Music Faculty
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Full Time Faculty
| Elke Overton | |||
Office: FA 102B Phone:636-481-3372 Email:eoverton@jeffco.edu Master of Music: University Of CincinnatiElke Overton is currently conducting the Wind Ensemble at Jefferson College and teaching Music Appreciation, Music Literature and World Music. Ms. Overton has a Bachelor`s Degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa and a Masters Degree in Wind Conducting from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Ms. Overton has studied conducting with wind conductors across the nation, including Frank Battisti, Alan McMurray, Mallory Thompson, Rod Winther, Jerry Junkin, Bob Reynolds and Wayne Jeffreys. She has been teaching and playing saxophone in the St. Louis metro area since 1993. She also remains active with professional organizations including the Conductor`s Guild, CBDNA, WASBE and MMEA. Ms. Overton has extensive experience teaching music at all levels - elementary, middle school, high school, community college and university. Ms. Overton`s previous positions were at Washington University, St. Charles Community College, Webster University and University of Missouri-St. Louis. At Washington University, she assisted with rehearsals with the Orchestra. At SCC, she worked as the Instrumental Music Coordinator and Assistant Music Professor; conducted both the Concert Band and the Orchestra; taught courses in the Music Department, including Music History and Conducting; and taught the woodwind studio. She also taught classical saxophone at both Webster University and University of Missouri-St. Louis. |
| Joel Vanderheyden | |||
Office: FA 112B Phone:636-481-3362 Email:jvanderh@jeffco.edu Doctor of Music: University Of Iowa Master of Music: U Of Maryland:College Park Bachelor of Arts: University Of Minnesota MorrisWith degrees in Saxophone Performance and Pedagogy (DMA, University of Iowa), Jazz Studies (MM, University of Maryland), and Music Performance and Education (BA, University of Minnesota, Morris), Joel Vanderheyden is a seasoned performer and educator in both jazz and classical styles. At Jefferson College, he teaches Music Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Appreciation, Applied Woodwinds, and directs the Jefferson College Jazz Ensembles. Vanderheyden has previously served as Director of Jazz at both the University of Minnesota-Morris and Oakton Community College in the Chicago area. He is a member of the Missouri Saxophone Quartet, and performs regularly with the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra. He has performed at the World Saxophone Congress (St. Andrews, Scotland, 2012), at jazz festivals in Switzerland, France, and Holland, and at notable stateside venues including Carnegie Hall, Blues Alley, The Dakota, The Artists` Quarter, The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and The Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts. Vanderheyden`s debut CD was released in 2009 on the Mize Music label. It was named one of the Top Jazz Albums of 2009 on KCCK 88.3FM in Cedar Rapids, IA and called "One of the best jazz rock records to be released in years!" by Christopher Cooke on KIOS 91.5FM in Omaha, NE. |
| Kelly Austermann | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:kausterm@jeffco.edu Kelly Austermann is an active music educator, performing clarinetist, and scholar in the St. Louis area. She has performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hot Springs Festival Orchestra, the Gateway Festival Orchestra, the Fountain Hills Chamber Players, the AKME Clarinet Duo, Casella Sinfonietta, the Saint Louis Wind Symphony, the Vintage Brass Band, the Queens of Swing, El Monstero, and the Lettermen. She can be heard in solo clarinet passages on the Grammy-nominated CD, Fireworks! released under the Equilibrium label and on In This Hid Clearing released under the Naxos label. Kelly has extensive teaching experience with students of all ages and ability levels. She currently maintains a private studio of clarinet and saxophone students. She is in demand as an educator; she teaches clarinet, saxophone, music appreciation, and fundamentals of music at East Central College, St. Louis Community College, Jefferson College, Mehlville High School, Parkway West High School, Fox High School, Washington Middle School, and Margaret Buerkle Middle School. She has performed and presented research at the International Clarinet Association`s ClarinetFest, the Midwest Clarifest Conference, the American Single Reed Summit Conference, the American Musicological Society Scholars Conference, and the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Conference. She has also toured with the AKME Clarinet Duo to present numerous masterclasses and perform for university students. She received her Bachelors of Music from the University of Missouri-Columbia, her Masters of Music from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University. |
