2021 MMEA Midwinter Clinic Presenters
Akosua Obuo Addo
Akosua Obuo Addo currently serves as the research chair for the Minnesota Society for Music Teacher Education (MNSTME). Her research interests include: International issues in arts education, Teacher education, Collaborative and comparative research on children’s play culture. Dr. Addo teaches music education at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, and has over 20 years of teaching experience in Ghana, England, Canada, and the USA. Her teaching responsibilities include classroom music methods, coordinating student teaching placements, student teaching seminars, supervising teacher candidates, graduate research and African music pedagogy. Dr. Addo also serves on the Organisation for Strategic Development in Jamaica (OSDJ) board, collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Jamaica to promote music education in Jamaica and foster collaborative relationships between schools and higher education institutions in Jamaica and Minnesota. Community engagement, cultural and social dimensions of learning, creativity, and improvisation are vital components of Dr. Addo’s undergraduate and graduate research courses.
Scott Agster
Dr. Scott Agster is the adjunct professor of low brass at Anoka Ramsey Community College. He has been an all-state section coach for several years and is the all-state jazz band director this year.
Wendy Barden
Wendy Barden is the Music Education Specialist, Professional Development and Resource Programs, at Perpich Center for Arts Education. She began her career in Osseo Area Schools teaching band and general music at the junior high level, and then served 21 years as district K-12 Music Coordinator. During her tenure, she was named a Yamaha National Mentor Teacher, 1992 Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Band Educator of the Year, and 2013 Yale Distinguished Music Educator. In 2014, Barden was inducted into the MMEA Hall of Fame. She is also a member of Phi Beta Mu.
Dr. Barden has actively served on the executive boards of several organizations including Chamber Music Minnesota, and as president of The Evergreen Club, Minnesota Band Directors Association, and Minnesota Music Educators Association. She has authored several resources published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company.
Wendy Barden holds B.S. and M.A. degrees in music education from the University of Minnesota. Her Ph.D., also from the University of Minnesota, is in music with emphasis in music education and musicology. She is particularly passionate about standards, assessment, and student engagement.
Josh Becker
Dr. Josh Becker is a 5th Grade Beginning Band director in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan ISD #196, conducts the Prince of Peace Brass Choir (Burnsville) and also teaches a large low brass studio in Apple Valley. He is a member of JazzMN Orchestra.
Brett Benson
Brett Benson is in his 10th year of teaching at Eagan High School. His teaching responsibilities include Wind Ensemble, Wildcat Band Blue, Jazz 2, Musical Pit Orchestra, all percussion ensembles, curricular percussion lessons, and team-teaching both the Varsity Marching Band and the Freshmen Marching Band. Brett graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and from Sam Houston State University in 2016 with a Master of Arts in Band Conducting. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University.
Erika Bierman
Erika Bierman teaches Middle School Music and ELL at Pipestone Area Schools in Pipestone, MN. She also serves her district as an Instructional Coach. Bierman received her B.A. in Instrumental Music Education from Concordia College – Moorhead, and an additional license in ELL instruction from Hamline University. Erika is active in the Minnesota Band Directors Association, having recently served as Past-President and Honor Band Coordinator. Bierman also serves as a Regional Arts Teacher Leader with the Perpich Center for Arts Education where she has researched projects focusing on culturally relevant teaching practices in the music classroom. As a clarinetist, she has worked with the Minnesota All-State Bands as a section coach, and performs with the High Plains Woodwinds in Sioux Falls, SD.
Derek Bromme
Dr. Derek Bromme is the low brass instructor at the University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Wisconsin Superior. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Minnesota Duluth, a Masters Degree in tenor trombone from Indiana University, and a Doctorate in bass trombone from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He has been teaching low brass at the college level for ten years and is an active performer and teacher on alto trombone, tenor trombone, bass trombone, contrabass trombone, euphonium, and tuba.
Melanie Brooks
Melanie Brooks is the Director of Bands at Winona State University. She received her DMA and Masters degrees in Wind Conducting at Arizona State University in 2018 and 2016. In 2014-2015, Dr. Brooks received a Fulbright grant to study at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. While in Finland, she conducted four of the country’s five professional military bands, worked at youth and adult music camps in Kouvola and Terälahti, directed student honor bands in Varkaus, Lahti, and Tampere, and visited music schools across the country.
Before beginning her graduate studies, Dr. Brooks taught 5th grade and high school band in Pine City, MN for two years, and her first teaching position was at Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, MN, where she taught grades 5-12 band.
Dr. Brooks received her Bachelor of Arts from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where she performed in many ensembles as a saxophonist and directed the college athletic bands.
Dr. Brooks has passionately undertaken projects that focus on innovative repertoire and community building between young musicians, college musicians, and composers from around the world. She has commissioned and performed over thirty new mixed-level pieces for band and orchestra, including concertos for young soloists and adaptable scores for all instrumental ensembles.
Ben Bussey
Ben Bussey is a musician and teaching artist based in Minneapolis, MN. His work on trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, and sousaphone cover a wealth of genres and reflect a keen interest in music education for all ages and abilities. His creative projects include playing and writing for Brass & BodyWorks and the Paper Clips. He is also bass trombonist for the Encore Wind Ensemble, and appears regularly with The New Standards, The Shabby Road Orchestra, and McNasty Brass Band. He is Professor of Low Brass at Concordia University, St Paul and serves on the MacPhail Center for Music faculty as a low brass instructor and ensemble clinician.
Ben is an active guest artist, clinician, and adjudicator for music programs throughout the region, and is a leader in the area of virtual instruction. His wide range of teaching and performing experiences provide a unique lens for students as they develop their skills as musicians.
