Kansas State Bands 2011 Staff
MRS. KATHLEEN HENAO
Classy Cat Coordinator
226 McCain Auditorium
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-3816, office
(785) 532-3817, fax
Email Me
KATHLEEN HENAO assumed her duties as the Classy Cat Coordinator January 2000. After spending eleven years as the director of the Golden Gale Dance Team and a FACS instructor at Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville, Kansas. Henao also served as head cheerleading coach for four years and tennis coach for five years. Her dance teams have been recipients of numerous awards and have participated in many distinguished performances. Henao has coached several All-Americans. She has had many dance members who have or are currently dancing at prestigious Division I, Division II, and Community Colleges. Henao a native of Topeka, is a 1981 graduate of Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design and she also has a degree in Family Consumer Science from Washburn University.
MRS. SHANNON MEIS
Twirling Coordinator
226 McCain Auditorium
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-3816, office
(785) 532-3817, fax
Email Me
SHANNON MEIS, K-State Twirling Coordinator, graduated from K-State with a B.S. in Education and M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction with a Library Media Specialist Certificate in '89 and '94 respectively. She was raised in Dodge City, KS and currently resides in Salina with her husband Kris and two children, Lauren and Logan, where she is the Instructor/Coach and Owner of Shannon's Stars Athletic Twirling Club. Shannon's credentials include numerous local, state, regional, and national advanced level awards. She has produced feature twirlers for three universities, including K-State. Shannon performed as the K-State Feature Twirler from 1985-89 and is currently a licensed National Baton Twirling Association judge.
Ms. Jessica Tracz
Assistant Twirling Coordinator
226 McCain Auditorium
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-3816, office
(785) 532-3817, fax
email : jtracz@k-state.edu
Jessica Tracz spent the past four years as a Wildcat Twirler for the marching band. She began twirling when she was in the fifth grade and took lessons from past K-State twirlers and was also feature twirler at Manhattan High School. Living in Manhattan since she was six years old, Jessica was raised a Wildcat fan. She is Majoring in Electronic Journalism and Public Relations and is entering her fifth and final year at K-State. She interns with the K-State Athletic department as a video intern for "Powercat Vision" and is currently a marketing intern for McCownGordon construction company in Kansas City. Jessica will graduate in May of 2012.
Ms. Becca Rogers
Guard Coordinator
226 McCain Auditorium
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-3816, office
(785) 532-3817, fax
email: barogers@k-state.edu
Becca Rogers is a 5th year senior from Ft. Worth, Texas double majoring in Apparel Design and Apparel Marketing. This will be her fifth year participating in K-State Colorguard, third year as a section leader, and first year as coordinator.
Sarah Bernard-Stevens graduated with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she earned Bachelor's Degrees in Music Education and Russian Language. Being interested in composition and arranging, Sarah has composed and conducted several pieces for band and orchestra. She recently had a piece premiered at the Midwest Music Clinic in Chicago. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting.
A 2006 Graduate of the University of Missouri, Patrick Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Science in Instrumental Music Education, where he was a section leader and drum major of ‘Marching Mizzou.’ As a Trombonist, Patrick has performed with ensembles such as the University of Missouri Wind Ensemble, the University of Missouri Jazz Ensemble, The Missouri Symphony, The Columbia Community Band; he has had the opportunity to perform under the baton of Karel Husa and Col. John Bourgeois; and has performed with Terrell Stafford and Benny Golson. The summers of 2004 and 2005, Patrick marched euphonium with the drum and bugle corps, Phantom Regiment. He taught 4 years of 8th and 9th grade at Oakland Jr. High School in Columbia, Missouri where he directed 2 concert bands and a jazz band, he also taught several 6th grade beginner instrument classes and assisted with the Hickman high school marching band, as well as maintained a small studio of private trombone students. Patrick also keeps busy as an arranger of concert band, pep band and marching band music. In his off time, you can find Patrick on the golf course, making barbecue, or out with his dog Duke.
Originally from Kinderhook, NY, GREG COFFEY received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, studying percussion under Al Rometo. While earning his B.A. in Music Education, Greg performed in numerous ensembles at the college including the nationally recognized “Pride of All Nebraska” Cornhusker Marching Band. Greg has also had the wonderful privilege to share the stage with artists such as Donald Brown and Steve Houghton in the Jazz One Ensemble. Greg has spent two years as Director of Percussion at Lincoln North Star High School where he concurrently fulfilled his student teaching duties. Greg’s percussion arrangements have been heard across the Midwest, and have been played by groups such as the University of Nebraska Marching Band.
