, one with TCIE ( 2010) and two with Rhythm X Inc in 2012 and 2013 where the group was the WGI PIO World Champions. In 2011 Aaron joined the Garrard County Marching Lions staff as the Percussion Director under Chris Vance. In his tenure with the group was a multiple time state and class AA Champion in (2013). After 14 years he "retired" as the Percussion Director with Chris Vance. Aaron has worked with The Blue Stars, Madison Scouts, The Mandarins, Father Ryan High School, Summit High School, and consulted with multiple programs across the country.
Currently, Aaron serves as the Percussion Caption Head and Co Ensemble Coordinator at the Cincinnati Tradition Drum & Bugle Corps (DCI ALL Age) and has worked with the group since 2019. In 2024 he led the percussion section to its first "High Drums" award in Open Class. The Drum Corps also made history winning the inaugural DCI All Age Open Class Championship. He also works with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps on the battery staff and has been on staff since 2021.