BIOGRAPHY
Friends and colleagues, I hope this message finds you well, perhaps finally making music in-person with your students. I am honored to be considered for MMEA Band Vice President, and I hope to earn your confidence and vote.
Since my first performing experience at MMEA over 25 years ago, I have grown fonder of the special time each January when we gather to reconnect, reenergize, and renew our excitement for advancing our art form and developing our craft. The convention has provided me opportunities to meet life-long friends, laugh, cry, learn innovative teaching techniques, share the stage with inspirational performers and conductors, and log a few thousand steps up a certain broken escalator.
As Band VP, I hope to: encourage young teachers to join our membership at the convention, perhaps for their first time; help ALL feel welcome, supported, and included; and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth through a diverse offering of clinics and performances.
My greatest professional satisfaction comes through service to the profession, to you, and to the next generations of musicians. I am passionate about creating events that inform and inspire young musicians and educators. The projects I am most proud of include a district middle school concert band festival, a marching band competition, an immersive workshop at UMKC (“IMPACT”) for high school students considering a career in music education, a district middle-level full symphony orchestra, and the KC Metro All-District Band Virtual Conference.
Facilitating opportunities that allow people to make meaningful connections with others through music brings me immeasurable joy, and it is with this humble vision I ask you to allow me to serve MMEA as Band Vice- President. Please accept my best wishes in the months ahead, and please never hesitate to let me know how I may serve you and your students.