Kirt N. Mosier
is currently in his eighteenth year of teaching. In
addition to his duties at Lee's Summit West, Mr. Mosier
created the Entertainment Media Technology Center of
Excellence for the Lee's Summit R-7 School District.
Students from multiple school districts will be able to
enroll at the center to learn how to produce music for
today's media market.
Mr. Mosier is also an adjunct professor for the University
of Missouri at Kansas City where he teaches arranging for
music education and masters degree candidates. Mr. Mosier
holds a BME degree from the University of Missouri at
Kansas City, as well as a Masters of Music in composition
from the same institution.
Mr. Mosier is an active clinician and adjudicator
throughout the Midwest and southern regions of the United
States. Mr. Mosier is also a composer and has had works
featured at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra
Clinic.
Mr. Mosier lives in Lee's Summit with his wife and four
children.
CLIFTON THURMOND, DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Mr. Thurmond was
born in Dallas, TX, but does not claim that state as his
own. He was raised a Californian, a suburbanite from the
Los Angeles metropolitan area. He spent his summers and
weekends at the beach, however, his first time surfing came
on his honeymoon in Maui.
He earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University
of Colorado, Boulder in 1998 and is currently working on a
Master of Arts at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Mr. Thurmond is a tuba player, but was wise enough to marry
a better one. He and his wife, Angie, live in Lee's Summit
with their two children, Emory and Miles. He has worked for
the Lee's Summit R-7 School District since 1999.
SHAWN HARREL, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF
BANDS
Mr. Harrel comes
to Lee's Summit West with a B.S. in Music Education from
Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri
State) and a Master of Arts in Jazz Studies, with an
emphasis in arranging and composition, from the University
of North Texas.
While at UNT, Mr. Harrel was a teaching fellow for several
professors in the jazz studies department including Dan
Haerle and Mike Steinel, two leading authors and educators
in jazz. After Dan Haerle's partial retirement in 2002, Mr.
Harrel directed The Zebras, a jazz keyboard ensemble formed
by Mr. Haerle in 1980.
As an arranger, Mr. Harrel writes regularly for high school
bands in Missouri and Kansas and was a staff arranger for
the Missouri State University Pride Marching Band in
addition to being a drum major for four years.
Mr. Harrel teaches jazz band, concert band and music theory
at Lee's Summit West High School and Entertainment Media
Technology at Summit Technology Academy. He currently lives
in Greenwood with his wife, Jamie, and two sons Evan and
Aaron.
BRIAN HARTMAN, DIRECTOR OF CHORAL
ACTIVITIES
Mr. Hartman
received his BME from Wichita State University in 1999
where he studied conducting with Dr. Harrison Boughton and
Dr. Thomas Wine. At WSU Mr. Hartman won the National
Association of Teachers of Singing competition three
straight years while in the voice studio of Dr. Vernon
Yenne.
Before working at West, Hartman spent four years at Lee's
Summit High School teaching with Carla Oliver. Currently,
he conducts all of the vocal ensembles at West in addition
to instructing the percussion during marching band season.
Mr. Hartman is involved in the "High Schools that Work"
initiative and is the facilitator of the newly implemented
Advisory program. He also enjoys designing indoor drumline
shows and spends time outside of school as a soloist and
clinician.
TERRIN PABST, STAFF ACCOMPANIST
Mrs. Pabst was
born in raised in Lebanon, MO and holds a B.S. in Vocal
Music Education with piano concentration from the
University of Missouri. Following college, Mrs. Pabst
taught three years in the Ft. Zumwalt School District and
two years in the Independence School District.
Mrs. Pabst married her incredible husband Damon and went
into full-time ministry until 2002. Her two wonderful sons,
Josiah and Gage, who both attend schools in the LSR7
district, provided inspiration for her next career
decision. Mrs. Pabst took the hardest job of all as a
stay-at-home mom while also teaching private piano lessons
and substitute teaching in the Lee's Summit School
District.
Since high school, Mrs. Pabst thought being a school's
full-time accompanist would be fun. Because of this, she
brings a wealth of enthusiasm to go with her musical
knowledge and mothering skills, which are all important
skills for her role at Lee's Summit West.
MELANIE MORRISSEY, COLOR GUARD INSTRUCTOR