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. Steven Rainville is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at Cleveland High School in Clayton, NC., where he assists with the facilitation, management, and instruction of the band program. The Cleveland High School band program consists of the Cleveland Arts Performance Ensemble, concert bands, and various winter ensembles. Mr. Rainville’s concert ensembles consistently receive high ratings at the North Carolina Bandmasters Association Music Performance Adjudication. Mr. Rainville consistently places several students in the All-District Honors Band as well as the North Carolina All-State Honors Band.

Prior to Mr. Rainville’s appointment at Cleveland High School, he was the Director of Bands at Swift Creek Middle School in Clayton, NC, where he directed concert bands for all grade levels, in addition to Jazz Ensemble and Winterguard. Prior to the opening of Swift Creek Middle, Mr. Rainville was the Director of Bands at Archer Lodge Middle School in Wendell, NC from 2012 to 2017. Mr. Rainville began his teaching career at Collinswood Language Academy and South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC where he received Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools’ First Year Teacher of the Year award.

Mr. Rainville graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with his Bachelor of Music Education in 2010 where he participated in the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program.

Mr. Rainville currently resides in Clayton, NC, with his wife Heather, and their two sons, Jackson and Bennett.