Band - Matthew C. Saunders

Dr. Matthew C. Saunders has taught music from kindergarten to college in styles from madrigal to mariachi, and strives to make beautiful music for and with captivating people.

Matt is Associate Professor of Music at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he teaches music theory, composition and instrumental music. He received degrees in music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and The Ohio State University. His music has been performed across the country, and he has presented his research on rhythm at conferences of the College Music Society and the Society of Composers. He received the 2007 Ruth Friscoe Prize for composition and is the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association 2011 Commissioned Composer. He is on the web at www.martiandances.com, but the physical Dr. Saunders lives in Goodwell, Oklahoma with his wife Becky and their son Noah. His twelve years' experience in music education includes teaching band, general music and music theory in public elementary, middle and high schools and universities in rural, suburban and urban settings in Georgia, Ohio and Oklahoma.

Choral - T.J. Harper

Dr. T. J. Harper is the Director of Choral Activities and supervises the Secondary Music Education curriculum at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. He conducts the college’s three choral ensembles: I Cantori, Concert Chorale and the Women’s Chorus. He also teaches courses in Conducting, Secondary Choral Methods and Applied Voice. Dr. Harper received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California where he graduated with honors. At the USC Thornton School of Music he taught courses in undergraduate and graduate Choral Conducting and conducted the USC Thornton Apollo Choir (Men’s Ensemble). He received the Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from California State University, Northridge and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting from California State University, Fresno.

Dr. Harper is a passionate conductor and teacher with extensive experience working with choirs of all ages and levels of ability. His past appointments include The University of La Verne, Biola University, The University of Southern California, and Burbank First United Methodist Church. Dr. Harper is the Rhode Island State Representative and founding member of the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO). He is the President of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He is active as a choral clinician, festival adjudicator, Music Education consultant and honor choir director. Dr. Harper taught middle school and high school in the California public school system for six years and was honored for excellence in teaching in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

As a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, MENC, ACDA, Chorus America, NCCO and the International Federation of Choral Music, Dr. Harper is an advocate for the promotion of undergraduate education and choral music in the public schools and institutions of higher education. Dr. Harper's interests have led to extensive research of the Nazi influence on German choral music and the music of Hugo Distler. His dissertation entitled, Hugo Distler and the Renewal Movement in Nazi Germany focuses on the juxtaposition of Distler's personal beliefs and his political/professional obligations to the Nazi Party. Dr. Harper is also a contributing author to the recently published Student Engagement in Higher Education: Theoretical Perspectives and Practical Approaches for Diverse Populations (Routledge).

General Music - Mary Lynne Bennett

Dr. Mary Lynne Bennett, NCTM, teaches piano and music education at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV. She holds degrees from Oberlin College (B.A, B.M.), West Chester University (M.M.), and the University of South Carolina (D.M.A.). She recently developed and taught an online course in piano pedagogy focusing on preparing students to be nationally certified through MTNA. Recent research with students includes a thorough literature review of elementary general music method books from prominent publishers over the past 100 years. She frequently presents research on assessment and continuing education at state and national MTNA and MENC conferences and is currently serving as President of the West Virginia Music Teachers Association.

Guitar - Nancy Wills

Nancy Wills grew up playing the guitar, playing mostly folk, acoustic rock, and bluegrass music. In her 30s, she met Juan Serrano, the great flamenco guitarist and decided to return to school to study music. She received her BA in Music Performance under Serrano at CSU Fresno, and then went on to receive her MA in Ethnomusicology from UCLA.

Nancy has been teaching at Lindsay High School in central California for the past 12 years. Her students have won top awards at regional and state CMEA festivals as soloists, small ensembles, and large ensembles. She has a very unique program with an average of 200 students per year focusing on classical and flamenco styles for the guitar.

Jazz - Stephen Holley

Steve Holley is the coordinator of the Commercial Music Program at the Kent Denver School in Englewood, CO. Under his leadership, the program’s DownBeat award-winning ensembles perform regularly at venues throughout Colorado. In addition, the student-musicians have performed in Memphis, New Orleans, New York, and Miami, among others locales. Mr. Holley has performed in a variety of styles with artists ranging from Arturo Sandoval to Tia Fuller, from James Williams to Doug Wamble, among many others. Prior to coming to Colorado Mr. Holley lived, performed, and taught in his adopted hometown of Memphis.

Orchestra - Kathleen McCullough

Kathleen is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Temple University B.M.ed, and has a M. Music Ed. from The College of New Jersey and National Board Certification EAYA Orchestra. She is a registered Suzuki cello teacher and past president of the Heart of America Suzuki Teachers Association.

Currently, Kathleen is the orchestra director of the Blue Valley Northwest High School and Harmony Middle Schools in Overland Park, Kansas. She is the current President of the Kansas American Strings Teachers Association.

Kathleen has three daughters, four grandsons, and has been married to Jeff for 42 years.