Director Information and Contact
Noelle Freshner,
Director of Bands and Activities Director, St. Helens High School
Mrs. Freshner graduated from the University of Oregon in 2003 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She began her teaching career at Crook County High School in Prineville, Oregon before moving to the Portland area in 2006. She has taught in the St. Helens School District since the spring of 2007 directing and overseeing the full 6-12th grade band and color guard program in the district through the spring of 2018.
In the fall of 2018 Mrs. Freshner became the Activities Director at SHHS, and is now full time at SHHS teaching band and leadership. She teaches the Leadership class, comprised of elected ASB and Class Officers, oversees Student Council, clubs, and activities at SHHS. She continues to conduct the SHHS Jazz Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Pep Bands and teaches Music Apprciation. She also advises and assists with facilitating the SHHS Fall and Winter Color Guard program and SHHS Winter Percussion Ensembles.
In the past few years she has conducted bands at East Winds Band Camp in Portland , OR, and has assisted in other Portland area summer music camps. Mrs. Freshner has adjudicated and cliniced solo/ensemble performers, concert bands, and sight-reading at various middle school and high school festivals and contests across Oregon. She is an OBDA certified adjudicator (middle school through 4A high school).
In 2013-2014 she was named St. Helens School District Educator of the Year. In 2015 she guest conducted the OMEA District 13 Middle School Honor Band. In 2017-2018 she directed the new Portland Community College Rock Creek Symphonic Band, a part-time position with Portland Community College. In 2018 was named one of School Band and Orchestra Magazine's "50 Directors Who Make A Difference" as the Oregon representative. In 2022 she received the St. Helens School District's "Excellence Now Core Values Award" and was also awarded a "Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association.
Mrs. Freshner is a wife of musician and music educator, Travis Freshner and mother to her son Kaven, who is a Junior trumpet player in the Marching Band, Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble at SHHS.
She is a member of the following music organizations: MENC, OMEA, OBDA, NWAPA and Woman Band Directors International.
She is the former Treasurer of the NWAPA, and is currently the Public Relations and Membership Chair of OBDA and Vice President of OMEA District. 3. She is also a member of OEA and SHEA teacher’s unions.
St. Helens High School
2375 Gable Rd St. Helens, OR 97051 |