ADVO INTERVIEWS
The Advo-Angle features interviews of KMEA and NAfME Leadership, music teachers, administrators, prominent public figures, and community members. Each of these interviews can be used as a tool to enhance one’s knowledge, skills and tools of Music Advocacy.
The KSAdvoAngle Interviews are hosted by KELLY KNEDLER, KMEA Advocacy Chairperson
2026 ALL STATE ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR INTERVIEWS
Dr. Andrew Boysen
1234A All State Band
Dr. Robert Ambrose
56A All State Band
1234A All State Band director, Dr. Andrew Boysen, is is the Director of Bands at the University of New Hampshire. He is not only a Music Educator, but is also a composer! His many publications include pieces for band, orchestra, clarinet and piano, and brass choir. His pieces have won many awards including the Claude T. Smith Memorial Band Composition Contest twice! He speaks about how his music education and conducting helps him write his compositions as well as composing helps with his conducting. He feels that music directors have an important job getting the most out of students in just a few short minutes a day. Collaboration and compromise are the best way to get a lot out of students too! 56A All State Band director, Dr. Robert Ambrose, is the Director of Bands at Georgia State University. He has been at GSU for 25 years. Robert has been a guest conductor all over the world with performances in Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Singapore, Taiwan as well as across the united States. He is also an arranger with two dozen publications to his credit. He speaks about his unique beginnings in music from playing Guitar as his main instrument to Band Director today! Through a couple of mentors, he was able to shape his music future. He believes that music is essential to all humans and that gives his basis for his style of music advocacy.
Mike Kamuf
HS All State Jazz Band
Adrian B. Sims
12A Honor Band
High School All State Jazz Band director, Mike Kamuf, is a composer whose compositions have been performed by numerous jazz artists and ensembles including the Woody Herman and Glenn Miller Orchestras, the USAF Airmen of Note, the US Navy Commodores….The list goes on and on! Mike talks about how playing appropriate music which challenges his students, but allows them to grow is the key to great advocacy in programs. He draws from his experience teaching Middle School music for years. He wants students to work together as an ensemble in an incredible learning environment, which bonds the students to the community. His composition have been listed as JW Pepper Editor's Choice pieces many times. 12A Honor Band director, Adrian B. Sims, is an independent composer. From private lessons to recording his scores to guest conducting gigs, Adrian brings his creativity to make incredible music at all levels. His compositions have been listed on the Top 100 of Bandworld and are listed in JW Pepper Editor's Choice. He believes we teach people, not instruments! Upon the recording of his music for students, he states, “I want to provide students with an awesome model to listen to.” He wants to create a sound that makes students, or the listener to keep growing, learning and connecting the dots.
James Palmer
HS All State String Orchestra
Dr. Soo Han
HS All State Full Orchestra
High School All State String Orchestra director, James "Jim" Palmer, is a veteran orchestra director from Georgia. He has been teaching 37 years developing the skills of his students. James believes honor ensembles are life changing experiences referencing his own times from a young age. He speaks about the importance of mentors. He talks about his “Allatoona Fiddlers,” who are his ambassadors of music within his school community and beyond…Which is his #1 Advocacy tool for opening up conversations! High School All State Full Orchestra director, Dr. Soo Han, is the director of orchestras at George Mason University, near Washington, D.C. Soo always looks for the narrative of the story in music and how does it change us as humans while creating it. Connections are so important between the musicians and the director. Soo had many great mentors and he hopes to be a small percentage of the mentor to his students as his mentors were to him. He talks about his pre-service students and how they are heroes to him as they are going to help transform the future, which will be infused with technology.
Dr. Brian Winnie
HS All State Mixed Choir
Moira Smiley
HS All State Treble Choir
High School All State Mixed Choir director, Dr. Brian Winnie, is the director of Choral Activities at Western Illinois University. He is a sought after director and clinician. He also is a clinician dealing with Estill Voice Training. He talks about the uniqueness of being in an honor ensemble, and how these people, essentially strangers, working toward a common goal, and whom will never be in this ensemble again, together! He teaches in the path of Jo Estill, saying all voices are beautiful! Brian feels expression is one of the most important elements in music making! High School All State Treble Choir director, Moira Smiley, is a composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist currently based in Vermont. She is an international musician, who has performed with the likes of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Tune-Yards, Tim O'Brien, Eric Whitacre, Los Angeles Master Chorale, New World Symphony, Solas, and the Lyris String Quartet. She talks about connecting music education and future jobs, and how it is helpful to students building what they need in relationships and life situations. She explains the essential idea of belonging is created through music, which then allows people to be free to be themselves as well as being a comforter to others. In the end music empowers beauty and good change in each of us.
