On behalf of the Northwest Missouri State University Board of Regents and the Northwest Leadership Team, it is a privilege to extend our congratulations to the Northwest Wind Symphony on their performance at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference.
We are incredibly proud of Dr. Katy Strickland and her students for representing Northwest on such a distinguished stage. Dr. Strickland’s commitment to musical excellence is well known, and her leadership continues to inspire remarkable performances from our students.
Today’s concert reflects not only their hard work and dedication but also the spirit of excellence that defines Northwest Missouri State University. This experience will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable highlights of their collegiate journey. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity for our students to share their talents with you. At Northwest, our mission is centered on student success—every student, everyday. Through profession-based learning experiences like this, our students gain the confidence and skills that set them apart as leaders in their fields.
We invite you to learn more about the exceptional programs and opportunities that Northwest offers—whether by visiting our campus in Maryville or exploring us online.
Lance Tatum, Ph.D. President Northwest Missouri State University
Dear participants and friends of the Nebraska Music Educators Association,
As the provost of Northwest Missouri State University, I am honored to welcome you to the Northwest Wind Symphony performance at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference. I congratulate our students and their director, Dr. Katy Strickland, for earning this honor. Our students are very excited to share their talents and love for music with you. This is an opportunity they will never forget and will forever be a bright achievement of their college careers.
Under the amazing direction of Dr. Strickland our students represent excellence, skill and passion for music to go with their Northwest pride. They represent the talented students of Northwest’s School of Fine and Performing Arts, which continues to flourish and bring beauty and joy to our university, community and world. These students share their extraordinary gifts in a way that uplifts positivity and appreciation of the arts.
I hope you can sit back and enjoy the amazing music that our wind symphony has prepared for you. We are extremely proud to have them represent Northwest Missouri State University and know that Dr. Strickland and our students will not disappoint. We are proud of the quality of instruction provided at Northwest and of the commitment and talent of these students who represent our institution at such a high level of excellence.
Sincerely,
Jamie Hooyman, Ed.D. Provost Northwest Missouri State University
Dear Colleagues,
As the Dean of the College of Arts, Communication and Social Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University and a proud member of the music education community, I am delighted to welcome you to this special performance by the Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony at the 2025Nebraska Music Educators Conference. It is both an honor and a pleasure for me to attend and support this event for two reasons: first, I am a music educator and a former member of the Nebraska Music Educators Association, and second, I am an alumnus of Northwest Missouri State University and this very ensemble.
Throughout my life, music has been a constant source of meaning and comfort. In elementary school, it helped me express my emotions and understand others; in middle and high school, it guided me toward self-discovery and belonging. In college, music became a foundation for developing communication, collaboration, and critical thinking—skills that have shaped my career in higher education and leadership. The students you see here today are a testament to the lasting influence of your teaching and mentorship. For that, I offer my deepest and most sincere gratitude.
I am immensely proud of this ensemble and their director, Dr. Katy Strickland. A gifted musician and devoted educator, Dr. Strickland exemplifies how the art of instrumental music can cultivate both artistic excellence and a sense of community. Today’s performance stands as a testament to her leadership and reflects the same dedication our faculty and staff bring to supporting our students at Northwest Missouri State University.
Our Wind Symphony is composed of students from diverse backgrounds who are pursuing a wide range of academic disciplines. While many are music majors, others study healthcare, business, computer science, education, agriculture, the sciences, and the humanities. At Northwest, we understand that the arts enrich every field of study by helping shape future professionals who carry with them creativity, empathy, and an enduring appreciation for music and education.
I warmly invite you to visit our beautiful campus in Maryville, Missouri, and experience firsthand the genuine care that defines our community. At Northwest, we deeply value the arts and the role they play in connecting us. It is a true privilege to share this moment of music and celebration with you today.
Warmest Regards,
Dr.
Elise Hepworth Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Northwest Missouri State University
Dear Esteemed Nebraska Music Educators,
On behalf of Northwest Missouri State University, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to this special performance by the Northwest Wind Symphony at the 2025 Nebraska Music Education Association Conference and In-Service Clinic. We are honored to participate in this prestigious gathering of educators, students, and musicians, who are committed to advancing the art and impact of music education. It is a privilege to share in the spirit of collaboration and inspiration that defines this annual event.