| Cathy Benton | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:cbenton2@jeffco.edu Doctor of Music: Univ Of Missouri - Kansas CityCathy Benton holds degrees from Jefferson College, Murray State University, Webster University, and the University of Missouri Kansas City. Dr. Benton retired in 2022 from Missouri Baptist University where she was Professor of Music. Dr. Benton teaches private piano, performs as a soloist and accompanist on the piano, organ and harpsichord, and is an adjudicator and clinician for numerous keyboard festivals and workshops. She is the Music Director of the Gateway Ringers, choir accompanist at Central Presbyterian Church, and adjunct piano instructor at Jefferson College. Teaching awards include Who`s Who Among America`s Teachers, the National Guild of Piano Teachers Hall of Fame, the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award and the MBU Distinguished Professor Award. |
| Andrew Binder | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:abinder@jeffco.edu Doctor of Music: U Of Illinois-Urbana ChampaignAndrew Binder is a bassist and composer from St. Louis, Missouri. Andrew holds a D.M.A. from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in Jazz Performance with a cognate in Music Composition, a M.M. in Music Composition from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, and B.M.A. degrees in Composition, Jazz Studies and Double Bass Performance from Bowling Green State University. Some of his accomplishments include winner of the 2018 Ensemble Ibis Competition Graduate division for his piece Brux, winner of the 26th Annual Craig`s Keyboards/UT Young Composer`s Competition; Finalist in the 2014 Douglas Wayland Chamber Competition Graduate Division; Works performed or recorded by new music groups Dal Niente, Ritual Action, and Ensemble Ibis; works read by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and members of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra; Arrangements recorded or performed by University of Studio Jazz Band, Miami Vocal Jazz Ensemble, University of Illinois` Concert Jazz Band and Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Andrew has also participated in the Charlotte New Music Festival and the Dal Niente + DePaul Summer Residency for New Music, and is a current participant in the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop under the direction of Alan Ferber and Andy Farber. As a bassist, Andrew has performed in a wide variety of groups with high-caliber musicians throughout the US. Some notable musicians include Chip McNeill, Joel Spencer, Tito Carrillo, Larry Gray, Chip Stephens, Mark Tonelli, Jose Gobbo, Dave Stone, and Tammy McCann. |
| Taylor Hesskamp | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:thesskam@jeffco.edu Taylor Hesskamp is an enthusiastic teacher and performer in the greater St. Louis area. She currently is the adjunct flute professor at McKendree University and Jefferson College. In 2021, she graduated with her masters degree in flute performance from the world-renowned Royal College of Music which was recently ranked as the top institution in the world for Performing Arts in the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2022. While at the RCM, Taylor studied with flute with Gitte Marcusson and Adam Walker, as well as piccolo with Stewart McIlwham. She had the opportunity to perform with the RCM Philharmonic, RCM Symphony Orchestra, RCM Opera, and many chamber groups during her time there. Taylor received her bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2019 where she studied with Dr. Shelly Monier. In her time there she performed with Wind Symphony, Orchestra, and Flute Choir. During her time at SIUe, she won the Concerto Competition as a sophomore and performed the first movement of CPE Bach`s Concerto in d Minor with the Orchestra. Taylor was a member of the St. Louis Youth Symphony Orchestra for three years where she played flute and piccolo. She was awarded first place in the Flute Society of St. Louis competition in both high school and college, first prize in the Central Ohio Flute Association competition, as well as alternate in Atlanta Flute Club?s Young Artist competition. Taylor has attended flute camps including the Iowa Flute Intensive, Whole Flutes, the Consummate Flutist, the Wildacres Flute Retreat, and the Aria Summer Academy where she was able to perform in many masterclasses. Taylor currently teaches private flute lessons at Palen Music and early music classes to students ages four to eight years old at Oakhaven Montessori. She also teaches flute lessons in the Mehlville school district. Taylor loves spreading her love for music to absolutely anyone willing to learn. |
