Question Title

* 1. Should - CHURCH, CHRISTY – Springfield, MO - Nominated by Curtis Tipton - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

I have had the honor to call Christy Church my friend and colleague for ten years.  She is one of the finest music educators and mentors in Southwest Missouri.  She is currently serving in her 35th year as a Missouri music educator.  During that time she served at Greenfield Public Schools, Springfield Public Schools (serving at Hickory Hills Middle School and then at Carver Middle School, and is now currently at New Covenant Academy and Greenwood Lab School in Springfield, Missouri. Mrs. Church is very humble about her accomplishments, but there are many.  Her Greenfield combined MS/HS Band performed at MMEA.  Mrs. Church’s Springfield Middle School bands consistently earned Honor I Ratings at all adjudicated concert band festivals.  She also had a performing group from one of her Springfield Middle School bands perform at MMEA.  Currently, her Middle and High School bands at New Covenant Academy have continued in these very same traditions of excellence.  Students under Mrs. Church’s guidance have also earned top honors in Solo & Ensemble festivals as well as in the SCMMEA All­District Honor Bands. Mrs. Church has been assigned and mentored countless student teachers throughout her long teaching career.  She is continuously serving as a mentor, friend, and colleague to music educators around the SCMMEA area and district.  We taught together for seven years at Carver Middle School and no other educator has had a more profound effect on my teaching and me personally than Mrs. Christy Church. I can think of no one more deserving for membership into our fraternity than Mrs. Christy Church.

Question Title

* 2. Should - COKER, BRADLEY- Nixa Public Schools - Nominated by Craig Finger - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Bradley Coker is assistant director for the Nixa band program and has served 3 years in this role. His primary duties have been assisting with the 215 member marching band, focusing as the brass specialist and assisting in running rehearsals. He conducts the HS symphonic band (which is Nixa’s 2nd band). He is the primary teacher at the junior high and conducts the 130-member 8th grade band, which will be performing at MMEA this year! He also assists in the instruction of the 6th grade bands which have around 300 students. Prior to teaching at Nixa, Dr. Coker was the head director at Branson from 2010-2013, Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee at Martin from 2006-2010 and Assistant Director at Clear Creek HS in Texas from 2001-2004. He holds a DMA in Tuba Performance and Wind Band Conducting from the University of North Texas, a MM from Baylor University and a BS in Ed. from Missouri State University. Dr. Coker has shown a passion for music education and his ensembles have earned high ratings consistently through out his career. Dr. Coker is constantly challenging the status quo in a search to always find a better way of serving students. His qualifications for membership into Phi Beta Mu are solid and deserving. I would ask that the membership look favorably on his nomination into this prestigious organization.

Question Title

* 3. Should - HARMS, STEVE – Fox HS - Nominated by Joe Pappas - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

I have had the opportunity to know Steve Harms for about 20+ years, beginning with student teaching with me at Eureka high school.  Steve had previously been the band director at Fox Jr. High but upon the untimely death of Matt Rice, Steve moved up to the position of Director of Bands at Fox. During this time I have seen his programs flourish in quality and numbers.  He has continued the development of the Fox band program from where Mr. Rice had left off.  The program is very active in concert, marching and jazz where the bands receive constantly superior ratings.  He has consistently produced quality students and is a true music educator. Steve is currently the president of the East Central MMEA district.  His organizational skills and professional qualities are a plus to his leadership.  He serves as a great mentor for his young staff and also for student teacher candidates. I feel Steve has a lot to offer and have been encouraging him to run for offices when possible. I believe he would be an asset to the organization and a future board member.

Question Title

* 4. Should - HARRIS, JASON-Maplewood-Richmond Height - Nominated by Charlie Blackmore - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

I highly recommend Jason Harris for membership in Phi Beta Mu-Lambda Chapter.  Jason Harris is in his ninth year as the Band Director for the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District.  

Mr. Harris leads a non-traditional music program in a technology based curriculum.  To meet the needs of his students, school, and community, Jason created an innovative performing ensemble called the Blue Devils Rhythm and Blues Band.  This unique and ‘non-traditional’ music ensemble melds music education with transformative technology, resulting in state-of-the-art performances through a varied repertoire of musical hits spanning the past five decades including Oldies, Motown, Funk, Rhythm & Blues, Dance, Disco, and Classic Rock.  The group serves as the 'pep' band for high school sporting events and district assemblies while maintaining a busy performing schedule within the community.  Jason transcribes, composes, and arranges all of the music for this ensemble.  Likewise, these same arrangements are often used by many of the top professional variety bands in the midwest.  The Blue Devils Rhythm & Blues Band was one of three ensembles chosen in North America to perform at the 2014 National School Boards Association Conference in New Orleans, LA for its’ breakthrough approach to music education.  Additionally, Mr. Harris’ high school jazz combo was selected to perform at the 2014 Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference for the National Association for Music Education.

