Background Info:
Born in Prescott, AZ, Mr. Malone grew up in Arizona, enjoying the beautiful weather provided by the climate of Prescott. He found his joy in music during his High School years, choosing to pursue a career in music. After High school, he obtained his college degree at ASU, participating in musical ensembles throughout his time at the University. He focused on the trumpet, participating in mainly band related ensembles throughout his college career, finding the trumpet, and band as an extension, enjoyable enough to make a career out of it.
After college, he began working in the Peoria School District, working with upper elementary to middle school students in Concert Band. He worked as an assistant Band Director at Peoria High School, and, having enjoyed working with Peoria High School’s Marching Band, he decided to come to North Canyon to pursue a career as a High School Band Director.
Now:
Mr. Malone is now enjoying his first couple of months at North Canyon, enjoying both the people and the job. He held Marching Band Band Camp during the last two weeks of July, spending bountiful amounts of time at North Canyon and with North Canyon’s Marching Band before the school year began.
“Everyone’s really caring, it’s been a nice change,” Mr. Malone said in my interview of him post Band Camp. He said he really enjoys teaching music to the students, working on musical endeavors as he prepares the Marching Band for the upcoming season.
Beyond the Marching Band, Mr. Malone teaches Concert Band, Percussion, and Orchestra. Each ensemble has a repertoire that they will be performing later on in the school year. Each ensemble is working as a group to perform together, a trait Mr. Malone wants to continue building at North Canyon. “Band is a family. When you join, you instantly gain 30-40 friends.”
Looking Forward:
Despite being new to North Canyon High School, Mr. Malone has made waves in the Performing Arts Building via the Marching Band, the Concert Band, and Orchestra.
Marching Band is flourishing, with our community growing in both number and strength. Mr. Malone is very focused on building strong connections between sections and individuals, believing that the starting place for a great Marching Band resides in the abilities of all to work together. The Marching Band won 2nd place in State both prior years to Mr. Malone’s arrival, and we’re all looking forward to earning that place or higher this year with our new show titled Imagine, a dark twist on the brighter themes one might associate with the one-word title.
Concert Band and Orchestra are both doing wonderful as well, both also promoting connection and community. Both ensembles are working towards the annual Fall and Winter concerts, preparing pieces of music that they will perform at high levels given the guidance of Mr. Malone. He hopes to take the Band and Orchestra to Festivals, where they will be judged and scored based on their performance of select pieces of music. “Outside school performance opportunities are good for developing individual musicians as well as growing as a musical ensemble”.
North Canyon has participated in such festivals previously, about 4 years ago, and neither Band nor Orchestra scored well. But, with Mr. Malone’s knowledge of music and his dedication to his students, he is bound to raise that bar! The new school year has only just begun, yet so much potential already looms on the horizons!