Originally from Salina, KS, Austin Barnes is currently a graduate student in percussion performance at Kansas State University, where he serves at assistant drum line instructor. He recently graduated from Fort Hays State University with a bachelor in Music Education, where he studied with Dean Kranzler. While at Fort Hays Austin served as principal percussionist in the Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Jazz band and Marching Bands. Austin has also been an active musician and teacher around the Midwest for the past seven years. Austin is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society and the Music Educator's National Conference.
RYAN R. LANEY earned his B.M.E. degree graduating Magna Cum Laude at The University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO in May 2010 where he studied closely with Prof. Gray Barrier, Dr. Richard Mayne, and Dr. Kenneth Singleton. He is a percussionist and has performed in the group's Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, the Percussion Ensembles, and UNC's Pride of the Rockies Marching Band. He was the Pride's Percussion Instructor/Arranger for the 2009 marching season. Ryan is an avid composer and has had compositions for wind, percussion, and marching groups performed around the world. His most recent projects include "Latin Suite for Woodwind Quintet" for the Maesta Woodwind Quintet of Northridge, CA, "Ad Vitam Paramus" for the Platte Valley HS Concert Band of Kersey, CO, and a work-in-progress percussion ensemble piece for the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Percussion Ensemble. Ryan arranges and distributes music through his website www.RLaneyPercussion.com. Ryan is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and the Music Educator's National Conference.
ANDREW D. FEYES received his BME from Bowling Green State University in 2003 and his MM from Kansas State University in 2007 where he was a graduate assistant with the band program. While back at K-State he will be pursuing a PhD. in Curriculum and Instruction of Music Education. Mr. Feyes has been a band director in Bryan, OH for five years where he taught band in grades 5-12. Bands under Mr. Feyes's direction have performed at the 2004 Nokia Sugar Bowl, 2008 Konika-Minolta Gator Bowl, and for Senator John McCain's Presidential Campaign Rallies. Mr. Feyes has been an active arranger and composer of high school marching band and middle school concert and chamber literature. While in Ohio, he was a frequent guest conductor/clinician and is a certified adjudicator for the Ohio Music Education Association.
Student Staff
Kaleb Todd is a Senior Music Education and Music Composition major. He has been in K-State Wind Ensemble and Marching Band for three years. He has also played in saxophone quartets, pep band, and serves as Vice President of Service for Kappa Kappa Psi. After graduating in spring of 2013 he plans to teach and pursue graduate work in conducting or composition.
Alex Cook is a senior Music Education major at K-State and has been a member of the "Pride of Wildcat Land" Marching Band for five years. He is very involved with ensembles at K-State and has been a past member of Brass Ensemble, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Trumpet Ensemble. Alex is involved with professional organizations pertaining to Music Education including: KMEA, CMENC, and the International Trumpet Guild.
Katie Kreis is a 5th Year senior studying music education. She has been in the KSUMB for 3 years in the Alto Sax section. Her primary instrument is the oboe which she has played in the Kansas State Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Double Reed Ensemble and also sings in the Kansas State Choirs. She is an active member of CMENC and has served as the secretary and treasurer in years past. She will graduate Fall of 2012 and hopes to teach elementary general music in the future.
Bryant Kniffin is a senior in the College of Business getting a degree in Marketing with a minor in Leadership Studies. He has been a member of "The Pride of Wildcat Land" for four years, three marching trumpet and this being his first year on student staff. He is very active with the marching band, helping develop the marching band highlight DVD each year, along with the design of the band website. He plans to graduate in 2013 and continue doing video, photography, and graphics work around Manhattan. Bryant is a Band Ambassador and is also an active brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Andrew Rickel is a senior majoring in Communication Studies, emphasizing in Organizational and Rhetorical communication. This is his second year serving as a member of the staff for the K-State Marching Band. Before joining the student staff, he played clarinet in the K-State Concert Band, Clarinet Choir, Volleyball Band, and Aggieville Pubcrawl Band; as well as tuba in the University Band, Marching Band, and Cat Band. When he is not on duty as a student staffer, he is actively involved with many organizations across campus including Kappa Kappa Psi Honor Fraternity as Secretary, K-State Student Government Association as parliamentarian, Arts & Sciences College Council as president, Student Publications board of directors, and State vice president for Kansas Young Democrats. He is a K-State Extraordinary Student Scholar, Stan Fink Memorial Scholarship recipient, and Marching Pride Scholars Scholarship recipient.