Ms. Olivia Fiore has recently joined the Becton faculty as the music teacher and director of the marching band. With a diverse background in music and athletics, she brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role.
Ms. Fiore graduated from the Catholic University of America, where she studied music performance. While at school, she served as president of an acapella group, teaching and preparing songs for performances. In addition to her musical pursuits, she ran Division III Track & Field for four years and gained two years of coaching experience in Girls’ and Boys’ Track & Field.
Following her graduation, Ms. Fiore spent five years leading and performing with a marching band, honing her skills in preparation for her teaching career.
Reflecting on her first fall season as Becton’s band director, Ms. Fiore shares her vision of “developing a culture within the ensemble and creating memorable performances.” During the marching band season, she held two rehearsals each week, focusing on mastering the basics of marching, playing instruments, and building teamwork.
She emphasizes creating a supportive environment, explaining, “I want to create a space where each band member supports one another, whether with their instrument or helping the person next to them on the field.” Ms. Fiore hopes her students look back on their experiences with pride in their accomplishments and cherish the memories they made together.
In her classes, Ms. Fiore teaches a variety of skills, including stretches, posture exercises, marching basics, instrument warm-ups, field drills, and music memorization. Teamwork is a core focus, helping students grow into the best versions of themselves both on and off the field. She explains, “In previous years of band or choir, students learned the basics of music are the tip of the iceberg, like notes, rhythms, volume levels, and playing technique. Now in high school, we dive deeper into how to make a good, resonant sound, how one sound blends together with others, and the importance of melody and style.”
Ms. Fiore envisions expanding Becton’s music program to include performances at festivals such as Height Notes, Heritage, or Music in the Parks. In addition, she and her students are hoping to perform a winter or spring concert for the Becton community. She believes in helping beginners appreciate the hard work that goes into music and wants to instill in them a love for the art form.
Although Becton’s marching band is often the smallest on the field at competitions, they consistently receive praise for their enthusiasm and hard work. When students feel nervous before performances, Ms. Fiore encourages them to focus on enjoying the experience rather than worrying about scores or placements. Her goal is to grow the program, inviting more students to enjoy music and performance while building on the band’s strong reputation.
Ms. Fiore has thoroughly enjoyed her time at Becton, noting, “The culture here is full of curiosity. Students and teachers alike want to explore their strengths and share parts of themselves with those they trust. There is a lot of talent here!” She also values getting to know her students as individuals beyond what she sees in the classroom.
“Learning music is essentially learning a new language. I hope to teach beginners that music can be learned at any age, and with hard work, great success is possible,” concludes Ms. Fiore.
We are confident that her passion and dedication will leave a lasting impact on the Becton community, and we’re thrilled to have her here!
