Twenty Individuals Receive 2007-08 Outstanding Music Educator AwardsBy Cassie Krisher and Jennifer Searcy SECTION WINNERS: 
Vance Wigginton Section 3 - Mississippi As band director of Tupelo (Mississippi) High School, Vance Wigginton has the unique opportunity to serve a large portion of the student population in a very direct and meaningful way. He believes that a successful band program can appeal to a broader range of students because there are fewer boundaries to play. This philosophy has followed Wigginton to Tupelo after teaching at Booneville (Mississippi) High School, where he impacted 43 percent of the student population, and at Vicksburg (Mississippi) High School, where 32 percent of the student population participated in his band program. Through his leadership, both the Boonville and Vicksburg bands won numerous awards. The marching bands received more than 25 "Best in Class" and "Sweepstakes" awards and numerous superior ratings. The concert bands received 33 superior ratings and six "Best in Class" and "Sweepstakes" awards. Wigginton is currently directing a Class 5A State Marching Band Champion at Tupelo High School, and is on his way to numerous "Best in Class" awards and superior ratings. He is a member of the Marching Committee State Officers Board and the former Mississippi Bandmasters president. These positions have allowed him to aid all of the bands of Mississippi by giving the band directors the tools needed to positively influence the lives of their students. Wigginton believes that when the student body is involved in a well-disciplined activity based on the premise that "effort equals success," it changes the entire school climate for the better. 
Lee Nelson Section 4 - Iowa Lee Nelson is one of Iowa's master teachers who is and has always been willing to share his knowledge with others, especially young teachers. Though a retired band director, Nelson continues to dedicate his retirement years toward mentoring new teachers. Nelson's career can be characterized as one of service to Iowa's music program and teachers. His passion is watching and encouraging new teachers to succeed and flourish, making phone calls and visits to keep up with their progress. For 34 years, he was the band director at Harlan (Iowa) High School and led its concert band to 33 consecutive Division I ratings at the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) Large Group Festival. The marching band received 32 out of 33 consecutive Division I ratings at the IHSMA Marching Band Festival. His groups also performed for two Iowa Gubernatorial inaugurations. Nelson is currently a member of the Southwest Iowa Bandmasters Association, the Iowa Bandmasters Association and chair of the Iowa Bandmasters Association Retired Directors, which is heavily involved in mentoring first-year Iowa band directors. As a former member of the IHSMA, Nelson oversaw changes and improvement in many of its festival offerings. 
Dale Fiedler Section 5 - South Dakota Dan Fiedler has taught at Redfield (South Dakota) High School for 31 years and touched many lives. In the small school of about 230 students, Fiedler's bands are usually more than 100 members strong. The concert band has earned 30 consecutive superior (Division I) ratings at South Dakota High School Activities Association Region IV contests, and the marching band has won Northern State University's Gypsy Day Class A competition for 29 straight years. Many of his students have been selected to perform in the South Dakota All-State Band. Fiedler was named South Dakota "Bandmaster of the Year" in 2003 and "Educator of the Year" in 2006, and was recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Award as the "Outstanding Senior Musician" as a student at Java (South Dakota) High School. Fiedler also takes great pride in being a mentor for future music education students, who gain experience through student teaching with him. Because of his close relationship with his students, many former students made music their career choice, with several in the education field. He has been an active adjudicator in South Dakota, and takes great pride in his involvement with the South Dakota Bandmasters Association. He helped initiate the South Dakota Bandmasters Grade Contest in Redfield, one of the largest contests in the state that has been held 30 consecutive years. Fiedler is one of the most respected music teachers in the state of South Dakota. He has guided students successfully in solo and ensemble contests and even into their future careers. Section 6 - Texas Jay Dunnahoo has dedicated 48 years of his life to music education, music activities and interscholastic music competitions. He currently serves as the executive secretary for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, as well as conductor and artistic director for Symphony of the Hills at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. His music programs have served as models for music education throughout the state of Texas. Serving in leadership roles in many of Texas' professional music organizations, Dunahoo has had a direct impact on thousands of music educators and tens of thousands of music students in Texas. He has served as a regional president of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), president of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, and was founding president of the Gulf Coast Music Administrators Council. Dunnahoo has been an active leader in music education in Texas since the 1970s. His orchestras have consistently won Sweepstakes Awards at the University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight-Reading Contests. Under his direction in 1976, the Pasadena (Texas) Sam Rayburn High School Orchestra received honors as the TMEA Honor Orchestra. Thirteen students from that orchestra were named to the All-State Orchestras and Bands. That same year, Dunnahoo received the TMEA Leadership and Achievement Award, his proudest award to date. 
