Directors Notes:
| Kentwood Band and Orchestra Boosters |
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| James Ross James Sawyer Ingrid Dykeman Steve Foote Kristen Bielski Jason Proctor Eric Hudson Leslie Ziegler |
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James Ross -
James.Ross@kentwoodps.org Director of Bands - East Kentwood High School James Ross ihas logged over 21 years of teaching and his eighth year as Director of Instrumental Music at East Kentwood High School where he co-directs four concert bands, two jazz ensembles, the symphony orchestra, and is the conductor for the spring musical. Instrumental ensembles at Kentwood have enjoyed a long history of consistent superior ratings at festivals and competitions both locally and nationally. Under his direction, EKHS ensembles have performed with the MSU Wind Symphony, at the CMU Symposium, and the Jazz Ensemble has gained regional recognition. Before teaching in Kentwood, Jim was director of Bands at Forest Hills Central MS where he was responsible for administering a band program of over four hundred students in grade six through eight. He began his career in Wyoming Public Schools teaching all levels of band. Jim is currently serving MSBOA as Vice President of Adjudication and Honors Band Chair for District Ten. He has been President and Treasurer for District Ten as well as Vice President for Band and Orchestra and Solo and Ensemble at the state level. He is active as an adjudicator for marching band, solo and ensemble, and band and orchestra festivals. He also has been on the faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Calvin College Knollcrest Music Camp where he conducted bands at all levels. As a clarinetist and saxophonist, he has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphonic Band, Cherry County Playhouse, and as freelance church musician. His professional affiliations include MEA, MENC, MMEA, and ASBDA. Jim received his BME from the Indiana University School of Music and has done graduate work at Western Michigan University and recently received his MM in Wind Conducting at Michigan State University. |
James Sawyer -
James.Sawyer@kentwoodps.org Director of Bands - East Kentwood High School Dr. Sawyer holds a B.M.E. from VanderCook College of Music, a M.M. in Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan and an Ed.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also attended Grambling College of Louisiana where he was a member of the famous Tiger Marching Band. Dr. Sawyer’s career as a music educator began in 1974 as band director of a small parochial school in Chicago. He has since taught at every level of the educational spectrum including Director of Bands at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC and Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Nebraska -Omaha. He taught 13 years in the Grand Rapids Public Schools, where he served as Director of Instrumental Music at Ottawa Hills, Creston, and Central high schools. During his tenure there he was named Greater Grand Rapids PTA "Teacher of the Year" and was honored with the "Excellence in Education Award" by the Grand Rapids Foundation. He is also in demand as a guest conductor and lecturer across the U.S. His professional performance credits include lead trumpet for many internationally known artists such as the Bob Hope Show, the Chi-lites, the Dells, the Four Tops, the Manhattans, the Temptations, the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show, the Jim Nabors Show, and most recently the Shirley Jones and Bob Newhart Shows as a member of the Holland Tulip Festival Jazz Orchestra. Dr. Sawyer served 2 years as principal of the Campus School of Arts and Literature in GRPS, however, his passion for teaching and working with young people brought him back to the classroom. He is currently Co-Director of Bands at East Kentwood High School. |
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Ingrid Dykeman -
Ingrid.Dykeman@kentwoodps.org Director of Orchestra - East Kentwood High School, Valleywood Middle School Ms. Dykeman received a Bachelor in Music Education from Hope College, and a Masters degree in String Education from the University of Michigan. She is currently a PHd candidate in Music Education at Boston University. Ms. Dykeman's major instrument is cello. Prior to coming to Kentwood, she was Director of Strings for the South Haven Public Schools. She has served as a conductor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and she performs as a professional cellist in the ensemble Chancellor Flute and Bow Trio. She has been active as a Board Member and Program Director for MASTA, is a past member of the West Shore Symphony, and a past Assistant Director of the Southwest Michigan Youth Symphony. Ms. Dykeman was selected for Who's Who In American teachers 2005 for Music. She was also named MSBOA District 10 Orchestra Teacher of the Year. |
Kristen Bielski -
Kristen.Bielski@kentwoodps.org Director of Bands - Pinewood Middle School Mrs. Bielski received her bachelor of Music Education from Michigan State University in 1998, where she studied French horn with Dr. Douglas Campbell. She received her Masters of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Bielski has been teaching band at Kentwood Public Schools since 1990. She currently teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade band at Pinewood Middle School. She is very active in MSBOA where she has served as the MSBOA District Ten Vice President of High School Solo and Ensemble and Vice President of Band and Orchestra. Mrs. Bielski was also a member of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. She has been a member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and instructor for the Northern Aurora Drum and Bugle Corps. Mrs. Bielski performs locally in a brass quintet. |
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Steve Foote -
Steven.Foote@kentwoodps.org Director of Bands - Crestwood Middle School Mr. Foote graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Music Education. He was voted Outstanding Bandsman at Grand Valley. His major instrument was the baritone/euphonium. Prior to coming to Crestwood, Mr. Foote served for one year as band director at Central Montcalm Middle School, three years as Director of Bands for Centreville Public Schools, and three years as Director of Bands at Cedar Springs. He has also served as a Band Director at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. |
Jason Proctor -
Jason.Proctor@kentwoodps.org Director of Bands - Valleywood Middle School Mr. Proctor received a Bachelors in Music Education from Grand Valley State University. His major instrument was saxophone and he has been a private instructor in saxophone for nine years. Prior to coming to Valleywood, he was the Director of Bands for Springport Public Schools for 3 years. |
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Leslie Ziegler -
Leslie.Ziegler@kentwoodps.org Director of Orchestra - Crestwood Middle School Leslie Ziegler, a recent graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in Music Education, has been involved in orchestra since the age of 12. Being part of the first ever Dexter Orchestra program, she was the first double bassist to graduate from Dexter High School. Outside of University Orchestra she has performed with the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and Southwest Symphony Orchestra. While playing with these groups she has had opportunities to perform with world-renowned actress/singer Vanessa Williams, and The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Ms. Ziegler is also a singer/bassist/fiddle player for The Mossy Mountain Band, a bluegrass band based out of Kalamazoo. |
Eric Hudson -
Eric.Hudson@kentwoodps.org Director of Orchestra - Pinewood Middle School Eric Hudson, a graduate of Central Michigan University, has played the cello since age 12. He received his degree in Music Education, and he has been an active performer since he began in music. Mr. Hudson has helped start groups such as American Roots, Cello Mafia, and The Obsidian String Quartet. In addition to small groups, he has performed with Midland Symphony Orchestra, Midland Music Society, West Shore Symphony Orchestra, Alma Symphony Orchestra, Traverse City Symphony Orchestra, and Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Hudson has had the opportunity to perform with amazing artists such as Sarah Chang, Smokey Robinson, Barrage, Itzhak Perlman, The Trans Siberian Orchestra, and Josh Groban. He is thrilled and excited to be part of such an amazing school district like Kentwood, and looks forward to working with parents and students who are so committed to the arts program! |
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