Thank you to our NIMCon Clinician Judges. These individuals have participated in the NIMCon Adjudicator Training and provide consistent and quality feedback to our students. After each student performs, they receive a short clinic with these esteemed music educators.
Tim Barclay – Tim Barclay has been heavily involved in the local jazz scene for the past 12 years as a director, adjudicator, and as a performer. During that time period, he was the Director of Jazz at Libertyville High School, Jazz Assistant at John Hersey High School, and director of the jazz combo at College of Lake County. He has also served as an adjudicator at Jazz in the Meadows, Skyway Jazz Festival, and NIMCon. He is currently the Director of Bands at Carmel Catholic High School and performs professionally in the Chicago area and suburbs.
Andrew Beckwith – Andrew T. Beckwith serves as Associate Director of Bands and Auditorium Director at Lockport Township High School. He conducts the Symphonic Band, Concert Bands A and B, and one of two Freshman Bands. Mr. Beckwith earned his Bachelor’s Degree with Highest Honors from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and his Master’s of Music Education Degree from VanderCook College of Music. While at Lockport, Mr. Beckwith has conducted at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and presented at the Illinois Music Education Conference.
James Garbrecht –
Kurt Gros – Kurt Gros was appointed an Associate Director of Bands at Warren Township High School in 2006.. Under the direction of Mr. Gros, Warren bands have given exciting performances, received superior ratings, and have been accepted to the the 2014 Music for All National Concert Band Festival, Illinois Music Educator’s Association All-State Conference, and the University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival Symphonic Band I was awarded Honor Band in their class at Superstate in 2010 and 2017. Mr. Gros is a nine time recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, and is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician.
Cody Halberstadt – Cody Halberstadt is the Director of Bands and Student Activities Director at Crystal Lake South High School (IL). He holds a Bachelors and Masters of Music Education from the University of Illinois, where he studied conducting with Joseph Manfredo and saxophone with Debra Richtmeyer. Previously, he performed as a member of the US Air Force Bands program for eight years, serving as a saxophonist and guest conductor for national performance tours.
Matthew Karnstedt – Matt Karnstedt currently teaches at Libertyville High School, where his teaching responsibilities include 2 concert bands, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and AP Music Theory. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Butler University and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is currently a member of the Illinois Music Education Association and the Jazz Education Network and performs as a saxophonist and clarinetist with various jazz, soul, and funk groups throughout Chicago and the suburbs.
David Tribley – Mr. Tribley an Associate Director of Bands at Warren Township High School where he works with Concert Band – Almond Campus, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, and the Jazz Lab Band in addition to assisting with the competitive and non-competitive marching band. Mr. Tribley also teaches adapted drum circle/music appreciation for Special Education students. He holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Master’s of Music Performance from the University of Illinois and has been an adjudicator for NIMCon, Jazz Unlimited, IHSA, and other local solo/ensemble/organizational events.
Kevin Carroll – Mr. Carroll is the Director of Orchestras, Assistant Director of Bands, and Director of Guitar Studies at Rolling Meadows High School. He earned his B.S. in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, his M.M. in Music Performance from Bowling Green State University, and completed doctoral coursework in Music Performance at the University of Northern Colorado. Mr. Carroll’s ensembles have been featured on WGN 9, ABC 7, and NBC 5 news broadcasts, and have performed at the Illinois Music Educators Conference, The Midwest Clinic, the Music for All National Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago Symphony Center, and legendary Carnegie Hall.
Ann Forman – Ann Forman is the retired Orchestra Teacher from River Trails Middle School in Mt. Prospect. Not one to sit idle for long, she is now the choral accompanist for the Palatine High School choir program. In her spare time, Ann teaches note reading classes at the Betty Haag Academy of Music and conducts pieces at their concerts. She also loves to work with music students in clinics and contests.
Haley Nichol – In May of 2017, Haley Nichol was appointed as the Associate Director of Bands, Assistant Director of the Jazz Program and Assistant Director of the Wildkit Marching Band at Evanston Township High School. Since beginning her tenure at ETHS, Ms. Nichol has conducted the ETHS Wind Symphony at multiple prestigious venues and events including their performance at Symphony Center, the 2018 Illinois Music Educators Conference, and the 2019 Music For All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN. Prior to coming to Evanston Township High School, Ms. Nichol was the Assistant Band and Orchestra Director at Vernon Hills High School for the 2016-2017 school year. There, she taught concert band and orchestra courses while also directing the extracurricular jazz and pep bands. Ms. Nichol studied violin and piano at the Betty Haag Academy of Music for twelve years and is a product of her public school’s band program where she started playing the saxophone. She is a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where she studied classical saxophone under Dr. Otis Murphy.