Ferron Holt Section 7 - Utah
Growing up in a small town, Ferron Holt had the opportunity to show leadership in music education since he was a high school student. He has been directly involved with music students from elementary to high school since he graduated from Southern Utah University in 1975 with the honor of being named Outstanding Music Education Graduate. He has been a music educator in the Washington County (Utah) School District since 1980, and is currently the fine arts supervisor for the district, a position he has held for 10 years. His bands have received numerous superior ratings at region and state festivals, and two of his students were named All-American Band students. Nineteen of Holt's former students are currently teaching music, and several more are members of U.S. military bands. Holt has established himself as a leader in music education by creating unique opportunities for high school music students. In 1994, he established the annual Washington County Junior and Senior High School Honor Bands. In 1990, he started an annual Veteran's Day concert, which is the best-attended high school concert in the district. He pursues every opportunity for his bands to perform at conventions and for visiting dignitaries. As an active member in the Utah Music Educators Association since 1976, Holt continually encourages students in their musical development. He has been a mentor to many new music teachers, not only in his district, but also throughout Utah. He works constantly to recruit and maintain participation in school music activities by using innovative techniques to find opportunities for students to perform in public settings. 
Erik Engebretson Section 8 - Montana
Although the Malta School District is in a rural area of northeastern Montana, its music program is mighty. Band director Erik Engebretson does not let the size of the school determine the amount of talent in its music program. He constantly encourages his students to develop their full potential in music. His students are often selected for All-Northwest Honor groups and All-State Bands and Orchestras, and they have earned first-chair honors at All-State twice. Under the direction of Engebretson, Malta bands have received superior ratings for more than 20 years. The Malta Concert band's most impressive honor was being selected to perform at the 1993 Northwest Conference for MENC: The National Association of Music Education. Engebretson currently serves as president for the Montana Music Educators Association, where he is responsible for organizing a statewide convention for all music educators. He is also a member of the Montana High School Association Music Committee. He was also president of the Montana Bandmasters for two years. Locally, he has served as co-chair for the District Honor band and five-time co-chair for the District Music Festival. In more than 20 years in music education, the most exciting event for him was seeing all three of his children named to the Montana All-State Band in 2005, evidence that his work in music educator has made an impact on the next generation. STATE WINNERS: 
Robert Lee Hutchinson, Kansas Robert Lee has retired from teaching music three times so far. His dedication to music education in the state of Kansas keeps him coming back for more. Lee leads his students by example through his role as a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held for 48 years. He was president of the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) from 1991 to 1993 and currently serves as its State Advocacy Chair. He was inducted into the KMEA Hall of Fame in 2007. Many of Lee's former students are now music educators themselves, and many hold music positions in colleges and university across the country. His Haven students were often selected for the KMEA Statewide Festival Band and Orchestra. The band received first division ratings at Kansas State High School Activities Association music festivals for most of the 33 years that Lee directed the band. Under his direction at Little River, the high school band earned first division ratings at the state competition, a first in the school's history. 
Kirt Mosier Lee's Summit, Missouri Kirt Mosier has taught music at Missouri high schools for 22 years. During that time, he has led his schools to honors at state competitions and performances at prestigious locations across the country. Under his direction, his orchestras have received 20 consecutive first division ratings at state music festivals. His orchestras have also earned honor group performances six times for the Missouri Music Educators Association. When Mosier began teaching in 1986, the orchestra at Raytown (Missouri) South High School was composed of only 15 string players, but he built the program up to 125 players. During his tenure at Lee's Summit (Missouri) High School, the orchestra earned a national honor performance for MENC: The National Association for Music Education. In 2000, the Lee's Summit orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall, and in 2003, it performed at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Mosier is often requested throughout Missouri as a clinician for topics such as teaching techniques, motivational techniques and the use of technology in a music classroom. He currently teaches a digital media technology class at Summit Technology Academy in Lee's Summit. He initiated the class five years ago as a way to teach all aspects of video production and music scoring for film. 