Dr. Julie Yu-Oppenheim
Middle Level All State Choir
Magdalena Delgado
Elementary All State Choir
Middle Level All State Choir director, Dr. Julie Yu-Oppenheim, is the director of Choral Activities at Oklahoma City University, a private school in metro OKC. However, Julie has a Kansas connection…She is a former professor at Kansas State University. Julie is the first person we have interviewed twice on the KsAdvoAngle! Julie talks about the classroom from Middle School to Professional and how tough mental work should grow a musician into someone who is a lifelong contributor and advocate of the musical arts. Julie talks about her personal experiences in growing as a musician. She is one of the most sought after, knowledgeable and energetic directors and clinicians one can work with on and off the performance stage! Elementary All State Choir director, Magdalena Delgado, is the conductor of Uniting Voices Chicago, which was formerly known as the Chicago Children’s Choir. From her experiences in music at age 6 in the Dominican Republic to working with the young singers of greater Chicago, she talks about the importance of looking outside of your own world and to the greater world. She states that the best advocacy is meeting students where they are at the moment. By doing so, it allows every student the tools to express themself!
FEATURED INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH for FEBRUARY '26
RACHEL MARLOW
Rachel Marlow is the Central Elementary Music Teacher for the Olathe School District in Olathe, Kansas. Rachel is the 2025-2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year or KTOY! She shares how her love of music at an early age set her on a path to teach music. Through harmonizing with her parents on car rides to singing in musicals, Rachel learned that working together as one changes the way we do things. Her advice is to "Collaborate and Communicate" with your colleagues, administrators, and community. Rachel talks about some of her KTOY experiences in this exciting interview for February 2026!
FEATURED INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH for JANUARY '26
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RANDY SAUER
Randy Sauer is the Instrumental Director of Music for Trego Community Schools in Wakeeney, Kansas. He was the KMEA Outstanding Educator for 2025. He reveals his alter-ego Jammin' Randy to the KsAdvoAngle audience! He is a veteran educator of 32 years, but took a few years off to work in the music merchandise industry, which gained him great classroom perspective from colleagues. He was able to create a musical circle through his Band Director to his Band Director's grandchildren in his classroom. Randy says he loves sports and knows there is always room for athletes in his music programs!
FALL 2025 LEADERSHIP "Back-To-School" INTERVIEWS
Martha Gabel
Past President KMEA & NAfME Southwest
Nancy Monical
KMEA President-Elect
National Association for Music Education Southwest Division and Kansas Music Educators Association, Past Presidents Martha Gabel, is the Olathe Kansas Public Schools Fine Arts Coordinator. As a former classroom music teacher, who now oversees one of the largest Kansas School District Fine Arts programs, she brings a lot of knowledge and great advocacy. While spending her time meeting with music educator leadership at the National level, Martha states that there is so much to learn from others, which we can bring to our programs...Just listen to them! Kansas Music Educators Association, President-Elect Nancy Monical, is the Assistant Director of Bands at Manhattan High School in Manhattan, Kansas. Nancy says that great music advocacy starts in our youngest youth. See says that good music advocacy can helps young musicians see the path forward and make them think,,,I want to do this music for a while.
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Kevin Damm
Kansas Music Merchants Association, President
Kansas Music Merchants Association, President, Kevin Damm, is a Kansas Business Owner and Musician. Kevin is the owner of the Wichita, Kansas-based Damm Music Center. Their motto is, "The Best Damm Music Center in the World." Kevin talks about how performance equals advocacy of music. Whether singing in a church choir or playing in a civic band, musician through their hard work help advocacy for music. Damm Music Center www.DammMusic.com
2025 ALL STATE ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR INTERVIEWS
Robert Sheldon
1234A All State Band
Capt. Darren Y. Lin
56A All State Band
1234A All State Band director, Robert Sheldon, is an American Composer, Conductor and Author. He has directed bands around the world as well as in all fifty states including Washington, D.C. His compositions are very popular as he is one of the most performed contemporary band composers with over 3 million of his compositions and books sold! Mr. Sheldon gives insight into his composing style as well as good "sound" advocacy advice. 56A All State Band director, Captain Darren Y. Lin, is the Associate Director of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. He directs the both "The President's Own" and Chamber Orchestra. Recently, they performed for President Jimmy Carter's Funeral and President Donald Trump's Inauguration. He frequently performs in the Washington, D.C. National Mall region and the White House. His advocacy advice is superb, experienced and knowledgeable.
