Meet the Staff
John Keith
John has been the Director of Bands at Millard West High School since the fall of 2002. His responsibilities include directing the Varsity Marching Band, the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I and co-directing the Junior Varsity Marching Band and Concert Band. In addition to his directing responsibilities, John teaches Music Connections (History of American Popular Music), Music Theory, A.P. Music Theory, and is the Music Department Chair. John also served as President for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association (NSBA).
Prior to moving to Omaha, John taught at Pekin Community High School in Pekin, Illinois for eleven years. While teaching in Illinois, John was active at both the District and State levels of the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA), serving as the District IV Jazz Chairman and the All-State Jazz Band Chair, judging percussion auditions for the student All-State Ensembles, presenting at the IMEA Convention (as a member of the Rhythm City Percussion Ensemble), and Guest Conducting the District II Junior High Jazz Band.
John received his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1990) and his Master of Arts degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University (2000). John’s professional memberships include NSBA, NMEA, NAfME, and PAS.
A native of Decatur, Illinois, John currently resides in Omaha with his wife Tracy and their children Tyler and Kelsey.
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Jonah Zimmerman
Jonah is a music educator, euphoniumist, and trombonist who hails from Atlanta, Georgia.
A passionate educator, Jonah has presented masterclasses and clinics abroad in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, at institutions in the Southeast, and has worked closely with many of the Southeast’s top high school and middle school band programs. Jonah’s students have earned top placements in Georgia and Florida’s prestigious All-State and District Honor Bands, the Music for All Honor Band of America, regional and international tuba/euphonium conference competitions, and have gone on to become successful band directors, music therapists, and performing artists.
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High in demand as a soloist, Jonah has performed in collaboration with the Florida State University Wind Ensemble, Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, and the Blue Lake Festival Band. Jonah has seen success in premier competitions including being named first prize in the 2020 International Euphonium and Tuba Festival Artist Solo Competition, a two-time finalist in the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Artist Solo Competition (2020, 2022), first prize in the 2017 Southeastern Regional Tuba/Euphonium Artist Euphonium Solo Competition, and a three-time finalist in the United States Army Band National Collegiate solo competition (2018, 2020, 2021). Jonah also holds accolades in military auditions for euphonium, being named winner of The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West Audition and finalist of The United States Coast Guard Band Audition.
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Jonah takes great pride in sharing new, exciting music with others and has performed as a guest artist at the International Women’s Brass Conference in Japan, the International Tuba Euphonium Conference, the Midwest Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference, and the South Central Tuba/Euphonium Conference. In addition to performing as a soloist, Jonah performs with the Honseo Tuba Quartet and the Capital City Brass Quintet, chamber ensembles that share the mission of bringing high-level artistry to their communities.
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Outside of the band world, Jonah enjoys playing ping pong, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, watching Japanese anime, and jamming out on guitar.
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Jonah Zimmerman holds the Doctor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Columbus State University. ​​
