We are pleased to announce that Huron Valley Schools has appointed our new band directors for Milford and Lakeland High Schools.

Anthony Berardi will be joining us as the Milford High School classroom band director and as the Huron Valley Marching Band director. He can be reached at anthony.berardi@hvs.org. 

Leo Schlaifer will be joining us as the Lakeland High School classroom band director and serve as an assistant director in the Huron Valley Marching Band. He can be reached at leo.schlaifer@hvs.org.

Please see below for introductions from the directors and be sure to welcome them when you see them next. They will be in attendance at tonight's Parent Meeting on camp and BoosterHub at 7PM at the Milford High School Cafeteria. 

We would also like to extend our eternal gratitude to Michael Montesi for filling in as interim band director following Bob Green's retirement, as Michael will be pursuing other opportunities following these appointments. We wish them both well on their future endeavors and thank them for their years of dedicated service to the musical arts at HVMB, HVE and HVS.  

Anthony Berardi:

Mr. Anthony Berardi is honored to be serving as the Director of Bands at Milford High School and Head Director of the Huron Valley Marching Band. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance (Trombone) and K-12 Instrumental Music Education from Wayne State University and a Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting from Western Michigan University. Prior to joining Huron Valley, Mr. Berardi was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Western Michigan University’s Irving S. Gilmore School of Music, assisting in the instruction of the university bands, athletic bands, and the conducting curriculum. From January to May of 2025, he also served as the Acting Director of Athletic Bands, overseeing the program through a National Championship season for the WMU hockey team. Prior to WMU, Anthony taught in Detroit, MI (DPSCD) and Macomb, MI (LCPS). He has previously served on the staff of the Walled Lake Marching Band and the Novi Marching Band as well.

Leo Schlaifer:

Hello! My name is Leo Schlaifer and I am thrilled to be joining HVS as the new Band Director at LHS/IAW and Assistant Director of the HVMB. I recently finished graduate school at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and have since been working as a substitute teacher in Ann Arbor Public Schools and private lesson teacher in Dexter Community Schools. I am primarily a saxophonist and woodwind doubler, although I have a secret love for brass instruments. Before coming to Michigan, I completed my undergrad in Music Education at Northwestern University and am originally from the great state of Minnesota.

Outside of teaching and playing music I enjoy being outdoors, cooking and baking with my partner, Kirsten, and spending time with our cat, Carla. I am so looking forward to meeting you all soon!