Instructor Bios

Andy Rubesch

Explorer Band Conductor

Andy Rubesch is the band director at Tillicum Middle School in the Bellevue School District, where he has taught for 9 years. A graduate of the University of Washington, he has worked with middle school and high school bands throughout the area, including concert bands, jazz bands and marching bands. Andy currently lives in West Seattle with his wife, Gretchen, and two kids, Jackson and Sadie.

David Bentley

Quest Band Conductor

David Bentley is in his 16th year of teaching at the Mercer Island School District. He currently conducts the High School Jazz Ensemble, several bands at Islander Middle School and is the District Fine Arts Coordinator.

Barry Roberts

Adventure Band Conductor

Barry Roberts has been a professional musician and educator for the past 25 years, 14 with the Bellevue School District. He has taught both middle school and high school band, with numerous awards and accolades. As an educator, he has worked with a variety of students in many different settings, from the classroom to adjudicating solo and ensemble festivals to teaching private lessons. He has taught high school band for 14 years and has spent the last 11 years teaching at Odle Middle School where he has conducted many musicals, both with the Performing Arts Academy at Odle and the Bellevue Youth Theater. He was also with the 133rd Army Band for 8 years, conducting the Concert Band and Jazz Band for 5 years. He served as well with the 560th Air Force Band, playing 2nd Horn in the Wind Ensemble and lead trumpet in the Jazz Band. As a performing musician, he has done a wide variety of work, from recording and theater work to symphony playing and jazz playing. He has been in various pits for musicals, played with the Sammamish Symphony, the Northwest Symphony, lead trumpet with Northwest Gospel Jazz Band and with a Christian worship band named Network. He also co-founded the Mach One Jazz Orchestra and was the musical director and lead trumpet for over 6 years. He is currently playing lead trumpet with the Mukilteo’s Outrageous Jazz Orchestra (MOJO) and is the current principal trumpet for Ballet Bellevue. He has performed in a wide variety of venues, from intimate clubs and wedding receptions to gigs at Seahawk Stadium and the Bite of Seattle. He has his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Idaho. His teachers include Larry Jess (principal trumpet-Spokane Symphony) and John Harbaugh (Central Washington professor of Trumpet Studies) among others.

Gwyn Barkman

Flute Instructor

Gwyn Barkman began her teaching career as a private flute instructor in Bellevue, while still a student at Bellevue High School. She subsequently earned degrees in Music Education, Flute Performance, as well as Business Finance from Seattle Pacific University. Ms. Barkman was a junior high and elementary band director in the Lake Washington School District from 1993 to 2006, also serving as a music coordinator for the district. Currently, she is in her fourth year as a band director for the Bellevue School District, teaching at Enatai and Cherry Crest Elementary Schools, as well as at Chinook Middle School. In addition to her role as a band director, Ms. Barkman has enjoyed conducting community bands and is a flutist with the Washington Wind Symphony.

Tasha Reynolds

Oboe Instructor

Miss Reynolds studied music education at the University of Northern Colorado and received a degree from Oral Roberts University in 1994. After graduating she traveled with Youth With a Mission to Fiji to work with native children and village churches. In Fiji Miss Reynolds adjudicated village choir competitions as well as led workshops in conducting. In 1995 she served a year in Kiev, Ukraine teaching children of medical missionaries. In 2001 she completed a master degree from the University of Washington with an emphasis on learning disabilities and music. She is currently in her 14th year teaching instrumental music in grades 7-12 and directs the Jazz and Pep band at Bellevue Christian School. In addition to instrumental music, Miss Reynolds teaches an art and music history class in collaboration with the art specialist at BCS. Miss Reynolds currently performs on oboe in the Northwest Symphony Orchestra.

Francine Peterson

Bassoon Instructor

Francine Peterson, bassoonist, enjoys a varied career as performer, educator and adjudicator around the Puget Sound. Francine is principal bassoonist with the Northwest Sinfonietta and the Bellevue Philharmonic and she regularly performs with the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, the Auburn Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera and the Fifth Avenue Theater. She maintains a large private studio in addition to serving on the faculties of Pacific Lutheran University, Western Washington University and Seattle Pacific University. Committed to education at all age levels, Ms. Peterson has been on the Seattle Youth Symphony Marrowstone summer music since 1990 and she also coaches for the Seattle Junior and Youth Symphony as well as being the bassoon coach for the Cascade Junior and Youth Symphonies.

Carol Krell

Clarinet Instructor

Carol Krell is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University and has been a band director and private clarinet instructor in the Bellevue area for many years, working with students in grades 5 - 12. She has been an adjudicator in both band, as well as solo and ensemble festivals in the Bellevue School District and local music regions. In July, 2009, she served as a faculty member of the Seattle Youth Symphony‘s Marrowstone in the City program.

Carol is a charter member of the Washington Wind Symphony and continues to play clarinet in this group. Carol is passionate about providing opportunities for students to experience success and joy in their music making. She is currently a band director in the Mercer Island School District and works with students in grades 5 - 8.