Ben holds degrees from the University of Minnesota (BM Music Ed, 2008) and McNally Smith College of Music (MM Trombone, 2015). His teachers include Scott Agster, Pete Whitman, Adi Yeshaya, John Tranter, Tom Ashworth, Dave Werden, & Jerry Luckhardt. He is a coffee enthusiast & avid baseball fan.
Learn more at www.tromboneben.com
David Davis
David Davis is an instrumental (band & orchestra) and general music teacher with experience teaching in elementary, middle, and high schools and in rural, suburban, Title 1, and e-learning environments. He currently teaches at Clear Springs Elementary School in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He is a progressive educator with a focus on DEI in music education and comprehensive music literacy, and also serves as an innovation coach in his district where he supports colleagues as they explore growth and change in their own methods. His approach to music education has been featured on NBC News Washington and leadinggreatlearning.com. In addition to teaching, David is a performing saxophonist and vocalist in the Twin Cities metro area (pre-Covid) and has served as section leader in both the Encore Wind Ensemble and Minneapolis Basilica Cathedral Choir.
Roque Diaz
As an avid arts administrator, musician, educator, scholar, musician, father, and diversity activist, Roque advocates for more inclusive, culturally diverse, and relevant music education. Roque joined MacPhail Center for Music as the Director of School Partnerships in 2018. In addition, Roque was serving as the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Learning and Engagement Leader. Moving forward, Roque has just accepted the position of Senior Director of DEI at MacPhail. In his new position, Roque serves as a leader, champion, change agent and DEI subject matter expert. He is a PhD candidate in Music Education at the University of Minnesota and recipient of multiple prestigious fellowships, including the 2020 BUSH Fellow and American Express NGen Fellow.
Roque is also a trumpeter with a wealth of performance experience traveling the world performing in such hit shows as “Jersey Boys”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Josh Groban on Tour”, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “Chicago the Musical”, “Blast!”, and more. As a classical musician, he has performed as a soloist and section member with major international orchestras and continues to perform orchestral, chamber, contemporary, Latin, jazz and other music.
Pam Diem
Pam Diem is the band director at Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School (KMS).
She is currently in her 34th year of teaching at KMS High School. Diem is responsible for the entire instrumental music department, grades 5-12.
Her duties include directing the 5 th grade band, 6 th grade band, 7-8 th grade concert band, 9-12 concert band, pep band, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, KMS Marching Saints, Drumline, Pit Orchestra, and Solo/Ensembles.
Diem is a currently a member of several state organizations including MMEA, MBDA, MEA and NAfME. Diem was a candidate for Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 2013, inducted into Phi Beta Mu, an International Band Fraternity, in 2016, and was inducted into the Butch Dufault Marching Band Hall of Fame in 2019.
She has also been a guest director, judge and clinician throughout the region and state and has served on the MMEA State Board as a Region Representative.
Matthew Dockendorf
Matthew Dockendorf is Associate Director of Bands and Director of the “Golden Buffalo” Marching Band at the University of Colorado Boulder. An Assistant Professor of Music, Dr. Dockendorf conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches instrumental conducting as well as music education courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Prior to his appointment as Associate Director of Bands, Dr. Dockendorf spent five years as the Assistant Director of Bands at CU where he directed the “Buff” Basketball Band and the Concert Band.
Dr. Dockendorf taught public school at Lakeville South High School in Minnesota where he was the Assistant Director of Bands.
Dr. Dockendorf has guest conducted high school and middle school bands across the U.S. and has presented clinics at various state music conferences and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Dr. Dockendorf holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from Michigan State University under Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole; a Master of Music in Conducting from The Ohio State University under Dr. Russel Mikkelson; and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Minnesota where he studied and performed under Prof. Craig Kirchhoff, Prof. Jerry Luckhardt, and Dr. Timothy Diem.
Eric Posada
Dr. Eric Posada is a vibrant and diverse conductor, choral educator, and mentor with sixteen years’ experience at the elementary, middle, high school, collegiate, university, community, church, and professional levels. He currently serves as Visiting Professor of Choral Music at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Previous appointments for Dr. Posada include Director of Choral Music at Tyler Junior College and Associate Director of Choral Activities at Texas A&M University. A native of McAllen, Texas, Posada founded the Rio Grande Valley’s first professional chorus, Pasión, and serves as the ensemble’s Artistic Director. In 2020-2021, Dr. Posada will be presenting interest sessions for the Louisiana Choral Directors Association; the Music Educators Associations of Oregon, Alabama, Utah, Ohio, Minnesota, New Jersey; and The College Music Society. In addition to his work in academia, Posada has served fourteen years as Director of Music in liturgical settings, the highlight of which was a performance at Notre-Dame de Paris. Additionally, Dr. Posada has held conducting posts with community choruses such as the East Texas Symphony Chorus, Brazos Valley Chorale, and The Lubbock Chorale. A champion of philanthropic work, Posada’s non-profit organization, Pasión, provides the highest artistic product and administers to the counties of South Texas.
Am’re Ford
A proud native of Oklahoma City, Am’re Ford is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, teacher and consultant. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and a Master of Music in Music Composition from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). While attending UCO, Am’re participated in a number of chamber and large ensembles and directed the UCO Ebony Gospel Choir. It was at UCO that Am’re discovered his gift of writing music. Since that discovery, he has had pieces performed across the nation. Am’re melds his favorite genres of music, classical and gospel, together to create his unique sound. In 2018 he established SymDesign as the vehicle for his composing, education and consulting endeavors. Am’re has a passion for children, especially in the areas of access and exposure, which lead to the founding of Arts in Action, Inc. Am’re is a member Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity Inc. and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc.
