Question Title

* 1. Should - JENNIFER GARRISON BROWN-Washington MS (Mehlville) – Nominated by Jerry Hoover- be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Jennifer Garrison Brown is currently in her 20th year as the band director at Washington Middle School, which is part of the Mehlville School District.  Jennifer conducts the school's Symphonic and Concert Band as well as overseeing the Beginner Band Program.  Jennifer makes chamber music the core for all of the Washington Middle School band students.

Jennifer is a graduate of Mehlville High School where she served as drum major and principal flutist.  She attended the University of North Texas on scholarship, earning bachelor degrees in Music Education and Flute Performance.  Jennifer obtained a Masters of Music degree in Flute Performance  from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, as well as a Masters in Gifted Education from Lindenwood University.  Jennifer maintains a private flute studio and an active schedule as a performer, adjudicator and clinician.  She has served as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  In addition, she was the President of the Flute Society of St. Louis from 2002 - 2007 and presented at the National Flute Association Convention in 2008.

The Washington Middle School Band has been selected to perform at the 2019 MMEA Convention.  Previously, this ensemble was selected in 2004 to perform at the MMEA Convention.

I feel that Jennifer Garrison Brown very much deserves to be a member of Phi Beta Mu.  Hopefully, you will as well.

Question Title

* 2. Should - DOBIE CARROLL-North County HS (Bonne Terre) – Nominated by Cathy Coonis - be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Dobie Carroll has been working as the Director of Bands at North County High School in Bonne Terre, MO since the Summer of 2014, where he works with a team of two other directors to oversee a 6-12 band program of about 450 students. Mr. Carroll was very excited to return home and accept this position at North County, where he was a 2001 alumnus of the band and choir programs. The North County Bands take pride in a well balanced history of success in the areas of Concert, Marching, and Jazz. Since Mr. Carroll’s arrival, the North County Raider Regiment Marching Band has had their most highly decorated seasons in North County history. The extremely rich history of jazz at North County has also been expanded to add a second high school jazz band and the North County Jazz Ensemble received the honor of performing for the first time at the MMEA State Conference in 2017.  

After graduating from Evangel University with a Bachelors in Music Education Mr. Carroll began his teaching career in South Central Missouri in 2007. Most notably, he spent five years at Liberty High School in Mountain View, MO where he was recognized for his work in developing excellence in small bands, both concert and competitive marching. Before Mr. Carroll’s departure from Liberty, they had also established a before school jazz program that became active in the community as well as festivals around the state. Mr. Carroll was fortunate to return to Evangel University to complete a Masters in Educational Leadership during this time.

While pursuing his Masters, he developed a passion for investing in students through developing student leadership structures and curriculums. North County now has a very active band student leadership program that focuses on service to each other and beyond their program to their community. Mr. Carroll also enjoys collaborating with other area programs and directors on this material.  When asked the common question “why do you choose to remain in this career field”, Carroll replied, “My passion is helping to develop the character of young people, assisting them in developing the skills to become better citizens. I am fortunate to be able to use music as my tool of execution.”

Outside of his own classroom, Mr. Carroll enjoys working with other band programs, consulting and leading student leadership workshops as well as serving as an active clinician and judge to band programs and festivals around the state. Mr. Carroll currently serves as the High School Jazz VP for the MMEA East Central District and is an active member of MOAJE, MMEA, and MBA. He also enjoys being a performing member of the Mineral Area Kicks Band, who performed at MMEA in 2014, MBA in 2018, and regularly performs with notable jazz musicians such as Doc Severinsen, Jeff Hamilton, and many more.

Question Title

* 3. Should - SCOTT EVANS-Festus MS – Nominated by Chris Auchley- be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Scott Evans has been teaching band for 12 years, and is currently the Band Director for Festus Middle School and Assistant at Festus HS. He is a graduate of SEMO. Bands under his directions have consistently received “I” ratings at both the HS and MS levels. His duties include assisting with the HS marching band, HS freshmen band, all 7th and 8th grade bands, the HS pep band, as well as helping with solo/small ensemble and audition prep at both the HS and MS. In addition to his band director roles, he serves as the assistant festival manager for the MSHSAA District Music festival at Festus, and Large group festival at Jefferson College. He has served as a clinician and adjudicator for middle school festivals in eastern Missouri. His peers in the Festus schools look to him for his input and expertise while being active in the areas of Professional Development and school projects, namely the new additions to the Fine Arts wing at Festus HS. Scott is very organized and methodical in his teaching with a cool, calm demeanor. He understands and demonstrates the skills it takes to continually develop the band programs we have in Festus. Scott’s personality has been like a magnet drawing students into the program. His quick wit. puns and sense of humor, have been an asset with student report and one reason for continuous retention and growth in the Festus band programs. Scott maintains active, professional roles in programs outside the school. He has participated in the St. Louis Wind Symphony, and the Heartland Wind Ensemble. He has been on staff of the Jefferson College Viking Band Camps for 9 years. He is currently a member of NAfME, MBA, and MNEA.  In his free time, he enjoys performing with the MoBB (Missouri Big Band), and keeping track of his two young sons. It is with pleasure and honor that I place Scott Evans name for nomination in Phi Beta Mu, and have complete confidence in his ability to return correspondence in a timely manner per the membership requirements.