Mr. Harris previously taught band at McKinley Middle School for St. Louis Public Schools.  During this tenure, he founded and directed the Scottish Rite Youth Wind Ensemble, whose mission was to serve as a resource for educating and mentoring inner city music students by providing high quality performance opportunities for those students lacking the necessary resources to participate in other established community ensembles.  In 2007 the Scottish Rite - Valley of St. Louis presented Jason with their Volunteer of the Year award for his efforts in leading the Wind Ensemble, which for several years, benefited many inner-city music students.

Jason is currently serving as President for the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association.   A number of Jason’s students have participated in the Missouri All-State Concert Band, Orchestra, & Jazz Ensembles, as well as the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, Webster Community Music School Youth Orchestra, and the Jazz-U All Stars at Jazz at the Bistro.   Mr. Harris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri – St. Louis and a Master of the Arts in Music from Webster University.  Mr. Harris is an active musician in the St. Louis area with over twenty years of professional experience.  A recent trumpet professor at Lindenwood University, Jason has performed trumpet with Opera Theatre St. Louis, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, Gateway Brass Quintet, Winter Opera, Washington University Symphony, Gateway Festival Orchestra, Compton Heights Concert Band, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Webster Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony, Susan Slaughter’s Holiday Brass, St. Louis Brass Band, and the American Kantorei Orchestra to name a few.  Currently, Jason is a member of the Union Avenue Opera Orchestra, the Clarion Brass Quintet, and the Arch City Brass.  On occasion, he performs with Spectrum, Trilogy, The Bob Kuban Brass, and The Steve Schankman Jazz Orchestra.  For about decade, Jason sounded “Taps” at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery for over 10,000 military funerals.

Question Title

* 5. Should - HERSHY, NEIL – Rockwood School District - Nominated by Kim Shelley - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

After graduating in 1999 from Texas Tech University with a degree in Music Education, Neil Hershey began his teaching career at Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas as the 2nd Assistant Director.  Following his first year, he was promoted to the 1st Assistant position and was also given the duties of the school musical pit director and lead marching band director.  The marching band was twice selected as the alternate to the prestigious Texas State Marching Band contest.  Concert and Marching bands under his direction at Elkins never received less than a superior rating at any festival that they performed.  Following his four-year tenure at Elkins, Neil was appointed the Director of Bands at Pearland Junior High West in Pearland, TX.  During Neil’s three-year tenure there, enrollment in the band program increased while attrition remained very low.  Under Neil’s direction the Pearland JH West never received less than superior or excellent ratings.

Following his move to St. Louis in 2009, Neil was hired as 1st Assistant at Eureka High School.  During his 2nd year, Neil was appointed the conductor of the Freshmen Band led them to their first superior ratings at the MSHSAA Large Ensemble Festival.  Through his arranging and programmatic design over the past six years, the marching band at Eureka High School experienced great gains in both levels of performance and placements in local competitions.  In 2011, Neil was appointed Director of Bands at Wildwood Middle School.  Current student enrollment in the band program is at its highest level in recent years, and the bands under his direction have never received anything less than superior and excellent ratings.

Neil is one of the most energetic, positive and creative teachers I have ever met.  His disciplined, yet caring teaching style cultivates enthusiastic young musicians within his band program.  His unselfish, enthusiastic commitment to the Eureka band program has yielded tremendous musical growth throughout the middle and high school program.  Neil is a hardworking, highly accountable and extremely trustworthy colleague who I consider to be one of my closest band director friends.  Neil has the incredible ability to multi-task, keeping correspondence and meeting deadlines early while raising three small children.  He has written arranged compositions for me that are unique, creative, challenging, and fund to perform.  His conducting skills can easily handle any level literature up through college level expertise.  I wholeheartedly recommend his nomination to the Phi Beta Mu membership.

Question Title

* 6. Should - KILE, JEFF – School of the Osage - Nominated by Keith Ruether - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda Membership?

Jeff Kile is currently in his 11th year teaching as the Director of Bands at School of the Osage. He is a graduate from the University of Missouri- Columbia with his Bachelors Degree in Instrumental Music Education, and he also has a Masters degree from William Woods University in Educational Administration.  At School of the Osage, Mr. Kile teaches; Marching Band, High School Jazz Band, Pep Band, High School Wind Ensemble, High School Symphonic Band, 8th Grade Band, Assists 7th Grade Band,  7th Grade Woodwinds and Percussion Class, 6th Grade Woodwinds and Percussion Class, and Middle School Guitar.  Since Mr. Kile’s arrival in the fall of 2005 the program has grown from a 6-12 program of 240 students to a program 6-12 of 370+ students.  The Osage Band Program has consistently received 1 ratings at State Large Ensemble Festival, and the Osage Marching Indians are consistently a finals participant at many marching festivals during the fall season.  The High School Band has traveled and performed at Navy Pier in Chicago and the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.   Mr. Kile is also the Jazz VP for the MMEA Central District where he coordinates all District Jazz Events.  Mr. Kile is also a member of MSTA, MMEA, and the Missouri Bandmasters Association.

