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| FACULTY & STAFF: |
Dr. Craig R. Miller
Miller completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in
Instrumental Conducting from the University of Missouri at
Kansas City Conservatory of Music in 2000. Dr. Miller is
currently the Director of Bands at Park Hill South High
School in Kansas City, MO. Dr. Miller was the first Director of
Bands at Blue Valley West High School for seven years
starting with the opening of the school in 2001 and
previously for one year at Shawnee Mission North High
School. Both schools are in Overland Park, KS.
Instrumental Conducting from the University of Missouri at
Kansas City Conservatory of Music in 2000. Dr. Miller is
currently the Director of Bands at Park Hill South High
School in Kansas City, MO. Dr. Miller was the first Director of
Bands at Blue Valley West High School for seven years
starting with the opening of the school in 2001 and
previously for one year at Shawnee Mission North High
School. Both schools are in Overland Park, KS.
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In 1998, Dr. Miller was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music where
he was Director of the Kansas City Youth Wind Ensemble, Director of UMKC Athletic Bands, and Assistant Director of the
Conservatory Wind Ensemble under the baton of Professor Gary Hill who is currently at Arizona State University.
From 1993-1998, Dr. Miller was Associate Director of Bands at Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri. At Hickman,
he was director of three jazz ensembles, marching band and taught three levels of music theory including AP music
theory. He shared responsiblities of two concert bands with John G. Patterson, former of Coordinator of Music for
Columbia Public Schools in Columbia, Missouri.
Prior to his appointment at Hickman High School, he received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at
Austin, Master of Music in Applied Trumpet from Indiana University at Bloomington, and was Assistant Director of Bands
at McCallum High School in Austin, Texas. During his residence at Indiana University, he was Director of the Young
Winds of Indiana Project and Instructor of Brass Techniques Courses at Indiana University. Dr. Miller returned to the
University of Texas at Austin to begin doctoral work in wind band conducting with Professor Jerry Junkin.
Dr. Miller left Austin to become the Director of Winds and Percussion at the High School for the Performing and Visual
Arts in Houston, Texas from 1991-1993, where he received the national winner of the Classical Wind Band Category in
the 1993 Down Beat music awards. That same year, Dr. Miller founded the Houston Academy of the Arts, a summer
program for inner city youths that now have over 500 students participating each summer.
Dr. Miller has been an adjudicator at the district, region and state levels of competition in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and
Oklahoma. He has been a conducting student of Gary Hill, Arizona State University; Ray Cramer, Indiana University and
trumpet student of Keith Benjamin, UMKC; Ray Crisara, UT-Austin; Charles Gorham, IU; Allen Dean, IU and Betty Scott,
University of Missouri.
he was Director of the Kansas City Youth Wind Ensemble, Director of UMKC Athletic Bands, and Assistant Director of the
Conservatory Wind Ensemble under the baton of Professor Gary Hill who is currently at Arizona State University.
From 1993-1998, Dr. Miller was Associate Director of Bands at Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri. At Hickman,
he was director of three jazz ensembles, marching band and taught three levels of music theory including AP music
theory. He shared responsiblities of two concert bands with John G. Patterson, former of Coordinator of Music for
Columbia Public Schools in Columbia, Missouri.
Prior to his appointment at Hickman High School, he received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at
Austin, Master of Music in Applied Trumpet from Indiana University at Bloomington, and was Assistant Director of Bands
at McCallum High School in Austin, Texas. During his residence at Indiana University, he was Director of the Young
Winds of Indiana Project and Instructor of Brass Techniques Courses at Indiana University. Dr. Miller returned to the
University of Texas at Austin to begin doctoral work in wind band conducting with Professor Jerry Junkin.
Dr. Miller left Austin to become the Director of Winds and Percussion at the High School for the Performing and Visual
Arts in Houston, Texas from 1991-1993, where he received the national winner of the Classical Wind Band Category in
the 1993 Down Beat music awards. That same year, Dr. Miller founded the Houston Academy of the Arts, a summer
program for inner city youths that now have over 500 students participating each summer.
Dr. Miller has been an adjudicator at the district, region and state levels of competition in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and
Oklahoma. He has been a conducting student of Gary Hill, Arizona State University; Ray Cramer, Indiana University and
trumpet student of Keith Benjamin, UMKC; Ray Crisara, UT-Austin; Charles Gorham, IU; Allen Dean, IU and Betty Scott,
University of Missouri.
Mr. Tracy Thomas
Tracy Thomas has been hired by our school district to be in
charge of our entire Percussion Program for the Park Hill
School District. Tracy will be completing his Doctorate in
Percussion from the University of Kansas, Lawrence.
Tracy has been an adjunct professor of Percussion with Dr.
Dennis Rogers at Missouri Western University over the past
few years. We are very fortunate to have an instructor of
this caliber in Park Hill teaching our percussion students.
charge of our entire Percussion Program for the Park Hill
School District. Tracy will be completing his Doctorate in
Percussion from the University of Kansas, Lawrence.
