KENTON NIELSON – CEO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Kenton joined The Battalion in July of 2015 as a member of the Board of Directors and served as the Chairman of the Board from 2017 -2022.  Professionally, Kenton directs the Strategic Partnerships and Business Development Operations at 1-800 CONTACTS INC. in Draper UT.  He is also the Director of the Utah Valley University Drumline (UVU Green Man Group), and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Intermountain Percussion Association.

 

He marched as a member of the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps where he had the opportunity to study marching percussion under the direction of such great music educators as Pat Amon, Nick Angelis, Thom Hannum, Jeff Queen, and Colin McNutt.  Kenton served as an elected member of the Troopers TAA Board of Directors from 2013-2016.  He is very active in the performing arts and music education communities. Prior to his involvement with The Battalion, he had the pleasure of serving as the Associate Conductor of the Wasatch Chorale conducting alongside Dr. Dyanne Riley.  Over the past 20 years, he has directed and or worked as a visiting clinician for numerous high school drumlines and marching bands.

He is graduate of The Carnegie School of Management in New York, NY. - Business Management & Leadership Program.  He is also a graduate of Utah Valley University.  He holds degrees in Music (with an Emphasis in Conducting), Secondary Music Education (with a Choral/Wind Composite), and History.  While in college, he served as the President of the Collegiate Music Educators National Conference.  He also served as the Associate Conductor of the University Chamber Choir.  In 2003, he was honored as the Outstanding Academic Student of the Year from the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.  While at UVU he represented student interests as member of the University's Academic Senate.  He was also a 3-year winner of the Collegiate Aria & Concerto Competition.
 

Kenton is married to Janna Nielson.  Together they have 3 children, Scott, Emily, & Daniel.  They also have a Poodle named Stanley, and a Chihuahua named Kyle.