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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Jennifer K. Hawkinson, WHS Director of Bands
Jennifer Hawkinson started at Washington High School as the Assistant Director of Bands in the fall of 2001 and became the Director of Bands the following year. She previously served as the Director of Bands for grades 5-12 in the Alcester-Hudson Schools for four years and the Director of Bands at West Central High School (Hartford, SD) for three years.
Ms. Hawkinson conducts the Symphonic Band, Varsity Band, Jazz I, Quacko (the Show Choir Band), and the Marching Band. She shares directing duties with Mr. Rygg for the Jazz III and Pep Band.
Ms. Hawkinson received her Master of Arts Degree in Conducting from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in 2006 where her primary teachers were Dr. Dale Lonis and Dr. Fraser Linklater. She is a 1994 summa cum laude graduate of Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD, earning the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education. As an undergraduate, she also studied flute extensively with Diana Cherry for four years at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
Ms. Hawkinson is active as a private teacher, performer, adjudicator and conductor. She maintains a busy private studio, where she teaches students that range in age from elementary to adult. She also serves as the adjunct Professor of Flute at the University of Sioux Falls and is the wind and percussion conductor for the Sioux Empire Youth Orchestra. She is a member of the Dakota Wind Ensemble flute section and performs locally for a variety of events. She has been a guest conductor of the Yankton Area Summer Band on three occasions and adjudicates regional music contests.
Ms. Hawkinson holds a number of professional memberships. She is the President of the South Dakota Music Educators Association. She is also a member of the National Flute Association, MENC: The National Association for Music Education, South Dakota Bandmasters Association, Alpha Delta Kappa teacher sorority, Phi Beta Mu Music Honor Society, and Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society.
Her husband, Mike, is a Guidance Counselor at Lincoln High School and the couple makes their home in Sioux Falls.
Jason Rygg, WHS Assistant Director of Bands
Mr. Rygg has been a music educator since the fall of 1997 and has served as the WHS Assistant Director of Bands since 2005. Prior to his arrival at WHS, he spent five years as the Assistant Director of Bands at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls. He has also held teaching positions in Mitchell and Ethan, South Dakota as well as Stanley, North Dakota.
Mr. Rygg directs the WHS Concert Band, Freshman Band and Jazz II. He assists with the direction of the WHS Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz III and the WHS Orchestra.
He is a 1997 graduate of Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota, where he held the position of Principal Horn of the Minot Symphony Orchestra for 3 years and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in K-12 Music Education. In 2006, Mr. Rygg completed his master’s degree (in conducting) from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon.
He maintains a busy performance schedule as Assistant Principal Horn of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, as well as Principal Horn of the Sioux Falls Municipal Band. He has performed with regional orchestras in Sioux City, Huron and Marshall, MN. Since 1998, he has been a guest artist/teacher of young horn players at the International Music Camp, located at the International Peace Garden between North Dakota and Manitoba.
His wife, Beth (Malde), is a 1993 graduate of Washington High School where she was very active in the music program. She currently teaches General Music in the Sioux Falls School District. They have 2 children: daughter Shanna and son Kyle.
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