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.
Mike Leitzke, Percussion Director
Mike Leitzke began his music career at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, IL, and went on to become a member of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps and Rhythm X Indoor percussion ensemble. During his tenure at Rhythm X, the group earned their first WGI World Class Championship.
Mike has taught, arranged, and consulted for many high schools and indoor programs across the United States. Mike served as the front ensemble caption head and arranger for Palmetto Percussion, winning the WGI Open Class Championship in 2010 and making World Class Finals for the first time. On the drum corps side, Mike has served on the faculty of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps and Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps as well as worked as a clinician and consultant for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. Additionally, Mike served as a designer and educator for the WGI PSW finalist Mt. Juliet Band of Gold and Indoor Drumline.
Presently, Mike is the percussion director at Franklin High School (TN), a Sudler Shield band program. Mike is an active adjudicator for Bands of America, Winter Guard International, and Drum Corps International. Mike has had the honor of serving on several DCI championships week panels, including both the Open Class and World Class Championship Finals competitions. Mike is the percussion/winds coordinator of the CWEA, SCGC, and WGASC/ADLA indoor circuits. Mike is proud to be an artist and clinician for Yamaha, Remo, Innovative Percussion, and Zildjian.