The Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) Band Boosters is a community-based organization that supports elementary and secondary school band programs. Our mission is to build community around music and music education and to support music excellence and instruction. We envision a community where all students and families are able to experience the joy of music and have access to instruction and tools to pursue and practice music education in and outside of the school day.

Our main activities are:

Fundraising for programming and band trips;
Coordinating volunteers to assist band programming;
Providing private lessons opportunities for students;
Managing collected band program funds;
Raising awareness about FCCPS band programming and
Building community around music education and performance.

Funds from membership donations, grants, and fundraisers are used for the following purposes:

To purchase and repair school-owned instruments and band uniforms;
To buy sheet music and related items;
To offer scholarships for lessons, rental fees, and insurance;
To hire clinicians to provide supplemental instruction;
To provide college scholarships;
To offset costs of the high school band trip in the spring; and
To support music events in the community.

Please note: Contributions are not tax deductible at this time.

FCCPS Band Directors

Chad Steffey

Meridian High School

steffeyc@fccps.org

Chad A. Steffey is the director of Bands and Instrumental Music at Meridian High School. Prior to coming to Falls Church City, he taught band, chorus, and orchestra in the Fairfax County Public Schools from 2015-2025, most recently at Annandale High School. Dr. Steffey earned music degrees from Southern Methodist University, the Florida State University, and George Mason University. He served on active duty in the United States Air Force from 1993-2013 in the bands and music program and as a public affairs officer, including three deployments to Southwest Asia. Dr. Steffey has conducted performances at the White House, National Cathedral, Lincoln Center, the Mormon Tabernacle, and on several national television broadcasts. He currently serves as the Director of Music at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, Virginia, and is an active percussionist, recording engineer, and arranger/composer. He resides in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife, Sheehan Connors-Steffey.

Jonathan Mills

Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

millsj@fccps.org

Jonathan D. Mills is the director of Bands at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. He has been teaching at M.E. Henderson since 2016 where he has taught all levels of the band program, and previously orchestra and music appreciation. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory and his Master of Music in Music Education from the American Band College through Central Washington University. During his time as an active collegiate musician, he studied in the classical saxophone studio under the teachings of Dr. Timothy Roberts, retired Principal Saxophonist of the United States Navy Band. He was a featured artist in William Bolcom's Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet, and he was a finalist in the Conservatory's 2014 Student Soloist Competition.

Mr. Mills currently performs as principal baritone saxophone player with the Fairfax Wind Symphony, under the baton of Stanley Schoonover, since 2018. During his time in this ensemble, he has performed at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference in 2018, 2021 and 2023, as well as performing at the 75th Annual Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois in 2021.

Steve Renard

Oak Street Elementary School, 5th Grade

renards@fccps.org

Steve Renard has more than 30 years of experience as a multi-instrumentalist and singer. He grew up playing in the bands at Glen Forest Elementary, Thoreau Middle School, and Madison High School, before majoring in music theory and composition and performing in the vocal ensembles at Earlham College. His professional life took him on different creative paths, and he worked on corporate video production and communications for much of the past 25 years while continuing to perform and compose in his free time. Earlier this year he decided to return to his passion for music and teaching (just ask his wife or any of their four kids and they will tell you he will take any opportunity to talk about music and musicianship). He's excited to join the staff at Oak Street to lead the 5th grade band this year!

Claire Kanevsky

Oak Street Elementary School, 4th Grade

kanevskyc@fccps.org

Ms. Claire Kanevsky has been the 4th grade band director at Oak Street Elementary School since 2023. She was previously the FCCPS band paraprofessional for 10 years. Ms. Kanevsky also teaches flute and piccolo privately. She is a member of Columbia Flute Choir and has performed with the Capital City Symphony and First Light Ensemble. Ms. Kanevsky received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University in 2011.