Staff
Director of Bands - Courtney White
courtneywhite@wsdr4.org
Courtney White is the Director of Bands at Timberland High School in the Wentzville School District. Along with her high school responsibilities, Ms. Straine teaches grades 7-8 at South Middle School. In addition, she gives private instruction on flute and clarinet.
Ms. Straine was a graduate of Fort Zumwalt South High School in St. Peters, Missouri. After graduating, she attended Missouri State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree. During her time at MSU, Ms. Straine was actively involved in the Pride Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Freshman Honor Band, Flute Ensemble, and Flute Society. She also studied flute privately with Dr. Jill Heyboer and Mr. Larry Bridges. Ms. Straine has recently completed her Masters in Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
Prior to being appointed as the Director at Timberland High School, Ms. Straine served as assistant director at Timberland, worked with Francis Howell Central High School’s marching band, concert bands, jazz bands, and pep band. Her professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, Missouri Bandmasters Association, National Flute Association, and Mu Phi Epsilon.
Ms. Straine was a graduate of Fort Zumwalt South High School in St. Peters, Missouri. After graduating, she attended Missouri State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree. During her time at MSU, Ms. Straine was actively involved in the Pride Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Freshman Honor Band, Flute Ensemble, and Flute Society. She also studied flute privately with Dr. Jill Heyboer and Mr. Larry Bridges. Ms. Straine has recently completed her Masters in Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
Prior to being appointed as the Director at Timberland High School, Ms. Straine served as assistant director at Timberland, worked with Francis Howell Central High School’s marching band, concert bands, jazz bands, and pep band. Her professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, Missouri Bandmasters Association, National Flute Association, and Mu Phi Epsilon.
Associate Director - Matthew Hayes
matthewhayes@wsdr4.org
Mr. Hayes is the associate band director at Timberland High School and South Middle School. With Ms. Straine, his responsibilities includes teaching the high school concert band, jazz band, guitar, and grades 7-8 at South Middle School.
Mr. Hayes grew up in Wright City, MO and began playing the trumpet in 6th grade. After high school, he attended Truman State University in Kirksville, MO where he achieved his Bachelors of Arts in Music and Masters of Arts in Education. He studied trumpet privately with Dr. Greg Jones and also took lessons on clarinet, horn, and composition. He has performed in many ensembles, including Concert Band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band, Brass Choir, Trumpet Ensemble, Orchestra, Pep Band, and the University Chorus.
Prior to working in the Wentzville School District, Mr. Hayes taught band and piano keyboarding for two years in the Francis Howell School District, and was a brass technician for Lafayette High School and Francis Howell Central High School. His memberships have included the National Association for Music Education, National Education Association, International Trumpet Guild, and the Missouri Bandmasters Association.
He enjoys playing, composing, and listening to many genres of music. His other hobbies include computers, movies, and spending time with friends. He lives in Wentzville with his wife, Jenny, his son, Nolan, and his daughter, Maggie.
Mr. Hayes grew up in Wright City, MO and began playing the trumpet in 6th grade. After high school, he attended Truman State University in Kirksville, MO where he achieved his Bachelors of Arts in Music and Masters of Arts in Education. He studied trumpet privately with Dr. Greg Jones and also took lessons on clarinet, horn, and composition. He has performed in many ensembles, including Concert Band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band, Brass Choir, Trumpet Ensemble, Orchestra, Pep Band, and the University Chorus.
Prior to working in the Wentzville School District, Mr. Hayes taught band and piano keyboarding for two years in the Francis Howell School District, and was a brass technician for Lafayette High School and Francis Howell Central High School. His memberships have included the National Association for Music Education, National Education Association, International Trumpet Guild, and the Missouri Bandmasters Association.
He enjoys playing, composing, and listening to many genres of music. His other hobbies include computers, movies, and spending time with friends. He lives in Wentzville with his wife, Jenny, his son, Nolan, and his daughter, Maggie.
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Director of Percussion - Derek Peplaw
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Percussion Technician - Andrew Lamer
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Color Guard Instructor - Katie Bender
Katie is one of the color guard for the band program. She is a graduate of Wentzville Holt High School and Fontbonne University. She has performed in MCCGA and WGI events and a number of groups, including Avidity Winter Guard.
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Color Guard Instructor - Zach O'ConnorZachary began his colorguard career in St. Louis, Missouri with Francis Howell High School.
After graduation, Zachary marched for 6 seasons at Avidity Independent A & Open, earning several gold medals in the Mid Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA) circuit over the years and a Winter Guard International (WGI) finalist spot in 2018. In 2019, Zachary performed alongside the inaugural cast of Northwest Independent World based out of Bentonville, Arkansas. Zachary continued into a teaching career across the midwest at select high schools. Zachary now Directs the color guard and winter guard programs along with Katie Bender here at Timberland High School. Zachary works in the field of Visual Merchandising as a Client Account Coordinator for Consumer Electronics across the Country. |