| Travis Lewis | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:tlewis16@jeffco.edu Doctor of Music: U Of Illinois-Urbana Champaign Master of Music: SIU - EdwardsvilleTravis Lewis is a guitar player and composer with over 20 years of experience as a performer and educator and is known not only in the United States but also in Japan. He received his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree with a concentration in Jazz Performance (and music theory cognate) at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana where he served as undergraduate guitar teacher to the Jazz department under the tutelage of Lawrence Gray. Travis did his undergraduate and Master`s work under the instruction of 7-string guitarist Rick Haydon. Travis has a diverse and prolific background playing in multiple eclectic ensembles. Between the years of 2005-2011, Travis made a name for himself in Hiroshima where he performed and taught throughout Japan. His most recent accomplishments include being nominated for Best Jazz Group by the Riverfront Times as a member of the St. Louis based band Animal Children and his work with the nationally known band So Many Dynamos. As a member of the Dynamos, he performed at several major venues and music festivals throughout the U.S. A small list of these include South by Southwest, Pygmalion, and the Valley of the Vapors. As a Jazz musician, Lewis is a top call guitarist in St. Louis and has performed on guitar with several major artists including Houston Person, Randy Brecker, The Jim Widner Big Band, George Gee Orchestra, Dave Scott, Dave Pietro, Ken Peplowski, and Terrell Stafford. He has also performed at several conferences including those held by the Jazz Educators Network, North American Saxophone Alliance, and most recently the College Music Society`s national conference in Santa, NM where he gave a solo guitar performance presentation that featured the music of Aaron Copland and Ennio Morricone. Currently, Travis teaches at Jefferson College, Blackburn College, KDHX Folk School, and is part of the St. Louis Classical Guitar Society`s Guitar Horizon program. |
| Paula Martin | |||
Office: Phone:636-481-3358 Email:pmartin5@jeffco.edu Master of Music Education: Univ Of Missouri - St Louis Master of Music: SIU - Edwardsville Bachelor of Science Education: Univ Of Missouri - ColumbiaPaula Martin has been an active choral music educator for more than thirty years, having taught singers from kindergarten through graduate school. Professor Martin began her career teaching K-12 vocal music for the Grandview R-2 School District in Jefferson County. She spent more than twenty years as Director of Choirs at Oakville High School in South St. Louis County. While at Oakville High School, Professor Martin`s choirs performed for the Annual Conference of the Missouri Music Educators Association five times. In addition, the Oakville High School Chamber Choir performed under her direction for the Southwestern Divisional Conference of the American Choral Director`s Association in 2009. Professor Martin is the Artistic Director for the Kirkwood Children`s Chorale, and conducts Concert Choir and Cantando Singers. She is also the Artistic Director and Conductor for Enchorum, a professional choral ensemble that performs throughout the St. Louis area. |
| Brittany Moleski | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:bmoleski@jeffco.edu Brittany Moleski, soprano, is currently on faculty at Jefferson College and Southeast Missouri State University. She earned her Master of Music in Vocal Performance degree from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and her Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degrees from Southeast Missouri State University. She has performed with the Southern Illinois Music Festival, the New York Lyric Opera Theatre, the Boston Pops, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, and Union Avenue Opera. Some of her operatic roles include the title role in Cendrillon, Marenka in The Bartered Bride, Serafina in Il campanello di notte, the First Lady and First Spirit in The Magic Flute, and Emmie in Albert Herring. She has also been featured as the soprano soloist in Schubert`s Mass in G, Vivaldi`s Gloria, and Fauré`s Requiem, among other concert works. |
