NMEA Election Ballot Vote April 5 - May 3, 2021 - Nevada Music Educators Association
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
NMEA Election Ballot
Vote April 5 - May 3, 2021
President Elect Candidates
Christi Blahnik hails from Pittsburgh, PA where she obtained both a Bache-
lor of Science Degree in Music Education and a Bachelor of Music Degree
in Clarinet Performance from Duquesne University. Christi currently serves
as the Director of Bands at Damonte Ranch High School. Prior to her
Damonte Ranch High School appointment, she served as the Director of
Bands and Choirs at Douglas High School in Minden, Nevada from
2015-2018. Committed to serving her district and state, Christi served as
the High School Honor Band Coordinator for the Northern Zone from
2016-2018, and the WCSD Honor Band Co-Chair in 2019-2020. She will
begin her role as the WCSD High School Honor Band Chair in 2020-2021.
Ms. Blahnik also serves on the NMEA Board as the Nevada All-State Band
Northern Chair, and is responsible for organizing the auditions and logistics
of the All-State Band Festival. In 2018, Ms. Blahnik was awarded the NMEA
Christiana Blahnik New Music Educator of the Year Award at the All-State Festival. She will also
begin serving on the Duquesne University Music Alumni Advisory Commit-
tee in 2020-2021. As a performer, she has performed with local ensembles
such as the Reno Pops Orchestra, The Ruby Mountain Symphony, and The
Toccata-Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
James Gillette graduated from the University of Utah in 2006 with a degree
in music education. While in college, he participated in many instrumental
and choral ensembles on campus. He had the opportunity of performing all
over the United States, both in choral and instrumental performance. He
received a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Boston University in
September of 2011. He has taught in the Clark County School District for
the last twelve years. He is currently the Director of Bands and Choral
Studies at Boulder City High School in Boulder City, NV.
James Gillette
NMEA Election Ballot
Vote April 5 - May 3, 2021
President Elect Candidates Cont...
Amy Symes is in her 14th year as the choral director at K.O. Knudson Academy of the
Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada and in her 16th year as a teacher for the Clark County School
District. She is a 2005 graduate of The University of South Dakota where she received a
Bachelor of Music Education degree, with an emphasis in vocal performance and a 2013
graduate of Lesley University with a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with
an emphasis in Arts Integration. Mrs. Symes served as co-chair of the Nevada Music
Educators Association Middle School All-State Choir for 4 years. She has crafted profes-
sional development trainings on Arts Integration Best Practices that have been present-
ed at the local, state and national levels including; The Smith Center ConFABulation
Summer Institute and Magnet Schools of America National Conferences. Mrs. Symes
has been a member of the Nevada Department of Education Leadership Network, and
the Public Education Leadership Foundation. In addition, at her school site, Mrs Symes is
involved as a Department Chair, Arts Integration Co-Chair, and School Organizational
Amy Symes Team Member.
Under Mrs. Symes direction, her students have performed with The Tenors, Tim McGraw,
Clint Holmes, and Elisa Fiorillo. Her students have had countless opportunities to work
with professionals such as Greg Gilpin, composer and Otis Williams from The Tempta-
tions and master classes with many performers; such as the company of Matilda to Alvin
Alley’s Dance Troupes.
Chris Pierson is originally from Tucson, Arizona. He has resided in Las Vegas, Nevada
since 2016. Mr. Pierson received his Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Arizona
in Astronomy and Physics, as well as a Master’s degree in Teaching and Teacher
Education with emphasis in Music, Math, and Science. Mr. Pierson has Master’s
degrees in instrumental conducting and trumpet performance from Northern Arizona
University. He has taught band and orchestra at the middle school, high school, and
at the collegiate level since 1999 and has served as director of bands at Chaparral
High School in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2016. Mr. Pierson currently holds the office of
Southern Zone Representative for the Nevada Music Education Association. As
President of NMEA Mr. Pierson hopes to continue to build a stronger organization
with the capability to do more for Nevada’s music educators. He wants to further this
goal by continuing to bring all of Neavada’s constituent organizations under the
NMEA umbrella, and furthering the cause of giving all music educators a voice in the
Chris Pierson direction of music education regardless of their area of focus. When not teaching
music he enjoys time with his son Artemis, and wife Emily.
NMEA Election Ballot
Vote April 5 - May 3, 2021
Secretary Candidates
Mr. Jensen is a music educator, father, and husband. He currently
serves as a band director at Chaparral High School in Las Vegas,
Nevada where he also serves as the Performing Arts Department
Chair. Alongside his Co-Director Mr. Jensen teaches and adminis-
trates a large band program at Chaparral spanning 5 concert
bands and two Jazz Bands. The bands have a tradition of excel-
lence receiving high ratings at festivals all over the Southwest and
have been in demand to play for VIPs and at events around Las
Vegas including engagements on the strip, at the Billboard music
awards with Taylor Swift, the Latin Grammys, annually at the SEMA
show. Chaparral’s bands have a graduation rate of 100% going
back several years and annually have many band students earn
scholarships for musical merit. Chaparral is annually well-represent-
Daniel Jensen ed in the district honor band, and Nevada All-State Bands and
Orchestras.
Prior to teaching at Chaparral Mr. Jensen Jensen lived in the
Phoenix, and Tucson areas Arizona teaching High School band,
High School Choir, High School Orchestra, Jr. High Band, Jr. High
Orchestra, and Elementary General Music dating back to 2008.
I would be honored to serve as the Secretary for the NMEA Executive
Board. I currently am finishing my fifth year of teaching choir at Hyde
Park Middle School in Clark County School District. I have been
involved in NMEA all 5 years, and my students have greatly benefited
from NMEA events including Solo and Ensemble Festival and All
State Choir.
During this term I wish to expand my involvement in NMEA by
learning best practices for teaching and advocacy and sharing those
resources with our music education community. I want to serve as a
bridge of communication that connects decision-making to execution
for the association. I believe I would make a great candidate because
I am detail-oriented, an intentional listener, and care deeply about
the future of music education in Nevada. I value collaboration
amongst colleagues to continue bringing enriching musical experi-
ences to our students, especially during trying times that force us to
adapt as we all have this past year.
Lhara Groberg
You can also read