Kevin Cerovich
HS All State Jazz Band
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Dr. Shanti Simon
12A Honor Band
High School All State Jazz Band director, Kevin Cerovich, is an Overland Park, Kansas native and is a Master Sergeant with the United States Air Force,where he serves as a Trombonist for the USAF Band, "Airmen of Notes." Prior to serving in the USAF, Kevin traveled the world working with jazz piano icon Eric Lewi, recorded on the 2009 Sony Pictures soundtrack, "Dark Country," toured with French music legend Charlie Couture, was a member of the Charlie Persip Big Band and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem All Stars. His work was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2015. Cerovich has also performed with the Michael Dease Big Band, Jay McShann, Elliot Mason, and Kevin Mahogany among others. 12A Honor Band director, Dr. Shanti Simon, is the Director of Bands at the University of Oklahoma where she conducts the Wind Symphony and leads the graduate wind conducting program. Dr. Simon was the Flight Commander and Associate Conductor with The United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, and Simon served as Flight Commander and Associate Conductor with The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., where she conducted performances in the national capital region and around the country including the 2011 National Tree Lighting Ceremony with the Airmen of Note hosted by President Obama and the First Family.
Dr. Mark Dupere
HS All State String Orchestra
Sharon Lavery
HS All State Full Orchestra
High School All State String Orchestra director, Dr. Mark Dupere, is Assistant Professor of Music at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, where he is the Director of Orchestral Studies. He has performed many years as a professional cellist, specializing in Baroque cello and performance practice of the Romantic era. Dupere has performed on BBC Radio and Arte TV and has made numerous recordings. These include discs of Debussy, Ravel and Mussorgsky with Anima Eterna Brugge, Marcello Psalms with Voces8 and Les Inventions (FR) and a recording of the complete chamber works of Locatelli with Ensemble Violini Capricciosi (NL) for Brilliant Classics. High School All State Full Orchestra director, Sharon Lavery, teaches instrumental conducting and is the Chair of the Winds and Percussion department at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. In addition to her USC ties, Lavery conducts the Downey Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble hailed as one of the best metropolitan orchestras in Southern California. Sharon Lavery is known for connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and is praised for her passionate and insightful interpretations. She is known for her music education advocacy.
Dr. Shannon Jeffreys
HS All State Mixed Choir
Dr. Joshua Palkki
HS All State Treble Choir
High School All State Mixed Choir director, Dr. Shannon Jeffreys, is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the Georgia Southern University Gretsch School of Music in Statesboro, Georgia. Her focus is the Southern Chorale, teaching in the undergraduate and graduate conducting and music education curriculums, along with directing Southern Gentry barbershop ensemble. Dr. Jeffreys maintains an active schedule as a presenter, adjudicator, lecturer, and guest conductor from secondary to collegiate institutions throughout the United States. She serves as an international choral adjudicator with Meeting Music and on the faculty of Harmony University with the Barbershop Harmony Society. High School All State Treble Choir director, Dr. Joshua Palkki, is Associate Professor of Music Learning and Teaching/Choral Conducting and Associate Director of Choral Activities at Arizona State University and co-author of Honoring Trans and Gender-Expansive Students in Music Education published in 2021 by Oxford University Press (with Dr. Matthew Garrett, Case Western Reserve University). At ASU, he leads the Barrett Symphonic Choir and guides students in music education pedagogy, choral pedagogy, music teacher education, and choral conducting. Dr. Palkki is an internationally recognized scholar on topics of equity and justice in (choral) music education, particularly centering on inclusive practices for LGBTQA students and teachers.
Joshua Pedde
ML All State Choir
Emily Howe
Elementary All State Choir
Middle Level All State Choir director, Joshua Pedde, is the executive artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir (ICC), one of the largest and most respected children’s choir programs in the world. In addition to conducting ICC’s advanced treble choirs, Josh is also the artistic director of the Anderson Area Children’s Choir. Mr. Pedde is a frequent conductor and clinician throughout the United States including the LCMS Worship Institute Children’s Choir, the WELS National Convention Festival and Children’s Choirs, Indiana Circle the State with Song festivals, the American Hymn Society, the National Conference of Pastoral Musicians, the National Disciples of Christ Conference, and American Choral Directors Association all state choirs in Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. Mr. Pedde frequently is a consultant to churches on Liturgical Worship and Children’s Choir. He is also founder and artistic director of the Coastal Song Choir Festival. Elementary All State Choir director, Emily Howe, is and Associate Professor of Visual and Performing Arts at Curry College in Milton, Mass. Ms. Howe is an American ethnomusicologist, conductor, and music educator who through her research and practice explores music and sound as a lens into global history and culture, as well as a means of catalyzing social change in diverse contexts. Emily has led ensembles as a conductor for the Boston Children's Chorus as well as worked faculty member of the Boston University's Prison Education Program.
