NHS Director of Bands
Mike Archer, Band and Chorus Director
Mike Archer has received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Delaware (Newark, DE). He has been the Director of Bands and Chorus at Newark High School since August of 2017. Prior to that, Archer held the position of Director of Bands at William Penn High School, New Castle, DE.
Mr. Archer directs the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and is the Music Director of the NHS Musical Theater program. He also teaches all vocal ensembles, Class Piano and Guitar.
Under his direction at Newark High School, the Bands of Newark have traveled often and been recognized for numerous awards and honors. The Symphonic and Jazz Bands traveled to Boston, MA in April of 2018 to participate in the Festivals of Music at Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Both groups were recognized with Specialty Awards of Best Overall ensembles, given Superior ratings, and awarded 1st Place Trophies in all categories in their classifications. The Symphonic Band participates every year in the University of Delaware Band Day and Sinfonia Concert Band Festivals. Newark Jazz premiered the first Tournament of Bands Jazz Festival, the Newark Big Band Festival, in 2017 and has hosted each year since, while also participating yearly in the University of Delaware Jazz Festival, being awarded with Best Soloist in 2019. The Yellow Jacket Marching Band has been selected to perform often for special events, including being featured in Bob Kelly's Town Takeover on Fox 29, being named "Band of the Week" on WJBR in 2017, and a full segment in Newark Life Magazine. The marching ensemble competed in the US Bands' Marine Corp Invitational at Navy Stadium in 2019, while also being recognized for excellence when participating yearly in the New Castle County Band Festival hosted at A.I. DuPont. Newark Memorial Day and Halloween Parades. The Yellow Jacket Marching Band was invited to perform in the Carowinds Theme Park in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2019.
His professional affiliations include the Delaware Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Mu Alpha.
Mr. Archer directs the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and is the Music Director of the NHS Musical Theater program. He also teaches all vocal ensembles, Class Piano and Guitar.
Under his direction at Newark High School, the Bands of Newark have traveled often and been recognized for numerous awards and honors. The Symphonic and Jazz Bands traveled to Boston, MA in April of 2018 to participate in the Festivals of Music at Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Both groups were recognized with Specialty Awards of Best Overall ensembles, given Superior ratings, and awarded 1st Place Trophies in all categories in their classifications. The Symphonic Band participates every year in the University of Delaware Band Day and Sinfonia Concert Band Festivals. Newark Jazz premiered the first Tournament of Bands Jazz Festival, the Newark Big Band Festival, in 2017 and has hosted each year since, while also participating yearly in the University of Delaware Jazz Festival, being awarded with Best Soloist in 2019. The Yellow Jacket Marching Band has been selected to perform often for special events, including being featured in Bob Kelly's Town Takeover on Fox 29, being named "Band of the Week" on WJBR in 2017, and a full segment in Newark Life Magazine. The marching ensemble competed in the US Bands' Marine Corp Invitational at Navy Stadium in 2019, while also being recognized for excellence when participating yearly in the New Castle County Band Festival hosted at A.I. DuPont. Newark Memorial Day and Halloween Parades. The Yellow Jacket Marching Band was invited to perform in the Carowinds Theme Park in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2019.
His professional affiliations include the Delaware Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Mu Alpha.
2022 Band Staff & Leadership Team
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Band Staff:
Mike Archer, Band Director Thomas Waggner, Assistant Band Director/Brass Tech Paula Salvador, Colorguard Director Bianca Albu, Colorguard Director Bryce Campbell, Percussion Director Mei Lin Jackson, Front Ensemble Director Grace Lusby, Woodwind Director |
Field Staff:
Levi Bielewicz & Lee Robell, Drum Major Cheyenne Brown & Chloe Tyer, Colorguard Captain Leo Acord & Wilson Paige, Percussion Captain Sean Pizzolo & Lilliah Walther, Flarinet Section Leader Krupa Pathak & Zoya Sawal, Sax Section Leader Abby Partridge & Dominic Crawford, Brass Section Leader |
2021 Band Staff & Leadership Team
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Band Staff:
Mike Archer, Band Director Thomas Waggner, Assistant Band Director Paula Salvador, Colorguard Director Bianca Albu, Colorguard Director Bryce Campbell, Percussion Director |
Field Staff:
Elisa Huang, Drum Major Lauren DeSantis, Drum Major Chloe Tyer, Colorguard Captain Jadyn Sims, Upper Woodwind Section Leader Sean Pizzolo, Upper Woodwind Section Leader Zoya Sawall, Lower Woodwind Section Leader Levi Bielewicz, Lower Woodwind Section Leader Milan Pathak, High Brass Section Leader Gavin Reazor, Low Brass Section Leader Christian Garrett, Low Brass Section Leader |
2020 Band Staff & Leadership Team
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Band Staff:
Mike Archer, Band Director Lorenzo Bedore, Asst. Director Paula Salvador, Colorguard Director Bianca Albu, Colorguard Tech Michael Collins, Visual Design/Brass Maysi Salt, Visual Design/Woodwinds Bryce Campbell, Percussion Director |
Field Staff:
Colin Seeman, Drum Major Janice Xie, Drum Major Andy Dill, Battery Captain Mei Lin Jackson, Pit Captain Elisa Huang, Colorguard Captain Chloe Tyer, Colorguard Captain Natalie Rivera, Flute Section Leader Jadyn Sims, Flute Section Leader Katherine Von Duyke, Sax Section Leader Geonua Pipkin, Sax Section Leader Alexandra Oybkhan, High Brass Section Leader Rachel Tims, High Brass Section Leader Christian Garrett, Low Brass Section Leader Gavin Reazor, Low Brass Section Leader |
2019 Band Staff & Leadership Team
 Click to enlarge
Band Staff:
Mike Archer, Band Director Lorenzo Bedore, Asst. Director Paula Salvador, Colorguard Director Bianca Albu, Colorguard Tech Aeon Scott, Front Ensemble Tech Bryce Campbell, Battery Tech |
 Click to enlarge
Field Staff:
Leia Clendaniel, Drum Major Allison LaPorte, Drum Major Elizabeth Folk, Battery Captain Bailey Polecaro, Pit Captain Claire Webber, Colorguard Captain Kaylee Newman, Colorguard Captain Skylar Brownlee, Flute Section Leader Erin Dillion, Flute Section Leader Cecilia Oriano, Clarinet Section Leader Brandon Branson, Saxophone Section Leader Ixel Dakin, Brass Section Leader Isaiah Gerard, Brass Section Leader |
2018 Band Staff & Leadership Team
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Band Staff:
Mike Archer, Band Director Paula Salvador, Colorguard Director Bianca Albu, Colorguard Tech Zachary McClane, Front Ensemble Tech Mike Park, Battery Tech |
Field Staff:
Caeden Hodny, Drum Major Tess Williams, Drum Major Elizabeth Folk, Pit Captain Claire Webber, Colorguard Captain Connor Stewart, Flute Section Leader Tony Zheng, Flute Section Leader Kaiyla Jolley, Clarinet Section Leader Joseph Im, Clarinet Section Leader Victoria Droz, Saxophone Section Leader Connor Saum, High Brass Section Leader Iain Shand, Low Brass Section Leader Madison Bailey, Librarian |
