Damon Harvey has joined the Darlington Community as band director for grades 4-12. He has enjoyed a career in music education while specializing in instrumental music.
“We are excited to have Damon join the fine arts department and work with our student instrumentalists,” said Kim Tunnell, fine arts director. “His philosophy of teaching and music classroom experience directly ties to our school mission and I look forward to seeing our students learn and grow as musicians, finding their passion, serving and acting with integrity all along the way. Damon’s energy, experience, and knowledge will be a great addition to Darlington.”
Harvey holds a B.A. in Music and minors in English and Psychology, from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is currently completing a PhD in Music Education with West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.
As a music teacher, Damon has worked with diverse student bodies of varying musical backgrounds and preferences and has learned it’s important to get to know those who are in the classroom.
“One of the best parts about teaching band is creating teams of young musicians who gradually take ownership for their performances and rehearsals,” said Harvey. “I enjoy helping students learn to work together and make decisions that will ultimately help them accomplish rewarding pieces of music.”
Harvey led the music ensembles at the Linsly School in West Virginia for six years and has recently been working with undergraduate music education majors while doing further graduate work at West Virginia University. At Linsly, Harvey taught bands for grades 5-12, choirs for grades 8-12, middle school general music, and upper school music appreciation. He also coached high school and middle school cross-country running and track and field while also living on campus. As a graduate assistant at Case Western, Harvey assisted with the collegiate Symphonic Winds group and the high school honors ensemble, the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony.
Harvey believes in quickly making connections with students through band and believes that the environment at Darlington will allow him to do this quickly.
“I’m already impressed with the students here at Darlington. It’s clear that they are creative, positive, and enthusiastic about the challenges they’re given,” Harvey said. “The faculty and administration clearly support the arts and know they are an important part of education at all levels. I’m happy to know that the band teacher position gives me the opportunity to work with students in fourth through 12th grades because I enjoy helping students take their first steps on an instrument and then being involved in their development all the way through to the Upper School.”
Damon’s wife, Rachel, has an Master of Arts in Elementary Education and taught first grade and kindergarten for nine years in West Virginia. They are excited to raise their eight-month-old son, Dean, in the Darlington Community. Damon and Rachel will be living in Cooper Hall and helping with the first-year experience for girls at Darlington.
