Beginning Flute

Sallee Nelson | Retired Band Director | Bozeman, MT

Sallee Nelson is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan School of Music and has taught band in the public schools, elementary through university level, for 52 years in the states of Illinois, Montana and North Carolina. In addition to teaching band, she has had an active private flute studio for 50 years, and has been a professional performer, having played in the Raleigh Flute Choir, Bozeman Symphony, Raleigh Symphony, Durham Symphony, Bozeman City Band, and the Intermountain Opera Company. She is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician and guest teacher throughout Montana. Sallee lives in Bozeman, MT with her husband, Larry, where they enjoy many outdoor activities and family events with her three married children and two grandchildren.

Close

Beginning Clarinet

Verlene (Beanie) Stotts | Discovery Middle School | Fargo, ND

Hand Out 1

Hand Out 2

Verlene “Beanie” Stotts received her B.M.E. from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota and M.M. in Clarinet Performance from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico. She has been teaching band at Discovery Middle School in Fargo, North Dakota since 1994 and prior to that, taught 5 years at Klein Intermediate School in Houston, Texas. Along with her teaching duties at Discovery, she is the Music Department Chairperson, PLC Course Captain, and a member of the Fargo Public School District Performing Arts Committee. Currently, Beanie is the co-manager of the NDNBA JH All-State Band, Treasurer of the North Dakota National Band Association, and is a board member of the North Dakota chapter of Phi Beta Mu National Bandmasters Fraternity. She received the North Dakota National Band Association Allegro Band Award in 1995, the NDNBA Citation of Excellence Award in 2007, and she was awarded the 2018 North Dakota Music Educators Association Educator of the year. Professional Affiliations include National Band Association, North Dakota National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, North Dakota Music Educators’ Association, Minnesota Band Directors Association, and the North Dakota Chapter of Phi Beta Mu National Bandmasters Fraternity. In addition to her duties at Discovery, she enjoys teaching in her private clarinet studio, performing with the Clarion Quartet, cooking, shopping for “deals”, as well as spending time with family and friends. She resides in Moorhead, Minnesota with her husband Bob. Together they have 5 children (Matt, Ryan, Allison, Bjorn, and Sam) and 4 grandchildren (Ava, Carsyn, Xander, and Lilah).

Beginning Saxophone

Derek Ziemer | Discovery Middle School | Alexandria, MN

Derek Ziemer is the Associate Director of Bands at Discovery Middle School in Alexandria, MN. Originally from St.Cloud Minnesota, Derek is a 2014 graduate of the University of Minnesota Morris. Prior to his position in Alexandria, Mr.Ziemer was the 5-12 Director of Bands at Brandon-Evansville Public Schools from 2014 to 2016. Mr. Ziemer's duties at Alexandria include directing the 7th grade Norse and Olaf Bands, 8th grade Concert and Cadet Bands, as well as directing the High School Jazz Bands, Marching Band, and Pep Band. Mr. Ziemer is also an active performer in the Alexandria Area; most notably as a Bassoonist in the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra(CLSO). Mr. Ziemer is also a Cannonball Educator for Cannonball Musical Instruments and has served as Adjunct Instructor of Saxophone for the University of Minnesota, Morris. Mr. Ziemer is also a member of MMEA, MBDA, and serves as the NWMBDA Board President and Jazz Festival Coordinator.

Beginning Horn

Anna Patenaude | Mora High School | Mora, MN

Anna Patenaude is the 8th through 12th grade band director at Mora High School in central Minnesota. She has been teaching for twelve years and her primary instrument is the French Horn. Anna received her bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and her masters degree in education from Saint Mary’s University.

Beginning Trumpet

Sarah Stoneback | Montana State University | Bozeman, MT

Dr. Sarah Stoneback is an innovative and exuberant performer and educator. Her work as a trumpet soloist and chamber musician has taken her around the globe performing in Germany, England, France, Switzerland, Chile, China and throughout the US. Dr. Stoneback is the Trumpet Professor at Montana State University and Principal Trumpet with the Bozeman Symphony. As a Conn-Selmer Bach Clinician, Stoneback presents educational workshops at all levels around the world. She has been featured with groups including; the National Brass Quintet, the InterHarmony International Chamber Music Festival (Italy), Eurobrass, and more. Unique to Sarah is her distinguished reputation for her years soloing and performing as a member of Stoneback Sisters (Triplet Trumpet Trio) and Brass (Trumpet Quartet/Brass Quintet). In this capacity, she has been featured soloist with bands and orchestras including the St. Louis Symphony, John Philip Sousa Band, South Dakota Symphony and more.

Beginning Trombone/ Baritone

Warren Starr | Retired Band Director | Minneapolis, MN

Hand Outs

Warren Starr earned a B.S. degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota in 1980, and a certificate in Gifted/Creative/Talented Education from the University of St. Thomas in 2011. He started teaching at Hill-Murray School in 1981, and was the Coordinator of the Hill-Murray Parish Schools Band Program from 1984 to 2016. He was a Band Director in the program for 31 years, from the fall of 1986 through his retirement from Hill-Murray in the spring of 2017. Warren toured China with the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble in the summer of 1980. He has played tuba with the 451st Army Band at Fort Snelling, the Tubadours at Valley Fair, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He currently performs with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra and his own quintet, Minnesota Brassworks, and directs the Salem Wind Ensemble at Salem Covenant Church.