Javier Diaz – Javier Diaz received his undergrade at Millikin University and his Masters at the Uninversity of Illinois. He has been teaching for 15 years and has been at Round Lake Middle School for the pat 9 years. He has a beautiful wife and two amazing children.
Karen Jesse – Karen Jesse is a professional classical singer and vocal consultant whose credits include the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Glimmerglass Opera. Ms. Jesse holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music.
Jennifer White – Jennifer White is recently retired after serving as the Director of Choirs at Grayslake Central High School since 1991. She graduated from Western Illinois University (BA-Music Ed.) and National-Louis University (M-Ed.) and has sung with the Elgin Choral Union, Chicago Mastersingers and other professional groups. She was a company member of the theatre troupe Summer Music Theatre, and has studied at The Second City. Former students have gone on to professional careers in theatre, music, film and television. Ms. White currently teaches private voice and piano and is in demand as a clinician/adjudicator throughout Illinois; she is married and has two adult children.
Andrew Russell – Drew Russell currently serves as the Director of Fine Arts at Vernon Hills High School in north suburban Chicagoland. At Vernon Hills, he has led the jazz band from having never performed outside of the school walls to having won class 2A at the Rolling Meadows Jazz Festival multiple times in his 6-year tenure. Prior to his time at Vernon Hills, Drew served as the director of jazz bands at Warren Township High School, where he was the youngest director in the history of the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic to present a feature performance. Furthermore, the band at Warren was named class 4A champions at the Rolling Meadows Jazz Festival 5 years in a row, being named Grand Champion 4 of those years. Drew is an active clinician, consultant, and speaker at music and non-music education conferences across the country. Drew attended the University of Illinois, earning a Bachelor’s degree in music education, and is currently working to complete his Doctoral degree in education leadership with a research focus on mindfulness study in a music classroom. Drew is also an active consultant for music tech companies and is heavily involved in numerous high-growth music startups.
Andy Sturgeon – Andy is one of the Directors of Bands at Mundelein High School, where he directs the Honors Symphonic Winds and Concert Band classes as well as the Honors Jazz Ensemble. He also directs the show choir combo called Noise and the co-directs the Marching Mustangs and the Pep Band. Mr. Sturgeon earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.
Jessica Brown – I graduated from Hope College in 2013 as a bassoon player with a degree in Music Education. I currently am in my fourth year as band director at Northwood Middle School in Woodstock where I also assist with the high school marching and concert band. I am a few months from completing my Masters in Education with a focus in Diverse Learning. I live with my husband and five month old daughter in Woodstock.
Amy Dohler – Amy Dohler is a flute instructor, soloist, and freelance musician, as well as a flute clinician, ensemble coach, Solo & Ensemble Contest Judge, and a piano teacher in the northern Illinois suburbs. Amy earned her BM in flute performance at Northwestern University where she studied with Walfrid Kujala & Richard Graef. She also earned her BA in History & her MS Ed. Degrees from Northwestern University. Amy thoroughly enjoys performing, but she is also a teacher at heart. With a wealth of teaching experience, Amy is proud to foster a wonderful connection with each & every one of her students and is happy to be judging this year’s NIMCon Solo & Ensemble Contest.
Nancy Fencl – I am a soon to be retired 5th Grade Band Director at Half Day School in Lincolnshire. The other hat I wear is teaching 4/5 General Music. I perform with the Waukegan Symphony as Principal Flute and occasionally with the Lake County Symphony Orchestra. I perform with the Prairie Brass Band in the percussion section. I am an avid gardener and bicyclist.
Samantha Tribley – Middle school band director at Glen Ellyn School District 41. Bachelor Degree in Music Education from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Master of Music Education Degree from Northwestern University. Frequent adjudicator in Chicago suburbs and maintains an active clarinet teaching studio.