Tina Niederbrach Searcy, Arkansas Tina Niederbrach has been a leader not only to her students, but also to choral directors throughout Arkansas. As a member of the Arkansas Choral Directors Association (ArkCDA) for 26 years and its current president, she has helped create both a mentor program and a leadership workshop for young choral directors. She was named Distinguished Director by the ArkCDA in 2000 and 2004. Niederbrach has been a choral educator for 28 years and has been the choral director at Searcy (Arkansas) High School for 13 years. During her tenure, Searcy choirs have earned 53 Sweepstakes trophies, 705 students have earned All-Region honors, and 197 students have earned All-State honors. The concert choir was the first to receive the Arkansas Music Educators Association Honor Choir Award in 1999 and had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in 2006. She has been a member of MENC: The National Association for Music Education for 15 years and a member of the Arkansas chapter of the American Choral Directors Association for 20 years. Niederbrach was one of the first two choral directors in Arkansas to earn National Board Certification in Early Adolescent to Young Adulthood Choral Music. 
Louis Ricci Chicago, Illinois Louis Ricci inspired high school students in inner-city Chicago for 37 years. Faced with educating students in some of the most challenging and at-risk areas in Illinois, Ricci strived to bring music education into the lives of thousands of students. He has taught at Chicago (Illinois) St. Rita High School, Chicago (Illinois) Marshall High School, Chicago (Illinois) Parker High School and Chicago (Illinois) John F. Kennedy High School. Ricci received the Congressional Teacher Merit Award from Congressman Dan Lipinski in 1986. He also received the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award in 1997 and was inducted into the Midwest Music Festival Hall of Fame in 2006. He has been an adjudicator for the Illinois High School Association since 1957, the same year he started teaching music. His bands received numerous superior ratings at Chicago public school music contests and performed at many Chicagoland civic events and parades. His bands provided halftime performances for Chicago Cardinals and Chicago Bears football games. Ricci's most prestigious honor was directing honor bands for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson when they visited Chicago. 
Alfred Sturchio San Antonio, Texas Alfred Sturchio has devoted 56 years of his life to music education, not only through his school programs but also through his fine arts work in San Antonio and his leadership in the state of Texas. He has been the head director at three San Antonio high schools and the director of fine arts for the North East Independent School District. He has also been an arts and cultural co-chair for San Antonio, and has received the Chamber of Commerce Citizens Service Award. Sturchio plays an important role in the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), the largest band directors association in the world. As its executive director for the past 24 years, he organizes an annual educational conference for music educators in Texas. He has been a member for all 56 years of his music education career, and he was named TBA Bandmaster of the Year in 2000. Sturchio has also been a member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) for a quarter-century. He has excelled in his role as director of fine a 
Dawn Thrailkill Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Although Dawn Thrailkill has spent only two years as an orchestra director, she has nonetheless played an integral role in high school music education in Oklahoma. She began her career teaching music in elementary and middle schools in Putnam (Oklahoma) City Schools before moving on to the high schools. In 2006, seven of her students were selected to the North Central High School Honors Orchestra. In 2007, seven students were selected to the All-State Orchestra, and 16 students were selected to the Oklahoma State University Honor Orchestra. Thrailkill is an active member in various music educators associations, such as the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OMEA), MENC: The National Association for Music Education, and American String Teachers Association. She has also served on the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Music Advisory Committee. Thrailkill has provided service to the music education profession with leadership roles in her community and state. She has directed and organized music festivals for the Putnam City district and has been a mentor teacher for three years. In Oklahoma, she served as chair for the All-OMEA Orchestra in 1999 and five-time chair for the Central Oklahoma Honor Orchestra. 