| Christina Schempf | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:cschempf@jeffco.edu Originally a native of the rolling farmland of southeastern Wisconsin, Christina is a St. Louis based horn player and educator. She received a Master`s Degree from New England Conservatory in Boston as a student of Richard Sebring and studied with Melanie Cottle at Wheaton College in the Chicagoland area as an undergraduate. Christina is an active freelancer and has played with Winter Opera St. Louis, the Illinois Symphony, the Heartland Festival Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. Christina currently works as the director of music programs at Intersect Arts Center, a nonprofit organization that provides arts engagement opportunities for youth, adults, and families in the Gravois Park neighborhood. Aside from her pursuits in music, Christina enjoys various activities including backpacking, foraging, and reading poetry. |
| Dustin Shrum | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:dshrum@jeffco.edu Master of Arts: Univ Of Missouri - Kansas CityDustin Shrum is a versatile trumpet player in the St. Louis and Kansas City area. Dustin is currently the Director of Bands at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in the St. Louis Public Schools District. He is also the Director of Jazz Studies and McKendree University in Lebanon, IL. Dustin holds Bachelor`s degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Dustin has performed with various groups such as the Funky Butt Brass Band, the Jazz St. Louis Big Band, the Jim Widner Big Band, Master Blaster featuring Steve Ewing, and El Monstero. Dustin is comfortable performing in multiple environments including Big Band Lead Trumpet/Trumpet Section, Brass Quintet, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Combo, and Pit Orchestra. He has performed with notable musicians such as Marilyn Maye, Byron Stripling, Denise Thimes, The Temptations, and Terrell Stafford. His mentors include: Roger Ingram, Joshua MacCluer, Stan Kessler, Allen Beeson, Dan Thomas, Lisa Blackmore, and Mark Hyams. |
| Ronald Sikes | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:rsikes@jeffco.edu Master of Education Admin: Missouri Baptist University Bachelor of Music: Univ Of Missouri - St LouisMr. Sikes earned a Bachelor`s of Music Education degree in 1999 from University of MO-St. Louis. While at UM-St. Louis, he participated in numerous ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble, the Pep Band (also served as arranger), Percussion Ensemble and the AFRO-Cuban Ensemble. Ron has been influenced by some of the finest educators, including Mark Trautwein, Brad Madson, Dr. Claude Baker, Dr. William Richardson, Marvin Sparks, Jeff Hamilton, and Dennis Reis. In 2008, Ron Sikes completed is Masters in Educational Administration from Missouri Baptist University. Sikes` professional affiliations include the Missouri Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, Music Educators National Conference, Missouri Music Educators Association, Missouri State Teachers Association, and Percussive Art Society. Sikes was given the "Blue Jay" award for his years of service and dedication to the Jefferson R-VII District. Sikes remains active as performer, teacher, and clinician throughout the area. |
| David Smith | |||
Office: Phone:636-481-3261 Email:dsmith70@jeffco.edu Doctor of Education: American College Of Education Master of Science: Pittsburg State Univ Bachelor of Science: Southwest Baptist University Associate of Arts: Cowley County Cc Education Specialist: Pittsburg State UnivDavid has been in higher education for over thirty years as an admissions counselor, music professor, and an academic administrator for several community colleges in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. While teaching in Kansas, he served the Kansas Choral Directors Association as R&S Chair for Two-Year Colleges and Community Choirs. He also served the Southwest Division of the American Choral Directors Association as R&S Chair for Community Choirs. He has served Jefferson College since March 2021 as an advising specialist working with STEM and Fine Arts/Humanities transfer students. He currently serves as president of the Missouri Academic Advising Association (MACADA). He and his wife Audry have seven grown children and fourteen grandchildren. |
| Brandon Yenzer | |||
Office: Phone:Contact Secretary at 636-481-3331 Email:byenzer@jeffco.edu Brandon Yenzer graduated from Missouri State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music Education and in 2018 from University of North Texas with a Master of Music in Trombone Performance. He has performed with many collegiate ensembles, including the Jazz Band, Jazz Studies Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble at MSU and the jazz Lab Bands, Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Baroque Orchestra at UNT, as well as trombone choirs and quartets at both institutions. He has had an extensive freelancing career, spanning music from the Baroque and Renaissance eras to orchestral mega works to jazz and musical theater. He is also a prolific educator, teaching masterclasses, band camps, and private lessons since 2012. |
