General Music Instructor

Heather Borsum conducts the Concert Band and teaches the AP Music Theory, Piano, and Guitar classes. She’s also had the honor of accompanying several of Whitman’s choirs over the past few years. Ms. Borsum is in demand as an adjudicator for band festivals and solo festivals throughout Maryland, and she has worked with both the Montgomery County Honors Band and the All State band several times. Ms. Borsum is also an active performer; she is a percussionist who has performed throughout the DC metropolitan area. She has appeared with many types of ensembles including orchestras, concert bands, jazz ensembles, jazz combos, pit orchestras, and percussion ensembles. In her career she has shared the stage with Marvin Hamlisch, Maureen McGovern, Kenny Rogers, Boyz to Men, and Robert Merrill, among others. Ms. Borsum is a product of Montgomery County, having graduated from Magruder High School in 1990. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from Carnegie Mellon University and a Masters of Music from Catholic University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, having initially earned that status in 2005 and renewing her certification in 2014.

Instrumental Music Director

Brendan W. Kelly is a graduate of The University of Michigan, where he earned a Master’s degree in saxophone performance with Dr. Timothy McAllister. Previously, Brendan earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in music education and saxophone performance at the University of Maryland, College Park. From 2010-2013, he served as Drum Major of the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band and performed in the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade. Brendan is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD where he teaches wind ensemble, symphonic band, chamber orchestra, concert orchestra, and jazz ensemble in addition to leading the Whitman Athletic Bands and pit orchestra. Mr Kelly has served as conductor of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Junior Honors Jazz Ensemble since 2017.

Choral Music Director

  Mr. Tilkens is currently in his sixteenth year of teaching in MCPS.  Mr. Tilkens has been active at the county and state level as an adjudicator, guest clinician, honors chorus conductor, and has presented at conferences at state and regional levels. His choirs consistently earn superior ratings at county, state and regional festivals, notably participating in “Nationals for Top Choirs” in New York City. In 2024, Mr. Tilkens' Pyle Voices were selected to perform at ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) East conference. Mr. Tilkens maintained his National Board Certificate in 2023.

Mr. Tilkens is proud of his contributions around the topic of equity, having contributed to the Maryland Music Educators Association Diversity Lens Committee, and co-presented a session entitled “Affirming Students’ Identities through Repertoire Selection.” Mr. Tilkens’ classroom is a registered “Safe Space” because all students should feel the freedom to be themselves and make mistakes without judgement or ridicule. Mr. Tilkens has, again, been selected to present a new session entitled "Inspiring Songs for Social Emotional Learning and Deep and Connected Relationship Building" during the 2024-2025 school year