The Northwest Wind Symphony, conducted by Dr. Katy Strickland, represents a cornerstone of our University’s rich musical heritage. With a longstanding tradition of excellence, the ensemble reflects the highest standards of artistry and educational purpose. Comprised of dedicated student-musicians from across our campus, the Wind Symphony performs a wide range of repertoire, embracing the full scope of the wind band canon. From historical masterworks to compelling contemporary compositions, and from traditional forms to eclectic, genre-blending works, the ensemble is committed to offering performances that are both artistically engaging and intellectually enriching.
This diversity of programming not only showcases the remarkable versatility and musicianship of our students but also embodies the broader mission of the Northwest Music Program, which focuses on fine-tuning students into masters of their craft by cultivating creativity, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Bachelor’s degrees are available in music or music with an emphasis choice of audio production, business, or wellness. Bachelor of Music Education degrees cover K-12 general and instrumental music, or K-12 general and vocal music.
NMEA members and musicians alike, thank you for your continued support of music and music education. We hope this performance not only resonates with you but also reminds you of the powerful role music plays in shaping lives, building communities, and connecting us all. Enjoy the performance!
With warmest regards,
Adam Zrust Chair, School of Fine and Performing Arts Northwest Missouri State University
Dear colleagues and musicians
As coordinator of the music program at NWMSU, it is my pleasure to welcome you to today’s performance of the Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony. Selection to perform at the Nebraska Music Educators Association conference is indeed an honor and we are excited for the opportunity to present our program.
The NMEA conference holds a special place in my heart. I vividly recall my time in All-State Band meeting and collaborating with outstanding musicians from around the state. Finding people with whom I shared a passion helped me on my path to a career in music. When I returned to Nebraska for my first teaching job, I watched my students find the same awe and inspiration at NMEA that I did. The new joy for me, though, was in finding camaraderie among my Nebraska colleagues (some of whom I knew from All-State) and in returning to my classroom with new repertoire and new things to try. Whether a teacher or a participant, I hope you consider Northwest as your partner in music education (even if we are from over the state line).
In my eyes and in the eyes of our students, Dr. Katy Strickland is an icon of music education. Her ear and her musicality are unparallelled, and her ensembles demonstrate an admirable clarity of sound, a beautiful balance, impeccable intonation, a captivating energy, and a rich sense of musicality. She supports our students and helps them to become better, more self-sufficient musicians, valuing them equally regardless of instrument or vocation. She is an inspiration to so many of our students and it is a joy to watch her bring together students from across campus and from around the region in exemplary music-making.
Still a band kid at heart despite decades as a professional singer and teacher, I still feel a magical frisson every time I hear our Northwest Wind Symphony, the same one I felt as a high schooler at NMEA All-State. It is my sincere hope that today’s performance sparks something similar in you!
Sincerely,
Paul Hindemith Music Program Coordinator Assistant Proffessor of Music- Voice Northwest Missouri State University
NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY WIND SYMPHONY
Dr. Katy Strickland, conductor
PROGRAM
DR. KATY STRICKLAND, CONDUCTOR
The Hounds of Spring
Alfred Reed Piedmont Music Company (1921-2005)
Shenandoah
Omar Thomas omarthomas.com (b. 1984)
American Symphonette No. 2
Morton Gould
II. Pavanne (1913-1996)
I. Moderately Fast Mills Music/Alfred
NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY WIND SYMPHONY
I Know Moonrise
Jess Langston Turner Murphy Music Press (b. 1983)
Dr. Katy Strickland, conductor Dr. Jiwon Choi, collaborative piano
Iridessi
Ketahj Copely Murphy Music Press (b. 1998)
Joropo (Venezuelan Dance)
Moisés Moeiro Sánchez Amstel Music (1904-1979) Arr. Johan de Meji
DR. JIWON CHOI, PIANO
PROGRAM NOTES
Iridessi
Ketahj Copely (b. 1998)
Murphy Music Press
From the score:
“Iridessi as an embodiment of life and light. The piece begins with a shimmering small light from the percussion instruments and grows into a luminous and vibrant dance of discovery. Throughout the work, different club-type beats in the winds and percussion are used to give Iridessi the life it needs. I wanted to display the different types of colors associated with light- from warm to harsh and pastel colors to saturated palettes. Finally, at the end of the piece, after this electric dance from the ensemble, the music evaporates into the air, leaving only the metallic instruments to fade away into the iridescent and invisible.”