Nicholas Gaudette
Nicholas Gaudette holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music (double bass) as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Minnesota Mankato. He has been teaching high school for over a decade and is in his 5th year at Edina as the director of Concert, Varsity, and Sinfonia orchestras. Before teaching full time, Nick was an active hybrid musician in the Twin Cities music scene as a classical/jazz bass player for various ensembles and theaters including the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, The Children’s Theater, and Theater Latte Da. He is also a continuous collaborator composing new landscapes for modern dance and has performed with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Shapiro and Smith Dance, as well as various other modern dance figures in the Twin Cities including his spouse, Maggie Bergeron. Together, Nick and Maggie curate their own live music and dance festival called Hear, Here! which pairs and premiers new works by composer/musician & choreographer/dancer combos. Nick has also released 4 studio albums and has numerous film and commercial placements alongside his fellow bandmates of the Orange Mighty Trio. Nick is a Cedar Commission Artist, a Minnesota State Arts Board recipient, an Ed Fund recipient, an electric bicyclist (past motorcyclist), and avid outdoors person. He lives with Maggie in their small south Minneapolis house with kiddos Gus & Lola, and Sgt. Pepper the dog.
Peter Guenther
Peter Guenther is in his nineteenth year as Director of Bands at Owatonna High School. Previous to this position, he was the director of junior and senior high bands at Lake City High School from 1993 to 2001. At Owatonna High School, Mr. Guenther conducts three concert bands, the marching band, and jazz ensemble. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Winona State University. He currently conducts the Owatonna Community Band and Owatonna Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, he was honored by his colleagues as Owatonna Teacher of the Year. In 2013, the community of Owatonna honored him as the recipient of the Owatonna Community Arts Award. He co-presented a session on electroacoustic music at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, in 2013. He has participated in collaborative efforts with numerous colleges in the midwest, as well as with composers Alex Shapiro, J. Robert Hanson, Daniel Kallman, Samuel R. Hazo, Johan de Meij, Steven Bryant, Carl Holmquist, and John Zdechlik. He is currently a member of the NAfME, MBDA, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. Guenther is currently the Region 1-2 AA Representative for MMEA, and the one of the co-chairs of this year’s MMEA Virtual Clinic. He is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in the upper Midwest. Peter enjoys golfing, camping, hiking, fishing, and spending quality time with his wife Holly, their five children, and two grandchildren.
Jennifer Hansmann
Jennifer Hansmann moved to Pine City, Minnesota from the Milwaukee area to teach music in 1992. Jen currently teaches 1st – 6th grade music and directs a voluntary after school choir to grades 2-6, of which over 200 students usually participate.
Jen received her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and her master’s degree at St. Cloud State. Beyond that, Jen has taken Orff classes at St. Thomas and received her level 3 certification in 2003. Jen has twice been nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year, and Pine City has been recognized nationally as a “Best Community for Music Education.”
Jen also serves as her local teacher union secretary, has a private piano studio and an upcycled craft business, is active in 2 area churches and is involved in local theatrical stage productions. Her husband, 5 sons, 2 daughters in law, and now one grandson also keep her very busy!
Keith Hilson
Keith Hilson holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Master of Music in trombone performance from the University of Minnesota. For the past 20 years, Keith has been performing as a freelance musician and music educator. Now based in Minneapolis, MN, with his wife and two children, Keith has completed his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree (ABD) at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities under Professor Tom Ashworth and currently performs with jazz, Latin and classical ensembles throughout the Twin Cities. Keith has managed the Trombone Shop at Schmitt Music from 2015-2020 and is now Director of Sale for Low Brass at Schmitt.
Emily Hopkins
Emily Hopkins currently serves as the Director of Training at QuaverEd where she manages a team of five instructional coaches and provides teachers across the country with quality professional development. Prior to joining the QuaverEd team, she taught for 11 years in Pre-K, Music, and Social Studies classrooms. She is a regular clinician at music and general education conferences across the country where she is able to fulfill her passion for connecting students and teachers with engaging resources. Emily graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performace and also holds a Master’s of Education in Instructional Practice from Lipscomb University.
Lauren Husting
Lauren Husting is a Twin Cities based low brass performer and educator. She serves on the faculty at Hamline University and performs with Resinosa Brass, The Paper Clips, and Temple of the Nu.
Scott K. Iseminger
Scott Iseminger has distinguished himself as an expert in music education for children with special needs. He taught PK-12 general music at therapeutic day school for students with severe disabilities, neurological disorders, Autism, developmental delays, and severe emotional/behavioral disorders in Naperville, IL for 21 years. In addition, he conducted a multi-age choir and a large world drumming ensemble. The choir was chosen to perform at the 1994 state Council for Exceptional Children. The world drumming ensemble was awarded third place out of 30 entries in the local Naperville holiday parade (on our own merits with no special consideration for disabilities).
Scott earned his Master’s Degree in Special Music Education from Wichita State University with a minor in Speech/Language and Communication Disorders. While attending the university, he taught music at a special education preschool for two years and at the campus preschool. He is a certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher and is also trained in Will Schmid’s World Music Drumming curriculum and methods.
