Instructors & Leadership
Instructors
Dr. Wendy K. Matthews - Director, Kent State Youth Winds
Wendy K. Matthews is the associate dean for undergraduate programs and assessment in the College of Arts and professor of music education at Kent State University. She holds degrees from George Mason University, University of Maryland-College Park and the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Conservatory of Music. Dr. Matthews is an active researcher focusing on group music-making in ensembles across the lifespan, teacher preparation and the oral histories of pioneer women brass players. She is also co-author of the textbook "Basic Conducting Techniques (8th edition)" published in January of 2023. Dr. Matthews is in demand worldwide as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator.
Dr. Joni Stoll - Faculty and Ensemble Administrator, Kent State Youth Winds
Dr. Joni Stoll is beginning her 36th year as a music educator. She held the position of director of bands at Holgate High School for 13 years where she was responsible for the instrumental program 5-12. She also taught at Southeast High School for 20 years directing the high school marching band, symphonic band and jazz band while assisting the band program in grades 5-8. Dr. Stoll received her music education (instrumental) and piano performance undergraduate degrees at the University of Akron, piano performance/pedagogy degree at Northwestern University and Doctor of Philosophy (music education)degree at Kent State University. She has been an adjunct professor at Kent State University since 2011 as part of the music education faculty. She is also active as an adjudicator for the Ohio Music Education Association.
Joseph Hamp - Faculty and Ensemble Administrator, Kent State Youth Winds
Joseph Hamp received his Bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Maryland in 2009, where his focus was classical saxophone. At UMD, he also sang in the chamber choir. Joseph began teaching general music, orchestra and band in Montgomery Public County Schools in 2009. He also worked as an Assistant Conductor for the Northern Virginia Community College band ensembles. In 2011, he moved to Dayton, OH with his family and taught at the Montessori School of Dayton where he taught band and choir, and also founded the rock band program. In 2018, the Hamp family moved to Pittsburgh, where Joseph taught 6th-grade band and general music at Slippery Rock Middle School. He also served as the Assistant Band Director for the Slippery Rock High School "Rocket" Marching Band. In 2022 the Hamp family again moved, this time to Akron. Joseph is currently teaching choir and beginning band in the Hudson City Schools. He is very excited to assist with the Kent State Youth Winds and is looking forward to teaching these talented students.
Will Kish- Faculty and Ensemble Administrator, Kent State Youth Winds
Will Kish received his undergraduate degree in music education from The Ohio State University in 1999. He served as the Graduate Assistant in Bands while earning his master’s degree in music education from Kent State University in 2008. Will is currently back at Kent in the music education Ph.D. program. Outside of his time at Kent State, he has spent his entire professional career as a band director in the Norwalk City Schools in Norwalk, Ohio. He is the assistant conductor of the North Coast Concert Band in north-central Ohio. Will is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the International Society for Music Education. Will is incredibly excited to teach and learn from the many very talented and hard-working members of the Kent State Youth Winds!
Board of Directors
- Dr. Joanna Hersey - Professor, Tuba, University of North Carolina-Pembroke, North Carolina
- Ms. Sarah Kois - Project Coordinator, Kent State Youth Winds, Kent, Ohio
- Mr. Anthony Maiello - Professor of Music, George Mason University, Virginia
- Dr. Wendy K. Matthews - Associate Dean of the College of the Arts, Kent, Ohio
- Dr. Kent McWilliams - Professor of Piano, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
- Dr. John Roebke - Director of Bands, Roosevelt High School, Kent, Ohio