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JIM DOEPKE (trumpet) has accepted the position of director for educational outreach in the Conn-Selmer Division of Education. Recently retired from his noteworthy tenure as director of bands at Waukesha North High School (Waukesha, WI), Jim brings a new dimension to the Conn-Selmer educational forum. Under his signature leadership the nationally acclaimed Waukesha North band program made an astounding three appearances at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and two showcase performances at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In addition, Jim has received numerous exemplary teaching awards in recognition of his professional commitment and dedication, including the John Philip Sousa Foundation's "Legion of Honor" Award.

TRISTAN MOODY (percussion) and KRISTA MILLER (trumpet) have announced their engagement to be married this coming July. Both are currently in graduate school here at KU: Tristan in the School of Engineering, and Krista in Special Education.

TIM GREENWELL (trombone) has moved to Dallas, where he is teaching world geography at Bryan Adams High School in the Dallas ISD.

Several recent graduates have new teaching positions: COLIN CONSTANCE (percussion) is teaching elementary music in the Shawnee Mission School District; COURTNEY WILLIAMS (euphonium) is at Ottawa High School, where she will be filling in for band director CHRIS REYNOLDS (music education). Chris is a conductor of the 312th US ARMY BAND here in Lawrence, and is being deployed to Afghanistan. CANDACE BAILEY (euphonium) is assistant band director at Shawnee Mission North High School; MATT McCOOL (MM in tuba) is band director at Pea Ridge HS in Pea Ridge, AR. Several recent graduates are in graduate school: ANDY CHESTER, (tuba) has started graduate school in tuba performance at DePaul University. His teacher is KU graduate FLOYD COOLEY (tuba); PAT STUCKEMEYER (tuba) was at the Royal North College of Music in Manchester, England last school year, studying euphonium with Stephen Mead. He is currently pursuing a DMA degree at Arizona State University, studying with Pat Sheridan; MARY SOMMERVILLE (bassoon) is also at ASU, beginning her work toward a MM degree in bassoon performance. Mary and Pat have officially announced their engagement to be married; JOHN TRANTER (trombone/euphonium) is teaching at the University of Minnesota, and is very active as a free-lance player in the Twin Cities. Music technology is also an important area of expertise for John; STAN SMITH (trumpet) is retired as band director in the Turner School District in Kansas City, KS. He is a very active performer in the Kansas City area. He is solo cornetist for the Fountain City Brass Band, and for the Kansas City Brass Works.

LANGSTON HEMENWAY (MM in conducting) is in his third year as assistant band director at Derby HS; brother MATT HEMENWAY (MM in euphonium) is in Heidelberg, Germany as a member of the US Army Europe Band.

GARY McCARTY (percussion) has retired from the band director ranks after a very successful teaching career. He has been at several schools in Kansas and Missouri. Gary is currently working part time as a "road man" for Flint Hills Music in Emporia.

A visitor to the band office recently had many great stories! DAVID SEAMANS (horn) graduated from Lawrence's Liberty High School in 1945, and from KU in 1950 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He currently lives in Pullman, WA, where he was for many years a member of the engineering faculty at Washington State University. When he was a freshman in high school, another distinguished KU Alumnus was a senior in the band - MAX FALKENSTEIN (flute/piccolo). Max was honored during the 2005-2006 school year when he "retired" as the radio "voice of the Jayhawks" after 60 years of broadcasting KU football and basketball.

SHANNON (O’TOOLE )MASON (clarinet and saxophone) and husband Chris had their first child on June 25th ---- Chris and Shannon’s first wedding anniversary.  Thomas Michael Mason was a healthy 7 pounds, and 20 inches long.  Shannon is assistant band director at Seaman HS in Topeka.

JARROD (tuba) and KATE (NEELY) WILLIAMS (flute/piccolo) sent this e-mail on August 5th:  “Daniel was born today at 5:16pm and is 2 lbs, 13 oz, and 15.3 inches long.  We had hoped to let him cook a little longer, but he felt it was time to evacuate the building this afternoon.  The whole process took 1 hr. and 15 minutes, start to finish.  He’s doing fine, breathed on his own at birth, cried at birth, and has good color.  We are looking at 6 weeks minimum in the NICU (Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit) before he comes home.   Kate is doing well and will be from the hospital on Monday.”   Later updates tell us that Daniel has made good progress, and is doing well.  His sister Betsy, recently celebrated her 3rd birthday.  Jarrod is principle tubist with the United States Naval Academy Band.

