The Griffin Pride Band Program (GP for short) is the name of the instrumental music program at Gretna East High School. The program is built around the idea of maximizing the potential of its students, providing great opportunities for students to perform and grow, and to craft an unforgettable and educational experience for all of its students.

Griffin Pride

Band Program

To create plentiful opportunities for students to gain meaningful experiences and practical skills through the effort towards and the achievement of excellence in musical performance.

Our Mission

GPS Mission

To accept all students unconditionally and maximize their potential.

Our Ensembles

Our Directors

Graham Leavell - Director of Bands GEHS

Graham Leavell is the first director of the Griffin Pride Band Program at Gretna East High School. He grew up in Blue Springs Missouri and was a very active member of the Blue Springs High School Golden Regiment. During his time in the program, he was fortunate enough to be taught by world class educators and to experience marching, concert, and jazz band at one of the Midwest’s forefront high school band programs.

During his college years, Mr. Leavell attended Missouri Western State University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education and served as the Fraternity Education Officer and Music Director of the school’s chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Men’s Music Fraternity. While in school, Mr. Leavell was a saxophone and low reeds tech with the Blue Springs South Jaguar Pride Marching Band.

During his first two years of teaching, he was the Assistant Director of Bands at Papillion - La Vista South High School. He served as the Visual Caption Head for the marching band, the director of the Winter Winds Ensemble, and the director of the Blue Notes Jazz II ensemble. During his short time at the school, he helped the school win a Nebraska State Championship in Marching Band (2021,) Two Visual Caption Awards at the Nebraska State Marching Competition (2021/ 2022,) a Visual Caption at the BOA Iowa Regional (2021,) 3rd Place at the BOA Iowa Regional (2021,) 2nd place in class AA2 at NSBA State Jazz Competition, and a 4th place finish in the Winds Scholastic A class at WGI World Championships (2023). When Mr. Leavell is not actively working with an ensemble, he enjoys spending time with his Fiancé Jacqueline and their cat Marbles.

Portfolio Link: https://sites.google.com/view/grahamjleavell

Amber Malone - Director of Bands ACMS

Amber Malone is in her tenth year with Gretna Public Schools and serves as the Director of Bands at Aspen Creek Middle School and Assistant Director of Bands at Gretna High School. Mrs. Malone serves as a board member for the MTSS (Multi-Tier Support System), ESports coach, and GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) club sponor at Aspen Creek Middle School. She student taught under Chris Tucker and Andrew Norris before receiving her undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2013. She went on to receive her Master of Science in Education degree from Peru State College in 2017 and her Educational Specialist (EdSp) degree from the University of Missouri Columbia in 2020. 

While at UNO, Mrs. Malone was involved in multiple performing ensembles including: Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Band, Orchestra, Marching Band and Jazz Band. She also had the pleasure of touring throughout the United State and Europe while a member of the UNO bands. While at UNO, she held several leadership positions such as: Symphonic Wind Ensemble student representative, section leader in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Band, and Marching Band. Mrs. Malone was also an active member of Kappa Kappa Psi where she served as Vice President of Membership and President of the Kappa Iota chapter. Mrs. Malone has also served as a board member for the Omaha Chamber Music Society where she helped with education outreach throughout the Omaha metro area. She has also performed with the Nebraska Wind Symphony, Omaha Symphonic Winds, and the Blair Community Band. Mrs. Malone is a member of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association (NSBA), Nebraska Music Educators Association (NMEA), National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), National Education Association (NEA), Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) and Gretna Education Association (GSA). When she is not teaching or directing, Mrs. Malone enjoys spending time with her wife, Aubrey, her son, Jackson (4), and their three dogs.

William Holke - Assistant Director of Bands GEHS

William Holke is the Assistant Director of Bands at Gretna East High School. He grew up in Gretna, Nebraska and graduated from Gretna High School in 2020. During his time at Gretna, he was very involved with the marching band, concert band, and jazz band, and enjoyed playing in the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra’s (OAYO) Youth Symphony for 4 years.

During his time at college, Mr. Holke studied bassoon under Dr. Eric Stomberg at the University of Kansas. Mr. Holke also studied music education and was very active in the University of Kansas Marching Jayhawks (KUMJ), the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra (KUSO), and the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble (KUWE). Holke enjoyed getting to be a part of the Kansas Basketball Bands and traveling the country. During his senior year, Mr. Holke went on to student teach with Graham Leavell at Gretna East High School and John Balcer at Palisades Elementary. Holke graduated from the University of Kansas and received an undergraduate degree in Music Education in 2024.

Mr. Holke will be entering his first year of teaching at Gretna East High School. He is very thrilled to be returning to Gretna and becoming a part of the Griffin Pride family. When Mr. Holke is not actively teaching, he enjoys getting to watch movies with his family, watch sports, and listen to music.

Zach Howard - Director of Percussion GEHS

Zach Howard is the Percussion Director of the Griffin Pride Band Program at Gretna East High School. He is originally from Kansas City, MO and spent his high school years as a part of the Park Hill High School Band Program. During this time, he was active in the music scene outside his high school program, participating as a member of the Kansas City Youth Symphony and the Missouri All State Orchestra.

In his college years, Mr. Howard attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and studied under Dr. Dave Hall and Dr. Matthew Rush. During this time, he worked with the Gretna High School marching band as a percussion tech. He spent his summers in college participating in Drum Corps International as the timpanist for the Casper Troopers in 2019 and the Santa Clara Vanguard from 2020-2022. In 2019, he was selected as the winner of the DCI Performer’s Showcase in the Timpani division. With Mr. Howard as a member, the UNL Percussion Ensemble was selected as one of the winners of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition in 2019 and performed at that year's PASIC in Indianapolis. In 2021, he was selected as the winner of the UNL Concerto Competition in the Undergraduate Division. Mr. Howard graduated with his bachelor's degree in music education in 2023. 

While not teaching, he enjoys watching Kansas City sports and competition reality television.

Jacqueline Pollard - Color Guard Coordinator GEHS

Jacqueline Pollard is the director of guard at Gretna East High School and has been coaching since 2018. She has previously worked with the NSBA champion marching band and WGI Regional Champion winter guard at Papillion La Vista South High School in Papillion, NE; as well as with the BOA Super Regional finalist marching band and WGI World Championship Finalist winter guard at Blue Springs South High School in Blue Springs, MO where she was the Assistant Director of guards and ran a successful JV program. Her responsibilities include running the color guard program, a winter guard program, setting technique standards, and writing choreography. 

In addition to coaching, Ms. Pollard works as a show designer and choreographer. She will serve in these roles for Gretna East and currently or previously choreographed for Shawnee Mission East High School in Kansas, Papillion La Vista South winter guards, Papillion La Vista South Winter Winds, and Blue Springs South marching color guard and JV winter guard. She also is an Assistant Director at Apple Tree Orchard Preschool and Childcare in Papillion, NE.

Jacqueline Pollard discovered a love for color guard while performing at Blue Springs High School in the Golden Regiment Marching Band and the Winter Guard programs. She also studied vocal music education at Truman State University before settling on a career in early childhood education and guard/marching band design. These fields all combine in making her an instructor who is very passionate about helping students reach their highest potential and gain confidence in themselves along the way while also having the knowledge base in guard technique, music, and education to facilitate a strong environment for learning and the pursuit of excellence.  

Our Staff

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