James Kranz, Co-Director of Bands
Mr. Kranz came to the Howard County Public School System in 2012 and spent seven years as the band and orchestra director at Atholton Elementary School. During that time he also served as an adjunct faculty member at Stevenson University and a marching band instructor at Arundel High School. In 2019 Mr. Kranz became one of two band directors at Centennial High School.
Mr. Kranz attended the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in wind conducting. He has studied trumpet with René Shapiro, Langston Fitzgerald, Edward Hoffman and Joe Burgstaller, and conducting with Dr. Harlan Parker. He maintains a private trumpet studio based in Howard County and is a faculty member with the Maryland Trumpet Institute. His students are frequently selected to participate in local honors ensembles and receive superior ratings in county and state solo festivals. Outside of music Mr. Kranz enjoys cars, traveling, hiking, golf and indoor rock climbing.
Mr. Kranz came to the Howard County Public School System in 2012 and spent seven years as the band and orchestra director at Atholton Elementary School. During that time he also served as an adjunct faculty member at Stevenson University and a marching band instructor at Arundel High School. In 2019 Mr. Kranz became one of two band directors at Centennial High School.
Mr. Kranz attended the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in wind conducting. He has studied trumpet with René Shapiro, Langston Fitzgerald, Edward Hoffman and Joe Burgstaller, and conducting with Dr. Harlan Parker. He maintains a private trumpet studio based in Howard County and is a faculty member with the Maryland Trumpet Institute. His students are frequently selected to participate in local honors ensembles and receive superior ratings in county and state solo festivals. Outside of music Mr. Kranz enjoys cars, traveling, hiking, golf and indoor rock climbing.
Allen Leung, Director of Orchestras
Mr. Leung studied at Kansas University and received a bachelor’s degree in music education in 2002. In 2008, Mr. Leung received his master’s degree in music education from University of Maryland. Mr. Leung plays the violin and the piano. He studied violin with Ben Sayevich at the University of Kansas. His piano teachers and professors include Berta Eisberg, Richard Angelleti, and Alice Downs. In addition to directing his school orchestras at Centennial High School, Mr. Leung is a director for the Howard County Gifted and Talented Middle School Chamber Orchestra. He has held this position since 2004. Mr. Leung has guest conducted, adjudicated, and directed throughout the state of Maryland. Under his direction, Mr. Leung’s ensembles have performed at state and national events with high accolades, including at MMEA conferences in Baltimore, Maryland and the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In his personal life, Mr. Leung enjoys spending time with his wife Marie and two children Peter and Anna. He also enjoys mountain biking, running, and hanging out with his 20-pound cat, Kronos.
Mr. Leung studied at Kansas University and received a bachelor’s degree in music education in 2002. In 2008, Mr. Leung received his master’s degree in music education from University of Maryland. Mr. Leung plays the violin and the piano. He studied violin with Ben Sayevich at the University of Kansas. His piano teachers and professors include Berta Eisberg, Richard Angelleti, and Alice Downs. In addition to directing his school orchestras at Centennial High School, Mr. Leung is a director for the Howard County Gifted and Talented Middle School Chamber Orchestra. He has held this position since 2004. Mr. Leung has guest conducted, adjudicated, and directed throughout the state of Maryland. Under his direction, Mr. Leung’s ensembles have performed at state and national events with high accolades, including at MMEA conferences in Baltimore, Maryland and the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In his personal life, Mr. Leung enjoys spending time with his wife Marie and two children Peter and Anna. He also enjoys mountain biking, running, and hanging out with his 20-pound cat, Kronos.
David Matchim, Co-Director of Bands
David Matchim was appointed Director of Bands at Centennial High School in Fall 2011. Under his leadership, the band program has doubled in size and received local, state, and national recognition. All three concert bands have received unanimous “superior” ratings at the Howard County Band Assessments. Since 2014, the jazz band has placed in the top 5 in the Berklee High School Jazz Festival and Competition, the largest high school jazz competition in the country. In 2018, the Centennial High School Wind Ensemble was the first high school concert band invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic from the state of Maryland since 1973. Centennial musicians are active in the Maryland music community and alumni can be found in the top music schools in the country.
Matchim is the recipient of the 2016 Howard County Parents for School Music Educator of the Year Award, 2018 Howard County Arts Council Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year Award, 2018 Maryland Music Educators Association Outstanding Music Educator Award, and the 2018 Music & Arts National Music Teacher of the Year Award. He received a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a master's degree in music education from the Peabody Institute of Music of The Johns Hopkins University.
David Matchim was appointed Director of Bands at Centennial High School in Fall 2011. Under his leadership, the band program has doubled in size and received local, state, and national recognition. All three concert bands have received unanimous “superior” ratings at the Howard County Band Assessments. Since 2014, the jazz band has placed in the top 5 in the Berklee High School Jazz Festival and Competition, the largest high school jazz competition in the country. In 2018, the Centennial High School Wind Ensemble was the first high school concert band invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic from the state of Maryland since 1973. Centennial musicians are active in the Maryland music community and alumni can be found in the top music schools in the country.
Matchim is the recipient of the 2016 Howard County Parents for School Music Educator of the Year Award, 2018 Howard County Arts Council Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year Award, 2018 Maryland Music Educators Association Outstanding Music Educator Award, and the 2018 Music & Arts National Music Teacher of the Year Award. He received a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a master's degree in music education from the Peabody Institute of Music of The Johns Hopkins University.
Rebecca Vanover, Director of Choirs
Ms. Vanover is a soprano, pianist, and music educator, born and raised in Gaithersburg, MD. A proud Terp alumn, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a BM in Voice and a BME in Choral Music Education. During her time at UMD, she performed regularly with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and the Baltimore Symphony at the Meyerhoff and Strathmore as a member of the UMD Chamber Singers. In 2014, she traveled to Seoul to represent the United States at the 10th World Symposium of Choral Music, sharing repertoire with some of the world's best ensembles. In addition to her love of choral music, Rebecca thoroughly enjoys opera and musical theater, and has performed both genres locally in D.C./MD area. Most recently, she's performed in "Show Boat", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Joseph" at Toby's of Columbia. When she's not immersed in music, Rebecca can be found running, hiking, baking, and wearing the Maryland flag as many ways as possible. After several years at Veterans Elementary School, she's looking forward to making beautiful music with the wonderful community at Centennial!
Ms. Vanover is a soprano, pianist, and music educator, born and raised in Gaithersburg, MD. A proud Terp alumn, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a BM in Voice and a BME in Choral Music Education. During her time at UMD, she performed regularly with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and the Baltimore Symphony at the Meyerhoff and Strathmore as a member of the UMD Chamber Singers. In 2014, she traveled to Seoul to represent the United States at the 10th World Symposium of Choral Music, sharing repertoire with some of the world's best ensembles. In addition to her love of choral music, Rebecca thoroughly enjoys opera and musical theater, and has performed both genres locally in D.C./MD area. Most recently, she's performed in "Show Boat", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Joseph" at Toby's of Columbia. When she's not immersed in music, Rebecca can be found running, hiking, baking, and wearing the Maryland flag as many ways as possible. After several years at Veterans Elementary School, she's looking forward to making beautiful music with the wonderful community at Centennial!
