Tag Archives: Performing Arts Teachers

Runyon, Kaflik, and Marque lead students in Macy’s Parade

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There’s plenty of excitement in the air as parade fans get ready for the return of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade festivities tomorrow. The parade was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. Among the young people scheduled to march in the parade this year are the Marching Bulldogs from Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Indiana. These capable student musicians will perform under the leadership of three Band Directors: Tracy Runyon, Chris Kaflik, and John Marque.

Every year, several hundred bands from across the country apply to appear in the parade. The selection process is rigorous. Each band must submit a resume, a list of staff and band accomplishments, a video performance, and three recommendations from other band directors. “We are not only representing Brownsburg,” says Tracy Runyon, “but also the whole state, as we are the only band in Indiana who will be performing.”

Tracy, Chris, and John will be escorting the entire band to New York City. This includes 205 students, 20 staff members, in addition to parents, siblings, other relatives and friends. This brings the grand total to 465 people heading to the Big Apple.

Brownsburg High School Instructors, from left to right, John Marque, Tracy Runyon, Chris Kaflik, will lead their student musicians in this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: Towne Post Network.

Tracy Runyon joined the Brownsburg staff in 1997. He teaches band, jazz band, and marching band, and assists with the middle school bands. Tracy earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Indiana State University and his Master’s degree in Music Technology from Indiana University.

Chris Kaflik joined the Brownsburg staff in 2016. He teaches band, color guard, jazz band, and marching band, and assists with the middle school bands. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Ball State University.

John Marque joined the Brownsburg staff in 2016. He teaches percussion grades 6  through 12, jazz band, concert band, percussion ensemble, and marching band. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Miami University in Ohio, and his Master’s degree in Music with an emphasis in Jazz Studies from Indiana University.

Stephen A. Howard to lead “Marching Stars” in Macy’s Parade

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Stephen A. Howard, Director of Bands for the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, Texas, will lead his “Marching Stars” in the 2021 Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: the Ann Richards School.

Like many people, I make it a tradition to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving Day. The parade will make a triumphant return this year, after having been cancelled last year due to the pandemic. For me, one of the highlights of the annual event is watching the young people from all over the country as they perform in a variety of high school marching bands. This year, the marching band from Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, Texas, under the leadership of Stephen A. Howard will perform in the parade.

The Ann Richards School is a public all-girls school in the Austin Independent School District that serves grades 6-12. The school’s “Marching Stars” are the nation’s only all-female Marching Band. Under Stephen’s leadership, the Marching Stars have been named a Bands Of  America (B)A) Regional Class Champion four times. In addition, the Ann Richards Color Guard program has earned accolades in the Texas Color Guard Circuit, including being named the 2017 Scholastic Novice Champion, the 2018 Scholastic Regional A Bronze Medalist, and the 2019 Scholastic AA Silver Medalist.

Prior to working at the Ann Richards School, Stephen was an Associate Director of Bands at James Bowie High School in Austin, Texas. At Bowie, he earned Division 1 ratings with the Freshman Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, and Wind Ensembles 2 and 3. The Bowie High School Outdoor Performing Ensemble also garnered success during Stephen’s tenure, being named a UIL 5A State Finalist in 2008, 2010, and 2012, a Grand National Finalist in 2009 and 2012, and a consistent BOA Regional Class Champion and Super Regional Finalist. His Winter Guards competed at the Texas Color Guard Circuit State Championships, where both the JV and Varsity teams were named class champions in 2014. The Varsity team went on to appear in the Scholastic Open Class Finals at the WGI World Championships.

For his work with young musicians, Stephen has earned many impressive honors. In 2015, he was awarded the Randy Julia Service Award from TCGC. In 2018, Mr. Howard was recognized as an Educator of Excellence by the Young Women’s Preparatory Network. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, and is an active adjudicator in the Marching Band and Winter Guard world. He is a past President of the Texas Color Guard Circuit.

Stephen is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Radford University in Radford, Virginia, where he concentrated in both Instrumental and Vocal Music Education. He earned his Master’s degree in Music from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where he studied Instrumental Conducting.

Wilma Melson Grant authors guide to theater programs

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Retired elementary school teacher Wilma Melson Grant of San Pablo, California, has published an informative guide to running successful theater arts programs. Photo credit: Delta Kappa Gamma, International.

Many excellent educators are often more than willing to share their expertise with colleagues. This is true of Wilma Melson Grant, a retired elementary school teacher and theater arts director from California who has just published a guide book for establishing and running successful theater arts programs in the schools.