KMEA's NEW POSITION in SECONDRY STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Guillermo Rodriguez
Guillermo Rodriguez is the Secondary Chairperson for Kansas Music Educators Association new Student Education and Engagement. Mr. Rodriguez is the Director of Bands at Salina Central High School in Salina, Kansas. He talks about his mentors as he grew up in the world of music education and the focus of KMEA student engagement.
ADVOCACY INTERVIEWS FOR 2024
Jamie Minneman
Christopher Kurt
Jamie Minneman is the President of Kansas Music Educators Association and has been a teacher for many years in Kansas. President Minneman is an instrument music teacher who has taught at all levels and currently teaches at Barton County Community College. Christopher Kurt is Southeast district Advocacy Chairperson and a vocal music teacher in Independence, KS.
NATIONAL MUSIC ADVOCATE INTERVIEWS
Dr. Tim Lautzenheizer
Dr. Charles Menghini
Marcia Neel
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, or Dr. Tim as we affectionately refer to him, is a master of music advocacy. He brings his ideas in a fun and entertaining manner. Dr. Tim has numerous publications and videos and is a motivational speaker for Music Educators and beyond. He created Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc. in 1981, and he has continued to motivate music teachers for years. Please visit his website: www.attitudeconcepts.com. Dr. Charles Menghini is the President Emeritus, VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, IL, a Co-Author, Essential Elements Band Method, Hal Leonard LLC, and an Educational Member of the Music Achievement Council for NAMM. He talks about relationships, communication and good music advocacy at any level. Please check-out his Podcast called “Band Talk with Charlie Menghini and Friends.” Marcia Neel is the President of Music Education Consultants, Inc. and Senior Director of Education Yamaha Corporation of America. She taught in Las Vegas, Nevada for many years and talks about her experiences there. Marcia also has an idea a moment in this interview for all music classrooms to use and adapt. Marcia mentions that music teachers would check-out the information about “First Performance National Day of Celebration” at the NAMM Foundation at: www.nammfoundation.org/fpndoc
INSPIRING ADVOCATE INTERVIEWS
Mickey Smith, Jr.
Dr. Julie Yu-Oppenheim
Jazzmone Sutton
Mickey Smith, Jr. is not just any teacher. Mickey is the 2020 Grammy Music Educator Award Recipient. He is also a speaker, musician, author and educator encourager. You can find out more about him on his website www.MickeySmithJr.com. Dr. Julie Yu-Oppenheim is a Co-Director of the Kansas State University Choral Music program. She has spent her life playing piano and conducting since she was a young child of a military family in Germany. Dr. Yu talks how her piano lessons brought about the relevance of music education in her life, and about the importance of working hard in music to create music advocacy, which will last! NAfME State Advocacy Engagement Manager Jazzmone Sutton talks about her position with the National Association for Music Education or NAfME. She discusses how important it is to know both your positives and your negatives when being a good music advocate.
KMEA LEADERSHIP ADVOCATE INTERVIEWS
Dr. John Taylor
Mark Gard
Gae Phillips
Mike Quilling
KMEA Executive Director Dr. John Taylor reflects upon his early influences which lead him to music and ultimately a Music Advocate. Dr. Taylor encourages all new educators to “get involved” and make friends with other music colleagues from Day One! KMEA President Mark Gard talks about good hometown advocacy and his Strategic Plan for Kansas Music Educators. Mark teaches Choral Music in historic Coffeyville, Kansas in the Southeast KMEA District. KMEA Vice President Gae Phillips talks about influences which lead her to music and ultimately a Music Advocate. President Phillips share some of her ideas to promote Music Advocacy. NAfME Southwest District President Mike Quilling talks about his music programs in his early years and gives advice on working with school district Administrators and School Board members. Mike is a former Kansas Music Educators Association President.
CMA FOUNDATION INTERVIEW
Tiffany Kerns
Tiffany Kerns is the CEO of the Country Music Association Foundation, or CMA Foundation in Nashville, TN. The CMA Foundation is a tremendous partner with NAfME for the support of music education. The CMA Foundation is an organization which awards grants to music teachers and programs each year. Tiffany gives great insight into what the CMA Foundation is about and speaks about teachers as the “CEO” of their classrooms. This interview will change your thinking about the music teacher in the music classroom.
