59. Michael Boitz, Saratoga High School (CA), discusses programming and a very special orchestra culture at his school

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast with Michael Boitz (Ep. 59)Michael
Boitz is Director of Orchestra and Band at Saratoga High
School, Saratoga, CA, where he is serving in his 24th year, 20
years of which he served as Visual and Performing Arts Chair.
After starting out as the single Instrumental Music Director at
Saratoga HS in 1998 with a small number of students participating
in just two ensembles, the Saratoga High School Instrumental
Music Ensembles have developed a reputation for excellence at the
state, national, and international level under his leadership,
and include nearly 40% of the school’s student body. While the
Saratoga HS program now has multiple Directors, Michael continues
to work with both Orchestra’s and Bands as he committed to doing
so upon his arrival in 1998 to help in keeping all aspects of
Saratoga’s Music Department vibrant. Jason Shiuan, the schools
current Department Chair, is an alum of the Saratoga HS Music
Department, as are both of the feeder middle school Directors,
Jonathan Jow and Isabel McPherson.  Michael has led Saratoga
HS on concert tours to Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Germany,
the Netherlands, Belgium, and Australia. International
festivals have included the WASBE (World Association of
Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) Conference in Utrecht, NL, the
World Music Contest in Kerkrade, NL, the Mid-Europe Music
Festival in Schladming, AT, the Jungfrau Music Festival in
Interlachen, CH, and twice at the former Vienna Youth in Music
Festival in Vienna, AT. The advanced orchestra at Saratoga
High School, Saratoga Strings, has performed twice at the
Midwest Clinic in Chicago (2014, 2018), as well as state and
regional conferences on multiple occasions. The Saratoga
High School Marching Band has performed at both the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012), and the Tournament of Roses
Parade (2016), along with multiple Bands of America Regional
Championships.  Michael has been awarded both the CMEA
(California Music Educators Association) Band Educator of
the year and the Richard R. Levin Orchestra Educator of the Year.
He has been named Teacher-of-the-Year by the Los
Gatos-Saratoga High School District, the CMEA Bay Section
Gilbert T. Freitas Award for Excellence in Music Education, and
has been inducted into the John Phillip Sousa Legion of
Honor. Michael has also personally been awarded
Honorary Commendations from the City of Saratoga, as well as
the Band Program and Orchestra Program have both been
awarded Honorary Commendations from the City of Saratoga on
multiple occasions. Michael completed undergraduate and
graduate studies at Concordia College (BA) in
Moorhead Minnesota and Northwestern University (MA) in
Evanston, IL, respectively. His teachers and mentors of
greatest influence have included Mallory Thompson, Russell
Pesola, J. Robert Hanson, Frank Bencriscutto, Lawrence
Sutherland, Ed Huttlin, John Lace, Mike Hiatt,
Gordon Nilsen, and Peter Dahlstrom. Michael Boitz was born
and raised in Anoka, MN, and is a proud graduate of Anoka
High School. Email: mboitz@lgsuhsd.org


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