Question Title

* 7. Should - LEHDE, AARON – Ladue School District - Nominated by Jim Waechter - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

I highly recommend Aaron Lehde for membership in Phi Beta Mu-Lambda Chapter.  Aaron Lehde is Director of Bands and District Music Facilitator for the Ladue School District where he has taught since 2002. His duties include conducting the Symphonic, Concert and Jazz Bands at the High School along with the Seventh and Eighth grade Concert Bands and Jazz Bands at the Middle School. Lehde also conducts the High School Musical Pit Orchestra and the Pep Band. In 2013, the Ladue High School Symphonic Band, under his direction, performed at the Missouri Music Educators Association Convention.

He is the President-Elect of the St. Louis All-Suburban Music Educators Association and has previously served as Vice-President of High School Jazz (2010-2014) and Middle School Jazz (2004-2008).  In 2011, Mr. Lehde assisted in the effort to create and record new audition etudes for the Missouri All-State Jazz Band. He composed 4 sets of etudes for saxophones and 2 sets for trumpet. He organized the personnel for the first recording sessions that provided play along recordings to be used with the audition etudes. Lehde performs on Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone on all the etude recordings. Lehde has directed the IMEA District 6 High School Jazz Band 2 and 3 and is currently a teaching artist for Jazz St. Louis’ Jazz U program.

In 2000, he graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with his B.M. in Jazz Performance and Music Education. In 2010, he earned his M.M. in Jazz performance. Lehde has played saxophone and other woodwinds with numerous nationally and locally known acts including Frankie Valli, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Manhattan Transfer, Wayne Newton, Bernadette Peters, Idina Menzel, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Jay Leno and Bob Newhart. His touring and performance experience has brought him to 47 states and 27 countries worldwide. He continues to be in demand as a performer, clinician and adjudicator. 

Question Title

* 8. Should - McMAHON, LISA-Mehville District - Nominated by David Meador - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Lisa McMahon is the band director at Oakville Middle School in the Mehlville School District.  She has been part of the Mehlville School District over the past five years, (2010 to present).  Previous employment include positions in Troy, Missouri and Elsberry, Missouri.     Lisa has done a terrific job in re-developing the middle school band program at Oakville Middle School.  When she achieved this position, there were many challenges to be faced.  She has done a very fine job as it pertains to establishing positive relationships with her students, administration and her parents.  I also have observed Lisa become a strong support system between the student transformation between middle school and high school.  She attends regularly the high school marching band rehearsals and festivals, as well as accompanying the high school band on their various trips and excursions throughout the year.  I, personally, have attended several of Oakville Middle School’s band rehearsals as a clinician.  I am very impressed by the quality of musicianship that Lisa has developed within her ensembles.  They understand rehearsal etiquette, and the concept of in tone and in tune.  They have always been prepared for these clinics, and are so well prepared, they are easy to adapt change, if need be.  The Oakville Middle School Band received straight “I”’s at the St. Louis Suburban Middle School Large Group Band Festival in the spring of 2015.  More than well deserved.

Question Title

* 9. Should - MESSERLI, ANDY-Francis Howell District - Nominated by Shannon Crepps - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

I am honored to sponsor Andrew Messerli as a member of Phi Beta Mu.  Andy began his teaching career in 2005 and is in his eighth year as a band director for Francis Howell Central High School and Saeger Middle School in the Francis Howell School District.  Andy is a National Board Certified Teacher, and he currently serves as the NBCT Liaison for the Francis Howell School District, helping other teachers of all disciplines through the certification process.  Andy is a passionate music educator and a lifelong learner.  He continues to take classes and workshops, attend conferences, and visit outstanding band programs around the country on his own time in order to learn more and improve the band experiences in and out of the classroom for our band students.  Andy is a part of the St. Louis Metro District #8 board, and he is an accomplished musician who serves as the principal euphonium player for the Saint Louis Wind Symphony.  Andy teaches our students to think like musicians rather than just learn to play notes and rhythms.  His teaching is rooted strongly in making sure each and every band member has a firm concept of the fundamentals. 

He is dedicated to achieving excellence and sets high expectations for students.  He challenges his students and his colleagues alike to reach their full musical potential.  Under his direction, the FHC Wind Ensemble has received Superior “I” ratings at State Contest for the past five years.  His students consistently appear as members of the St. Louis Metro District #8 Honor Bands.  Andy is an outstanding band director and would be an outstanding member of Phi Beta Mu.

