Director Of Bands At Cleveland High School 

Jason E. Heard is currently the Director of Bands at Cleveland High School in Clayton, North Carolina where he directs and manages multiple nationally recognized performance ensembles such as the Marching Band, Winterguard, and Winter Winds, in addition to several concert ensembles. Since the school’s inception, Mr. Heard has instilled a high standard of excellence and achievement within the band program at Cleveland. The Cleveland Arts Performance Ensemble has won caption awards and has been named regional finalists at several Music For All Bands of America events across the country. The Cleveland High School winter ensembles continue to receive national acclaim through participation in Winter Guard International World Championship events. In 2019 The Cleveland Arts Winter Winds were named the WGI Scholastic World champion and gold medalist in Dayton, Ohio.

Jason is a native of Smithfield, North Carolina. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC in 1999; he received his Master of Music in Music Education from East Carolina as well in 2008. Previous teaching appointments include Clayton High School in Clayton, NC from 2000 to 2006 and Smithfield-Selma High School in Smithfield, NC from 2008 to 2010. Mr. Heard has been a pioneer in music education in Johnston County for over 20 years.

During his tenure, Mr. Heard’s bands have consistently received high ratings in marching and concert festivals. He served as Johnston County Band Directors Association President from 2008 to 2010. In 2008, Heard was a finalist for Johnston County Public Schools’ prestigious “Flame for Learning Award”.

Heard lives in Clayton with his wife Susan and two sons, Jason Michael and Matthew.

Assistant Director Of Bands At Cleveland High School

Mr. Jonathan Watts serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at Cleveland High School, and provides over a decade of experience as a music educator, ensemble director, and performer. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Watts served as Percussion Director at Cleveland High School, where he was instrumental in building a nationally acclaimed percussion program.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Mr. Watts combines a deep academic foundation with a forward-thinking approach to music education. His leadership has helped guide ensembles to the highest levels of achievement, including multiple first place finishes at the WGI World Championships — earning titles in Percussion Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO) in 2018 and 2023, and in Winds Scholastic World (WSW) in 2019.

In addition to his success in the marching and indoor arenas, Mr. Watts places a strong emphasis on the importance of concert band training as the cornerstone of a well rounded music education. Under his assistance, the concert ensembles at Cleveland consistently earn superior ratings at MPA and other concert festivals, reflecting a commitment to musicality, technical precision, and artistic growth across all performance mediums.

Mr. Watts is also a proud Vater Percussion Artist, a distinction that recognizes his professional excellence and impact within the percussion community.

Now stepping into the role as the Assistant Director of Bands, Mr. Watts is dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence, integrity, and collaboration. He is committed to guiding students toward their highest potential—musically, academically, and personally—and is honored to lead the continued success of the Cleveland High School Band Program.