Heather A. Nieto, Director of Orchestras
Most recently Heather was hired as the Director of Orchestras for the Philharmonic Orchestra under the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra (IYO). In this position, Heather will be working weekly with high school students in the Philharmonic Orchestra from across Central Indiana. She will lead the ensemble through three concert cycles with the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra program.
The 2024-2025 school year marks Heather Nieto’s fourth year as the Director of Orchestras for Hamilton Southeastern High School. In just a few short years, she has worked with Associate Director, Charles Kunz to create a culture that promotes respect, fosters pride, and inspires excellence within the Southeastern orchestras. During the Spring of her first year, 2022, she led the Southeastern Symphony Orchestra to the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) State Finals for the first time in the history of the program and then again in 2024. Heather continues to make an impact on her students and was recognized this year as an Honored Educator by three different seniors.
A graduate of Butler University in 2002, Heather Nieto is in her twenty-second year as a music educator. She started her first eighteen years of teaching as Director of Orchestras at Belzer Middle School in Lawrence Township, Indianapolis, Indiana. Heather also served as Performing Arts Department Chair for six years, as Lawrence Central High School Assistant Director of Orchestras for two years, and on numerous committees including the Lawrence Township Performing Arts Council. While always looking to expand performance opportunities for her students, Heather co-founded the Lawrence Township Honor Orchestra and the Belzer PopZ Orchestra. Her ensembles have been invited to perform for the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National Orchestra Festival as well as the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA) Honor Orchestra Ensembles. Additionally, Heather was named the Belzer Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2018 and recognized in four different years by Top 30 Seniors as an honored educator.
Going beyond the classroom, Heather has worked with DePauw University’s music education program, was the featured clinician at the 2019 Luebke String Festival, and has been a guest clinician with various orchestras across the state of Indiana. She has presented sessions at Ball State University, the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA) Professional Development Conference, and the Indiana chapter of the American String Teachers Association (INASTA). Most recently, she wrote “Gauntlet at 25” which was published in the American String Teacher.
Heather currently serves as Past President for INASTA, where she works to support orchestra directors across the state of Indiana. During her time with INASTA Heather has continued to grow the chapter and event opportunities for its members. Under her leadership the chapter received the ASTA “Outstanding Chapter Award”. She continues to advocate for string education and maintains a focus on creating opportunities for members to communicate, collaborate, and support one another.
In addition to her dedication to the education of her students and support for the string teacher community, Heather continues to work on her goals as a conductor. She has participated in the University of Colorado Boulder Conducting Symposium in 2023 and 2024. Heather was also invited to be a conducting participant at a conducting clinic during the 2023 Midwest Band and Orchestra Festival with Larry Livingston and Carl St.Clair.
Heather currently lives in Noblesville with her husband, Victor; two children, Sophia (13) and Ivan (9); and their dog, Hachi.
The 2024-2025 school year marks Heather Nieto’s fourth year as the Director of Orchestras for Hamilton Southeastern High School. In just a few short years, she has worked with Associate Director, Charles Kunz to create a culture that promotes respect, fosters pride, and inspires excellence within the Southeastern orchestras. During the Spring of her first year, 2022, she led the Southeastern Symphony Orchestra to the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) State Finals for the first time in the history of the program and then again in 2024. Heather continues to make an impact on her students and was recognized this year as an Honored Educator by three different seniors.
A graduate of Butler University in 2002, Heather Nieto is in her twenty-second year as a music educator. She started her first eighteen years of teaching as Director of Orchestras at Belzer Middle School in Lawrence Township, Indianapolis, Indiana. Heather also served as Performing Arts Department Chair for six years, as Lawrence Central High School Assistant Director of Orchestras for two years, and on numerous committees including the Lawrence Township Performing Arts Council. While always looking to expand performance opportunities for her students, Heather co-founded the Lawrence Township Honor Orchestra and the Belzer PopZ Orchestra. Her ensembles have been invited to perform for the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National Orchestra Festival as well as the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA) Honor Orchestra Ensembles. Additionally, Heather was named the Belzer Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2018 and recognized in four different years by Top 30 Seniors as an honored educator.
Going beyond the classroom, Heather has worked with DePauw University’s music education program, was the featured clinician at the 2019 Luebke String Festival, and has been a guest clinician with various orchestras across the state of Indiana. She has presented sessions at Ball State University, the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA) Professional Development Conference, and the Indiana chapter of the American String Teachers Association (INASTA). Most recently, she wrote “Gauntlet at 25” which was published in the American String Teacher.
Heather currently serves as Past President for INASTA, where she works to support orchestra directors across the state of Indiana. During her time with INASTA Heather has continued to grow the chapter and event opportunities for its members. Under her leadership the chapter received the ASTA “Outstanding Chapter Award”. She continues to advocate for string education and maintains a focus on creating opportunities for members to communicate, collaborate, and support one another.
In addition to her dedication to the education of her students and support for the string teacher community, Heather continues to work on her goals as a conductor. She has participated in the University of Colorado Boulder Conducting Symposium in 2023 and 2024. Heather was also invited to be a conducting participant at a conducting clinic during the 2023 Midwest Band and Orchestra Festival with Larry Livingston and Carl St.Clair.
Heather currently lives in Noblesville with her husband, Victor; two children, Sophia (13) and Ivan (9); and their dog, Hachi.
Charles Kunz, Associate Director Of Orchestras
Charles Kunz is Associate Director of Orchestras and Director of Jazz at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana. He teaches many activities including concert orchestras, jazz band, pit orchestra, piano, as well as music theory and history.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Kunz graduated from Whetstone High School and received his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas in Denton and his Master of Music from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Mr. Kunz has taught all levels of instrumental music in Texas, Kentucky and Indiana for the past 30+ years. Before coming to Hamilton Southeastern High School, he taught at North Central High School, Eastwood Middle School, and most recently Fishers High School where he started the band program.
Although his primary instruments are Saxophone and Bassoon, Mr. Kunz has made a lifelong study of all woodwinds and is now enjoying learning string technique and has found a home on the Double Bass. He performs regularly with the Kokomo Park Band, White River Wind Symphony, GMH Jazz Orchestra, The Cause, Joy Swing Big Band, and the West Winds Big Band. He is a member of The National Association for Music Education, Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana chapter of the American String Teachers Association, Indiana Jazz Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity.
When he is not teaching or performing, Mr. Kunz enjoys making music with his wife Charlotte (Flutist) and teaching his cats (Lena & Lilly) the finer points of civilized society.
How to contact Mr. Kunz
[email protected]
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Kunz graduated from Whetstone High School and received his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas in Denton and his Master of Music from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Mr. Kunz has taught all levels of instrumental music in Texas, Kentucky and Indiana for the past 30+ years. Before coming to Hamilton Southeastern High School, he taught at North Central High School, Eastwood Middle School, and most recently Fishers High School where he started the band program.
Although his primary instruments are Saxophone and Bassoon, Mr. Kunz has made a lifelong study of all woodwinds and is now enjoying learning string technique and has found a home on the Double Bass. He performs regularly with the Kokomo Park Band, White River Wind Symphony, GMH Jazz Orchestra, The Cause, Joy Swing Big Band, and the West Winds Big Band. He is a member of The National Association for Music Education, Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana chapter of the American String Teachers Association, Indiana Jazz Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity.
When he is not teaching or performing, Mr. Kunz enjoys making music with his wife Charlotte (Flutist) and teaching his cats (Lena & Lilly) the finer points of civilized society.
How to contact Mr. Kunz
[email protected]