Scott currently teaches Special Music Education at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. He also teaches music education at the University of Minnesota while completing his doctoral degree in Music Education with a minor in Educational Psychology. Scott is delighted to teach music at the UMN Child Development Center. He was an adjunct instructor at DePaul School of Music in Chicago for eight years and has been a visiting lecturer for a number of universities. Additionally, he’s provided clinics at a number of state conferences and school districts. You can reach Scott at isemi002@umn.edu
Timothy Kaiser
Timothy Kaiser is pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at the University of Arizona. Mr. Kaiser comes to Arizona from Del Valle High School in Austin, Texas, where he conducted the Concert and Jazz Bands and co-directed the Proud Cardinal Marching Band. He began his career at Antioch High School in Antioch, California, as teacher and administrator of a comprehensive program that included bands, string orchestra, and AP Music Theory. His ensembles have performed at Pearl Harbor, Disneyland’s Magic Music Days, AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys), the Reno Jazz Festival, and Fiesta San Antonio.
Leigh Kallestad
Leigh Kallestad, retired Education Manager at MakeMusic, has presented Finale and SmartMusic clinics at numerous state MEA conventions and in Germany and Australia. While at MakeMusic, he developed SmartMusic and Finale training for countless K-12 school in-services, college music programs, regional workshops and online webinars. Prior to joining MakeMusic, Leigh taught instrumental music at Mound Westonka High School, Mound, MN for 22 years. Leigh holds degrees in Music Education from the University of North Dakota and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He is an adjunct faculty member at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.
Amanda Kaus
Amanda Kaus has served as the Director of Bands at Rochester Century High School since 2012 and currently serves as the MMEA Representative on the MSHSL Board of Directors. She has previously served as the MMEA Band Vice-President.
Ann C. Kay
Ann C. Kay co-founded The Rock ‘n’ Read Project, dedicated to “using singing to unlock children’s potential for reading and learning.” Formerly, an elementary music teacher and associate director of graduate music education, Ann created and directed the Kodály certification program at the University of St. Thomas. She founded the Kodály Chapter of MN, was a president of the Organization of American Kodály Educators, and co-authored “Assessment in the Kodály Classroom” in The Oxford Handbook of Assessment Policy and Practice in Music Education.
Tremon Kizer
Tremon Kizer serves as the Associate Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands, and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Central Florida. In addition to serving as the lead administrator for the UCF athletic band program, he conducts the Symphonic Band, teaches courses in music education and graduate conducting.
As a champion of diverse music, he frequently presents and does research on programming literature that reflect the demographics of the students in the music classroom. Most notable is his research on two-time Prix de Rome winner, Ulysses S. Kay. In addition to his research on Kay, He has given lectures and presented at major conferences such as the Midwest Band and Orchestra International Conference, the College Band Director National Conference (CBDNA), several regional and state conferences.
Prior to his tenure at UCF, he served on the conducting faculty at the University of Dayton, Coffeyville College, and taught courses at the University of Central Missouri. In addition, he taught 5-12 grade instrumental music in the state of Kansas and Missouri. Dr. Kizer earned an undergraduate degree from Kansas State University, a masters degree from the University of Central Missouri and a doctorate from the University of South Carolina.
Liz Kuivinen
Liz Kuivinen, piano and songwriting instructor, holds an MLS degree with an emphasis in post-secondary music education and a Master of Arts in Music Composition, both from the University of Minnesota, as well as a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Prior to Anoka Ramsey Community College, Liz spent over twenty years at McNally-Smith College of Music in St. Paul, teaching music theory, class piano, arranging, desktop publishing and directing the Latin Jazz Ensemble. Liz has been actively performing in the Twin Cities with a variety of groups for over 25 years.
Jeremy Kunkel
Jeremy Kunkel has over 30 years of percussion experience and is the founder of the Pan Outreach program, Pan-handlers Steel Drum Band, and Tin Cups Steel Drum Band. Jeremy developed a passion for steel pan while completing the Bachelor of Music Education Degree program at The University of Memphis and is thrilled to be leading a program that combines music education and pan. In 2019, Jeremy performed and competed with The Nutrien Silver Stars Steel Orchestra at Panorama large band finals in Trinidad and Tobago. Jeremy has a long history of involvement with many renowned performance ensembles including The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Tony and Emmy award-winning Broadway production, Blast!. As an active educator, arranger, and clinician Jeremy has numerous championships and professional accolades to his credit. He is most proud of the many students he’s taught that have gone on to pursue successful music careers of their own.
Jeremy Kunkel is a native of Minnesota, and currently resides in Northfield with his wife and 2 children. Jeremy is a Percussive Arts Society and National Society of Steel Band Educators member.
Soojin Lee
Dr. Soojin Lee is a music educator and a professional performer on the kayagum (a traditional Korean zither instrument) from South Korea. She holds over 20 years of teaching experience from individual instruction to large groups. Her wide variety of experience includes teaching as a high school general music teacher in Korea, a private instructor of gayageum and piano, and a school residency of Korean music and drumming in U.S. schools.
Before coming to the United States, she worked for the National Korean traditional music high school as a gayageum and general music teacher. Soojin has her Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Korean music from Seoul National University, South Korea and a Master’s degree in Social Sciences (specializing in Ethnomusicology) from the University of California, Irvine. She received her PhD in music education (research interests are multicultural music education and pedagogy for teaching indigenous music in formal education system) at the University of Minnesota. Currently, she is a member of the faculty at MacPhail Center for Music.
Cameron Longabaugh
Dr. Cameron Longabaugh is currently serving his second year as the Director of Bands at Inver Grove Heights Middle School. Prior to his appointment at IGHMS, he taught at Tapp Middle School in Powder Springs, GA (2017-2019) and Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, KS (2011-2013). He received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Longabaugh also serves as the Camp Director for the Annual Cobb Summer Band Camp in Georgia. The camp is a comprehensive music experience for middle school band students as well as a leadership training symposium for high school marching band and concert ensemble leaders.
