Natalie has been a member of the Old Line Percussion staff since 2021. She currently serves as the Front Ensemble Co-Caption Head.

 

Natalie is a music educator, teacher leader, and percussionist from Laurel, MD.  In addition to her work as a band director in the Howard County Public School System, Natalie is a frequent guest conductor, consultant, and clinician for award-winning concert and marching ensembles around the Mid-Atlantic region. Since 2011, Natalie has instructed the front ensemble for the five-time state champion Marriotts Ridge High School Marching Band. She was also a front ensemble instructor for the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016 and has been an instructor with the Towson University Marching Band since 2017.  Natalie is an alumna of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps of San Antonio, TX.

 

Natalie graduated from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in 2021 with a Master of Music degree in Music Education under the supervision of Dr. Harlan Parker and Dr. Laura Parker, and the University of Maryland, College Park in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education.  At the University of Maryland, Natalie was privileged to study with Tony Ames, Principal Percussionist of the National Symphony Orchestra, and Dr. Lee Hinkle.  The Washington Post wrote about her choreographed performance with the UMD Symphony Orchestra of Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony:  “[Pretzello kept] leaving to play passages offstage, and once the bombshell percussionist had established her physical authority...in the Debussy, she held attention even as one of a team of percussionists in the symphony”.

 

Natalie is the Co-Director and conductor of the HCPSS Middle School Gifted & Talented Symphonic Band, and is the conductor of the Terrapin Music Camp 5th & 6th grade band. She is the percussion coordinator for several Honors Ensembles around Maryland. Natalie is a recipient of the Semper Fidelis award of Music Excellence presented by the Marine Corps League and is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society.  She has been recognized by HCPSS as an Outstanding GT Educator. Natalie is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society, the Maryland chapter of the National Association for Music Education (Maryland Music Educators Association), and the Howard County Education Association. Natalie previously served on the Music Leadership Team of HCPSS as the Elementary Band Representative, and enjoys her role as a mentor for young and aspiring band directors.