Robert Wells Billings, Montana Robert Wells excels in music education in the state of Montana through his roles as chair for both the District 9 Music Festival and All-State Music Festival. He has organized the District festival for six consecutive years and the All-State festival twice. More than 350 music students participate in the All-State festival, but even more participate in Wells' District event. He also helps organize local band and orchestra festivals in his school district. Wells is a member of the Montana Music Educators Association and MENC: The National Association for Music Education. He was part of a staff that won a Grammy Signature School Award as one of the top high school music programs in the country. He is frequently requested as a guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician in Montana. Wells served as head director and music department chair at Billings (Montana) West High School from 1987 to 2001. His students earned consistent superior ratings at the District music festival and numerous soloist awards at the Montana Jazz Festival. He currently serves as the Music Supervisor for Billings Public Schools. Gary Ambrosier Grand Junction, Colorado Although Gary Ambrosier is retired, there is not another person in Colorado who is as active in the professional development of the state's music education training process. Though his work takes him across the state, he has never declined an opportunity to help a young teacher. He is currently the president of the Colorado Music Adjudicators Association and is active in the development of the written work related to new teacher orientation and training in music. He is also a member of the Colorado Music Educators Association and is a member and past president of the Colorado Bandmasters Association. During his 35 years as a band director at several Colorado schools, he received numerous superior ratings in large group festivals, while always entering at least four groups every year. He has always entered at least 25 students every year in solo and ensemble events where many of his students received superior ratings. He is the conductor of the Centennial Band, the civic adult band for the Grand Junction area, and he started a spring music festival that draws the top programs from Colorado and Utah every year. Ambrosier is a gifted conductor and horn player in his own right, but what he does for the 42,000 music students in Colorado sets him apart from the other music professionals in the state. 
Kathleen Dollahon Las Cruces, New Mexico Students under Kathellen Dollahon's direction have flourished for more than 23 years. Currently at Las Cruces (New Mexico) Mayfield High School, her groups have consistently received superior ratings, honors and special recognitions, including being selected as Honor Orchestra for the New Mexico Music Educators Association (NMMEA) All-State Festival on four occasions. Her students place highly at NMMEA All-State, Orchestra America, and her seniors are awarded prestigious scholarships at universities and colleges year after year. Dollahan's work also extends outside of the classroom as she is the founding member of Las Cruces Music Committee, a local music advocacy group. In addition, she is a member and former division vice president of the NMMEA. In 2007, she was named the NMMEA "Music Educator of the Year." She has also been named the "Who's Who Among American Teachers" on four occasions. Dollahan shares her passion for music in every aspect of her teaching. She inspires students to achieve and perform very difficult repertoires at amazingly high levels. Though her groups are known for their precision, they are perhaps even better known for their true understanding of musicality. If it is true that an ensemble is a direct reflection of its conductor, then Dollahon is one of the best.
Leslie Garrett Wheeling, West Virginia Since joining the music department at Wheeling (West Virginia) Park High School 21 years ago, Leslie Garrett has helped grow the choral program from 90 students to more than 200 students. It now includes three women's ensembles, two men's ensembles, a concert choir, a select women's choir and a select upperclassmen choir. Her choirs have appeared as West Virginia Music Educators State Honor Finalists and as the West Virginia University Honor Choir, and have had guest artists with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. Her students have appeared at the State Solo and Ensemble recital, the West Virginia All-State Chorus and Chamber Choir, and have earned numerous superior ratings. The groups have traveled across the country to perform in competitions in Cincinnati, Chicago, Toronto, Williamsburg, Virginia, and at Walt Disney World. Garrett served as State Vocal Association president for four years and served as the West Virginia All-State Choir chairman for two years. Both positions allowed her to work with and promote hundreds of students and directors across the state. She continues to be an active member of West Virginia Music Educators and Music Educators National Conference. Garrett's vocal ensembles are second to none, whether in or out of the state. Because of her, West Virginia music education is in a far better place. 