Denise Lutgen-Gallaty
Denise Lutgen-Gallaty is the field consultant for The Rock ‘n’ Read Project. She coordinates the implementation of a singing-based software, Tune into Reading, co-teaches the Rock ‘n’ Read Course, and provides individual coaching for classroom teachers. Denise also directs children’s choirs and teaches voice lessons for the Music Association of Minnetonka. For 20 years, she has taught elementary classroom music, directed choirs, and prepared and accompanied many children for regional and national honors choirs across the country.
Betsy McCann
Betsy McCann is the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Marching and Athletic Bands at the University of Minnesota. In this position, she directs the “Pride of Minnesota” Marching Band, conducts the University Band, instructs undergraduate conducting, and manages the comprehensive Athletic Bands program. McCann is the first woman to head a Big Ten Marching Band and Athletic Bands program. McCann is active nationally as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and speaker. She has presented on leadership and other topics at a variety of conferences and events and has served as a guest conductor and clinician with bands from the United States and Canada. McCann is a strong supporter and active conductor of new music, receiving positive acclaim from composers, performers, and audiences for her interpretation and conducting artistry. Prior to McCann’s current appointment at the University of Minnesota, McCann served as the Assistant Director of the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Additionally, she served as a band director and classroom music instructor at Burnsville and Watertown-Mayer High Schools in Minnesota and Waubonsie Valley High School in Illinois. McCann earned a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota.
Michael Fuchs
Dr. Michael Fuchs has enjoyed an active career as a conductor, educator, and singer. He is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Superior where he conducts the UWS Singers and Chorale in addition to teaching courses in conducting, choral methods, and ear training. Prior to moving to the Twin Ports, Dr. Fuchs was the Director of Choral Activities at Clayton State University in Morrow, GA where he conducted the Chorale, the Collegium Vocale, and founded the Masterworks Chorus at Spivey Hall. Recent conducting performances include Beethoven’s Chorfantasie, Mozart’s Requiem, David Lang’s Pulitzer Prize winning composition, the little match girl passion, Offenbach’s La Périchole, and Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem. He is currently the Director of Choral Activities at First Lutheran Church in Duluth where he oversees an active and vibrant choral program. Dr. Fuchs holds degrees in choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey as well as a degree in Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He has studied conducting with René Clausen, Joe Miller, James Jordan, Andrew Megill, Earl Rivers, Brett Scott, and Mark Gibson.
Minnesota Percussion Trio
The Minnesota Percussion Trio has been performing since 1987. In that time the trio has had over 2000 performances in schools, libraries, museums and community fine arts series. The Trio has been featured on KARE 11 and WCCO 4 in addition to feature articles with the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. At the core of the ensemble’s work are three distinct programs its members have developed which effectively present musical concepts in educational settings. The three programs are Clicks, Claps and Klunks, Around the World in 80 Beats, and The Beat Goes On.
The Trio consistently earns the highest marks for innovative programming and successful audience rapport. The Trio was awarded the Zildjian Family Opportunity Grant, a prestigious industry award, and was able perform for over 2000 students in schools in Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The Trio also collaborates with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra on their Start the Music series as well as their Xplorchestra music concerts and CONNECT programs. The trio was artists in residence at the Minnesota State Academy of the Blind and was awarded the Jim Dusso Award given by COMPASS acknowledging their excellence and longevity in the Twin Cities Arts scene. The Trio was named Artists in Residence with Minnesota Public Radio and as MPR “Class Notes” performing artists, performing for thousands of students throughout the Twin Cities. The Trio members are Bob Adney, Erik Barsness and Paul Hill.
Anna Ostroushko
Anna Ostroushko joined MacPhail Center for Music in 2015. Anna coordinates online and in-person partnership details for more than 43 schools across Minnesota, working closely with 35 faculty to maintain partner relationships and provide learning in live online instruction. She holds a Bachelors in Sociology from Hamline University in St. Paul. Prior to her role with MacPhail, she worked with National Public Radio and performed advocacy work for Elder Voice Family Advocates.
James Patrick Miller
James Patrick Miller is the Douglas Nimmo Endowed Professor of the Gustavus Wind Orchestra at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. One of the nation’s most storied collegiate touring wind ensembles, the Gustavus Wind Orchestra tours nationally each year, internationally every four years, and was selected to perform at the College Band Directors National Association North Central Divison Conference (2020; 2016) and the Minnesota Music Educators Association Conference (2018). At Gustavus, Miller also serves as coordinator for the music education program.
During his tenure at the UMass-Amherst, Prof. Miller conducted the album “”Fantastique: Premieres for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble”” on the MSR Classics label to a 2015 GRAMMY Award nomination (Paulus: Concerto for Two Trumpets). This stands as one of the only wind band recordings in history to receive a nod from the National Academy of Recording Artists.
Miller has appeared throughout the U.S. with professional, festival, and public school ensembles, engaging with more than 65,000 high school students since 2009. Miller was honored as the 2018 Captain Lewis J. Buckley Guest Conductor with the U.S. Coast Guard Band, won the American Choral Directors Association National Conducting Prize in 2003, and performances under his leadership have been noted by such composers as Shawn Brogan Allison, Katherine Bergman, David Maslanka, Stephen Paulus, Joel Puckett, James Stephenson, Judith Weir, Dana Wilson, and Pulitzer Prize winning composers Karel Husa, Gunther Schuller, and Steven Stucky.
“JPM” is originally from Winona, MN, and is proudly the son of two public school teachers.
