Faculty and staff

Following a successful instrumental music director tenure at Holmes High School, Sarah Shamblin took the podium at Dixie Heights in 2017. She since has led the Marching Colonels to a Midstates Band Association championship in 2021, and her students at Dixie have earned numerous accolades in adjudicated concert and symphonic performances. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Northern Kentucky University and a Master's Degree in Music Education from Kent State University.

William “Andy” Houston is a general elementary music teacher at Kilgour School in Cincinnati, where he also conducts vocal choirs and hand chime choirs. Simultaneously, Mr. Houston serves in a wide range of instructional and design capacities at Dixie Heights (his wife’s alma mater) where he has held the Assistant Director title since 2010. After aging out of the Cavaliers (Rosemont, IL) in 2000, Houston staffed and directed for the Marion Cadets; he was a visual instructor for Blue Stars (LaCrosse, WI), and he marched, designed and directed for Cincinnati Tradition. Houston’s academic credentials include Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education as well as Music Performance (Northern Kentucky University). He holds a Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction with a teaching endorsement for Gifted Intervention Specialist from the University of Cincinnati. And presently he’s completing requirements for a Master’s in Music Education from Campbellsville University. Did we mention he’s also a freelance drill designer and music composer/arranger? To the amazement of his wife and three young kiddos, Andy still finds time for hiking/backpacking, Amateur Radio, and even a little reading.

Philip Bracke came to Dixie Heights as the Color Guard Director in March of 2020. Prior to Dixie Heights, Philip was the Color Guard Director at Taylor High School, Simon Kenton, and Lloyd Memorial High School. He also performed with Black Diamond Independent Winter Guard in 2019. Outside of color guard, Philip is a student at Northern Kentucky University, where he’s working towards a bachelors degree in Education, Culture, and Society.