- program note by the composer
Shenandoah
Omar Thomas (b. 1984) omarthomas.com
Shenandoah is one of the most well-known and beloved Americana folk songs. Originally a river song detailing the lives and journeys of fur traders canoeing down the Missouri River, the symbolism of this culturally significant melody has been expanded to include its geographic namesake -- an area of the eastern United States that encompasses West Virginia and a good portion of the western part of Virginia -- and various parks, rivers, counties, and academic institutions found within.
Back in May of 2018, after hearing a really lovely duo arrangement of Shenandoah while adjudicating a music competition in Minneapolis, I asked myself, after hearing so many versions of this iconic and historic song, how would I set it differently? I thought about it and thought about it and thought about it, and before I realized it, I had composed and assembled just about all of this arrangement in my head by assigning bass notes to the melody and filling in the harmony in my head afterwards. I would intermittently check myself on the piano to make sure what I was imagining worked, and ended up changing almost nothing at all from what I’d heard in my mind’s ear.
This arrangement recalls the beauty of Shenandoah Valley, not bathed in golden sunlight, but blanketed by low-hanging clouds and experiencing intermittent periods of heavy rainfall (created with a combination of percussion textures, generated both on instruments and from the body). There are a few musical moments where the sun attempts to pierce through the clouds, but ultimately the rains win out. This arrangement of Shenandoah is at times mysterious, somewhat ominous, constantly introspective, and deeply soulful.
- program note by the composer
American Symphonette No. 2
Morton Gould (1913-1996)
Mills Music/Alfred
II. Pavanne
Pavanne is the second movement of Morton Gould’s American Symphonette No. 2, a symphonic suite written with a jazz influence and intended for radio performance. The Pavanne is one of Gould’s most often performed and recorded works, and is written as a short allegretto, lasting roughly four minutes. It opens with a jazzy muted trumpet melody over a walking bass line, with different instruments joining in and contributing to the replicated sounds of a 1940s big band.
Fragments of Gould’s Pavanne were later worked into jazz pieces including John Coltrane’s “Impressions,” Dizzy Gillespie’s “Bebop” and “April B,” and David Baker’s “Wes Montgomery in Memoriam.”
Gould recorded an orchestral version of this composition about three years after the release of Bill Finnigan’s more widely known dance band arrangement was featured on the flip-side of Glenn Miller’s Little Brown Jug. Gould transcribed the piece for band in 1961.
- program notes adapted from David Holsinger, www.windrep.org
I. Moderately Fast
Morton Gould (1913-1996) was an American composer, conductor and pianist who often blended classical forms with American popular styles including folk, gospel and, in the case of American Symphonette No. 2, jazz. His many awards include the Pulitzer Prize in 1995 and a 1994 Kennedy Center Honor.
Written for orchestral premier on a jazz radio show in 1938, American Symphonette No. 2 is a work in three movements with the opening movement only titled “Moderately Fast.” The piece blends jazz trumpet, tenor sax and trombone solos with lyrical flute and oboe melodies and romping, rhythmic low voice interjections. Currently out of print, Moderately Fast is rarely performed, unlike the second movement of the same work, Pavanne.
- program notes adapted from David Holsinger, www.windrep.org
I Know Moonrise
Jess Langston Turner (b. 1983)
Murphy Music Press
I Know Moonrise began its life as a work for choir with alto soloist adapted from this anonymous spiritual text from the mid-1800s:
I know moonrise, I know starrise, Lay dis body down.
I walk in de moonlight, I walk in de starlight, To lay dis body down.
The piece starts slowly and falteringly with a solo French horn taking the place of the alto voice in a poignantly blues-inflected melody. The music darkens as it passes out of moonlight into the graveyard and down into the grave. But on the other side of the grave waits joy, reconciliation, light, and rest.
I Know Moonrise was commissioned for the retirement of my father, Dr. Daniel Turner, after more than 40 years of service as director of bands, and head of the Department of Music Education at Bob Jones University, Greenville, S.C.
- program note by the composer
The Hounds of Spring
Alfred Reed (1921-2005)
Piedmont Music Company
When the hounds of spring are on winter’s traces, The mother of months in meadow or plain Fills the shadows and windy places
With lisp of leaves and ripple of rain
And soft as lips that laugh and hide
The laughing leaves of the trees divide, And screen from seeing and leave in sight
The god pursuing, the maiden hid.
