MEET THE N.Y.M.P. STAFF
DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT, AND STAFF BIOGRAPHIES
Adam Bever – Brass Instructor, Director
Mr. Bever is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. He has been teaching for 10 years at Unity High School in Balsam Lake, WI. At Unity, he directs the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Ensemble. Under his direction, the band enrollment has tripled and has become very active across the nation. Mr. Bever has played trombone with many professional organizations including the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Active as a clinician and performer across the Midwest area, Mr. Bever joined the Northland Youth Music Program in 2003.
Bradley Bombardier – Woodwind Instructor, Director
This lifelong resident of Duluth, MN, received his Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone and bassoon from the University of Wisconsin – Superior in 1982, and his Master of Music Degree as a Woodwind Specialist from Bowling Green State University in 1984.
Currently, Mr. Bombardier is active on three fronts: performance, education, and composition. He is second bassoonist for the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, as well as principal bassoonist, saxophonist, librarian (with occasional appearances on clarinet and percussion) with the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra. He is a founding member of the Lake Superior Saxophone Quartet and the Big Time Jazz Orchestra, and is instructor of saxophone at the University of Minnesota—Duluth.
Mr. Bombardier was a recipient of the prestigious Bush Artist Fellowship (for Composition) in 1987, and he has also received numerous grants from the Minnesota Composer’s Forum (now the American composer’s Forum) and the Wisconsin Arts Board. He has had works commissioned and performed by the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Itasca Symphony Orchestra, the Strikepoint Handbell Ensemble (Duluth, MN), the Indiana Brass Quintet, the Quapaw String Quartet (Little Rock, AK), the Duluth East High School Wind Ensemble, the Hermantown Middle School Band, and the Duluth-Superior Choirs and Orchestra. Mr. Bombardier has had over 400 performances of nearly 140 different works in such places as Novisibirsk, Siberia, and Minoqua, WI. Currently there are four choral works of Mr. Bombardier’s in the catalog of Moon of Hope/Stars of Promise Publishing, and settings of Finnish Folksongs for voice and orchestra with MMB Music, Inc. He has been with the N.Y.M.P. since the first summer program it was held.
Dr. Pamela Bustos – Woodwind Instructor
Dr. Pamela Bowen Bustos joined the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin – Superior in 2002, where she serves as Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education. Her duties include conducting the Symphonic Band, teaching conducting, clarinet, woodwind techniques, band, and orchestra literature and instrumental methods, as well as supervising student teachers. Before joining the faculty at UW-Superior, Dr. Bustos spent five years as the director of Bands and professor of clarinet and saxophone at the University of Minnesota, Morris. During her tenure at UMM, the Concert Band performed in Mexico and Brazil and throughout South Dakota and Minnesota. Under her direction, the UMM Concert Band recorded a CD of Latin American Music representing numerous countries and is the first of its kind to promote this music in a collection. Dr. Bustos hosted a number of guest artists and conductors that performed with the UMM Concert Band including Ralph Hultgren, Dale Underwood, James Ackley, William Gora, William Leon, John Zdeclik, Karen Robertson, Tim Smith, Charles Hansen, Joe Brashier, and Thomas Massey.
Dr. Bustos earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Appalachian State University of Boone, North Carolina. As an undergraduate she studied clarinet with Doug Miller, wind ensemble with Dr. William Gora, and music education with Bill McCloud. Upon graduation, Dr. Bustos became the band and orchestra director at Mabel Cove Creek Elementary Schools. During her eight years there, her ensembles participated in district and state honor bands and state band and orchestra festivals. In her final year of public school teaching, she commissioned three works for band and orchestra and performed the world premiers of these works. During this time, she also had the privilege of studying with several prominent conductors throughout the US including Jerry Junkin (University of Texas at Austin), Eugene Corporan (University of North Texas), and Stanley DeRusha (Butler University). Dr. Bustos also earned the Master of Music degree in Band Directing from Appalachian State University where she studied conducting with Dr. Joe Brashier. Upon the completion of this degree, Dr. Bustos spent the next two years at the University of Northern Colorado of Greenley, Colorado, earning the Doctorate of Arts degree in Wind Band Conducting and a secondary in clarinet performance, studying with Dr. Kenneth Singleton and clarinetist Thomas Massey.
After the completion of residency in Colorado, Dr. Bustos began her tenure as the Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1997. During that time, she was actively involved in commissioning and editing the band music of Colombian composer Blas Atehortua as well as other Latin American composers. This area of interest and expertise has branched out to include the UMM Concert Band in several avenues including tours of Mexico and Brazil, and the aforementioned recording project. She has served as guest conductor and clinician throughout the US, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil. Dr. Bustos’ endeavors in South American band music have resulted in an exchange program that she developed with the Conservatorio de Tatui, Brazil, that began during the UMM Concert Band tour to Brazil in 2001. Most recently, her South American endeavors include serving as guest lecturer and conductor at the first South American Conference of Band Conductors and Composers in November 2002, and as guest conductor of the Winter Band Festival in Tatui, Brazil, in July 2003. She has also recently finished a collaborative recording project with Dr. Kenneth Singleton and the University of Northern Colorado Wind Ensemble to create a CD highlighting band music of Latin American composers.
