Our Staff
Dr. Michael Holland, Head Band Director
Dr. Holland is the head band director at Franklin High School. He previously taught at Franklin High School in 2008 and joined the staff as Assistant Marching Band Director and Percussion Director in 2009. He was hired as one of the Band Directors at Grassland Middle School in 2012 and continued in those roles with the Franklin Band. He also served as the Assistant Band Director at Nolensville High School from 2018 – 2022. Dr. Holland has been selected as a CMA Music Teacher of Excellence three times. He is an Innovative Percussion Artist and a Pearl/Adams Educational Artist. He and his wife Whitney have three children, Kinley, Beckham, and Easton.
Nicholas Blue, Assistant Band Director
Nicholas Blue is the Assistant Band Director at Franklin High School. Originally from Indiana, Mr. Blue is a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and has worked closely with The Franklin Band since arriving in the district. Mr. Blue was the Band Director at Grassland Middle School from 2020 to 2024. During his tenure the Grassland Band program flourished, receiving Superior Ratings at MTSBOA Concert Performance Assessment and other festivals, the Tennessee Bandmasters Association Sweepstakes Award, and the American School Band Directors Association Award of Distinction in Concert Performance on three occasions. Mr. Blue is the founder and coordinator of the IMPACT! Middle School Summer Band Camp, a weeklong summer camp for middle school band students in Williamson County. Mr. Blue is proud to serve the Franklin community and support music and the arts in our schools!
Levi Brandenburg, Color Guard Director
A graduate of Purdue University, with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Graphics Technology, Levi began his color guard career during his freshman year at Scottsburg High School, in Scottsburg, IN. After high school, he performed with Hypnotix Winterguard in 2006, Onyx World Winterguard in 2007, 2008, 2010, and The Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps Color Guard in 2007 and 2008 (his age-out year). Levi has worked with several color guard programs, including his role as caption head for the Music City Drum & Bugle Corps Color Guard in 2011, 2012, and 2013. He currently lives in Nashville, TN. When not teaching color guard, Levi works as a brand manager with an advertising firm in Nashville.
Michael Horvath, Color Guard Director
Originally from O’Fallon, IL, Michael Horvath earned his B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. He works as a Project Manager for Designed Conveyor Systems in Franklin, TN, and he currently resides in Nashville. Michael performed with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2006 and the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from 2007-2009, including Phantom’s 2008 Drum Corps International (DCI) victory. He has also performed with various winter guards, including the Pride of Cincinnati in 2010. From 2011 through 2013, Michael choreographed for the Music City Drum & Bugle Corps. He has also directed and choreographed for numerous other high school and college color guards throughout the South and Midwest.
Aaron Farris, Percussion Director
A graduate of the University of Kentucky (UK) and former student at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), Aaron was afforded an abundance of opportunities to perform in a variety of musical endeavors. He proudly conveys the honors of having worked with some of the best in the music business, while enrolled. During his collegiate years, Aaron was fortunate to study privately with Dr. Jason Koontz of EKU. In addition, he performed in numerous ensembles, including: jazz band, jazz combo, world percussion, steel band, orchestra, wind, percussion, and drumline. While at UK he participated in jazz band, jazz combo, under Paul Deatherage along with being mentored by Jim Campbell.
Aaron has been involved in the Drum Corps activity since 2011, where he started playing bass drum with the Canton Bluecoats (2011-2013) Additionally, he spent 3 years as a performer at WGI, one with TCIE ( 2010) and two with Rhythm X Inc in 2012 and 2013 where the group was the WGI PIO World Champions. In 2011 Aaron joined the Garrard County Marching Lions staff as the Percussion Director under Chris Vance. In his tenure with the group was a multiple time state and class AA Champion in (2013). After 14 years he "retired" as the Percussion Director with Chris Vance. Aaron has worked with The Blue Stars, Madison Scouts, The Mandarins, Father Ryan High School, Summit High School, and consulted with multiple programs across the country.
Currently, Aaron serves as the Percussion Caption Head and Co Ensemble Coordinator at the Cincinnati Tradition Drum & Bugle Corps (DCI ALL Age) and has worked with the group since 2019. In 2024 he led the percussion section to its first "High Drums" award in Open Class. The Drum Corps also made history winning the inaugural DCI All Age Open Class Championship. He also works with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps on the battery staff and has been on staff since 2021.