Elementary school teachers or parents of an elementary school student who love the theater but have no theatrical experience would benefit greatly from consulting the newly released book, entitled Children’s Theater: Setting Their Spirits Free!  Wilma authored the guide to give assistance to colleagues and others involved organizing and running a children’s drama program. In the volume, Wilma gives information for teaching students how to write their own script from their favorite book, and how to go on to write their own version of popular stories. She shows fellow teachers how to integrate drama and theater into their classrooms by providing tested strategies. She also shows how to assess and organize the skills of parents and faculty members into the essential roles of building and supporting a drama club.

Prior to her retirement, Wilma taught for many years at Tara Hills Elementary School in San Pablo, California. There she established and directed the Drama Club in 1990 as a response to multiple budget cuts which decimated arts programs in the schools.

For the many years she dedicated to working with theater arts programs in public schools, Wilma has earned many accolades. She has been inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma International, an organization that supports women educators. In addition, she garnered the KPIX5 San Francisco Jefferson Award in 2013. The Jefferson Awards are awarded at both national and local levels. Local winners are individuals who engage in extraordinary public service work without the expectation of recognition. This was especially true of Wilma, who continued her work of bringing a fully-formed drama program to school sites, even after she retired from the classroom.

To purchase Wilma’s book, click on this link to amazon.com or this link to Barnes and Noble. Enjoy!

Music educator Ken Tuttle once performed with notable celebrities

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Ken Tuttle

California music educator Ken Tuttle once performed with notable celebrities. (Photo credit: San Bernardino Sun)

Many excellent music educators have also earned fame as performers. One of these was Ken Tuttle, a choir teacher from California, who also performed with notable celebrities.

Ken was born on July 28, 1952, in Painesville, Ohio. As a youngster, he attended Western High School in Las Vegas. After his high school graduation, Ken earned his undergraduate degree from Chapman University in Orange, California He earned his Master’s degree in Music with an emphasis in Choral Conducting Performance from the the University of Nevada, Reno.

Ken’s career as a teacher of the performing arts spanned 37 years. He worked at schools in Reno, Las Vegas, Anaheim, and finally settled at Redlands High School in San Bernardino County, California. There he served as the Chair of the Vocal Music Department for 24 years, until his retirement in 2015. In addition to teaching choir, Ken taught piano and music theory classes, and he was involved in many theater productions. Many of his students were Special Education students. Ken escorted his students to prestigious competitions and festivals, where the groups often earned first-place trophies and gold medals

For his work in the classroom, Ken garnered the Outstanding Choral Music Educator of the Year by the California Music Educators Association in 2012. In 2016, he was named a Hero of the Arts by the Redlands Community Music Association. Ken frequently served as an adjudicator or guest clinician for festivals, honor choirs, and all-state choirs throughout the Western United States. He also served a stint as the President of the Southern California Vocal Association.

Not only was Ken an outstanding classroom educator, but he was also a sought-after musician. He served as a soloist with the William Hall Chorale, touring all over Europe. He also sang in a choir that performed back-up vocals for Barry Manilow and Paul Anka.

Ken Tuttle passed away on December 8, 2020, in Highland, California. To read more about him, see this article published in the San Bernardino Sun.

Retired music teacher Rushia Stephens passes away from coronavirus

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Retired choral music teacher Rushia Stephens of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away from coronavirus on March 19, 2020.

Sadly, many outstanding educators have succumbed to the coronavirus. One of these is Rushia Stephens, a retired teacher from Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia. Rushia passed away on March 19, 2020. She was only 65 years old.

Rushia was born September 7, 1954. As a teenager, Rushia was one of the first black students to attend what was known then as Northside School of Performing Arts. After her graduation, she went on to study first at Morris Brown College in Sumter, South Carolina, and then at Ithaca School of the Arts in New York. There she sang alto soprano and performed in the theater. She also was a  member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Vocal Music Performance in 1974.

After earning her Bachelor’s degree, Rushia returned home, where she taught choral music for many years at her alma mater, which by then had become North Atlanta High School. During that time she also earned a Master’s degree in Music Education from Georgia State University in 1992.

Rushia’s career with Atlanta Public Schools spanned 28 years.The dynamic educator will be remembered fondly by her former students. “From the first moment that you met her, she commanded the room,” remembers Zipporah Taylor, one of those former students. “She had a beautiful smile. I remember being a freshman and receiving my first solo in the Messiah and just thinking how she was giving me all of these tips and said,  ‘Darling, you must perform–the stage is yours!'”

After her retirement as an educator, Rushia went back to teaching music at Montclair Elementary School in DeKal. She busies herself with organizing plays and musical performances for younger students.

To read more about this amazing educator, see this link at the Atlantic Journal.