The Indian Hill School District is pleased to welcome seasoned conductor, teacher, arts administrator, and musician Angelo Sylvester as the new choral director to lead Indian Hill High School. Sylvester comes to the district from St. Xavier High School, where he served as the director of choirs and Theatre Xavier music director since 2020.
“Angelo is an expert at his craft and student-centered; he is the perfect leader to continue to develop our nationally recognized music education program as we examine how to continue to expand our elite offerings with the development of our Indian Hill Arts Conservatory,” said Indian Hill CEO/Superintendent Kirk Koennecke. “We offer a sincere message of gratitude to our students, our parents, our educators, and our leaders who volunteered their time to help us find the very best, and we welcome Angelo into our Brave Family.”
During his tenure at St. Xavier High School, Sylvester grew participation in the choral program by 45 percent in three years and earned ratings of Superior and Excellent in Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) performances. Prior to leading St. Xavier’s program, Sylvester was the associate conductor of the Cincinnati Boychoir (2017-2020) while also serving as the director of bands and men’s choir director at LaSalle High School (2017-2020). He’s worked as an educator since 2016. Sylvester received his Master of Arts in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky in 2020 and his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in 2015. Between his bachelor’s degree and graduate school, he was a Fulbright Award Grantee, studying in Malaysia (2016). His performance experience includes the Indian Hill Church, Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati Wind Band, and the Ohio Valley Symphony.
“It is no secret that the Indian Hill School District has a reputation for artistic excellence,” said Sylvester. “The school district is making a clear and intentional effort to advance student artistry to new and exciting levels. I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the singers through their music education, and I am energized by the possibilities that lie ahead. I look forward to the opportunity to engage with students and families to become embedded in the Brave Family.”
The Board of Education approved Sylvester’s contract during the March 19 regular meeting. In addition to Sylvester joining the Indian Hill High School faculty, the district is adding two additional positions for the development of the Indian Hill Arts Conservatory, a second orchestra teacher and a dance instructor.
“We have a long history of acceleration in and appreciation for the arts within our district, and we are working to curate a truly unparalleled experience for our students that is inclusive and comprehensive from kindergarten through senior year,” said Koennecke. “These positions will be the first step in increasing our programming, as we work with a dedicated Arts Advisory Committee this spring to plan for bringing our vision to life. It is an exciting time to be a member of our arts community!”
Photo caption: Angelo Sylvester will serve as the new choral director for Indian Hill High School starting in the 2024-2025 school year.