NCS Music Department

The NCS Music Department offers four major programs:

High School Band
High School Choir
Junior High Band
Junior High Choir

The primary objective of our Band and Choir programs is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ through our lives as we strive for excellence as a member of an honor group. Our band and choir members have a sense of personal pride, responsibility, and a hard-work ethic. In addition, they learn and experience:

• the value of music as a means of expressing praise to God and as a way of ministering to others.
  
  
• the value of work and cooperation with other students to achieve the specific goal of a successful performance, and
  
  
• different types and levels of music education and performance they might not otherwise experience

High School Band Activities

Pep Band
Secondary Christmas Concert
Solo/Ensemble Festival
AMEA Band Festival
Regional and All State Honor Festival of Performance
Secondary Spring Concert
California Festival Trip

Junior High Band Activities

Pep Band
Secondary Christmas Concert
Solo/Ensemble Festival
Junior High All State Band
AMEA Band Festival
Secondary Spring Concert
California Festival Trip

High School Choir Activities

ASU Leadership Workshop
AMEA Fall Choral Festival
Fall Choral Concert
Secondary Christmas Concert
Solo/Ensemble Festival
Regional and All State Honor Festival of Performance
ACSI Musicale (either in Phoenix or Colorado Springs, CO)
Secondary Spring Concert
California Festival Trip (when Musicale is in Phoenix)

Junior High Choir Activities

Fall Choral Concert
AMEA Motivational Concert
Secondary Christmas Concert
Secondary Spring Concert
California Festival Trip

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Our Staff
Bill Clemons is the Band Director of Northwest Christian School. A native of Chesapeake, Virginia, he holds degrees from the following universities: Associate of Arts from St. Leo University, Bachlelor of Science from State University of New York, and Master of Music Education from Norfolk State University. A former United States Marine Corps Director of Bands, he accelerated through the enlisted ranks, from Private to Chief Warrant Officer, and retired as a Captain in August, 1988. Since retirement he has taught Music on all levels from private and public schools to college. Highly sought after as a Conductor, his travels in music have led him to all 50 states and 28 foreign countries. He is the recipient of many awards and accolades, where one of the most notable was when the Mayor of Honolulu, Hawaii named a day in his honor on June 19, 1986 as Captain William M. Clemons Day. Mr. Clemons has been the NCS Band Director since 2004. He teaches 5th and 6th Grade Band, Junior High Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Band.

A member of the Worship Team at Calvary Community Church, Mr. Clemons' previous church activities have been: Assistant Pastor, Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Music Minister, Choir Director, and Orchestra Director. He has been married to the former Patricia Ann Christian for 34 years. They are blessed with five grown children and one lovely granddaughter, Kaya Clemons.

The Choral Program at NCS is directed by Kathy Estes. Kathy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Grand Canyon College. She was a K-8 music teacher at Sahauro Ranch Elementary School for three years. She stepped away from the teaching profession to stay home and raise three children. During this time she spent many years directing children’s musicals at her church. In 2004, Kathy returned to the teaching profession at NCS. Mrs. Estes' responsibilities include directing all of the choirs on the main campus: 5th Grade, 6th Grade, Junior High, High School Preparatory Choir, High School Concert Choir, and the High School Chorale. In addition, she teaches general music to the 4th grade classes on the main campus.

Becky Drown is the Elementary Music Teacher at Northwest Christian School. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. She has an Elementary Teaching Certificate and a Secondary Certificate for the State of Arizona, as well as a K-12 Music Endorsement. Prior to coming to Northwest in 2003, she had more than 14 years of experience in both music and the classroom, teaching in both private and public schools. She also directed a children’s choir for her church for 10 years. Mrs. Drown teaches 1st through 3rd grade general music on the main campus and 1st through 4th grade general music, as well as a 5th and 6th Grade Choir, on the Peoria campus.