Ironhorse Youth Music is excited to work with these amazing staff members in the 2026-2027 season!
Kevin Cleary directed the C.R. Anderson Middle School Orchestras (grades six through eight) from 2005 until 2024, at which time he assumed the post of orchestra director at Capital and Helena High Schools. As a public school educator, he also taught choir (sixth, seventh, and eighth grade), wrote and taught the Music and Technology curriculum used at C.R. Anderson Middle School, and helped develop the MET Live in Schools program now oversee by Ironhorse Youth Music.
In all his work with Helena students, though, it is activities outside of school hours that are often most exciting. Mr. Cleary started the Extra-Curricular Orchestra in 2005 to provide after school enrichment for middle school string players, and it has been exciting to watch the organization grow and evolve into what is now Ironhorse Youth Music.
Mr. Cleary has made Helena his home for nearly 30 years, along with his partner in music and in life, Emily. They both enjoy time with their three children, Owen, Ben, and Elliot, in and around Helena and all its natural beauty.
Micah Stoddard is a bassist, pianist, singer, teacher, and all around music enthusiast. After growing up in Nebraska, he obtained a Bachelor’s of Music degree from Saint Olaf College then moved to Chicago and received a Master’s of Music degree from DePaul University. Micah has performed and taught throughout the United States, South America, and along the Mediterranean coast of Europe. Micah brings 27 years worth of musicianship to the Ironhorse ensemble family, and he is particularly excited to introduce the kiddos to the concept of a “hemiola!”
Rachel Kecskes grew up in Helena Montana, and began her musical adventures taking piano lessons from Nancy Rose, and viola at C R Anderson Middle school with Kevin Cleary. She took orchestra throughout middle and high school from Beth Mazanec and John Peskey, and also learned guitar from Chris Helseth. After high school Rachel attended Eastern Oregon University graduating with a Bachelors of Music degree with emphasis on piano performance. While attending EOU Rachel participated in every ensemble that she could squeeze into her schedule, from African Drumming to Fiddle Ensemble to Chamber Choir. In her free time she accompanied church choirs, played in pit orchestras, performed at open mics and adjudicated music festivals.
Rachel has always been passionate about music and enjoys playing in classical traditions as well as Old-Time, Bluegrass, Indie Rock, Celtic, East African, and European folk traditions. She has played in the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra, Oregon East Symphony, has taught at Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp and Last Chance Music Camp and Lesson Camp. While piano and viola are her main instruments, she also enjoys playing violin, cello, bass, djembe, accordion, ukulele, guitar, harmonica, and singing. Rachel is also halfway through completing a Masters in Education with K-12 licensure and a music endorsement from University of Montana and hopes to soon be a music teacher in Helena Public Schools.
Nicole Evans is an active music educator and performer throughout Montana. After finding an early love for music as a child in Billings, Nicole moved to Missoula, where she completed a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education in 2018. In 2019, she moved to Helena and fell in love with teaching K-5 General Music in the Helena Public Schools. She is active in professional organizations throughout the state and is the incoming president of the Montana General Music Teacher Association. Nicole completed a Master of Arts in Integrated Arts and Education through the University of Montana in 2023. Outside the school day, Nicole maintains a small oboe studio, directs the Ironhorse Youth Chorus, directs the choir at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, and performs occasionally with the Helena, Billings, Great Falls, and Kalispell Symphonies. Based on her own experience, Nicole believes one of the greatest gifts of music education is the community and sense of belonging it can build. She continuously strives to build warm and welcoming educational environments where all students recognize themselves and their peers as valuable members of our ensemble and the larger community.
Jason Callon has lived with his wife, Katy and two children in Helena since 2012. He has a BA in Music with concentrations in composition and percussion performance from Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, WA. He graduated in 2005 and has a wide range of musical experience, including rock, funk, and jazz drum set, classical percussion, marching percussion, choir, mallets, and guitar. He currently teaches private lessons, is the Music Director at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, and runs a small AV equipment rental business.
Erik Burke is a Helena native with over 40 years experience playing trumpet in a variety ofensembles,including the University of Notre Dame marching, concert, and jazz bands, the Helena Symphony, the State Capital Band, local big bands, and many others. He is looking forward to passing on his knowledge and love of trumpet playing to Helena and East Helena students!
Emily Brand holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. Having taken many years to focus on her children, and the care of other important people, she is excited to be back in the music classroom where she can weave together her musical training and her extensive experience as a caregiver to meet the needs of young musicians. She is currently teaching early childhood music education classes and instructing a robust private lesson studio with students ranging from preschool through adult. Emily enjoys finding interesting musical opportunities and growing her musical knowledge by playing complicated music with her saxophone friends, researching music from around the world, singing and strumming along with her husband Kevin, and delighting in the many wonderful musical moments she gets to share with her three children, Owen, Áine, and Elliot. She also loves to hike, swim, cook interesting vegetarian cuisine, and be creative whenever possible.