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Atalanta in Calydon
“When the hounds of spring are on winter’s traces,” a magical picture of young love in springtime, forms the basis for the present purely musical setting, in traditional three-part overture form, of this lovely paean… an attempt to capture the twin elements of the poem, exuberant youthful gaiety and the sweetness of tender love, in an appropriate musical texture.
The poem, a recreation in modern English of an ancient Greek tragedy, appeared in print in 1865, when the poet was 28 years old. It made Algernon Swinburne literally an overnight success.
The Hounds of Spring was commissioned by, and is dedicated to, the John L. Forster Secondary School Symphonic Band of Windsor, Ontario, and its director, Gerald A.N. Brown. The first performance took place in Windsor on May 8th, 1980, by the aforementioned group, under the direction of the composer. -program note by the composer
Joropo (Venezuelan Dance)
Moisés Moeiro Sánchez (1904-1979)
arr. Johan de Meij
Amstel Music
Venezuelan pianist and composer Moisés Moleiro Sánchez’s most popular work is Joropo, composed for piano solo. This charming and lively work is a typical dance from Venezuela in 3/8 time. Johan de Meij, who was appointed regular guest conductor with the Simón Bolívar Youth Wind Orchestra in 2010, orchestrated Joropo for wind orchestra. It was written as an encore piece for the SBYWO, and is dedicated to the founder of El Sistema, Maestro José Antonio Abreu. It has become the favorite encore for the SBYWO for their concerts around the world. - program note from publisher
2025 NORTHWEST WIND SYMPHONY
Piccolo
Clare Simpson, Instrumental Music Education, Kansas City, MO
Flute
Zoe Bucher, Instrumental Music Education, Bedford, IA
Clare Simpson, Instrumental Music Education, Kansas City, MO
Allison Stickley, Political Science, Union Star, MO
Kayla Mason, Vocal Music Education, Harrisonville, MO
Oboe
Claire Richardson, Psychology, Kansas City, MO
Dr. Joseph Tomasso, Northwest Faculty, Elmhurst, IL
English Horn
Dr. Joseph Tomasso, Northwest Faculty, Elmhurst, IL
Bassoon
Chelsea Phillips, Instrumental Music Education, Bellevue, NE
Preston Hammonds, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Kansas City, MO
Clarinet
Alexanderia Fenimore, Instrumental Music Education, Bethany, MO
Mariah Anderson, Instrumental Music Education, Cameron, MO
Hayden Scammacca, Marine Biology, Raymore, MO
Isaiah Franco, Instrumental Music Education, Kansas City, MO
Maddie Proctor, Elementary Education, Cameron, MO
Annie Pope, Biology/Environmental Science, Lathrop, MO
Kaitlyn Brown, Instrumental Music Education, Maryville, MO
Bass Clarinet
Claire Parker, Instrumental Music Education, Liberty, MO
Kenny Riley, Bachelor of Arts (Music), Liberty, MO
Alto Saxophone
Clara Viau, Cellular/Molecular Biology, Maryville, MO
Brendan Schlomer, Instrumental Music Education, Indianola, IA
Tenor Saxophone
Isaiah Schieber, Instrumental Music Education, Maryville, MO
Baritone Saxophone
Emma Aborn, Music Education (Vocal and Instrumental Dual Certification), Lamar, MO
2025 NORTHWEST WIND SYMPHONY
Trumpet
Noah Krisko, Instrumental Music Education, Hannibal, MO
David Emerson, Mass Media: Broadcast Production/Music, Liberty, MO
Kyle Stuart, Instrumental Music Education, Maryville, MO
Sam Miller, Social Studies Education, Omaha, NE
Corban Springs, Audio Production, St. Joseph, MO
Dr. William Richardson, Northwest Faculty, Maryville, MO
Horn
Spencer Ackerman, Environmental Geology, Blue Springs, MO
Brayden Sexton, Instrumental Music Education, Huntsville, MO
Hannah Peetz, Geography/Environmental Geology, Seward, NE
Sophie Binkholder, Agricultural Education, Hermann, MO
Trombone
Brady Dillon, Instrumental Music Education, Raymore, MO
Payton Edmonds, Instrumental Music Education, Belton, MO
Christian Boswell, Management Information Systems: Web Devolopment, Kansas City, MO
Michaela Broadwell, Instrumental Music Education, Seward, NE
Euphonium
Austin Smith, Music, Atchison, KS
Emmalee Haddock, Instrumental Music Education, St. Joseph, MO
Tuba
Noah Stokes, Instrumental Music Education, Lee’s Summit, MO
Brandon Benjamin, Instrumental Music Education, Platte City, MO
Percussion
Payton Dollins, Instrumental Music Education, Liberty, MO
Zane Papek, Mathematics: Data Science Emphasis, Smithville, MO
Kaden Jones, Instrumental Music Education, Bethany, MO
Wesley Dwight, Instrumental Music Education, Hannibal, MO
Audrey Probst, Public Relations, Liberty, MO
Arianne Ringo, Instrumental Music Education, Lyons, NE
Dr. Adam Zrust, Northwest Faculty, Albion, NE
PERFORMER BIOS
KATY STRICKLAND
Dr. Katy Strickland currently serves as Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Northwest Missouri State University, where she directs the Northwest Wind Symphony, Bearcat Marching Band, Northwest Pep Band, and teaches coursework in Music Education and Conducting. In August of 2017 Dr. Strickland was awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education, an award sponsored by the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education and presented annually to “an outstanding faculty member of each of Missouri’s four-year public institutions.” From 2016-2021 she served as the Chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts and in the fall of 2022, she was named the Dennis C. Dau Endowed Professor of Instrumental Music.