Jennifer Pelletier
Jennifer Pelletier is a Board-Certified music therapist at the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind in Faribault, MN. At MSAB she works with a diverse student population in group and 1:1 settings, and leads the resident choir, rock band, and West African Drumming Ensemble. Jennifer earned her degree in Music Therapy from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s degree in Human and Community Resources from the University of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She previously owned a music therapy private practice and has worked in public and private schools, group homes, long term care, hospice/palliative care, and rehab settings among others. She was awarded the 2019 “Outstanding Related Services Provider” award from the Principals of Schools for the Blind. Jennifer is an active presenter and is particularly interested in the topics of braille music education, music technology and the visually impaired, and orientation & mobility in relation to music therapy.
Lisa Perry
Currently based in Johnson City, Tennessee, clarinetist Lisa Perry is Lecturer of Clarinet at East Tennessee State University. Dr. Perry has appeared with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony of the Mountains, the Stamford International Chamber Music Festival (UK), and has recorded for Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). During the summer, Dr. Perry has assisted at the Interlochen Center for Arts Clarinet Academy and has been on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI), the Minnesota Clarinet Academy (MN), the International Music Camp in North Dakota/Canada, and has served on faculty and adjudicated for the International Clarinet Workshop and Competition (ICW) in Mizra, Israel.
Dr. Perry earned her doctor of musical arts degree in clarinet performance at the University of Minnesota. She received her master of music degree in clarinet performance at Florida State University and holds a bachelor of music degree in clarinet performance from East Carolina University.
Becky Plachy
Becky Plachy is currently in her 6th year of teaching, and in her 5th year of teaching 6th–8th grade orchestra at Central Middle School in White Bear Lake, MN. Becky came into White Bear Lake during the second year of the start of the orchestra program in the district (5th grade start), and started the middle school orchestra program. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. While there she studied violin under Jane Linde Capistran. Becky is also currently serving as Secretary on the board for the Minnesota String and Orchestra Teacher Association (MNSOTA). She is from Monticello, MN, but currently lives in River Falls, WI. Outside of school and music, Becky enjoys hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and drag racing!
Mark Potvin
Mark Potvin is conductor of Cathedral Choir and Norskkor at Luther College, where he also teaches conducting, secondary choral methods, and musical theatre. He is in high demand as a clinician, presenter, and adjudicator throughout the Upper Midwest. In 2021-2022, Dr. Potvin will serve as conductor of the MMEA All-State TTBB chorus. Potvin formerly served as director of choirs at Princeton High School (Princeton, MN.), artistic director of the East Central Minnesota Chorale and Unum Vox (Cambridge, Minn.), and conductor of the St. Cloud State University Men’s Choir and Chamber Singers (St. Cloud, Minn.). Under Potvin’s direction the Princeton High School Concert Choir performed at fifteen conferences and special events sponsored by local colleges, MMEA, ACDA-MN, and NCACDA. Potvin was named “Outstanding Young Choral Director” by the ACDA-MN in 2008, edited ACDA-MN’s statewide journal, Star of the North, from 2008-11, and served as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Men’s Choirs from 2011-13. He currently serves ICDA as Repertoire and Resources Chair for College and University Choirs. Potvin holds a DMA in Music Education from Boston University (Boston, MA), a MM in Choral Conducting from St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud, Minn.), and a BA from Luther College.
Scott Rabehl
Scott Rabehl has been teaching at Buffalo Senior High School for eighteen years where he directs concert bands, jazz ensembles, pep bands and the summer marching band. He also teaches courses in The History of Western Music and Advanced Placement Music Theory. Before taking his position at BHS, Mr. Rabehl taught for eight years at Maple Grove Junior High in the Osseo School District and for two years at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School. He has been involved as a marching band instructor, director, judge and clinician off and on since 1981 and is currently the director of “The HERD”, a summer parade band from Buffalo
High School. He has directed a number of honor bands throughout the state, and led ensembles from both Maple Grove Junior High and Buffalo High School in MMEA Mid-Winter Clinic performances and been recognized as both the ASBDA Outstanding Young Band Director for the State of Minnesota and the Schmitt Music Educator of the Year. He has served as Region Representative to the Minnesota Music Educators Association Board of Directors and on the Young Band Literature Committee for MBDA. His college education includes a B.S. in Music Education
from St. Cloud State University, an M.Ed. from St. Mary’s University and both a B.S. in Business and an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota. He lives in St. Michael with his wife Lori and has a son, Mitchell, and a daughter, Mallory, attending Concordia College in Moorhead.
Brian Rodesch
A versatile performer and educator, Dr. Brian Rodesch is an emerging voice in concert and jazz saxophone performance and pedagogy. Comfortable in an array of genres and educational settings, Rodesch has presented performances and clinics at institutions throughout the United States. As a jazz musician, Rodesch regularly performs with the Des Moines Big Band and has been recognized as an outstanding soloist at the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival presented by Jamey Aebersold.
Rodesch serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Simpson College, where he teaches saxophone and directs the jazz ensemble; as well as serving as the director for the annual Simpson College Jazz Camp, an event focused on teaching creative improvisation to middle and high school aged students. He also serves on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and has previously taught at: the University of Minnesota-Morris, MacPhail Center for Music, and served as a director with the Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands (MYJB). He holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Saxophone Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado, and additional degrees from East Carolina University (M.M.), and the University of Minnesota (B.M.E). Rodesch is a Conn-Selmer and Dahlke Mouthpiece performing artist.
