Band Directors
Leon Sieve
(651) 423-7552
Leon Sieve joined the faculty of Rosemount High School, Rosemount, Minnesota in the fall of 2002 and is in his 31st year of teaching instrumental music. Leon received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota in May, 1993 and a Masters Degree from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Oregon in July, 2005.
During the past 30-year career, Leon has had opportunities to teach in a small rural Minnesota school system, a mid-sized school district in central Minnesota and currently at a large suburban high school located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.
Leon’s responsibilities at Rosemount High School include conducting the RHS Wind Ensemble, he is a woodwind specialist for the band program, team teaches the fall marching band, woodwind chamber ensemble, winter pep band, solo and ensemble, and coordination of the award winning RHS Color Guard. He also directs the musical "pit" for the outstanding RHS Drama Department and has held the role of department coordinator for the music, art and dance department.
Leon’s concert bands have twice been selected to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Conference – Mid-Winter Clinic. In 2002 the Milaca High School Symphonic Band was selected to perform and in 2021 the Rosemount HS Wind Ensemble was selected for this prestigious honor.
Leon began his band experience in the small Southwest Minnesota town of Adrian in the 4th grade. He credits the excitement and energy of then band director Joe Silko in getting him started on his instrumental music path and the saxophone. In high school, Leon was drum major of the marching band and was a part of the concert, jazz and pep bands within the program. After graduating for Adrian High School, Leon then moved on to SDSU where he was a member of the “Pride of the Dakotas” Marching Band playing alto saxophone and was also a member of the South Dakota State University Symphonic Band and Jazz Program. Leon auditioned for and was selected as a member of the 1989 and 1991 Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps based in Madison, WI. Leon began his color guard career performing with the Scouts and is thankful to have been taught by Michael Turner, David Veda, Mike Volves and Chad Duggen during those performing years. During the summer of 1992, Leon was on color guard staff with Black Gold Drum and Bugle Corps based in Tulsa, OK. All three of the drum corps seasons were filled with long rehearsals, gym floors, over-night bus trips, lots of sandwiches and tons of memories. “I am forever grateful to the people I met, the places I was able to perform and the experiences I had while touring the country as a drum corps member”
Performing and teaching drum corps opened up many pathways of instruction for Leon. During the past 30 years, Leon has written choreography and visual design for nearly forty high schools throughout Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois and Oklahoma. These ensembles were often awarded top honors in performances on the street (Milaca) as well as the field (Rosemount) and allowed Leon to share creative aspects to the marching arts programs which he had the pleasure to teach and assist. Some of the most notable programs include Rosemount HS (MN), Litchfield HS (MN), Grand Rapids HS (MN), Park Center HS (MN), Milaca HS (MN), and Sioux Falls Lincoln HS (SD). Leon restarted the marching band at Milaca High School in the summer of 1995 after the program was eliminated in the 1980’s
During the past twenty years, Leon has been a member of the Tri-State Judging Association judging marching band field show and summer parade performances throughout the State of Minnesota.
Mr. Sieve was awarded a "Leadership in Educational Excellence" award and is the 2001 recipient of the "Minnesota Distinguished Young Band Director Award." He is listed in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" and is a member of Music Educators National Conference (MENC) the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), and the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) and has served as the Metro High School Representative to the Board of Directors. He was inducted into Phi Beta Mu in February, 2003. Leon is a past President of the North Star Colorguard Circuit. In the fall of 2021, Leon was inducted into the Youth In Music Hall of Fame.
Scott Palmer
(651) 423-7552
Scott Palmer joined the faculty of Rosemount High School, Rosemount, Minnesota in the fall of 2018. This will be his 18th year of teaching instrumental music. Mr. Palmer received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music Appleton, WI in June, 2006 and a Master in Wind Band Conducting from the American Band College at Sam Huston State University, Huntsville, TX in July, 2015.
Prior to coming to Rosemount, Scott Palmer taught his first twelve years at Eden Prairie High School. Where he conducted 9th grade Concert Bands, Symphonic Band, Jazz II, Wind, Symphonic and Concert Percussion Ensemble, was the director of the Eagle Marching Band, and the Winter Drumline and taught instrumental lessons. Under Mr. Palmers direction the Eagle Marching band was a BOA Super Regional Finalist and Minnesota State Marching Band Champion. The Eden Prairie Winter Drumline was a WGI Scholastic World finalist in 2013, and 2014. The Eden Prairie Percussion Ensembles performed at the MN State Music convention in 2010, and at the National Percussion Festival in Indianapolis in March 2010, 2014.
Mr. Palmer is an active member of the Drum Corps community and has taught several groups including Minnesota Brass, Blue Stars, Colts, and the Blue Devils. In addition to Lawrence University and American Band College, Mr. Palmer is an alumnus of Eden Prairie High School, the Madison Scouts and the Minnesota Brass, Inc. drum and bugle corps.
Taylor Eliason
taylor.eliason@district196.org
(651) 423-7552
Taylor Eliason has been teaching at Rosemount High School in Rosemount, Minnesota since the fall of 2016. This is his 11th year of teaching instrumental music. Mr. Eliason earned his bachelor's degree in music education from St. Cloud State University in May of 2013.
Prior to teaching at Rosemount High School, Mr. Eliason taught at Grand Rapids High School from 2013-2014, and Hopkins High School from 2014-2015. He then entered Independent School District 196, teaching fifth grade band at Southview, Westview, Echo Park, and Shannon Park Elementary Schools from 2015-2017, before continuing on to his current position at Rosemount High School. In addition to his career as a band director, Mr. Eliason has taught multiple drum corps over the years, including Minnesota Brass and River City Rhythm, and he is an alumnus of both Minnesota Brass and the Madison Scouts.
At Rosemount High School, Mr. Eliason directs Varsity Band, 9th Grade Concert Band, and Jazz II, and teaches lessons to both woodwind and brass students. He is the visual instructor and has written choreography for the marching band hornline, in addition to starting the Winter Winds group at Rosemount High School. He also teaches the marching band, winter pep bands, solo and ensemble, and various other chamber ensembles.
Calvin Lipetzky
calvin.lipetzky@district196.org
(651) 423-7552
Calvin Lipetzky is in his 3rd year on the instrumental music faculty at Rosemount High School. Originally from Sioux Falls, SD, he graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Music Education (2016). Prior to his appointment in Rosemount, Mr. Lipetzky served as the 7-8 Instrumental Music Instructor and Assistant HS Marching Band Director in the Brandon Valley School District (Brandon, SD) for 5 years.
During his time in Brandon, Mr. Lipetzky conducted the middle school concert bands, jazz bands, percussion ensembles, and was the director of the Fall and Winter high school percussion ensembles. Under his direction, the middle school bands saw record setting All-State representation and became known for their innovative concert performances. The percussion ensemble was recognized as 2019 MPA bronze medalist and scholastic fan-favorite, 2020 WGI Omaha Regional silver medalist, undefeated 2020 fall season, and 2021 WGI National Finalist.
Mr. Lipetzky is an active visual designer and instructor for the marching arts. He has enjoyed working with multiple Drum and Bugle Corps and is currently working with the Phantom Regiment (Rockford, IL). He was recognized for his efforts towards music education in 2019 when he was selected as SDMEA’s Outstanding Young Music Educator.
