Erin Holmes launched her career at the beginning of the millennium by attaining a teaching position in Farmington Area Public Schools, District 192. As the Director of Bands at Farmington High School, Ms. Holmes conducts the Varsity Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz I, and is the head director of the award winning Farmington Tiger Marching Band. Her ensembles have made appearances on the Dave Ryan in the Morning show on KDWB, and as KSTP’s featured High School Band on Sports Wrap. She has a host of responsibilities at Farmington High School that include serving as  the FHS Music Department Chair, developing curriculum, planning tours, hosting and attending band festivals, as well as being a devoted staff and team member of several building leadership positions such as a mentor for new teachers, and proudly serving on the Equity Leadership Team. Ms. Holmes’s jazz ensembles have participated in many prestigious festivals and honor bands and were recently invited to perform with Eric Marienthal and recognized as the evening honor band at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Jazz Festival. The FHS Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform with the University of Minnesota University Band under the direction of Betsy McCann as well as the University of Northern Iowa Invitational Wind Band Festival. Most recently, they have been honored with an invitation to perform at the MMEA Midwinter Clinic in 2020.

In 2017, School Band and Orchestra Magazine named Holmes one of the nation’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” When asked what is her proudest moment as an educator was? “My proudest moment as an educator has yet to come. Each day brings a new experience that challenges my mindset, intellect, and emotions on such a wide-ranging scale. Each year has also brought my own expertise to new levels. To try and define my pride of what we have created here in Farmington to one moment just isn’t possible.” Erin’s favorite phrase to live by and which she attempts to instill in her students is “every day is a good day to get better.”
Most notably, in 2018, she was appointed Jazz Chair for the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), she is the first woman in the organization’s history to be chosen for this position. She is the 2022 recipient of the Schmitt Music Educator of the Year award.

Erin is also active as a director for honor bands, a clinician for numerous band and jazz festivals, an adjudicator for large group contest, solo & ensemble contest, and teaches master classes for saxophones for jazz and classical saxophone in the Twin Cities metro and surrounding areas. Ms. Holmes loves to teach private lessons, has performed personally in several jazz ensembles such as Southern Minnesota’s REAL Big Band, Swing Sisterhood Big Band, and the Caprice Saxophone Quartet. She is a member of Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA), and Women Band Directors International (WBDI).

Ms. Holmes is originally from Faribault, MN. She attended high school at Bethlehem Academy and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Music Education and an emphasis on saxophone. Her higher education was highlighted by unforgettable experiences including touring with concert bands as well as a trip to perform in Europe with the MSUM Saxophone Quartet. Ms. Holmes also attended Saint Mary's University achieving her Master of Arts in Education with the honors of Summa Cum Laude. Erin and her husband, Jon reside in Farmington, Minnesota with their three sons, William, Henry, and Duke.

Bradley Mariska was appointed Associate Director of Bands at Farmington High School in 2016. He conducts Symphonic Band, Varsity Band, Jazz II, co-directs Jazz III, and is the Assistant Director of the Farmington Tiger Marching Band. An avid devotee of musical theatre, he also created the innovative Hamilton: History and Music class at FHS. Mariska has served as the Membership Chair of the Minnesota Band Directors Association and as the President, Band Vice-President, and Past President of the Minnesota Music Educators Association. Mariska is also the co-founded and co-host of the podcast “Band in Minnesota.” He and his ensembles have received numerous awards. Under his direction, the Austin (MN) High School Wind Ensemble appeared at the MMEA Midwinter Clinic in 2013 and, while at Pine City (MN), was three times named to the list of “Best Communities for Music Education in America.” In 2012, School Band and Orchestra Magazine named Mariska one of the nation’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” Mariska has served as an All-State Band Section Coach, enjoys adjudicating solo/ensemble contest, is a frequent honor band conductor, and has served as Director on the boards of several community arts organizations.

A native of Waterville, MN, Mariska earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Buena Vista University (Storm Lake, IA) and an M.A. in Musicology/Music History from the University of Maryland. While at Maryland, Mariska was the Manager of the American Bandmasters Association Archives and Research Center. His work at the Research Center spawned an interest in the history of early American bands and his scholarly paper “Opera Music as Repertoire for Band,” was accepted by the Society for American Music for presentation at their National Convention. His Master’s Thesis, “Who Expects a Miracle To Happen Every Day?: Rediscovering Me and Juliet and Pipe Dream, the Forgotten Musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein,” is referenced in several scholarly texts, including “The Musical: A Research and Information Guide” (Routledge, 2011).