Dr. Strickland has presented clinics and research at the state level in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Louisiana, and at the national level with Bands of America (Michigan), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) National Conference, and the Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities (TECSCU). She served as the National Band Association Missouri State Chair from 2016-2018.
Prior to her appointment at Northwest, Dr. Strickland taught instrumental music in the South Louisiana public schools for thirteen years along with serving on the Louisiana Music Educators Association Board of Directors. She earned her Bachelors, Masters, and PhD in Music Education from Louisiana State University, and serves frequently as an adjudicator and clinician of instrumental ensembles of all ages across the United States.
JIWON CHOI
Dr. Jiwon Choi is an accomplished pianist celebrated for her artistry as a collaborative performer, Educator, and soloist. She currently serves as Collaborative Pianist and the Dennis C. Dau Endowed Professor of Instrumental Music at Northwest Missouri State University. She has appeared in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall, and the Lied Center of Kansas. Her notable performances include the inaugural concert of the Seattle International Piano Festival and the U.S. premiere of Kapustin’s Variations, Op. 3 with the Northwest Jazz Ensemble. Internationally, she has served as a vocal coach at the Italian Operatic Experience in Urbania, Italy, and premiered contemporary works at Chicago’s International Beethoven Festival.
Dr. Choi’s honors include First Prize at the International Puerto Rico Collaborative Piano Competition, the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition, and the Golden Classical Music Award, and recognition in the American Prize competitions. At Northwest, she has received the CAS Dean’s Compass Award (2024), the Academic Impact Award (2022), and the Student Impact Award (2019) for her excellence in teaching and mentorship. She holds degrees from the University of Kansas, Roosevelt University, and Dong-A University, having studied with renowned pianists Steven Spooner, Meng-Chieh Liu, and Graham Scott. Her versatile career continues to inspire audiences and students alike through the transformative power of music.
NORTHWEST MUSIC FACULTY
Dr. Debra Brown, Music Education
Dr. Jiwon Choi, Collaborative Piano
Dr. Rachel Day, Voice/Music Theory
Dr. Max Gerhart, Low Brass/Bands
Dr. Paul Hindemith, Voice/Chair of Music
Dr. Sammy Holloman, Flute/Music Theory
Mrs. Stacy Lendt, Horn
Dr. Anthony Olson, Keyboard Instruments
Dr. William Richardson, Trumpet/Jazz
Dr. Shelby Shelton, Percussion
Ms. Ali Snyder, Clarinet/Musicology
Dr. Katy Strickland, Director of Bands/Music Education
Dr. Joseph Tomasso, Woodwinds/World Music
Dr. Adam Zrust, Director of Choral Activities/Chair, School of Fine and Performing Arts
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dr. Lance Tatum, University President
Dr. Jamie Hooyman, Provost
Dr. Elise Hepworth, Dean, College of Arts, Communication and Social Sciences
Dr. Adam Zrust, Chair, School of Fine and Performing Arts
Dr. Paul Hindemith, Chair of Music
Dr. Jiwon Choi
Dr. William Richardson
Dr. Joseph Tomasso
Maggie Bears, School of Fine and Performing Arts Office Manager
Ryan Griesinger and Karlee Terrill, Program Design