Chris Bajek – Mr. Chris Bajek has been the Director of Bands for Zion District 6 since 2013. He is responsible for large and small group instruction for all band students in grades 4-8 at both Zion Central Middle School and its five feeder elementary schools. Prior to working in Zion he instructed elementary band programs in Mount Prospect and Naperville. In addition to his responsibilities in Zion, He also continues to perform on the Clarinet as a member of the Northshore Concert Band.
Michelle Kittleson – Michelle Kittleson is in her 10th year of teaching elementary band and general music in Libertyville. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois State University and a Master of Music Education degree from Vandercook College of Music. She enjoys playing flute both independently and in the North Suburban Wind Ensemble. She lives in Chicago and loves to take advantage of the musical opportunities such as going to the CSO and hearing summer concerts at Millennium Park.
Terri Plohr – I have been teaching 1st and 2nd year band students for 18 years in the Hawthorn school district. I also maintain a flute studio of students in middle and high school. I continue to perform in the North Suburban Wind Ensemble as well as a woodwind quintet.
Chris Bajek – Mr. Chris Bajek has been the Director of Bands for Zion District 6 since 2013. He is responsible for large and small group instruction for all band students in grades 4-8 at both Zion Central Middle School and its five feeder elementary schools. Prior to working in Zion he instructed elementary band programs in Mount Prospect and Naperville. In addition to his responsibilities in Zion, He also continues to perform on the Clarinet as a member of the Northshore Concert Band.
Kyle Berens – Mr. Berens has been teaching band for 12 years and is currently the band director at Parkland School in McHenry. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s in Music Education and holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music. In recent years Mr. Berens has performed with the Northshore Concert Band and served as the trumpet section leader in the North Suburban Wind Ensemble. Mr. He has also served in the Army Reserve for 20 years, currently with the 484th Army Band as the operations manger for Illinois and Wisconsin and leader of the Brass Quintet.
Michelle Kittleson – Michelle Kittleson is in her 10th year of teaching elementary band and general music in Libertyville. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois State University and a Master of Music Education degree from Vandercook College of Music. She enjoys playing flute both independently and in the North Suburban Wind Ensemble. She lives in Chicago and loves to take advantage of the musical opportunities such as going to the CSO and hearing summer concerts at Millennium Park.
Dustin Helvie – Dustin Helvie is the Fine Arts Department Supervisor at Libertyville High School. He is finishing his 20th year and conducts the Symphonic Winds, Pit Orchestra and oversees Music, Theatre, Art and Dance.
Scott Lindstrom – Scott Lindstrom is the Director Of Bands at Rosemont School where he also directs the Bucket Drumming Ensemble, helps with the annual musical performance, and teaches General Music. He is a graduate of Illinois State University where he majored in Music Education and Music Composition. He studied Trombone with Steve Parsons and Tom Stark and continues to play with the North Suburban Wind Ensemble. His compositions have been played in the United State and in Europe and include several works for band, choir, and solo instruments.
Terri Plohr – I have been teaching 1st and 2nd year band students for 18 years in the Hawthorn school district. I also maintain a flute studio of students in middle and high school. I continue to perform in the North Suburban Wind Ensemble as well as a woodwind quintet.
Amanda Storer – Mrs. Storer is a trumpet player with a Bachelor of Music Education from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Music Education from Northern Illinois University. She has been teaching in Mchenry County since 2001. She currently teaches 5th-6th grade bands and 6th grade choir at Johnsburg Junior High.
Chris Avgerin – Chris Avgerin has been a first call performer, educator and clinician in the field of percussion for over 15 years. He currently maintains an active performing and teaching schedule throughout the Chicagoland area.
Keith Nowickas – Keith Nowickas is currently a member if NAFME, ILMEA and been a member in Nimcon, IGSMA, and Percussive Arts Society. He has taught in the public schools, as a band director for 19 years and has been the director of bands at Nippersink Middle School in Richmond, Illinois since 2002. Mr. Nowickas holds a Music Ed Degree from Western Illinois University where he performed in their wind ensemble, concert band, orchestra, jazz bands, percussion ensemble, marching band, indoor marching drumline, and steel Band. Mr. Nowickas is also a freelance musician who has performed with numerous groups in the Chicago metropolitan area specializing in percussion and steel pan.