Rafael Rodriguez
Mexican-born conductor Rafael Antonio made his orchestral debut with the Romanian National Opera and Ballet Orchestra in Constanţa in 2013. He returned the following year to conduct this orchestra in a special Easter week concert featuring soloists and chorus from the Teatro National “Oleg Danovsky,” and had the pleasure of conducting the Pazardjik Philharmonic in Bulgaria during this same visit to Eastern Europe. Rafael was selected as a Conducting Fellow with the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica in 2015 and served as Assistant Conductor with the Boulder Philharmonic for two years from 2015 – 2017 during his residency at the University of Colorado.
His artistic collaborations include the premiere of several works by Venezuelan composer Reinaldo Moya including the chamber opera “Tienda” which was commissioned by the Schubert Club of St. Paul, workshop performances in concert of the second movement of Moya’s “Vestida de Mar,” a violin concerto inspired by the oceans that surround Latin America, as well as performances of the opera “Goyescas” by Spanish composer Enrique Granados with the Boulder Opera Company in Colorado.
During his ten-year residency in Costa Rica, Rafael was selected as Artistic Director for the national youth orchestra representing the Sistema Nacional de Educación Musical, the Symphony Orchestra Manuel María Gutiérrez. Working in cooperation with descendants of the great Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff including head of the family Princess Natalie Wannamaker, Rodriguez founded the Rachmaninoff Concerto Orchestra in Costa Rica which was established to provide greater performance opportunities to a new generation of professionally trained musicians. Not limited to the orchestral medium, Rafael has appeared frequently as a guest conductor with the National Bands of Costa Rica since 2007, professional wind bands pertaining to the Ministry of Culture, sharing his musical artistry with the winds and percussion professionals that make up this system of seven state bands.
Rafael was invited to attend the “Conductors Lab” in Aix-en-Provence, France, where he studied with an ensemble of ten musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic. He participated in the “Black Sea Conducting Festival” in Romania where he was awarded second prize and an invitation to conduct the orchestra in a full concert performance. Following these successful experiences, Rafael had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Fergus McWilliam from Berlin as horn soloist with the National Band of San José in Costa Rica, along with American conductor Dr. Thomas Verrier from Vanderbilt University.
Rafael’s background as a jazz pianist brings a unique and intimate perspective to his musical interpretations. He collaborates with musicians with a clear sense of purpose and intention, yet is profoundly respectful of the dignity and humanity that each musician represents within the orchestra. Phrase and detail, emotive, energetic and purposeful, these are the characteristics that make Rafael so compelling on the podium.
Rafael received the Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting and Literature degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder. His conducting studies include with Italian maestro Alfredo Bonavera, winner of the prestigious Mitropoulos conducting competition in 1969 and Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic from 1969 – 1970, with American conductor Carl St. Clair, director of the Pacific Symphony in California and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, and with Gary Lewis, director of the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale in Texas, and head of the conducting studio at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Jeff Sands
Jeff Sands lives in Bemidji, MN where he currently teaches middle school band. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Bemidji MusiCamp and is a Regional Arts Teacher-Leader with the Perpich Center. He has had experience teaching all grade levels from kindergarten to college in band, choir, orchestra, and classroom music. He has previously served as an adjunct faculty member at Bemidji State University directing the athletic bands and also was the advisor for the NAfME Collegiate chapter where he had multiple students receive the NAfME Collegiate Professional Achievement award.
Rachel Schmeltzer
Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, Rachel Schmeltzer came to Minnesota to attend St. Olaf College. After graduating from St. Olaf in 2005 with a degree in music, she jumped eagerly into teaching middle school choir. Rachel earned her Masters in Choral Music Education from St. Thomas University in 2013, writing her thesis on how Csikszentmihalyi’s theory of flow can be applied to the choral classroom. Now in her fifteenth year of teaching middle school choir, Rachel has a treasure trove of awkward moments, voice change hacks and still has a deep and abiding love for middle school students. Schmeltzer believes choir is most exciting when students connect to each other, themselves, and the world and grow in confidence as a result of choir. Rachel teaches gender-separate choirs at Oak-Land Middle School in Stillwater Area Public Schools. She lives with her husband, Joe and their six- year-old daughter, Amy in Stillwater. Rachel also enjoys baking, singing with See Change Treble Choir, and planning vacations.
Theresa Schmidt
Theresa Schmidt has been teaching K-12 music since the fall of 1997 in both Iowa and Minnesota. In 2000 she landed in her “dream job” at Hilltop Primary in the Westonka Public School District! Theresa graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelors of Music Education, Vocal Performance, in 1997. She obtained her Masters in Education from Saint Mary’s University in 2003. That same year she completed her Orff Schulwerk training at the University of St. Thomas. Theresa also completed the first two levels of Kodaly at the University of Minnesota, Moorhead. Theresa was nominated for MN Teacher of the year in 2018 and currently serves as a Regional Area Teacher Leader through Perpich Center for the Performing Arts. Theresa is a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa but the lakes drew her north. She enjoys knitting, singing, playing piano and spending time with her family and friends.
Eric Songer
Eric Songer has been a music educator at Chaska Middle School West since 1997. He has a degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He has created a program that includes jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, Mariachi, hip hop, EDM and marching. Mr. Songer teaches privately, composes and arranges music, and performs as a trombonist and guitarist. He was named Minnesota District 112 Teacher of the Year in 2008; has published articles in the “Instrumentalist”, “Teaching Music” and “Music Educators Journal”; and has presented at many universities and professional conferences including several times at the NAfME National Conference and the Association of Popular Music Education National Conference. He was the recipient of the 2019 Give A Note Innovation in Music Education Award. His wife Heidi is also a musician and educator and they teach a couple courses together. They live in Chaska, Minnesota with their kids Caleb and Abby.
