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The Conductors of the North Star Community Band |
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Our Music Director/Conductor is Faye Rader. Faye founded the North Star Community Band in 1988 and has been conducting it ever since. Despite the fact that most of the time we only let her use the one stick, Faye really is a good percussionist. She earned her degree in music education from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and is certified in vocal, orchestral and band instruction. She studied conducting with Paul Backlund. Her performance credits include the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Starlight Theater, The Mannheim Steamroller Orchestra and the Alexander Trio. |
Faye is currently a music teacher
in the Kansas City School District. She has designed the Band Buddies program (click here for more information) to match up her adult
community band (that's us!) with her fifth grade band. This program has won her several awards,
including one of ten "Excellence in Teaching" awards (the only winner that year
from the Kansas City, MO school district), a 1997 John Tesh Avalon World Tour Award
from performing artist John Tesh, and recognition from the Music Educators National
Conference. Faye received the 1998-99 Distinguished Band Directors Award
presented by the American School Band Director's Association and United Musical
Instruments.
Our Assistant Conductor is Roy Jones.
Roy holds a Master of Science in Education degree from Pittsburgh State
University (KS) and a degree in Music Education from Central
Missouri State University. He is a veteran band director who gives
particular credit to Dr. Russell Coleman and Dr. Richard Gipson at CMSU for
their instruction and leadership.
Like Faye, Roy is a percussionist.
Unlike Faye, we usually let him use both sticks! He has been with
the Band since its earliest days. When he's not causing trouble in
the percussion section, Roy earns his keep by teaching in a
Kansas City, MO magnet school.