Michael Duggan – Performed as soloist and chamber musician on WFMT and Dame Myra Hess. Served as principal cellist of Chicago Civic Orchestra and performed with Chicago Sinfonietta, Sarasota and Key West Orchestras. Taught at Lewis and Northeastern Illinois University and currently on the faculty at Trinity International University; Orchestra Director at Barrington Middle School-Station Campus in Barrington, IL. Board Member, Illinois chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA).
Ethan Epple – Ethan Epple enjoys teaching band, orchestra, and Mariachi at Robert Abbott Middle School in Waukegan, IL. He performs regularly on the organ, clarinet, and viola. He will begin pursuing his Master’s Degree in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music in the summer.
Erica Faulhaber – Erica Faulhaber is an elementary and middle school orchestra director in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64. She received her Bachelor and Master degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Under Mrs. Faulhaber’s direction, her orchestras have participated in the University of Illinois Jr. High School String Clinic Clinic, the Music in the Parks Festival, and the American String Teachers Association Teacher Enrichment Workshop as the keynote middle school orchestra. Mrs. Faulhaber is a violist in the Highland Park Strings Orchestra and Chicagoland Educators Orchestra, and frequently serves as a guest clinician and adjudicator to schools in the suburbs of Chicago. Mrs. Faulhaber is an active member of ASTA, NAFME and ILMEA.
Pamela Lutter – Pamela Lutter Yeo is an active performer and educator. She received her Masters in Violin Performance from DePaul University, and her BME and Minor in Piano from Stetson University. She has performed throughout Europe and South Korea with the American Chamber Symphony and the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. Pamela has performed with groups in Chicago form Led Zeppelin to Pavarotti, and on the David Letterman Show with Natalie King Cole. She performs currently with the Lake Forest Symphony, Elgin Symphony and the Park Ridge Symphony to name a few. She is the founder of the North Shore String Quartet and teaches music at Hawthorn Elementary South, while maintaining a private lesson studio for violin. viola and piano.
Alan Steiner – Graduate of Curtis Institute of Music. Former member Jerusalem Symphony, Quebec Symphony, Canadian Opera Co. Currently Chgo Sinfonietta, Lake Forest Symphony, Park Ridge Civic Orchestra. Bass Faculty at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor, WI. Private bass studio and presenter of TOUCH BASS WITH ALAN.
Robert Collins – Robert Collins MA.ADM.ED has degrees from Millikin University (music and education) and Concordia University (administration). Mr. Collins has performed around the globe including with the Chicago Symphony, Atlantic Symphony, Holy Name Cathedral Choir, and the Chicago Chamber Choir.
Alice Grubb – My name is Alice Grubb and am currently the gneral music teacher and choral director at Townline Elementary School. I have been a choral director for 35 years. I have judged voice and clarinet for Solo and Ensemble and auditions for the School of the Arts in Florida. I have been involved with accompanying for Solo and Ensemble for the last 15 years for Lake County, IL.
Karen Jesse – Karen Jesse is a classically trained professional singer and vocal consultant. She has performed with Glimmerglass Opera, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Richmond Symphony, Chautauqua Opera, Hubbard Hall Opera, and many others. She has received awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council and Houston Grand Opera. Ms. Jesse holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music.
Paul Nielsen – Paul Nielsen is the choir director at Grayslake North High Shcool in Grayslake, IL. He has served as ILMEA District Vocal Jazz Representative and ILMEA District 7 President. He is currently on the executive board of Illinois ACDA. He holds degrees from DePaul University, VanderCook College of Music, and is a doctoral candidate at Boston University.
Sue Young – Middle School teacher and choir dir. in Northbrook Dist. #28 for 34 years. Northwestern University adjunct professor/lecturer for 10 years, retiring in 2015. Conducting studies with John Paynter, William Ballard, Tom Hilbish, David B. Larsen, Jack Boyd,, Joe Grant, Chet Alwes, and Fred Waring. Recipient of the Mary E. Hoffmann Award for Excellence in teaching and a finalist for the Golden Apple Award. Founder and Conductor Emeritus of the Northbrook Community Choir. Piano studies with Wanda Paul, Bruno Glade, and William Browning. Voice with Eugene Dressler. B. M. from Northwestern U., M.M. from Amer. Conservatory of Music., Certificate of Advanced Study in Administration from National- Louis U. Additional teaching as adjunct professor of Music Studies, Conducting, and Copyright Law at North Park U. and Chicago College of the Performing Arts of Roosevelt U.