Cheryl Stephani
An educator for over 20 years in K-8 settings and graduate-level methods courses, Cheryl has vast experiences with classroom management, student engagement, motivation and differentiation techniques and strategies. As a current educator, Cheryl knows the struggles that teachers and students face on a daily basis. She believes that strong instruction and strong behavior management go hand in hand. Both need to be present for students to learn. Knowing what we do about brain-based research on learning, Cheryl takes her training and experiences to successfully support all educators, regardless of grade or content, in the quest for a well-run classroom and equitable access for all students to learn. Additionally, she is the author of the award-winning children’s book, Big Cat, Little Fox, and has been featured in Minnesota Parent Magazine and Story Monster, Ink.
Nicole Thietje
Nicole Thietje has taught Pre-K – 12 in both Florida and Minnesota and is currently the choral director at New Prague High School where she directs four curricular choirs, three extra curricular groups, serves as Music Director and Choreographer for NPHS musical theater productions, serves as Music Department Head, and is a member of the District Equity Committee. Outside of NPHS, she directs the Junior Singers and Treble Choir with Northfield Youth Choirs and sings with See Change Treble Choir. She holds an undergraduate degree in Music Teaching/Performance from the University of West Florida and a Master of Arts in Music Education Choral Concentration from the University of St. Thomas. She is a member of MMEA and ACDA-MN, where she is currently serving as Repertoire and Resource Chair for Contemporary Commercial/Show Choir and is a member of the newly formed Diversity Initiatives Committee.
John Tranter
Dr. John Tranter has served as an Instructor of Low Brass at the University of Minnesota since Spring 2003, and is an active freelance musician in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.
Jason Vanselow
Dr. Jason Vanselow is a guitarist based in the Twin Cities. He holds degrees from the University of St. Thomas, The Cleveland Institute of Music, and The University of Minnesota where he studied with Christopher Kachian, John Holmquist, and Jeffrey Van. As a performer, Jason has been a featured soloist on orchestral works by Joaquin Rodrigo, Manuel Ponce, and Jeffrey Van. As a soloist he has performed his own arrangements and transcriptions of works as diverse as J.S Bach to Frank Zappa as well as a set of pieces by Portuguese Fado legend Carlos Paredes. Dr. Vanselow is a full time faculty member at Anoka Ramsey Community College where he specializes in guitar studies as well as teaching classes on music theory, world music, and music history.
Terry Vermillion
Dr. Terry Vermillion’s career at St. Cloud State University has provided opportunity to perform with a variety of groups including the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Brass, Boston Brass, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra to name a few. He has been a featured soloist for Milhaud’s Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra, Rosauro’s Concerto no. 1 for Marimba and small orchestra, Saint Saens’ Introduction, Rondo, et Capriccioso, a variety of xylophone ragtime arrangements, Ian Krouse’s Cronica, and Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto. He’s been fortunate to collaborate with outstanding composers including William Schmidt and Ian Krouse, premiering Latin Rhythms for Tuba and Percussion and Cronica for percussion soloist and Wind Ensemble, and received the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Study Grant for time with ECM recording artist Peter Erskine. Other awards include Downbeat magazine’s Jazz Instrumental Soloist Outstanding College Performance Award, Grand Prize in the Rocky Mountain Concerto Competition, the 2010 Bruce and Dee Pearson Faculty Excellence Award, the United Arts of Central Minnesota Outstanding Educator Award for 2010, and a Carnegie Hall performance in 2012 with SCSU’s Trio Lorca.
He enjoys everything musical, and takes immense pleasure in teaching and coordinating the Percussion Studies curriculum at St. Cloud State University where he teaches percussion lessons, Arts Entrepreneurship, Introduction to Musical Concepts and directs the World Drumming Group and the Contemporary Music Ensemble. He performs regularly as timpanist with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, as a freelance drum set artist throughout Central Minnesota. He also oversees the David Swenson Foundation Scholarship program and the David Swenson Foundation Guest Artist Series, both at St. Cloud State University.
Kristine Wiese
Kristine Wiese is a teacher whose student-centered approach grows trust and creativity in the classroom. Relationship building is a passion and strength for Mrs. Wiese. Her focus on learning more about her students and building empathy leads to enriching and reflective practices for both teacher and students. As the director of the Repertory and Chamber Orchestras, Mrs. Wiese has been an integral part of building the foundational 9th grade high school orchestra program. She has co-founded the Edina Summer Orchestra Camp and has consistently guided her students to acceptance into the Minnesota All-State and MNSOTA Middle-Level Honors Orchestras. Under the leadership of Mrs. Wiese, the Edina Repertory Orchestra has consistently received “Superior With Distinction” ratings at the MNSOTA Tier 1 festival resulting in the group’s participation in the Tier 2 festival at Orchestra Hall multiple years in a row. In addition to her work in Edina Schools, Mrs. Wiese also has her own private string studio in the western metro where she teaches violin and viola to a wide range of ages and abilities. She currently resides in Minnetonka MN with her husband and four children.
Maggie Zeidel
Maggie Zeidel grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She is in her third year of teaching in the Eastern Carver County School District where she teaches middle and elementary school concert bands and lesson groups. She is actively involved in the after school music activities in the district including jazz, rock, pop, and marching bands in addition to the introductory rock band program. She has worked to help create a modern music curriculum that includes a diverse composer of the month program, composition, music theory, music history and elements of music technology. Ms. Zeidel has presented at the Wisconsin and Minnesota State Music Conferences.