59. Michael Boitz, Saratoga High School (CA), discusses programming and a very special orchestra culture at his school

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast with Michael Boitz (Ep. 59)Michael Boitz is Director of Orchestra and Band at Saratoga High School, Saratoga, CA, where he is serving in his 24th year, 20 years of which he served as Visual and Performing Arts Chair. After starting out as the single Instrumental Music Director at Saratoga HS in 1998 with a small number of students participating in just two ensembles, the Saratoga High School Instrumental Music Ensembles have developed a reputation for excellence at the state, national, and international level under his leadership, and include nearly 40% of the school’s student body. While the Saratoga HS program now has multiple Directors, Michael continues to work with both Orchestra’s and Bands as he committed to doing so upon his arrival in 1998 to help in keeping all aspects of Saratoga’s Music Department vibrant. Jason Shiuan, the schools current Department Chair, is an alum of the Saratoga HS Music Department, as are both of the feeder middle school Directors, Jonathan Jow and Isabel McPherson. Michael has led Saratoga HS on concert tours to Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Australia. International festivals have included the WASBE (World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) Conference in Utrecht, NL, the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, NL, the Mid-Europe Music Festival in Schladming, AT, the Jungfrau Music Festival in Interlachen, CH, and twice at the former Vienna Youth in Music Festival in Vienna, AT. The advanced orchestra at Saratoga High School, Saratoga Strings, has performed twice at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago (2014, 2018), as well as state and regional conferences on multiple occasions. The Saratoga High School Marching Band has performed at both the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012), and the Tournament of Roses Parade (2016), along with multiple Bands of America Regional Championships. Michael has been awarded both the CMEA (California Music Educators Association) Band Educator of the year and the Richard R. Levin Orchestra Educator of the Year. He has been named Teacher-of-the-Year by the Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District, the CMEA Bay Section Gilbert T. Freitas Award for Excellence in Music Education, and has been inducted into the John Phillip Sousa Legion of Honor. Michael has also personally been awarded Honorary Commendations from the City of Saratoga, as well as the Band Program and Orchestra Program have both been awarded Honorary Commendations from the City of Saratoga on multiple occasions. Michael completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Concordia College (BA) in Moorhead Minnesota and Northwestern University (MA) in Evanston, IL, respectively. His teachers and mentors of greatest influence have included Mallory Thompson, Russell Pesola, J. Robert Hanson, Frank Bencriscutto, Lawrence Sutherland, Ed Huttlin, John Lace, Mike Hiatt, Gordon Nilsen, and Peter Dahlstrom. Michael Boitz was born and raised in Anoka, MN, and is a proud graduate of Anoka High School. Email: [e-mail]

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