ABOUT
Conductor Biographies
Daniel Stevens, conductor and violist, is assistant professor of music/director of instrumental activities, and the Mazie Barnett Kilmer Chair for String Education. He is a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Oklahoma State University, and the University of North Texas. He is conductor and artistic director of the South Kansas Symphony at Southwestern College, coach of the Williams String Quartet, and teacher of applied violin and viola, as well as teaching music department courses. Daniel founded the Southwestern College Youth Symphony in 2006 with a group of 25 young musicians and this fall the group has expanded to two ensembles. Daniel has been guest clinician at the Northeast Oklahoma All-District Honors Orchestra and the Tulsa Metro Honors Orchestra and in December will conduct the North Central Kansas All-District Orchestra. He has judged Kansas large group and solo and small ensemble contests. Daniel is a violist with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and has played with the Wichita Grand Opera, Tulsa Philharmonic, the Tulsa Opera Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, and Akron Symphony. He performed a 2010 viola duo recital with Phillip Stevens and pianist Timothy Shook in Carnegie Hall. In the October Kaleidoscope performance, Daniel will be soloist on Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante.
Rebecca Tast is in her third year as orchestra director at Arkansas City (Kan.)Public Schools. She teaches 6th-12th grade orchestras and runs a private strings studio for 12 students. In her three years as director at Ark City, Rebecca has more than doubled the number of students in the orchestra program. Rebecca received her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and is currently working on her master's degree at Wichita State University. Rebecca was honored as the 2011 Outstanding Young Educator by the Kansas Chapter of the American String Teachers Association and is the current newsletter editor for that organization.
Travis Hale is director of instrumental music and chair of the performing arts department at Wichita Southeast High School. He oversees band and orchestra programs that include chamber orchestra, string orchestra, marching band, jazz band, concert band, and wind ensemble. In addition, Travis has developed an alternative music curriculum for commercial music. Travis earned degrees from Emporia State University and from Wichita State University. He is an avid saxophone player ad performs in jazz ensembles and bands. He has served as a clinician and judge for honor groups and festivals in Kansas, and is currently the orchestra chair for the South Central District of Kansas Music Educators Association.
Board of Directors:
- Wendy Estes—Director of Internal Support
- Marvin Estes—Director of Concert Preparations
- Dan Torrence—Director of Community Engagement
- Rhenda Torrence—Director of Advisory Board
- Tim Miller & Amanda Nygren — Directors of Aesthetics
- Diana Thompson—Director of Grants
- John Baker—Director of Personnel
- Rae Lynne Baker—Director of Relations
- Daniel Stevens—Executive Director
South Kansas Symphony Advisory Board:
- Vicky Rockhill, president
- Thane Rockhill
- Dari Trout
- Dianna Thompson
- Rae Lynne Baker
- John Baker
- Chelsea Fort, student
- Hannah Schrag, student
- Daniel Stevens, conductor
- Linda Newby
Symphony on the Prairie Board:
- Julie Headrick, director
- Mary Jarvis
- Phil Jarvis
- Marv Estes
- Wendy Estes
- Vicky Rockhill
- Thane Rockhill
- Ken Norland
- Madeline Norland
- Daniel Stevens, conductor
Office Staff:
- Rebecca Tast – Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra Conductor
- Travis Hale – Youth Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor
- Ismail Farid – Youth Symphony Executive Assistant
- Rose Hanna—SC Faculty Administrative Assistant
- Linda Newby— South Kansas Symphony Personnel Manager
- Lael Porter—Stage Manager
- Brianna Green—South Kansas Symphony Student Librarian
- Melissa Von Bon—South Kansas Symphony Student Stage Manager
- Tiffany Rea—Youth Symphony Student Librarian
- Amber Hart – Youth Symphony Student Stage Manager
Contact Information:
Snail Mail: SKS, Rose Hanna, 100 College St., Winfield, KS 67156
Phone: 800-843-1546 extension 6272
Email: Daniel Stevens—-Daniel.Stevens@sckans.edu