Behind the Baton

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"Success is when you add value to yourself. Significance is when you add value to others." ~John R. Miles

"Compliance is the seedbed for mediocrity, and commitment is the fuel for sustained levels of elite performance." ~Mark Miller

Dr. Shawn Knopp is the guest on The Growing Band Director Podcast with Kyle Smith.   

Alex McMahon is an experienced music educator, conductor, and professional musician who has worked with students from elementary through high school. His teaching responsibilities have included concert band, jazz band, marching band, pep band, and beginning instrumental music. In addition to his cl…

Dr. Myra Rhoden serves on the faculty at the University of West Georgia where she conducts the UWG Symphonic Band and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Music Education. As the founder of Athena Music and Leadership, Rhoden has created programs and opportunities to empower young women t…

Dr. Rachael Urquhart is the director of bands at Quakertown Community High School in Quakertown Community School District, Quakertown, PA. Her responsibilities at Quakertown HS include conducting the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony and teaching keyboard and American music history as elective cours…

Ryan Runyan is the director of 5-12 bands at IKM-Manning High School in Manning, IA. A graduate of Simpson College in Indianola, IA, Ryan has 14 years of experience teaching ensembles such as marching, jazz, concert, and pep bands, as well as color guard and speech. Ryan has taught entirely in rur…

Matt Treto is a Kansas-based music educator and percussionist from Augusta, Kansas. Since Fall 2025, he has served as the 5th–12th grade Band Director for Haven Public Schools in Haven, Kansas, where he teaches everything from beginning 5th grade band to high school concert band, guitar, and an eme…

Ryan Partin just completed his 15th year of teaching and is the Director of Bands at Garden City High School in Garden City, KS. He oversees the marching band, 3 concert ensembles, and 3 jazz bands. His previous assignment was teaching 5-12 band in Ulysses, KS.  Ryan was a nominee for Kansas Teach…