• State Executive Board - Elected
• State Board of Representatives - Elected | Appointed | Directed | Hired

State Executive Board (June, 2017 - June, 2018)

President 

Past President

Mike Moeller ~ Mahtomedi High School

As an instrumental music educator, Michael Moeller has the privilege of teaching students at Mahtomedi High School in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. At Mahtomedi, Michael teaches two concert bands, three jazz ensembles, the Zephyr Pep Band, and weekly individual and small group lessons. Additional responsibilities include teaching guitar class, class piano and AP Music Theory.

Michael is active throughout Minnesota as an adjudicator, clinician, and low brass performer. Michael holds degrees from Wartburg College and the University of St. Thomas.

Secretary

Nora Tycast ~ Spring Lake Park High School

secretary@mbda.org

Nora Tycast is in her 16th year of teaching and her 10th year of teaching at Spring Lake Park High School. Nora received her Music Education degree from  the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her Master’s Degree in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Prior to teaching at SLPHS, Nora taught  in the Hopkins School district, and opened a new arts-and-technology high school in Miami, Florida. She has presented at both the MBDA Summer Symposium and MMEA  Annual Conference.  As a literacy coach and equity team member she has found that concentration on literacy and 21^st century skills has helped to develop a strong, musically sound, and academically relevant ensemble classroom.

Treasurer

Keith Koehlmoos ~ Prior Lake High School

State Board of Representatives (Elected, 2-year term):

Northeast President (NEMBDA)

Britta Bauer - St. Francis

Central President (CMBDA)

Nicole Clark - Providence Academy

nicole.clark@providenceacademy.org

Nicole is currently in her fifteenth year as Band Director and Music Teacher at Providence Academy. Since her arrival in 2003, the band program has gone through exponential growth from 55 members to 185 members.  Under her direction the Symphonic (Upper School) Band at the academy started its superior ratings at both the MSHSL Large Group and Solo/Ensemble competitions.  Besides implementing a full 5-12 grade instrumental program for the academy she started the school’s jazz band and has participated in numerous pit-orchestras for the school’s musicals.  In addition to directing bands at the academy Mrs. Clark has taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 6th grade, and 7th grade general music as well as Middle School Choir. Currently she is the director of the Cadet (5th grade) and Concert (MS) Bands as well as the MS chapel choir.  She also coordinates and accompanies music for the Middle School liturgy each week.  She is involved in NAfME, MMEA, and CMBDA.

A diverse background in music education is what led Mrs. Clark to teaching at Providence Academy. She graduated with the highest honors from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with concentrations in both instrumental and vocal music.  Her performance background includes recitals in alto saxophone, piano and voice.  She had an internship in Middle School Band, Jazz Band, and High School Choir in Rice Lake, WI.  She taught Middle School and High School Choir, Chamber Choir, General Music, and all of the school’s woodwind lessons in Spring Grove, MN.   Before coming to Providence Academy she served as the Middle School Concert Band director, assistant High School Marching Band director, and Middle School General Music teacher in Lake City, MN.  

In addition to teaching, Mrs. Clark has served as a music director and cantor at the Newman Center Parish in La Crosse, and a cantor at numerous parishes in the Twin Cities.

Southeast President (SEMBDA)

Jim Jacobsen - Hastings High School

Jimhjacobsen@gmail.com

Jim Jacobsen joined the staff of Hastings High School in 2010. At Hastings High School, he directs the Wind Ensemble, Varsity Band (a freshman Concert Band), Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles and teaches instrumental lessons. Before coming to Hastings High School, Jim was a Band Director at Eagan High School and Apollo High School in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. Jim also serves as the Ensemble Coordinator for the River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps – a DCI Open Class finalist drum corps.

Jim has directed marching bands, drumlines, and percussion ensembles throughout the state, including many award-winning groups. He has presented music clinics & presentations and is an active adjudicator throughout the Midwest for various solo and ensemble, large group and marching band competitions.

Jim Jacobsen is an active performer, performing as a percussionist in the Sheldon Theatre Brass Band and the contemporary worship band at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Jacobsen has also performed with two Drum and Bugle Corps; the Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio and Minnesota Brass from the Twin Cities.  Jim was the director of the River Valley Band (community band) from 2010 to 2016 and serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the David Swenson Foundation at St. Cloud State University.  He is currently serving as the South East region President for the Minnesota Band Director’s Association.

Jim Jacobsen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from St. Cloud State University and a Master’s degree in Conducting from the American Band College program at Southern Oregon University. Jim and his family reside in Hastings, MN.

South Central President (SCMBDA)

Nickole Bowie- Martin County West Schools

nickole_bowie@martin.k12.mn.us

Nickole Bowie is currently Director of Bands at Martin County West Schools following four years of teaching in Colorado and two years of teaching in Oklahoma. Bowies responsibilities include 5th Grade Beginning band, 6th Grade Band, Junior High Band, High School Concert Band, two jazz ensembles, pep band, drum line, independent music courses and lessons. She also directs the Martin County West Jr./Sr. High Marching Band in the summer.

Originally from Sherburn MN, Bowie graduated from Southwest State University in Marshall, MN with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. She also earned a Masters in Technology in Education from Lesley University in Cambridge MA.

She continues to be involved in music outside of the school day as a clarinetist for the Minnesota River Valley Wind Ensemble and playing/conducting for her local Trimont Area Centennial Band. Nickole Bowie lives in Trimont, MN with her husband, Linh.

