Instructors

Vicki Strode completed her B.S. Ed in Vocal Music Education from Missouri State University in 1994, M.S. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Southwest Baptist University in 2001, and is currently working toward a M.A. Kodály Emphasis degree from the University of Central Missouri. She received her National Kodály Certification from the University of Central Missouri in 2010. She currently teaches K-5 general music in the Wentzville School District.)

Dr. Liza Meyers, in her 20th year as a music educator, has taught preschoolers to graduate students in various settings, most recently in in Manhattan. She has taught World Music classes at universities in OH and NY, and teaches preschool music classes in Cincinnati. Liza received her Master's degree from Arizona State University, and recently defended her dissertation completing her doctorate, also from ASU. Liza studied at the International Kodály Seminar in Kecskemet, Hungary in 2003 and has taught Kodály certification courses in AZ, KY, AL, AR, and MO where she has had experience as an instructor in all three levels and particularly enjoys teaching Musicianship and sight singing skills to all ages in a joyful manner. She received a Japan Fulbright Memorial Scholarship studying in Tokyo and Shiogama, Japan in 2006, and also holds Orff certification. Liza has presented workshops at the state, regional, and national level in AZ, CA, CO, MD, MN, NE, and OH, written music curriculum for a charter system in NYC, and has held many leadership positions in state, regional, and national professional organizations, most recently as a member of a subcommittee of the Teacher Education Committee which oversees program endorsement for the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE), and as the national program chair for the OAKE conference in Phoenix in 2012.

Crystal Henricks currently teaches primary school music at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Her experience includes Nursery School-12th grade general and choral music, both in Chicago and China. She holds a BS in Music Education from Asbury College, Kodály Certification and MMEd from Capital University, Levels I-III Orff Schulwerk Certification from The University of Kentucky and Anderson University, and is an active member of the American Eurhythmics Society. She is an active clinician for workshops and choral festivals both in the United States and abroad. She has taught music pedagogy and folk song research classes at both DePaul University and VanderCook College of Music. She currently serves as member-at-large on board for the Midwest Kodály Music Educators Association.

Lisa Simmelink is currently a Pre-K-5th grade Music Educator in McPherson, KS and is also the Director of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church. Lisa has had experience teaching students of all levels; from 3yr old Music & Movement classes, to college music methods, to graduate Kodály certification courses. Lisa earned her undergraduate degree in K-12 Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance from Bethany College and her Master of Music Education from Wichita State University. She holds a Kodály Certificate from Colorado State University. Lisa is co-founder and past-president of Kodály Music Educators of Kansas. She is currently serving as the President-Elect of the Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America. Lisa has been the Level II Pedagogy and Folk Song Research instructor in the Wichita State University Kodály program since it began. She is an active presenter at local, state and regional levels.

Jennifer Wassemiller has taught music in various forms for over 20 years and is the elementary music specialist at McCollom Elementary in Wichita, Kansas. She has extensive experience as a performer, as an accompanist, and as a teacher of all ages. Ms. Wassemiller received a Bachelor of Music in Education from Friends University, earned her Masters degree at Emporia State University, and received Kodály certification from Wichita State University. Besides being active within the Kodály Music Educators of Kansas and the Organization of American Kodály Educators, Ms. Wassemiller has held several leadership positions within the Kansas Music Educators Association and has presented at both district and state levels. She also served as a Music Education Ambassador to China with People to People in 2009, and regularly serves as an adjudicator for vocal and choral festivals. In addition to her public school teaching duties, Jennifer teaches private voice and piano in Wichita, and directs the children's and youth choirs at East Heights United Methodist Church. She can occasionally can be seen tickling the ivories at Old Cowtown Museum.