Rob Calhoon – Choral Director
Mr. Calhoon has been a music teacher in the Superior School District for the past 16 years. Before coming to Superior, he taught in the Menominee and Minong School districts. He has extensive training in vocal pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. Since he moved to the Superior area, Rob has performed with the Arrowhead Chorale, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra Chorale, the Renegade Comedy Theater, the Duluth Playhouse, and the Hermantown Community Theater. He is an active adjudicator for the WSMA music festivals, and he is the choir director at Peace Lutheran Church in Poplar, WI. Mr. Calhoon lives in Poplar with his daughter and four pets. He considers himself lucky to be a neighbor to the great Tuba Bob.
Jeremy Craycraft – Percussion Instructor, Director
Prior to his arrival at the University of St. Scholastica, Mr. Craycraft was a freelance musician in the Greater Cincinnati area. He was a percussionist in the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Richmond, IN, from 1999-2004. He is currently serving as Principal Timpanist of the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra in Lakeside, OH. Mr. Craycraft regularly performed with other regional ensembles including the Kentucky, Middleton, and Lebanon Symphony Orchestras. He recently performed as an extra in the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. As a current Doctoral candidate at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM), Mr. Craycraft has studied with and performed alongside members of the internationally acclaimed percussion trio Percussion Group Cincinnati with members Allen Otte, Jim Culley, and Rusty Burge. During his residency, Mr. Craycraft performed as soloist with the CCM Wind Symphony and CCM Chamber Ensemble. He received his Bachelor Degree from the Baldwim-Wallace Conservatory in Berea, OH. He appeared as soloist with the Baldwin-Wallace Symphony Orchestra after winning the undergraduate Concerto Competition in 1997. Mr. Craycraft has performed in a variety of musical contexts – as a pit musician, as a former member of Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and as a regular performer at new music festivals in the Midwest. As the 2004 Louisville Jazz Festival, he performed a Latin Jazz program with percussionist Roland Vasquez and CCM faculty members Rusty Burge and Rick Van Matre. Most recently, he performed as a percussionist with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra.
Joe Kasparek – Co-Educational Coordinator,
Trumpet Instructor, Director
Mr. Kasparek is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. While there, he studied trumpet with Henry Mauntner and Bob Baca, and conducting with Dr. Donald George. He has been an active performer in the Twin Ports area, playing with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, Big Time Jazz Orchestra, Big Woods Big Band, and the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra. Mr. Kasparek has been a middle school band director in Superior since 1994. Prior to that, he was the band director at Northwestern High school and Middle School in Maple, WI. This is Joe’s seventh summer teaching trumpet and directing concert bands and jazz ensembles with the Northland Youth Music Program.
Randy Lee – Co-Educational Coordinator,
Saxophone Instructor, Director
MR. RANDY LEE has taught full-time since 1982 and currently teaches middle school bands, jazz band, and grades 5 & 7 general music in Hermantown, MN (since 1987). He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with a minor in Jazz Studies from the U of MN-Duluth (UMD) and his Master of Science degree in Education-Instruction (MSE-I) from the Univ. of Wisconsin-Superior. He has served as adjunct staff at UMD.
Randy has been active in the Minnesota chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) and has directed IAJE Regional Honor Jazz Bands and other regional Wisconsin and Minnesota jazz events. He is very active as a saxophone clinician and professional musician, including performances with the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Superior Saxophone Quartet, Twin Ports Wind Ensemble, the Itasca Symphony Orchestra, and as a busy free-lance musician for various jazz gigs, dances, and receptions involving everything from Dixieland duos, to Latin music, to big bands, and including performances with the Guy Lombardo Band, Russ Morgan Orchestra, and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Randy performed in a sax ensemble for the World Saxophone Congress in 2003, judged the Iowa High School Jazz Championships, was sax section coach for the MN All-State Band, has been a featured jazz soloist with the UMD Jazz Bands, and has worked with all three Duluth-Superior area college jazz bands. Mr. Lee’s professional bands have accompanied the Mills Brothers and the Drifters and he has accompanied such jazz noteables as Bobby Shew, Rufus Reid, Lee Konitz, Bob Brookmeyer, Randy Brecker, Bob Baca, and Rick DellaRatta (Jazz for Peace). In 1990, Randy founded the Big Time Jazz Orchestra, a group twice chosen to play at the MN Music Educators Convention, selected to perform at the American School Band Directors’Association’s 50th Anniversary Convention, and has done two studio CDs of original compositions and arrangements (thanks to grants from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and the MN State Legislature). Mr. Lee has presented saxophone and jazz clinic sessions, has performed with demonstration and jazz literature groups at MN Music Educators Conventions.
Matt Mealey – Trumpet Instructor, Director
Mr. Mealey has toured all across the country as a freelance trumpet artist. Performing credits include: lead trumpet with the New York Voices, the Irish Tenors, the Temptations, Frankie Valli, Johnny Mathis, Jimmy Dorsey, Mannheim Steamroller, Five by Design, and the National Broadway Tours of 42nd Street and Monty Python’s Spamalot. He has also appeared as a guest soloist with the Chippewa Valley Concert Band, the UW– Stout Concert Band, UW-EC Jazz Ensemble I, as well as many high school jazz and concert bands throughout the Midwest. Mr. Mealey has degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and the Eastman School of Music in trumpet performance and music education. Currently, he teaches and performs in Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities.