Sharon Hoffman Bayard, Nebraska Sharon Hoffman sees her students not only as outstanding musicians, but as outstanding individuals of a big family. Through her philosophy, she has grown the choral program at Bayard (Nebraska) High School to include 65 percent of its 144 students. The small school includes a Junior High Choir, Junior High Swing Choir, Magic Rhythm Show Choir, Jazz Choir, 21st Century Singers and a Concert Choir. The choral program enters an average of 22 vocal groups per year in District Music Contest and has had an average of 19 superior ratings a year over a 29-year period. The groups have performed the National Anthem for many sports events, including a Colorado Rockies baseball game and a Denver Nuggets basketball game. Hoffman is a 25-year member of the Nebraska Music Educators Association and was named "Outstanding Music Educator" in 2006. Her greatest contribution is teaching the "love of music," so that all her students carry it beyond high school, into college and their adult lives. Paula Keeler Storm Lake, Iowa Even though Paula Keeler has moved to the collegiate ranks as a professor at Buena Vista (Iowa) University, she is known as one of Iowa's most successful high school vocal music teachers, most recently at Sioux City (Iowa) Bishop Heelan Catholic High School. At Buena Vista, Keeler continues to influence high school programs by mentoring student music teachers and privately teaching students in preparation for state festivals. In addition, two music camps are hosted by Buena Vista that attract 250-300 students, music educators and pre-service music educators each summer. Keeler also serves as one of the managers of the Iowa High School Music Association Large Group Regional Festival held each May at Buena Vista. Keeler's groups have performed in many places, including Carnegie Hall with the East High School Chorus, at St. Michaels Cathedral in Munich, Germany, and on Iowa Public Television with the Heelan Show Choir. She currently is a member of the Iowa Music Educators Association, the National Association of Teachers of Singing and Iowa Choral Directors Association. 
Lee A. Kjesbo Buffalo, Minnesota With 35 years of experience in public school music education, Lee Kjesbo of Buffalo (Minnesota) High School has had many achievements. He was awarded the Leadership in Educational Excellence Award in 2004 and was named Minnesota Music Educator of the Year in 2006. His students have excelled as well. In 2007, the Buffalo High School Marching Band was honored with first-place awards in parade competitions in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Greeley, Colorado. The band has performed in many cities across the continent including Chicago, Washington D.C., New York City and Toronto, Canada. Kjesbo believes in more than just winning. He believes the most important part of education is to develop a good relationship with the student, and then good music education will follow. He takes the students beyond the written notes, teaching them that music is about passion and emotion. He frequently says, "if that music did not give you goose bumps, then I need to check your pulse, because I don't think you have a heart!" Kjesbo enjoys mentoring younger teachers to help inspire a new generation of music educators. His philosophy of a good high school band program stresses excellence in all areas, and has been his secret to success through his career. 
William Klouse Tacoma, Washington "Reaching beyond" has been a key phrase in William Klouse's career. As the former band director of Tacoma (Washington) Bellarmine Prep and now at Meeker (Washington) Middle School, his bands consistently receive superior ratings at regional competitions, and are regarded as being among the finest in Washington. Yet, Klouse reaches "beyond the band" to show that the achievements and learning of his students as individuals has been the prime purpose in the classroom. Many of them participate in the All-State Band and Orchestra and place or win at the State Solo and Ensemble Contests. Klouse also reaches "beyond the classroom" to inspire students across the state as the current contest coordinator for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association West Central District III, which includes seven Washington Music Educators Association regions. He also was awarded Commencement Bay Region Music Educators Association Music Educator of the Year in 2002 and 2006, and was Washington State Music Educator of the Year in 2007. Klouse has spent the time and energy to ensure that students have the chance to participate in festivals, contests and performing groups beyond the doors of his classroom, something few educators can do. He has not only been willing to do all that has been asked of him, but has reached "beyond himself" and volunteered his time to music students across Washington. |
NFHS Track & Field Rules Committee
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NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee Meeting
6/12/2008
Flag Day
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89th Annual Summer Meeting
7/2/2008
2008 Topic Selection Mtg
7/31/2008