Tracy has been an adjunct professor of Percussion with Dr.
Dennis Rogers at Missouri Western University over the past
few years. We are very fortunate to have an instructor of
this caliber in Park Hill teaching our percussion students.
Dr. Dennis G. Rogers is a professor of music and the director of percussion studies at Missouri Western State University. His
college career started at the University of Missouri at Kansas City-Conservatory of Music where he taught for nine years. His
teaching career at Missouri Western started in 1978. Dr. Rogers holds five college degrees, has published four books and holds
offices and memberships in the Percussive Arts Society on the state and international levels. He is a very active clinician and
performer. His performing career has taken him to 47 states in the U. S. and extended tours to Europe and the Far East. He is
presently the music director and performs with Sticks of Thunder at the Kansas City Union Station as well as with his own steel
drum band Steel.
There is an average of 30 students studying percussion at Western each year. Approximately 80% of those studying are music
majors or music minors. Percussion students seek either the music education degree or the bachelor of arts degree. Students
seeking the BA degree can choose an emphasis in percussion performance, music business or sound engineering. Percussion
students majoring in music can pick an emphasis area in their perucssion studies throughout their college career. For example,
some students are primarily interested in drumset; others are interested in marimba; others are interested in marching
percussion. The percussion curriculum allows students to focus on their interests.
Dr. Rogers has been the percussion instructor at Park Hill South since opening in 1998. The majority of percussion students at
Park Hill South are privately taught by Dr. Rogers.
college career started at the University of Missouri at Kansas City-Conservatory of Music where he taught for nine years. His
teaching career at Missouri Western started in 1978. Dr. Rogers holds five college degrees, has published four books and holds
offices and memberships in the Percussive Arts Society on the state and international levels. He is a very active clinician and
performer. His performing career has taken him to 47 states in the U. S. and extended tours to Europe and the Far East. He is
presently the music director and performs with Sticks of Thunder at the Kansas City Union Station as well as with his own steel
drum band Steel.
There is an average of 30 students studying percussion at Western each year. Approximately 80% of those studying are music
majors or music minors. Percussion students seek either the music education degree or the bachelor of arts degree. Students
seeking the BA degree can choose an emphasis in percussion performance, music business or sound engineering. Percussion
students majoring in music can pick an emphasis area in their perucssion studies throughout their college career. For example,
some students are primarily interested in drumset; others are interested in marimba; others are interested in marching
percussion. The percussion curriculum allows students to focus on their interests.
Dr. Rogers has been the percussion instructor at Park Hill South since opening in 1998. The majority of percussion students at
Park Hill South are privately taught by Dr. Rogers.
Dr. Dennis Rogers
Lakeview Middle School and Assistant High
School Band Director, directs the Concert
Band, the Jazz Ensemble, and assists with
the Marching Band. Mr. Boyd completed his
Mr. Charles Boyd, Director of Bands at
undergraduate study at Northwest Missouri
State University. Park Hill jazz bands under
Mr. Boyd's direction have received
consistent superior ratings at area jazz band
festivals and contests. The PHS Jazz
Ensemble is regularly requested to perform
for various local events and functions.
School Band Director, directs the Concert
Band, the Jazz Ensemble, and assists with
the Marching Band. Mr. Boyd completed his
Mr. Charles Boyd, Director of Bands at
undergraduate study at Northwest Missouri
State University. Park Hill jazz bands under
Mr. Boyd's direction have received
consistent superior ratings at area jazz band
festivals and contests. The PHS Jazz
Ensemble is regularly requested to perform
for various local events and functions.
Mr. Charles Boyd
After his undergraduate study Mr. Boyd became a member of the United States
Marine Band program, stationed at El Toro, California. While serving in the Marine
Band program at El Toro, Mr. Boyd held the position of principal Cornet in the
assumed duties as brass assumed duties as brass section leader of the El Toro Marine
Band program. He is also active as an adjudicator in Missouri, and is a member of
the MMEA, MENC, Phi Beta Mu, MBA, and IAJE. He is past Middle School/Junior
High School Band Vice President of the MMEA Kansas City District #3. In addition to
his duties with Lakeview MS and Park Hill South.h
Marine Band program, stationed at El Toro, California. While serving in the Marine
Band program at El Toro, Mr. Boyd held the position of principal Cornet in the
assumed duties as brass assumed duties as brass section leader of the El Toro Marine
Band program. He is also active as an adjudicator in Missouri, and is a member of
the MMEA, MENC, Phi Beta Mu, MBA, and IAJE. He is past Middle School/Junior
High School Band Vice President of the MMEA Kansas City District #3. In addition to
his duties with Lakeview MS and Park Hill South.h
:: Park Hill South High School Band ::
| April 4, 2009 - Last Update |