Dr. Greg Kehl Moore – Saxophone and Rhythm Section Instructor
Dr. Moore is an Associate Professor of Music and Jazz Program Director at the University of Wisconsin – Superior. He directs the UW- Superior Jazz Ensemble, and teaches all jazz curriculum courses, Applied Saxophone, and Ear Training.
Dr. Moore is active as a composer, performer, and scholar. Two of his compositions, Music for Four Saxophones and Percussion and Sway, were performed at the prestigious World Saxophone Congress in 2003. His jazz compositions are published and recorded by many artists and ensembles, including Bobby Shaw, Gary Foster, the University of Texas Jazz Orchestra, the University of Cincinnati Jazz Ensemble, the University of Memphis Jazz Orchestra, and the Big Time Jazz Orchestra. As a performer, Dr. Moore has been a featured soloist with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO) and the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, and his solo work is featured on recordings by the University of Texas Jazz Orchestra and the Big Time Jazz Orchestra. He received an Outstanding Improviser Award at the 1995 Louisville Jazz Festival, Moore performs regularly in the Duluth-Superior area with the Big Time Jazz Orchestra and the DSSO. He has presented public lectures on jazz-related topics for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth, the Duluth Public Library and the DSSO. Dr. Moore co-authored a 1997 Contemporary Music Review article on women jazz composers.
Dr. Moore received his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2000, his Master of Music degree from the University if Cincinnati in 1995, and his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1981. Dr. Moore has been with the NYMP since the association started, and he makes it possible for the camp to be held at the UW-S!!
Kathryn Sandor – Woodwind Instructor, Director
Kathryn Sandor is in her 3rd year of teaching flute at the NYMP. For the past ten years she taught band at Lincoln Park Middle School in Duluth, MN, and this fall will begin teaching band at Morgan Park Middle School, also in Duluth. She teaches flute at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and frequently plays with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra. She earned bachelor degrees in Music Education and Flute Performances from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1998. She earned her masters degree in education from the College of St. Catherine in 2004. Kathryn is a member of the National Flute Association, Upper Midwest Flutist Association, Music Educator National Conference, Minnesota Band Director’s Association, where she serves as secretary for the northeast division, and a newly inducted member of the American School Band Director’s Association.
Kevin Szumal – Percussion Instructor, Director
Kevin Szumal is a native of Ashland, WI, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Superior in 2002 with degrees in Music Education and Music Performance. He is currently entering his sixth year as director of bands at Dawson-Boyd School in Dawson, Minnesota. In addition to directing bands in Dawson, he serves as Board President for the Dawson-Boyd Arts Association- a non-profit organization that presents arts performances throughout the year. Kevin has been with the NYMP since its start. He resides in Dawson with his wife Amy, and retired racing greyhound, Crystal.
Jill Pospisil – French Horn Instructor
Jill Pospisil has played horn in the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra since 1996 and enjoys teaching students of all ages. Jill is on faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and is a founding member of the Northland Brass Quintet. She received her Bachelor's degree in music performance from Wichita State University, with graduate studies at Indiana University. Jill lives in the woods of Duluth with her horn-playing husband Jim and their son Daniel.
Billy Barnard – Guitar and Bass Instructor
Billy Barnard is a member of the faculty at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he teaches guitar in private lesson, ensemble, and class formats. He is well-known at UMD for his immensely popular course in Jazz Studies, in which over one thousand students enroll each year. In addition, he directs on of the UMD Jazz Combos. Mr. Barnard graduated first in his class from the Guitar Institute of Technology, Los Angeles, and has performed with such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Rufus Reid. He has been for many years and remains in constant demand at local and regional levels as a clinician and guitarist in all styles.
Dr. Matthew Faerber – Choral Director
At the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Matthew Faerber is the Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education. The eighty-voice UW-Superior Acappella Choir which he founded in 1998 has appeared in concert on four continents, including most recently a performance tour of China in March 2008. Dr. Faerber currently serves as Chorus Master of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra. In addition to conducting and teaching, he is active as a pianist, clinician, and choral arranger. Dr. Faerber received advanced degrees in choral conducting from the University of Iowa, where he studied with William Hatcher, and Brigham Young University, where he studied with Ronald Staheli and Mack Wilberg. He and his wife Betsy are the parents of four children.
Bree Taylor – Choral Director
Bree Taylor graduated from UWS in 2007 in K-12 choral music education. She is excited to begin the adventure of being the new choir director of Hermantown Middle School. This is her second year co-directing the NYMP choir and looks forward to many more. In her free time, she enjoys performing in musicals, being a vocal director and choreographer, swing dancing, and photography.
Darin Bergsven – Guitar and Rhythm coach
Darin Bergsven graduated from UMD with a degree in music education. He is currently performing with Tangier 57 and the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra. Darin also teaches music at Harbor City International School in Duluth.