Question Title

* 10. Should - PATTON, ALEC – LINDBERGH - Nominated by Brian Wyss - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

I would like to nominate Alec Patton for membership in our fraternity. I have known Alec for quite some time and feel that he is a perfect model for what our organization represents. He student taught in the Lindbergh School District alongside myself, Bob Spiegelman, Jeff DiLallo and Dan Arana. After spending two years at Rockwood he returned to Lindbergh to become one of the most innovative, talented and caring band directors I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with.  As an eighth year teacher his accomplishments are impressive and his diversity is beyond what the average teacher is expected to be able to do. He is assistant director of the Lindbergh High School bands as well as both Truman Middle and Sperreng Middle School assistant director. He travels to three schools each day to instruct Marching Band, LHS Jazz Lab, Concert Band, Brass Choir, 6, 7, 8 grade bands as well as teaching Electronic Music. In addition, he now is writing drill for the Lindbergh High School Marching Band. His LHS Jazz Lab band has been awarded 1st place two out of the three years they have competed at the prestigious Rolling Meadows Jazz Festival. His concert band is comprised of a very diverse group of sophomore through senior band students that have successfully earned “II” ratings at Large Ensemble Festival each year he has been their director. His middle school students come to class each day excited to have a director that is passionate, organized and fun!  Bob Spiegelman nominated me to become a member of Phi Beta Mu and told me “It is a who’s-who” of Missouri Band Directors. Each year I am humbled to be at our luncheon and in awe of so many of the accomplishments of the fraternity and the people there. I am positive that Alec Patton would be equally as honored to part of this incredible group of directors as I have been and always will be. 

Question Title

* 11. Should - SABATASSO, JARED - Waynesville District - Nominated by Jim Stockmann - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Jared Sabatasso is in his 10th year of teaching (9 in the Waynesville School district.  Holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Methodist and is completing a Master’s of Administration in May from Lindenwood.  He co-directs the 160-member Waynesville Tiger Marching Band and co-sonducts the Wind Ensemble and Concerts bands.  Under his direction the bands have received numerous state-wide awards and consistently receive I ratings at MSHSAA Festivals.  He created and direcdts the WHS indorr percussion ensemble-the 2nd highest scoring Missouri Ensemble competing in the scholastic A Division last year.  He has spent the last 4 years teaching at the MS where he co-directs the Wind Ensemble, Intermediate Band, 6th Grade Band and guitar classes.  He has served as a Missouri All-State trumpet judge and has adjudicated marching and concert band festivals in Missouri.  He is a member of the NAFME, MENC, MBA and Phi MUY Alpha.  Jared believes that young bands do not have to sound young and that students can only learn what we teach them.

Question Title

* 12. Should - WALKER, TODD - Waynesville District - Nominated by Jim Oliver - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Mr. Todd Walker is in his 25th year of teaching instrumental music, with 3 years in the Richland School District and the last 22 years in Waynesville. During his tenure at Waynesville, the bands have receive only first division ratings. Mr. Walker served as head director of the High School Concert and Marching bands for 7 years and currently conducts the Middle School Wind Ensemble, Intermediate Band, the Sixth Grade Beginning Band, and the Eighth Grade Jazz Ensemble.

Throughout the last 14 years, the Waynesville Middle School Wind Ensemble has earned consecutive 1+ Ratings at the Mid Missouri Music Festival, along with many first place and sweepstakes trophies for concert and jazz ensembles. Walker’s Eighth Jazz Ensemble has performed at Disney World three times while his Wind Ensemble has performed at MMEA in 2003 and 2014.

Mr. Walker is a 1985 graduate of Lee’s Summit High School and completed his undergraduate work at the University of Central Missouri and his master’s degree at Missouri State. Professional organizations include the National Association for Music Education, the National Education Association, the Missouri Bandmasters Association, and the Missouri Music Educators Association.

Question Title

* 13. BOARD POSITION VOTING - 2016-18

BOARD MEMBER ELECTIONS: The following have been nominated to fill two board positions this January. Both are Director at Large positions. One for the PBM Board (candidate receiving the most votes) and one for the PBM/LAMBDA FOUNDATION Board (candidate receiving the second most votes).

Please vote for TWO NAMES.

MAKE SURE YOU CLICK THE "DONE" BUTTON BELOW WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED.

Question Title

* 14. BOARD POSITION VOTING - 2016-18

BOARD MEMBER ELECTIONS: The following have been nominated to fill two board positions this January. Both are Director at Large positions. One for the PBM Board (candidate receiving the most votes) and one for the PBM/LAMBDA FOUNDATION Board (candidate receiving the second most votes).

Please vote for TWO NAMES.

MAKE SURE YOU CLICK THE "DONE" BUTTON BELOW WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED.

T