Kathy Boone

Saxophone Instructor

Kathy Boone has been actively teaching music since 1979. Born and raised in southern California she was principal clarinet in the San Fernando Valley Youth Symphony. She was accepted as a clarinet major at University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. Transferring to Cal State University, Northridge she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies with an emphasis in Community Education. After three years working at a children’s home in Hollywood and in special education, she determined that her real calling was to teach music. She went on to complete a degree in Music Education at Seattle Pacific University, emphasizing woodwinds, particularly clarinet, flute and bassoon. Kathy was the Instrumental Director at Bellevue Christian Schools from 1984 – 1997 where her bands consistently received excellent and superior ratings. Her program grew to include two elementary bands, two junior high bands, a high school concert band, symphonic wind ensemble, jazz ensemble and pep band. In 1993 she completed a Masters Degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Washington. Over the years she has performed with the Broadway Symphony (Orchestra Seattle), the Seattle Philharmonic, and the Bellevue Philharmonic. She currently performs as a free-lance musician in the Pacific Northwest. From 1997 – present she has developed a very successful private studio teaching clarinet, flute, saxophone and guitar. She is also Adjunct Music Faculty at Northwest University in Kirkland, WA where she teaches lessons in clarinet, saxophone and guitar as well as Ear Training, Woodwind Methods, Instrumental Methods, Computer Notation (Finale), and various other courses when called on such as Orchestration, and Music History.

Barney Blough

Horn Instructor

Barney L. Blough is currently the Music Director of the Evergreen City Ballet. Mr. Blough has also conducted musicals at Garfield High School and Roosevelt High School, and the Eastside Musical Theater. Mr. Blough was formerly Music Director of the Seattle Chamber Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Rainier Symphony, and Assistant Conductor of the Lake Union Civic Orchestra. While studying with Pulitzer Prize winning composer Gunther Schuller at the Festival at Sandpoint, he was invited to perform as Guest Conductor with the Spokane Symphony. Other guest conducting appearances include Orchestra Seattle, Emerald City Philharmonic, and the Garfield High School Orchestra. Mr. Blough studied conducting with Larry Gookin at Central Washington University, Director Emeritus of the Seattle Youth Symphony Vilem Sokol, and Stewart Kershaw, Principal Conductor of the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Mr. Blough plays with the Federal Way Symphony, Orchestra Seattle, and Bellevue Opera. He has performed with the Bellevue Philharmonic, Tacoma Symphony, Northwest Mahler Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Northwest, Everett Symphony, Northwest Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Wenatchee Symphony, Richland Symphony, and the Lake Chelan Bach Festival. Civic Orchestra.

Mr. Blough received his B.A. in Music Performance from Central Washington University, his Teaching Certificate from Seattle Pacific University, and his Professional Certificate from Pacific Lutheran University. He is currently directs the orchestras at Odle Middle School and Bellevue High School.

Parker Bixby

Trumpet Instructor

Parker Bixby is proud to be entering his 15thyear of teaching in the Mercer Island School District. His primary responsibilities include directing the Islander Marching Band, three of the four MIHS Concert bands and the award winning MIHS Percussion Ensemble. Mr.Bixby holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Washington as well as a Master of Music Education from the University of Montana acquired during his fellowship as Assistant Director of the Grizzly Marching Band. Away from his students, he is an active performer as a member of the Washington Wind Symphony and enjoys spending time with his wife Jessi and two children Madeline and Duncan. Mr. Bixby is a member of The Washington Music Educators Association as well as MENC: the National Association for Music Educators.

Cory Edwards

Low Brass Instructor

Excited to begin his first year as a teacher, Cory Edwards has taken a position as a co-director for the Newport High School bands in Bellevue Washington where he directs both Jazz and Concert music, along with beginning band and composing with music technology. Mr. Edwards is a recent graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, where he received his Bachelor‘s in Music Education with top honors. Performing on both Trombone and Piano, Mr. Edwards performed in nearly all of the various ensembles that PLU had to offer, including four years in the top tier Wind Ensemble as trombonist and as the pianist for the University Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Edwards continues to perform as both pianist and trombonist for the Washington Winds Symphony as well as playing piano for Hope Lutheran Church and their choir in Tacoma, WA

Karen Sunmark

Percussion Instructor

Karen Sunmark is formerly from the Midwest where she held the position of section percussionist with the Springfield Symphony, performed with the Peoria Symphony, Chicago Lyric Opera, Illinois Chamber Orchestra and was a member of the percussion ensemble Serious Repercussions. She has performed with the national touring company of Les Miserables. Here in the Seattle area, she performs regularly with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Auburn Symphony, and Tacoma Symphony. Other performances include the Seattle Symphony and Northwest Sinfonietta. She has her Masters in Education and is director of bands at Maywood Middle School in the Issaquah school district. Karen is so pleased to have achieved her National Board Certification as a Music Educator.

Nse’ Ekpo

Camp Director

Camp Director, Nse (En-say) Ekpo, hails from Sumter, South Carolina and is currently band teacher at Bellevue Christian School. Mr. Ekpo received his bachelors and masters degree from the University of South Carolina in Music Education, and Orchestral conducting respectively. Ekpo is also working towards a doctorate in conducting at the University of Washington. Ekpo has taught music from elementary level through college. Nse has been on staff at Encore! Summer Music camp in Georgia and also the University of South Carolina Summer Music Camp. Before moving to the west coast, Ekpo taught in the Baltimore Public School System. Nse lives with his wife, Tami and daughter Janelle in Bellevue where they love Karaoke.