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Music Programs

Our community is fortunate to have great music programs for students at all levels of the Knoxville, Iowa, School District. We are thankful for our school board and administrators, who have been committed to keeping our fine arts programs strong in the face of repeated funding cuts - we know this is not an easy task.

 

We are blessed with a team of incredibly talented teacher/directors who work with our children to make them better students, musicians, and citizens - we honor them for doing this challenging work, day in and day out, on weekends and in the summers and during many evenings. We cannot thank them enough.

The reason we all do this is for our kids. They are our future and our hearts. We know that strong arts education will make them smarter, happier, and more successful.

The Knoxville Music Boosters works to support and serve them all. We hope you can join us.

igh School Choir
Jackie Duffy, Instructor & Director

Jackie has directed the Concert Choir and Chamber Choir as well as the annual high school musical for 27 years, and counting! Jackie is also an active member of the Knoxville Community Chorus.

 

igh School 
Band
Benjiman McCartney, Instructor & Director

Bachelor of Music, Drake University

Ben is the director of the Marching Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, and Jazz Band, and also teaches two sections of Music Theory. He has been teaching at Knoxville since 2016.

 

Outside of the classroom, Ben continues to play around the Des Moines area with the Metro Brass Quintet and The Grand Ave. Ruckus brass band. He has also had the privilege to make music with his father in the Quad Cities as well as the Karl King Band. Aside from music, he enjoys playing golf, playing as much basketball as he can, and water skiing. 

 

Elementary & Middle School

General Music
& Guitar Group

Carla Bauer, Instructor & Director

Bachelor of Music Education from Iowa Wesleyan University

Carla is General Music teacher at Northstar and at the Middle School. She also works with the after-school Folk Guitar Group. She has been teaching at Knoxville since 1994. 

 

Outside of school, she has been in Community Chorus and teaches guitar, bass guitar, and vocal lessons privately Currently, she is involved in Grace Notes, a choir at First United Methodist Church. She also has three young boys who are currently 5, 7, and 9 years of age which makes for no dull moments in the Bauer house!

 

We asked Carla what inspires her to teach Music:

 

"I remember coming home from Kindergarten and saying that I had the best day, because I had music class with Mr. David Ward and he was fun!  I was fortunate to have him as my music teacher through my sophomore year in high school . He and his wife, Jan were a great musical team.  She had two degrees, one in science education and one in music education.  She taught science at the high school and also accompanied our choirs as well as taught us a lot about music.  We had a very successful music program for such a small school (Moravia).  We had 110 kids in our entire high school and 75 were in choir and about that many in band.  Our concert choirs and small groups received many 1 ratings at state contest. Our show choir "Flipside"  won many competitions. My final 2 years in high school I also had wonderful directors.  Mark Adcock and Sharon Burch. 

 

The reason I still do what I do is because of the kids.  There is nothing I love more than when I see a student love music and start to get how it all works.  Music is so much more than a subject in school.  It is way for people to be more human.  I feel it is not a "Special" but an essential.  It gives some kids purpose.  There are students who don't truly feel like they fit in until they find that group of kids who make music and life long friends.

Middle School
Band
Tim McBride, Instructor & Director

Bachelor of Music Education from St. Ambrose University

Tim is the Director of the Middle School 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Bands, as well as the Middle School Jazz Band. He has been teaching at Knoxville since 2011.

 

When he's not working at KMS Tim plays percussion and piano and  assists Mr McCartney with Marching Band. In his spare time, he likes to work on projects around the house, play video games, and travel with is wife, Erin, who is also a teacher in the Knoxville district. 

 

We asked Tim what inspires him to be a music teacher.

 

"I grew up in Washington, Iowa, where both of my parents were music teachers. My dad was a band director, and my mom was a choir director. I guess it's safe to say that my family was very musical.  In high school I had the privilege of studying under the direction of Tom Wehr, which is ironic because he taught band here in Knoxville for many years. I love teaching music because it can give my students a safe place to be in the school."

Christian Hayden.jpg
Middle School
Choir & General Music
Christian Hayden, Instructor & Director

Mr Hayden is new to the Knoxville School District this year, and we will have more information about him soon. Welcome, Mr. Hayden!

Elementary School

General Music

Sarah Rodilloso, Instructor & Director

Bachelor of Music Education from Wartburg College

Sarah has taught General Music at West Elementary to Kindergarten through 2nd Graders since 2012. 

 

 

Outside of school, Sarah enjoys reading, going on walks, watching tv, and playing video games.

We asked Sarah what inspires her to teach music.

 

"I have always been surrounded by music. I come from a very musical family. I didn't seriously think about going into music until high school. My high school choir teacher was an amazing person and inspired me to go into music. I love working with the little ones and doing things like playing games with them and watching them develop new skills. They are very willing to try new things and don't mind when I get a little silly in class.  Music is a skill that all kids can excel with.

 

2017-2018 Upcoming Events

Stay tuned for concert and competition dates.

Elementary School

Folk Guitar Group

Katie Spriggs, Instructor & Director

Katie is a 4th Grade Teacher at Northstar Elementary, who also directs the after-school Folk Guitar Group, which has just successfully completed it's 11th year!

 

2017-2018 Upcoming Events

Stay tuned for concert and competition dates.

© 2016 by Knoxville Music Boosters

Proudly created by Annie Leonard, the Prairie Wordsmith

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