Question Title

* 4. Should - AMY KNOPPS-University of Missouri-CO – Nominated by Kurt Bauche-  be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Amy Knopps has a Bachelor of Science in Music Education University of Mo-Columbia, serving as drum major of Marching Mizzou.  She obtained a Master of Music in Wind Conducting University of Kansas.  And she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts University of Georgia.

Amy served as public school band director in 2002-05 at Center High School, Kansas City where she coordinated all aspects of the 110 member ensemble including the management of four instructional staff and four student assistant staff members. In 2005-2007 she was affiliated with the KUKC Youth Wind Symphony as Associate Conductor Kansas City Missouri.  Amy was also a staff member with the Midwestern Music Camp and Central Missouri State University Music Camp.

At the University of Kansas from 2005-07 she was Instructor and Visual Designer for the Marching Jayhawks and Director of the Women’s Basketball Band.  She served as KU Wind Ensemble Assistant Conductor/Ensemble Manager.

At the University of Georgia 2007-2010 Amy served as Visual Designer of the 420 member Redcoat Marching Band. She was Assistant director of the Basketball Band.  Amy served as Co-Conductor of the Concert Band and University Band.  She selected repertoire, designed concert programs, coordinated personnel, rehearsal schedules, and facilitated the daily needs of the ensemble.

From 2010-2017 Amy was employed at Eastern Michigan University as Associate Professor of Music, Associate Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands Director.  She annually organized EMU Band Day bringing 1,000+ students on campus.  She selected repertoire, designed concert programs, coordinated personnel, determined rehearsal schedules, and facilitated the daily needs of the ensemble as well as supervised and instructed Graduate Assistant Conductors of this ensemble.

From 2014-present, Amy has served on the staff of the prestigious Smith Walbridge Clinics at Eastern Illinois University.

Amy currently serves in her second year as Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Missouri-Columbia.  She is responsible for all athletic bands and assists with the MU Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and University Band.

Question Title

* 5. Should - DR. ANTHONY PURCELL- University of Central Missouri  – Nominated by Russ Coleman -  be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Dr. Anthony Pursell is Director of Bands at UCM, where he directs the Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds and Marching Band. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Dr. Pursell was a high school band director for six years before moving to Indiana, where he served as a graduate assistant at Ball State University. Afterwards, he served a one-year appointment as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at Northern Illinois University. In 2005 he was named the Assistant Director of Bands at Kansas State University.   In 2010 he was appointed Director of Bands at Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas). During his tenure the band program experienced tremendous growth and performance opportunities, including the marching band's performance in the 2014 Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago, the Wind Ensemble’s performance in Carnegie Hall, and an invitation to perform in the 2018 Australian International Band Festival at the world-renowned Sydney Opera House.   He was appointed Director of Bands at UCM in 2017.   He has given clinics and sessions at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and at several state and regional conferences including Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas on a wide variety of topics related to wind band education. He has contributed to GIA's Teaching Music Through Performance in Band and has had articles published in The Instrumentalist, The Journal of Band Research, and The Southwest Musician (Texas). His book, Improving Music Sight Reading: An Iconic-Based Approach to Teaching Rhythm, is published by VDM Verlag Dr. Müller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG (Saarbrücken, Germany).

Question Title

* 6. Should - BRIAN SILVEY-University of Missouri-CO – Nominated by Paul Baur -  be approved for Phi Beta Mu Lambda membership?

Brian A. Silvey is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Missouri. At MU, he teaches undergraduate and graduate music education courses, conducts the Wind Ensemble, and provides oversight to the entire band program. Bands under his direction have performed at the Missouri Music Educators Association conference and have commissioned works by leading composers such as David Maslanka, David Gillingham, Michael Markowski, and Ryan George.  He has been at Mizzou since 2009 and has 18 years of teaching experience.

Dr. Silvey has presented music education research and teacher preparation clinics at state, national, and international venues. Recent presentations have included the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois (2017), College Band Directors National Association conference in Kansas City, Missouri (2017), International Society for Music Education conference in Glasgow, Scotland (2016), and the Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (2016). He is published in several music education journals and currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Research in Music Education and the College Band Directors National Association Research Journal. In addition, he serves as Editor of the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education and as the Missouri Music Educators Association College/University Vice President (2016 – 2018). 

T