Dinah Hotz recently joined St. Charles High’s staff as the new band director. Before SCHS’s band, she worked at Marion C. Early district, both middle and high school for two years. She went to Missouri State before Marion C. Early, but her story doesn’t begin there.

“I started band in sixth grade, like most people, but I started playing music in first or second grade – I started on piano, and then I tried the violin but was really bad at it, and then I saw the saxophone and thought that looked really cool,” Hotz said.

Music is something she grew up with, but in middle school is when her thoughts about her future began.

“Probably my eighth grade year in band, my band director asked me, ‘have you ever thought about being drum major?’ and I was like I don’t play drums,” Hotz said.

Hotz, although fascinated, never became drum major. Instead, she was a section leader and helped with leadership roles in her high school band. This was what she says “solidified” her thoughts about being a band director. Music is something that Hotz is passionate about, but she is creative in other ways as well.

“I love crafts, and making candles, and things like that, I sound like an old woman,” Hotz said.

She also enjoys getting tattoos, especially matching ones with her best friend. Hotz has a creative mind and loves art in all forms.