Southwest President (SWMBDA)

Amy Labat - Edgerton Public Schools

alabat@edgertonpublic.com

Northwest President (NWMBDA)

Kristine Schuldt - Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley

kschuldt@graceville.k12.mn.us

Kristine Schuldt is in her second year at Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley Schools. She is originally from Mankato, MN. She received her bachelor of arts degree in music from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 2007. At Concordia, she studied trumpet and percussion privately, and performed in several ensembles, including the Concordia Band, Concordia Orchestra, Jazz I, and percussion ensembles. Ms. Schuldt attended MSU-Mankato for teacher licensure, and completed the program in 2011.

Prior to teaching at CGB, Ms. Schuldt taught in the Wheaton, Perham, and Indus school districts. At CGB, she directs the senior high and junior high bands and choirs in addition to jazz band and pep band duties. She is an active member of the Minnesota Band Director's Association, serving as president of the northwest region board. She is also a member of the Minnesota Music Educator's Association.

Ms. Schuldt is active as a performer in the area, and participates in several ensembles including the M State Concert Band (Fergus Falls), Lakes Area All-Stars Jazz Band (Fergus Falls), and Lakes Area Community Band (Detroit Lakes). In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and doing photography.

State Board of Representatives (Appointed)

Membership Chair

 

 

Bradley Mariska~Austin High School

membership@mbda.org

Bradley Mariska has been the Associate Director of Bands at Farmington High School since 2016. At FHS, he conducts the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz II, Jazz III, and is the Assistant Director of the Farmington Tiger Marching Band. Prior to FHS, Mariska taught for four years at Austin High School and for eight years at Pine City High School.

He and his ensembles have received numerous awards. The AHS Wind Ensemble appeared at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic in 2013 and Pine City was named to the list of “Best Communities for Music Education in America” three times during his tenure. In 2012, School Band and Orchestra Magazine named Mariska one of the nation’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” Mariska was named Educator of the Year by the Austin Rotary Club in 2013 and KAAL-TV named him as an Excellent Educator in 2014. Mariska has served as an All-State Band Section Coach and has served as a Director on the boards of several arts organizations including the Austin Area Commission for the Arts, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and the Pine Center for the Arts. He currently maintains a studio of private low brass students and taught for two years at MacPhail Center for Music at both their Apple Valley and Austin locations.

A native of Waterville, Minnesota, Mariska earned a B.A. in Music Education from Buena Vista University (Storm Lake, IA) and an M.A. in Musicology from the University of Maryland. While at Maryland, Mariska was the Manager of the American Bandmasters Association Archives and Research Center. His work at the Research Center spawned an interest in the history of early American bands and his scholarly paper “Opera Music as Repertoire for Band,” was accepted by the Society for American Music for presentation at their National Convention.

Mariska’s favorite band-related memory is convincing Senator Al Franken to play cowbell with his band during a school visit. Mariska repeatedly stopped the rehearsal, reminding the former SNL writer, “I’ve got a fever… and the only prescription is more cowbell.”

Honor Band Audition Co-Chairs

Rachel Miller - Zumbrota-Mazeppa Middle School 

rachelm@zmsch.k12.mn.us

Rachel Miller is in her 5th year of teaching and her 4th year of teaching 5th through 8th grade band with the Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District. She previously taught 6th through 8th grade instrumental music at Big Lake Middle School. Rachel is a Music Education graduate of Concordia College and is currently working on her Master's Degree in Educational Technology Leadership from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In addition to co-coordinating the MBDA State Honor Band auditions, she is also involved with the Southeast MBDA board as a co-coordinator for the Southeast First and Second Year Band Festival. Outside of teaching band, Rachel enjoys teaching swimming lessons and is one of the facilitators for the Zumbrota-Mazeppa LEGO Robotics Team. She currently lives in Rochester with her very adorable cat, Shasta.

Beth Claybaugh - Pierz

 Honor Band Event Coordinator

Jazz Honor Band Audition Coordinators

Ben Bussey - MacPhail, Concordia St. Paul

benjamin.bussey@gmail.com

Nick Mason - New London Spicer

masonn@nls.k12.mn.us

Jazz Honor Band Coordinator

Steve Jennings - McNally Smith

steve.jennings@mcnallysmith.edu

Volunteer Coordinator

State Board of Representatives (Directed)

MMEA Band Vice President

Jennifer Gruepner

Perpich Center for the Arts Education

ASBDA Representative

Terri Svec ~ Buffalo

Terri Svec received a Bachelor of Music Education from East Carolina University and a Master of Science in Music Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She taught beginning and middle level band in the Chicago suburbs for five years prior to her current position at Buffalo Community Middle School. Her duties over the past 16 years have included band, choir, orchestra, classroom music, guitar and music technology. She has also been department chair and served on several district music committees and has been involved in piloting new music technologies in her shool. She is a member of MMEA/MENC and ASBDA in addition to MBDAand has served as Secretary and Treasurer for MBDA. She continues to perform on oboe with the Plymouth Concert Band and with small chamber groups throughout the west Metro area.

CBDNA Representative 

 Dr. Peter Haberman 

 NBA Representative

Keith Wander - Hawley

kwander@hawley.k12.mn.us

Keith Wander is the Director of Bands at Hawley High School.  He has held that position for 30 years.  He received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota in 1983 and A Master of Science in Music Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1995.  At Hawley he directs the Concert Band, 9th Grade Band, Jazz Band and Blues Band(Vocal and Instrumental group).  He also teaches music theory, theatre arts, directs the fall play, directs the one act play, and does stage direction, technical theatre, and pit orchestra for the Musical each year.  He is in his 6th year as Artistic Director of the Red River Boy Choir of Fargo, ND.

State Board of Representatives (Hired)

Web Manager

Sandra Riehl

Sandra is a Technology Integrationist in the Shakopee School system in combination with owning and running a web design business.  She has been merging her interests with technology and teaching for over 20 years.