CHRISTY (KLEINSORGE) LOSS (clarinet, saxophone) and husband Jason have had a spectacular summer!  Christy gave birth to triplets in Kansas City on August 8th.  The 3 girls weighed 4 lbs, 3 lbs 15.3 oz, and 3 lbs 13.5 oz.  Their names are Ashlyn Laura Ann, Calista Ruth Braden, and Norah Irene Spencer.  At last report, everyone is doing fine!  Christy may be able to have some practical application for her PhD in Child Psychology!

JENNY HAILE (percussion) is still living in Overland Park.  Jenny says, “….I worked 3 years for Arthur Anderson…then a little thing call Enron happened.  I had a great opportunity to start a company (called MarketSphere) with 40 others from Andersen.  Four years later we are a multi-million dollar company that is located in 6 Midwest market areas.  Check us out at www.marketsphere.com.  My official title is Director of Human Capital Solutions.”  Jenny was recently selected by the Kansas City Business Journal as one of the “Top 25 Women Who Mean Business in Kansas City”.

AARON ROBICHAUD (trombone) was accepted into the graduate school at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, where he will begin work on his masters degree in trombone performance.  Aaron is a fourth generation KU graduate in the Robichaud/Hemenway family, and a third generation music graduate, following his parents JON (trombone), DIXIE (BME in vocal music education), and grandmother Jeane Callahan Hemenway, class of ’55.

JON ROBICHAUD (trombone) was recently named as a recipient of the BandWorld Legion of Honor award.  He will be honored at the annual Sousa Foundation awards ceremony during the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago.  Now in his 29th year of teaching, Jon is Director of Bands and Fine Arts Coordinator at Blue Springs South High School in Missouri.  His band was invited to be in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, DC and has made three appearances with two bands in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.  His concert bands have received superior ratings every year since 1985.  Regarding factors shaping his career, Jon said, “I was impressed during my high school experience by my band director, Don Caneva, and decided to make a career out of music.  My education at the University of Kansas under Robert Foster continues to be a source of inspiration”.

PAMELA MALINOWSKI (trombone) passed away on August 2nd in Hayward, CA.  She is survived by her loving companion, Manuel Constancio, her parents and grandmother, a sister and a brother. Pam was a Petty Officer Musician 2nd class for the US Navy, and was stationed in San Diego for 5 years, and then in Hawaii for another 3 years before moving to the Bay area.

MIKE HANNSZ (trumpet) spent 2005 in Kuwait on US Customs mission.  He is now a police officer in Bonner Springs, and lives in Liberty, MO.

JIM and SARA (KLASSEN) HOLLINGSWORTH (tuba) are now living in El Dorado, where Jim is band director at El Dorado Middle School.  Sara is teaching middle school math in Haysville.  Maybe in their spare time, they play tuba duets?

JEFF HODGES (trumpet) has left J.W. Pepper/Wingert Jones Music to return to teaching.  Jeff has accepted a job as band director at West Middle School in Kansas City, KS.  Prior to his work at J.W. Pepper/Wingert Jones, he was band director at Desoto High School.

SARAH (FOX) NIILEKSELA (flute) and husband Chris have moved to Lawrence, where Chris has entered a PhD program in school psychology.  Sarah is working at the Immanuel Lutheran Childhood Center, and plans to “start my own  music therapy business here in town so I can get back to what I love”.

KRISTEN UMBARGER-KEENE (trumpet) was recently married to Steve Keene, who also plays trumpet in the “Icicle Brass”, the brass quintet in which Kristin plays. You can check them out at <iciclebrass.org>

SARA KELLY (clarinet, saxophone) recently gave birth to a son, Ethan, who weighed in at a hefty 9 pounds, 11 oz., and was 21 1/2 inches long.  Sara taught for two years in Blytheville, AR, and is now working toward her MME degree at the University of Arkansas.


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