About

The Loveland High School Band

The Loveland High School Band is a world-class high school music program located in Loveland, Colorado. Loveland is a community of approximately 62,000 and offers an appealing lifestyle from enjoying the great outdoors at beautiful parks and lakes to taking in the culture of the arts. As the “Gateway to the Rockies,” Loveland is nestled in a valley at the mouth of the beautiful Big Thompson Canyon fifty miles north of Denver and thirty miles east of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The Loveland High School Band Program consists of three Concert Bands, three Jazz Ensembles, the Crimson Regiment Marching Band, Winter Percussion Ensemble, Winter Guard and numerous Chamber Groups. Approximately 180 of the 1500 students at Loveland High School are active members of the band program.

The purpose for band at Loveland High School is to provide each student with a comprehensive music education and to strive for excellence in everything we do. The performing groups at Loveland have received state and national recognition for their performances. The Loveland High School Wind Symphony has consistently received “Superior with Distinction” ratings at Regional and State Concert Band Festivals. The Wind Symphony has been invited to perform as an Honor Performing Group at the Colorado Music Educators Conference in 2011, 2008 and 1999. In 2010, the Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the 32nd Annual Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington.

The Crimson Regiment Marching Band was the Colorado 4A State Champion in 2009, 2004, 2003 and 2002 and placed second in 2010, 2008 and 2001. In 2011, the Loveland Color Guard was the Scholastic A Rocky Mountain Color Guard State Champion. The marching band was the only group from Colorado to attend the Bands of America Super Regional in San Antonio in 2008, 2006 and 2003 and was the Class AA Champion in 2006 and 2003. In 2007, the Marching Band was a finalist and finished fifth in Class AAA at the Bands of America Regional in Flagstaff, Arizona. In 2004, the Crimson Regiment Marching Band was a Bands of America Grand Nationals Semi-Finalist. In 2002, The Crimson Regiment was the Zia Marching Band Fiesta Grand Champion at the University of New Mexico.

We would like to thank the students, parents, administration and staff of the Loveland High School Band and the Thompson School District for all of their hard work and support.

Band Directors

Matthew Arau
(Head Director)

Matthew Arau Picture

 Matthew Arau is in his sixth year as Director of Bands of Loveland High School. He is also on staff for the American Band College and the Western International Band Clinic. Mr. Arau graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Music Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Government. He received a Masters degree from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University. Mr. Arau began his professional teaching career in 1997 as the Associate Director of Bands at Loveland High School and the Associate Director of Bands at Walt Clark Middle School. From 1998-2005, Mr. Arau was the Director of Bands at Walt Clark Middle School. In 2003, the Walt Clark Middle School Honor Band performed as an Honor Performing Group at the Colorado Music Educators Conference. Mr. Arau is an active guest clinician and conductor and regularly performs jazz and classical music on the saxophone. He is published in Bandworld Magazine and The Saxophone Journal. Mr. Arau resides in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife Merilee.

David Saccardi
(Asst. Director)

David Saccardi Picture

 David Saccardi is thrilled to be beginning his first year as Director of Orchestras at Loveland High School and Bill Reed Middle School. He is also the Assistant Director of Bands at Loveland High School, where he assists with the Crimson Regiment Marching Band, and conducts the Symphonic band. He is also on staff at Hummingbird Music Camp in Jemez Springs, New Mexico and the Colorado ASTA Middle School String Camp. He is a member of MENC, ASTA, and the International Society of Bassists. He has been on the board of the Colorado Music Educators Association, and has given presentations at the CMEA Convention and the Colorado ASTA Convention.
Mr. Saccardi graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colorado State University with a Bachelors in Music Education and Bachelors in Music Performance (Double Bass). While at Colorado State, Mr. Saccardi was the state president of the collegiate branch of the Colorado Music Educator’s National Conference (2008-2010), Assistant Director of the Concert Orchestra, and taught the String Methods course for Music Education majors.
Also an active performer, Mr. Saccardi has performed with a variety of ensembles along the front range. He is currently Principal Double Bass of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, and is also a member of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra. He has also been the featured soloist with the Rocky Ridge Music Camp CHAMBERRE Festival Orchestra performing Bottesini’s Concerto No. 2 for Double Bass in b-minor. He also plays jazz with local performing talent.
Mr. Saccardi lives in Ft. Collins, where he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Claire, hiking in the Rocky Mountains, white water rafting, and generally enjoying the outdoors.

Instructional Staff

  • Visual Designer and Program Coordinator: Mike Anderson
  • Music Arranger: John Meehan
  • Percussion Director and Arranger: Shilo Stroman
  • Color Guard Choreographer and Caption Head: Greg Humphrey
  • Visual Choreographer and Caption Head: Zach Schweitzer
  • Percussion Instructor: Jeremy Maytum
  • Percussion Instructor: Chris Dighero
  • Color Guard Instructor: Paula Crosse
  • Visual Instructor: Kelby Siegfried
  • Music Instructor: Carolyn Keyes
  • Music Instructor: Jason Olney
  • Music Instructor: Aakash Mittal
  • Music Instructor: Don Williams
  • Music Instructor: Zach Schweitzer
  • Music Instructor: Frank Cook
  • Music Instructor: Rob Stahly