The Directors

Mr. Josh Bartz, Director of Bands

Mr. Bartz is in his first year as the Director of Bands at Portage Northern High School and Portage North Middle School.  Prior to his appointment in Portage, he taught 4 years in the Dowagiac Union Schools in Dowagiac, MI.  Mr. Bartz has a Bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, PA) in Music Education  with a minor in Saxophone Performance.  He is currently seeking his Master's Degree in Wind Conducting from the American Band College in Ashland, OR.  Mr. Bartz enjoys spending his free time with his wife Rachelle and daughters Annabelle and Elizabeth. 

Mr. Robert Jordan, Assistant Director of Bands

Mr. Jordan has been teaching instrumental and choral music in the Portage Public Schools since the Fall of 2002. Prior to his employment in Portage he taught instrumental music at Coldwater High School and Legg Middle School in Coldwater, MI. Robert has been the Color Guard Caption Head for Portage Northern High School's Fall and Winter Guards since 2002. Robert was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps Color Guard from 1994, 1995, and 1996 and was the Color Guard Caption Head for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps in 1997 and 1998. He was a color guard technician for the Americanos Drum and Bugle Corps in 1999 and 2000 and a color guard technician at the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Robert was also the Color Guard Director for the Indiana University Marching Hundred in 1996 and 1997. Robert received his undergraduate degree in music education and trumpet in 1998 from the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University - Bloomington. His Masters Degree in Organ Performance was completed in 2008 at Western Michigan University where he studied with Dr. Karl Schrock. Robert is the organist at First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo where he plays Orgues Létourneau's Opus 55, a 54 rank, three manual and pedal pipe organ installed in 1998.

Mr. Ross Ridenour, Percussion Coordinator

Mr. Ridenour is in his second year as percussion coordinator at Portage Northern High School. He has been instructed by various local and national artists in his past. Next year, Ross will be graduating from Western Michigan University with a degree in Aviation Flight Science. Along with being percussion coordinator, he also teaches privately. Mr. Ridenour enjoys playing drums, flying airplanes and throwing Frisbees in his free time.