Beginning Percussion

Jeffrey Vick | La Motte School Bozeman, MT

Jeffrey H. Vick received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Arizona (1989), and a Master of Education in Music degree from Montana State University (1991). Principal teachers have included Ted Small, Gary D. Cook, Dan Moore, and Cloyd Duff. He currently teaches Instrumental and General Music at Anderson School District, LaMotte School District, is an Adjunct Instructor of Music at Montana State University-Bozeman (MUSI 428 - Gamelan Sekar Gunung), and maintains a private studio. Current performing ensembles include Principal Timpanist and Percussionist with the Bozeman Symphony, Intermountain Opera, Helena Symphony, Big Sky Classical Music Festival, Montana TheatreWorks and Montana Ballet Orchestras, a member of PercOrchestra, and the Bozeman Trail Chamber Players. He was also Principal Timpanist of the Billings Symphony from 2007-2015 and continues as a Substitute Percussionist with the group. He has appeared as a guest artist or soloist with the Ahn Trio, Bozeman Symphony, Cascade String Quartet, Gallatin Woodwind Quintet, Mannheim Steamroller, Mistral Duo, MSU Percussion Ensemble, MSU-Billings Percussion Ensemble, and the MSU Chamber Orchestra. He has served as an adjudicator for the Montana District One, Four, Five, Six and Nine Music Festivals, the Eastern Half State Music Festival, All-State Band and Orchestra Auditions, All-Northwest Band and Orchestra Auditions, Montana State University Applied Lesson Juries, and the MSU Concerto Competition. Conference presentations include the Montana Music Educators Conference, the Montana Chapter of PAS Day of Percussion, and the International Conference on Percussion Music at The University of Arizona.

Beginning Strings

Suzanne Larson | Heritage Middle School | Sadie Eddleston Liberty Middle School | West Fargo, ND

Mrs. Suzanne Larson received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of North Dakota and her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from MSUM in Moorhead, Minnesota. Mrs. Larson is principal violist with the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and she subs regularly with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony. She plays in her church orchestra and is frequently asked to play at weddings and to perform with string quartets. She has been the past Co-Director of the Divertimento Chamber Orchestra and Summer Strings Programs in Grand Forks and is a judge for EDC and WDA String Solo and Ensemble Contests in North Dakota and Minnesota. Mrs. Larson is the past President of the North Dakota American String Teachers Association and is a past East Region Representative for the North Dakota Music Educators Board. She maintains a private lesson studio and teaches at the Red River String Camp in Moorhead, Minnesota in the summer. Mrs. Larson has two grown children and four grandchildren. She resides in West Fargo, ND, with her husband Jon, where she teaches middle school orchestra for West Fargo Public Schools. Her hobbies are biking, hiking, playing music and spending time with her family

Sadie Eddleston currently works at Liberty Middle School in West Fargo, North Dakota teaching 6th, 7th and 8th grade orchestras. She has taught beginners for the past 9 years and loves the excitement they bring to the classroom. Sadie has served as a guest string educator for ASTA chapter meetings and for collegiate string methods courses. She is currently a member of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra. In Sadie’ free time she likes to spend time with her husband and daughter and has been working on her bread making skills, much to her family’s delight.

Creative Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Orchestra Students

Brian Cole | Moorhead Middle School | Moorhead, MN

Brian Cole has been an orchestra teacher in the Moorhead, Minnesota public school district since 1995. Brian graduated from the University of South Dakota, received his Master’s of Music in orchestra conducting from the University of Northern Colorado and has received post-graduate credits from The Ohio State University. His hockey-jersey-clad orchestras have been invited to play at both state and national conventions including The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and the American String Teachers National Convention. During his tenure, enrollment in Moorhead's orchestra program has grown from 210 to over 800. A frequent clinician, speaker, and guest conductor across the country, Mr. Cole has appeared at music conventions in more than 20 states. Recent engagements include conducting all state orchestras in Oregon, South Dakota and Georgia. Cole was named Minnesota's string teacher of the year in 2003 by MNSOTA and was given the Heidi Castleman Award from Chamber Music America in New York City. The Moorhead String Program also is a past recipient of MNSOTA's Meritorious String Program award. A football and track coach at his school, Cole is past chairman for ASTA's National High School Honors Orchestra.

Creative Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Band Students

Jennie Planner | Sauk Rapids - Rice Middle School | Sauk Rapids, MN

Jennie Planer has been teaching beginning band for 13 years. She currently teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade band at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School in central Minnesota. Jennie earned her undergraduate degree from the College of Saint Benedict. She is currently finishing her master’s degree in Instrumental Music Education at Central Washington University via the American Band College program. Jennie’s main instrument is the clarinet, but she enjoys playing all the band instruments with her students. After graduating from the College of Saint Benedict, she began her teaching career at an international school in northern India. Ms. Planer spent eight years teaching 5-12th grade band in the Crosby-Ironton School district near Brainerd, before moving to the Sauk Rapids area. In a normal school year, she will start around 120 beginning band students in 6th grade. In addition to playing music, Jennie loves to travel. She also likes to take advantage of the summer weather in Minnesota by stand up paddle boarding, swimming, biking and rollerblading. .