ADMINISTRATOR ADVOCATE INTERVIEWS
Dr. Fred Dierksen
Craig Manteuffel
Elton Armbrister
Ben Jones
Dr. Fred Dierksen is the Superintendent of Dodge City Public Schools, U.S.D. 443 in Dodge City, KS. His school district is a large district in Western Kansas and has Head Start, Pre-School, 9 Elementary schools, 2 Middle schools, and 1 6A High School. Dr. Dierksen has had the opportunity of working on many boards and has worked in smaller districts too. Currently, he is on one of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s Education Boards. Craig Manteuffel is the Assistant Executive Director for Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA). His office is in Topeka, KS. Craig oversees all activities in Kansas dealing with High School Performing Arts, which includes Music. Craig is a former Music Teacher and talks about his perspective of programs which succeed and how they do it. Elton Armbrister is the Principal of Wheatland Elementary school in Andover, KS. He brings a lot of Music experience to his administrative position, as he taught Band for many years. Elton talks about the value of having a plan when talking to administrators about budgets, and the direction of a music program. Ben Jones is the District 7 Representative on the Kansas Board of Education (KSBOE). Ben comes from a great history of music education and talks about his former teachers in his hometown. He talks about some of the biggest challenges in music education and how music educators’ inputs are needed to help with School redesign. Also, Ben talks about how to get the KSBOE involved in your next concert performance!
KMEA DISTRICT PRESIDENT ADVOCATE INTERVIEWS
Damian Johnson
Andrea Dinkel
Joey Nickols
Greg Bergman
Damian Johnson is the Director of Bands in Eudora, Kansas. He is also the President of the Kansas Music Educators Association Northeast district. Damian talks about diversity in the classroom as well as teaching to the new times. He believes that music advocacy is very important and shows music advocacy through his bands’ appearances in his community. Andrea Dinkel is the Director of Bands in Galena, Kansas. She is the Southeast district President for Kansas Music Educators Association. Galena is the southern-eastern-most town in Southeast, Kansas (right in the corner by Missouri and Oklahoma). Andrea discusses teaching music during COVID times and how to capture great music advocacy by capturing your community in a magical way. NW KMEA President Joey Nickols talks about taking extra time to work with students to create a mentorship situation. He talks about his roots in music and where he is taking Colby, Kansas. Joey is a bit of a Renaissance Man in Colby as he teaches everything Fine Arts from Music to Speech. SC KMEA President Greg Bergman talks about his thoughts on music advocacy and how life can lead a musician to wanting to work hard for the students. Greg is the current 2021-2023 SC President from Newton, KS.
KMEA ADVOCACY CHAIRS ADVOCATE INTERVIEWS
Aimee Desotel
Jayme K. Hayes
Erika Clausing
Mary Jo Harper
Aimee Desotel is a music teacher in the Kansas City area of the state. She is the KMEA Northeast District Advocacy Chairperson. She believes that a key to success is aligning the arts throughout the K-12 system. This alignment creates continuity. Jayme K. Hayes is the South Central Music Advocacy Chairperson. She explains how teaching in disciplines other than one’s emphasis helps a music teacher become more well-rounded. Jayme discusses that more and more, students are not seeing the value of making music and how “Amazing that can be.” Issues with needing instant gratification or learning to fail can contribute to non-retention in music classrooms. Erika Clausing is the Southwest Kansas Advocacy Chairperson and she talks about how longevity can enhance a program’s advocacy. Erika states that a community relationship is a necessity to a music program’s success. Mary Jo Harper is an elementary teacher from Fort Scott, KS. She is also the KMEA Southeast District Advocacy Chairperson. She beleives one great way to teach independency in young musicians is to turn students into small music teachers.
MUSIC ADVOCATE INTERVIEWS
Lori Supinie
Matt Barusch
Lori Supinie is the President of Senseney Music in Wichita, KS, but more importantly is the liaison between KMEA and Kansas Music Merchants Association (KMMA) a branch of the National Association of Music Merchants or NAMM. Lori talks about the importance of supporting local Kansas Music Merchants all over the state and she tells about the wonderful Music Advocacy NAMM and KMMA do to support Music Education in Kansas. Matt Barusch is the former State Advocacy Engagement Manager for the National Association for Music Education or NAfME. Matt talks about some of the areas of his expertise as well as what the NAfME website [www.nafme.org] has to offer. Matt explains the Civic-Action-Field Guide and talks about something new from NAfME in 2020! Matt woks at NAfME Headquarters in Washington, D.C.