Rebecca C. Friesen
Empowering students to succeed through music education.
Experience
Kirkwood School District, Kirkwood, Missouri 2005 – 2023
Director of Bands August, 2018 – 2024
- Kirkwood High School Head Band Director
- KHS Pioneer Pride Marching Head Band Director
- KHS Symphonic Band Co-Director
- KHS Wind Ensemble Head Director
- KHS Concert Band Head Director
- KHS Woodwind Chamber Ensemble Founder/Director
- North Kirkwood Middle School Assistant Band Director
- Nipher Middle School Assistant Band Director
- Beginning Clarinet Class Instructor
August, 2005 – 2018
- North Kirkwood Middle School Head Band Director
- Kirkwood High School Assistant Band Director
- KHS Pioneer Pride Marching Band Assistant Director
- KHS Symphonic Band Director 2005 – 2012
- KHS Wind Ensemble Co-Director 2012 – Present
- KHS Woodwind Chamber Ensemble Founder/Director
- NKMS Play it Forward Coordinator
- Beginning Clarinet Class Instructor
St. Louis Community College
Adjunct Music Faculty 2002 – 2005
- Basic Music 103
- Class Piano I
- Enjoyment of Music 114
- Woodwind Sectionals for Meramec Community Band
Fort Zumwalt School District, O’Fallon, Missouri – Band Director 1995 – 2001
- FZS Wind Ensemble Co-Director
- FZS Symphonic Band Co-Director
- FZS Woodwind Ensemble Founder/Director
- FZN Marching Band Assistant Director
- FZN Symphonic Band Director
- FZS Independent Music Theory Instructor
- District Solo and Ensemble Teaching and Organization
- FZS Musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” Instrumental Rehearsal
- FZN Guitar Class
- Dubray and South Middle School 8th Grade Band Assistant Director
- Dubray Middle School 8th Grade Band Assistant Director
- Dubray Middle School Beginning Clarinet, Saxophone, Percussion and Flute Classes
Education
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville – Master of Music in Education – September 1996 – August 1999
- Conducting Emphasis
- Masters Thesis: Selecting Quality Literature for the High School Wind Ensemble
- Summa Cum Laude
Missouri State University, Springfield— Bachelor of Science in Music Education
- Instrumental Music
- Cum Lade
Skills
Conducting
Woodwind Specialist
Beginning Clarinet Pedagogy
Organizational Skills
Marketing Band Program
Team Management Student and Staff
Student Leadership
Awards
2022 Missouri Music Educators Conference Performance – Kirkwood High School Wind Ensemble – Director
2018 Missouri Music Educators Conference Performance – Kirkwood High School Woodwind Chamber Ensemble – Director
2017 Carnegie Hall Performance – Kirkwood High School Symphonic Orchestra – Woodwind Specialist
2016 Missouri Music Educators Conference Performance – Kirkwood High School Symphonic Orchestra – Woodwind Specialist
2010 Missouri Music Educators Conference Performance – Kirkwood High School Wind Ensemble – Assistant Director – woodwinds
Publishing/Commission
The Spark: Notes from the Podium by Gary Gackstatter and Ron Sikes Consultant on early drafts of the book
Vandoren – Wave – Article Sharing Experience: The Most Effective Ways to Reach Your Students
Commissioning Director Resource Recording Performing Ensemble
Kirkwood – Clancey Weeks Woodwind Choir – Archived in the Kirkwood, Missouri Historical Society
Loch Lomond – Ralph Vaughn Williams arr. Gary Gackstatter
SolidaCapo.com Co-Owner Developer Digital Signage for Band
Service
St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association — Band Vice President 2022 – 2024
Nottelmann Music Professional Development —“What I Wish I Had Known“ Panelist 2019
Guest Clinicians:
2023 – 2024 Dr. Carolyn Barber
References
Available upon request.