I grew up in the small town of Graceville in West Central Minnesota. During my High School career, I was actively involved in Football, Wrestling, Golf, Legion Baseball, Band, Jazz Band, Choir, and Student Council. I graduated with honors from Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley High School in June of 2003.
After high school, I attended college at Bemidji State University (Go Beavers) to study Music Education. While at BSU, I was actively involved in the music department, I was in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Red Line Swingers Pep Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Brass quintets, and various small ensembles. During my tenure at BSU, I also graduated with honors as well as earning the Ted Thorson band award.
After college, my girlfriend of 7 years became my wife. Jodi and I were married on June 9, 2007 in her backyard. We then moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota where Jodi had accepted a job teaching at a daycare center and I student taught in the Fergus Falls School system. I gained a lot of experience while student teaching, which prepared me for teaching in Parkston.
In May of 2008, I moved to Parkston and prepared the Marching Trojans for their East Coast Tour. In June of 2008, our family grew when we found our Basset Hound, Xeno. Our family grew once again in April of 2010 with the birth of our first child, Anessa. In the 2010-11 school year, Jodi accepted a position as a Kindergarten teacher in Parkston Elementary.
Through out my years of teaching in Parkston, the marching band has scored its highest scores in over a decade, the concert band has consistently received superior ratings at contest, and over 90% of the students have participated, and received a superior, in at least one event for solo/ensemble contest. The Parkston Band Department is also seeing it’s largest percentage of participation in the last decade with 46% of all students 7-12 participating in band and 91% of those students being on the honor roll.
In just a short 5 years, I became an active adjudicator throughout the state of South Dakota judging many solo, ensemble, and band competitions. I have also been sought out to be a guest conductor for various settings, ranging from Junior High Honor Bands to community bands. I have also hosted region solo and ensemble competitions and have been an active member of Region V and sat as a band representative for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years.
In August of 2013, I started my current position in Hutchinson MN where I am responsible for the High School Band Department.
After high school, I attended college at Bemidji State University (Go Beavers) to study Music Education. While at BSU, I was actively involved in the music department, I was in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Red Line Swingers Pep Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Brass quintets, and various small ensembles. During my tenure at BSU, I also graduated with honors as well as earning the Ted Thorson band award.
After college, my girlfriend of 7 years became my wife. Jodi and I were married on June 9, 2007 in her backyard. We then moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota where Jodi had accepted a job teaching at a daycare center and I student taught in the Fergus Falls School system. I gained a lot of experience while student teaching, which prepared me for teaching in Parkston.
In May of 2008, I moved to Parkston and prepared the Marching Trojans for their East Coast Tour. In June of 2008, our family grew when we found our Basset Hound, Xeno. Our family grew once again in April of 2010 with the birth of our first child, Anessa. In the 2010-11 school year, Jodi accepted a position as a Kindergarten teacher in Parkston Elementary.
Through out my years of teaching in Parkston, the marching band has scored its highest scores in over a decade, the concert band has consistently received superior ratings at contest, and over 90% of the students have participated, and received a superior, in at least one event for solo/ensemble contest. The Parkston Band Department is also seeing it’s largest percentage of participation in the last decade with 46% of all students 7-12 participating in band and 91% of those students being on the honor roll.
In just a short 5 years, I became an active adjudicator throughout the state of South Dakota judging many solo, ensemble, and band competitions. I have also been sought out to be a guest conductor for various settings, ranging from Junior High Honor Bands to community bands. I have also hosted region solo and ensemble competitions and have been an active member of Region V and sat as a band representative for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years.
In August of 2013, I started my current position in Hutchinson MN where I am responsible for the High School Band Department.