Band Directors
Leon Sieve
(651) 423-7552
Leon Sieve has been a member of the Rosemount High School faculty in Rosemount, Minnesota, since 2002 and is currently in his 33rd year of teaching instrumental music. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from South Dakota State University (1993) and a master’s degree from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University (2005).
At Rosemount High School, Mr. Sieve conducts the Symphonic Band and serves as a woodwind specialist for the band program. His responsibilities also include co-directing the fall marching band, leading the woodwind chamber ensemble, winter pep band, and solo and ensemble program, and coordinating the award-winning Color Guard. Additionally, he directs the pit orchestra for RHS Drama Department musicals and has served as department coordinator for music, art, and dance.
Mr. Sieve’s ensembles have earned significant recognition, performing three times at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Mid-Winter Clinic: the Milaca High School Symphonic Band in 2002, and the Rosemount High School Wind Ensemble in 2021 and 2024, the latter presenting works by Copley, Day, Danyew, Giroux, Llanias, and Williams at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
A graduate of Adrian High School (MN), Mr. Sieve performed with the South Dakota State University “Pride of the Dakotas” Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and jazz ensembles. He was a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps color guard (1989, 1991) and served on staff with the Black Gold Drum and Bugle Corps in 1992. His drum corps experience laid the foundation for over 30 years of work in visual design and choreography, writing for nearly forty high school marching programs across Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, and Oklahoma. Notable collaborations include Rosemount, Litchfield, Grand Rapids, Park Center, Milaca, and Sioux Falls Lincoln High Schools. In 1995, he re-established the marching band program at Milaca High School after its discontinuation in the 1980s.
For more than three decades, Mr. Sieve has served as a member of the Tri-State Judging Association, adjudicating field shows and parade performances throughout Minnesota and the upper Midwest.
His professional accolades include the “Leadership in Educational Excellence” award, the 2001 “Minnesota Distinguished Young Band Director Award,” induction into Phi Beta Mu (2003), and the Youth in Music Hall of Fame (2021). He is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and maintains memberships in the National Band Association (NBA), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), and Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA), where he served as Metro High School Representative on the Board of Directors. He is also a past president of the North Star Color Guard Circuit.
Scott Palmer
(651) 423-7552
Scott Palmer joined Rosemount High School in the fall of 2018 and brings 20 years of distinguished experience in instrumental music education. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music (2006) and a Master’s degree in Wind Band Conducting from the American Band College at Sam Houston State University (2015).
Prior to Rosemount, Mr. Palmer spent twelve years at Eden Prairie High School, where he conducted multiple ensembles, including Symphonic Band, Jazz II, and Percussion Ensembles, and directed the Eagle Marching Band and Winter Drumline. Under his leadership, the Eagle Marching Band earned Bands of America Super Regional Finalist status and was crowned Minnesota State Marching Band Champion. The Eden Prairie Winter Drumline reached WGI Scholastic World Finals in 2013 and 2014, while the percussion ensembles performed at both the Minnesota State Music Educators Association Convention and the National Percussion Festival in Indianapolis.
An accomplished drum corps educator, Mr. Palmer has contributed his expertise to renowned ensembles including Minnesota Brass, Blue Stars, Colts, and the Blue Devils. He is an alumnus of Lawrence University, the American Band College, Eden Prairie High School, the Madison Scouts, and Minnesota Brass, Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps.
Taylor Eliason
taylor.eliason@district196.org
(651) 423-7552
Taylor Eliason has been a faculty member at Rosemount High School in Rosemount, Minnesota, since 2016 and is currently in his 13th year of teaching instrumental music. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St. Cloud State University in 2013.
Prior to joining Rosemount, Mr. Eliason taught at Grand Rapids High School (2013–2014) and Hopkins High School (2014–2015), and served in Independent School District 196, directing fifth-grade bands at Southview, Westview, Echo Park, and Shannon Park Elementary Schools (2015–2017).
An accomplished marching arts educator, Mr. Eliason has contributed to multiple drum corps, including Minnesota Brass and River City Rhythm, and is an alumnus of Minnesota Brass and the Madison Scouts.
At Rosemount High School, he directs the Varsity Band, 9th Grade Concert Band, and Jazz II, in addition to providing private instruction for woodwind and brass students. He serves as the visual instructor and choreographer for the marching band hornline, founded the Winter Winds ensemble, and contributes to the marching band, winter pep bands, solo and ensemble competitions, and various chamber ensembles.
Calvin Lipetzky
calvin.lipetzky@district196.org
(651) 423-7552
Calvin Lipetzky is in his fifth year on the instrumental music faculty at Rosemount High School. A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from South Dakota State University in 2016 and a Master’s degree in Wind Band Conducting from American Band College and Central Washington University in 2024.
Prior to joining Rosemount, Mr. Lipetzky served for five years as the 7–8 Instrumental Music Instructor and Assistant High School Marching Band Director in the Brandon Valley School District. There, he conducted middle school concert bands, jazz bands, percussion ensembles, and directed the high school fall and winter percussion ensembles. Under his leadership, Brandon Valley middle school bands achieved record All-State representation and earned recognition for innovative concert performances. His percussion ensembles garnered notable accolades, including the 2019 MPA Bronze Medal and Scholastic Fan Favorite, the 2020 WGI Omaha Regional Silver Medal, an undefeated 2020 fall season, and a 2021 WGI National Finalist placement.
An accomplished visual designer and marching arts educator, Mr. Lipetzky has worked with several Drum and Bugle Corps, including the Phantom Regiment (Rockford, IL) and the Troopers (Casper, WY). In 2019, he was honored as South Dakota Music Educators Association’s Outstanding Young Music Educator. He is currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings SKOL Drumline, performing at all home games and team events.
