In 2020 Santa Fe High gained a unique and creative member to the faculty, Caleb Nathaniel Heaton. 

Originally from Denver, Colo., he discovered his love and interest for New Mexico through a college choir trip. “I thought it was a cool state,” Mr. Heaton says. “I’ve always been a fan of the Southwest.” 

Mr. Heaton attended Concordia College in Minnesota where he studied Vocal Music Education K-12. He earned a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Music Education, about which he states, “It’s a rare degree, but it’s a degree.” 

Mr. Heaton followed in his parents’ footsteps and became a teacher: “My parents were both teachers and I didn’t know what else to do.” Mr. Heaton said he knew what he wanted to do in order to be fond of what he does: “I know I am good with kids and love to sing, and the mixture of those two things is to teach.”

Mr. Heaton juggles teaching four different choirs, two advanced choirs and two beginning choirs. He said he loves interacting with teenagers every day and enjoys the challenge and freedom he has with teaching choir. Mr. Heaton has a deep love for all his choirs and is ecstatic to see their growth.“You guys are my instruments, he says.”

Mr. Heaton has never lost his voice while teaching others how to find and use theirs. He participates in a barber shop quartet, performs with Tri-M productions, and is also a featured soloist in the Santa Fe Symphony Choir. Even though Mr. Heaton has been passionately singing since the start of high school, he still gets anxious before performances. “Yeah,” he said, “I still get nervous.”

In his free time, Mr. Heaton enjoys his dog Juno. “She’s so playful and smiley. I love her,”he says. He is also very passionate about being outdoors and more importantly taking remarkable pictures of nature and anything that catches his creative eye. His grandfather sparked his interest in photography when he gave Mr. Heaton his camera. 

Mr. Heaton’s creativity also extends to his style. Always looking put together and being bold with his clothing choices comes naturally to him. Mr. Heaton says, “I like to express myself through fashion.”