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Tuesday, September 07, 2010
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Mrs. Jennifer K. Hawkinson, WHS Director of Bands
Jennifer K. 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 received her Master of Arts Degree in Conducting from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in 2006 where her teachers were Dr. Dale Lonis and Dr. Fraser Linklater. She is a 1994 summa cum laude graduate of Mount Marty College in Yankton, 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 conducts the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz I, Marching Band, Quacko (the Show Choir Bands) and various chamber music ensembles at Washington. She shares directing duties with Mr. Bleeker for Jazz III and Pep Band.
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 college. 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 is an active guest conductor 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 MENC: The National Association for Music Education, South Dakota Bandmasters Association, National Flute Association, Alpha Delta Kappa teacher sorority, Phi Beta Mu Music Honor Society, and Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society.
In 2007, Ms. Hawkinson was nominated for the Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year Award in the Sioux Falls School District and was selected as a finalist. She also received an Excellence in Education Award in 2000 from FOX TV, Sioux Falls Ford, and Saturn of Sioux Falls and has been named to Who’s Who Among American Teachers.
Her husband, Mike, is a Guidance Counselor at Lincoln High School and the couple makes their home in Sioux Falls.
Mr. Nathan Bleeker, WHS Assistant Director of Bands
Nathan Bleeker is in his second year as Assistant Director of Bands at Washington High School. Before coming to Washington, Mr. Bleeker served as director of bands for grades 5-12 for the Adrian School District in Adrian, MN. While in Adrian, Mr. Bleeker was responsible for high school, middle school, and 5th grade concert bands. He also directed 2 jazz bands, and the Adrian Dragon Marching Band which took 1st place in the 2007 class “A” Festival of Bands parade.
Mr. Bleeker received his Bachelor of Arts from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD focusing on both music performance and education. At Augustana, Mr. Bleeker served as principal trumpet of the Augustana Band and Brass Choir. He also served as the lead trumpet of the Northlanders Jazz Ensemble and had the opportunity to perform with jazz greats such as Bobby Shew, Doug Beach, Rufus Reid, Chris Vadala and Allen Vizzutti. He was also the featured soloist with the Augustana Band during their 2005-06 winter tour. During his tenure at Augustana, he studied trumpet extensively with Richard Bogenrief of Augustana College and Dr. Alan Taylor of SDSU.
Mr. Bleeker conducts the Varsity Band, Freshman Band, and Jazz II. And is the Assistant Director of the Marching Band and shares duties with Ms. Hawkinson for Jazz III and pep band.
Mr. Bleeker holds professional memberships to the South Dakota Band Masters Association and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC)
Nathan along with his wife Melinda and two children Aidan and Audrey make their home here in Sioux Falls.
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