Head Band Director Jason Dimiceli will retire at the end of the school year, following his 21st year on campus. Dimiceli served as the associate band director from the fall of 2004 to 2015 when he was promoted from associate band director to head band director, where he has served for the last 10 years.
“Mr. Dimiceli has impacted me in a positive way by allowing me to grow as a musician, leader, and person,” junior Evie Guerra said. “He has taught me a lot that I will carry with me after he leaves, and I hope I can pass on what I have learned to the incoming freshman.”
Dimiceli said he strives to make the band a great experience for all who are a part of it by creating a wonderful environment for people, but also a place to make new memories.
“While being in the McNeil band has always been tons of fun, my main obstacle was to create valuable experiences for the students through performance excellence,” Dimiceli said. “I also wanted to do it in an environment based on love and positivity.I realized that students won’t always remember everything that happened, but they will remember moments and how they felt being in the program. My goal has been to create a family atmosphere and to get the students to believe they are capable of greatness.”
While Dimiceli may be retiring from teaching music full time, he still plans on keeping music in his life through working in the student travel business.
“After this school year, I am going to work for the company that has organized our band trips for the last twenty years,” Dimiceli said. “I will create these types of trips for communities across the country. I also plan to judge band contests, clinic bands, and serve on the event staff for the Bands of America competitions.”
During his time teaching, Dimiceli watched the band accomplish so many things and what it took for them to get there. Not only has the band been recognized locally, they have been recognized nationally.
“The past marching season was as good as I could have wished,” Dimiceli said. “Super Regional Finalists in St. Louis, and San Antonio! Are you kidding? We made our mark, and the entire country noticed.”
Also, Dimiceli witnessed the Varsity winterguard make history and be noticed on an international level at the Winter Guard international World competition in Dayton Ohio in 2018 and 2019.
“Never have I seen students more determined and confident in what they were doing,” Dimiceli said. “They fought through literal blood, sweat, and tears (and some broken bones) to dominate at the highest level of the activity. They were the talk of the World Championships in 2018 and shocked the world by placing 4th, and then they did it again the next year! Those kids were special and I am forever in awe of them.”
According to the students he taught, Dimiceli has made a tremendous impact on them, leaving lasting memories with them.
“I think he’s definitely one of the best teachers I’ve ever had, probably in my life.” senior Saanvi Metha said. “I think that he cares about his students so deeply. He’s the reason why band doesn’t just feel like an extracurricular, it feels like family. I feel like he has really brought that loving culture into McNeil and I think he’s improved me so much as a musician and a leader. I would not be the person I am today without him.”
While Dimiceli says he will always cherish his time here and miss seeing his students he knows, he is “definitely ready” to have more time to do all the things he’s wanted to do.
“Being the band director at McNeil has been the greatest thing I have ever done, and it has defined who I am throughout my adult life,” Dimiceli said. “While I love doing several other things, there is nothing like creating music with people you love. Our performance means more because we care about each other, and our bond is closer because of the time we spend playing. You can’t scratch that itch doing anything else. They have blown me away countless times, and I have had the pleasure of being their director.”
