Meet the Band Directors

Mr. Friesleben and Mr. Strohmaier are waukee northwest’s two band directors.

Even though the Northwest Royal Brigade is just two months old, Chris Strohmaier and Chad Friesleben, the directors of the marching, jazz and concert band are proud to be leaders of the pack.

In high school, Mr. Strohmaier played the trumpet. Strohmaier has been a band director for 17 years and seven of those have been spent at Waukee. Strohmaier has had many great memories from directing bands. One of his favorites is from one of the most recent years. Strohmaier explained, “The one that sticks out to me now because it is the most current was the reaction of our students back in 2019 when we made the announcement that we were gonna get to go march in Pasadena.” Luckily, he recorded the reaction of the students, and to this day, still tears up when watching it. In his free time, Strohmeier loves to be outside and travel with his wife.

“The Band Directors have given me the drive that I have needed to see what marching band is and what it can be.”

Olivia Carpenter

Although he has directed bands for 27 years, this is Mr. Friesleben’s first year working full time. One of his greatest values is arts education. Friesleben explained, “[Band] helps to create lifelong consumers of the arts, lifelong performers of the arts, and people who appreciate the arts as a key cause to society.” Friesleben’s favorite memory was when the first show he composed performed at a Bands of America regional finals in Saint Louis. When he was a student, his high school band director helped encourage him to go into music education when he was in high school. Friesleben explained fondly, “My high school band director continues to have an impact on me today. I talk to him, I ask him for advice. He’s just very special to me… I consider him one of my greatest influences in life.”

Senior, and Drum Major of the Royal Brigade, Olivia Carpenter expressed, “[The Band Directors] have given me the drive that I have needed to see what marching band is and what it could be and how it impacts the rest of the school.” Carpenter explained that the band directors have improved her band career and opportunities so much that she plans to continue marching band throughout her college career.  Alaina Armentrout, a senior at NWHS, delightfully explained “Mr. Strohmaier likes to wear funny hats and make funny faces.”

Students around the band have so many fond memories of Strohmaier and Friesleben. The directors are beloved by all the band members and have left an incredible mark in their high school careers.