Michael A. Koch is currently in his thirty-seventh year in the classroom and his twenty seventh year as Director of Bands at Bluffs Middle School in Scottsbluff, NE. He directs the 5th Grade Beginning Band program, the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Concert Bands, the Middle School Jazz Band, the Middle School Marching Band and assists with the High School Marching and Concert Bands. Prior to coming to Scottsbluff, Mr. Koch taught in Bridgeport, Shickley, and Milford, all in Nebraska.
Mr. Koch received a Bachelor of Music degree from Hastings College (1988) and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska Lincoln (1998). He received the Jack R. Snider Young Band Director Award (1994), was recognized by the Scottsbluff Jaycees as Outstanding Teacher (2003), received a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association (2003, 2017, 2019, 2023), was selected Music Educator of the Year by the Nebraska Music Education Association (2013), and received a Career Teacher Award for 35 years of dedicated service to music education in Nebraska from N.M.E.A (2022).
Bluffs Middle School 8th Grade Bands, under the direction of Mr. Koch, have been selected to perform as guest band for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Convention (2000, 2016, 2022), as guest band for the Nebraska Music Education Association Convention (2002, 2018, 2022), were asked to perform as a "demonstration band" for the Nebraska Music Education Association Convention (2005 & 2013), and have consistently received Superior Ratings and Best Overall Jr. High/Middle School Band Awards at the "Music In The Parks" Festivals of Music in Denver, Colorado. Members of the 7th & 8th Grade Bands have performed in concert with the "Dallas Brass" (2009 & 2022) and the "Presidio Brass" (2012), and the 7th & 8th Grade Brass Ensemble was selected to perform at "Music Education Week at the Capitol" (2012).
Mr. Koch is the current President-Elect of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association, is a past Board Member of the Nebraska Music Educators Association (Middle-Level Affairs - 2007 & 2008), he is a staff member for the Nebraska Ambassadors of Music (2003 to present - traveling to Europe ten times), and a member of Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmaster Fraternity. He is also a member of the Nebraska Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Nebraska State
