Biography
After retiring from public school music education in 2012 Steve has increased his percussion course offerings and contact time at Simpson. Retirement has also provided him more opportunities for performing in pit orchestras for operas and musicals both on and off campus as well as performing for special events and with area bands and touring artists.
Steve serves on the staff of the Pella Community High School marching band as a percussion instructor and has an active private lesson studio of central Iowa students. Since 2005 he has been recording for the Songs of Love Foundation with the band TFJ.
Expertise
At the present time Steve’s course offerings at Simpson include Percussion Methods, Percussion Pedagogy, and Percussion Literature courses as well as instructing the Percussion Ensemble and the Percussion Studio.
Steve serves as an adjudicator for solos, small ensembles and large groups and is also an Iowa Bandmasters Association mentor; coaching band directors in the areas of concert, marching, and jazz bands. As a percussion consultant he provides repair and tuning services as well as percussion purchase recommendations for band directors.
Awards
- President of the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association, 1978-79
- President of the Jazz Educators of Iowa, 1989-90
- Pella Community Schools chosen as the IMEA Exemplary Music Program, 1994
- President of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, 1994-95
- Selected for inclusion in the School Band and Orchestra’s magazine article “50 Director’s Who Make a Difference”, 2002
- Recipient of the Karl King Active Service Award from the Iowa Bandmasters Association, 2011
Credentials
- B.A. Music Education, Central College, Pella, IA, 1974
- M.A. Music Education, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, 1981
- Further graduate studies at Drake, Iowa State, University of Iowa, UNI, University of Northern Colorado, and VanderCook
Memberships
- Iowa Bandmasters Association
- Percussive Arts Society
Presentations
Percussion Curriculum clinic for the Iowa Music Educators Conference
4-Mallet Technique clinics for PAS Iowa Days of Percussion
Marching Band Organization clinic for the Iowa Bandmasters Conference