The Conductors

John Thomson, Music Director-Conductor/Youth symphony –

Is Currently Violin and Viola Professor at University of South Dakota(USD) http://www.usd.edu/cfa/Music/thomson.html

and the violinist of the Rawlins Piano Trio since 1994. He was born in England and moved to New Zealand at the age of nine. After completing his undergraduate degree in violin performance he went to the University of North Texas, where he completed his Masters & Doctoral degrees.

He has worked conducting various orchestras in Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, and South Dakota, and is delighted to have this opportunity to share his love of music with the young musicians in the Sioux Falls region. He is passionate about the importance of music and art in young peoples' lives. He explains his feelings about music education: "I believe that there is no activity which is better in fully developing people's abilities. It involves intellectual, physical, and spiritual discipline. And like life - you get out of music what you put into it. Especially in these times when we have recently witnessed such tragedy in the world, and the evil of which man is capable, we all need to be as aware as possible of the great potential of humanity. Learning the great music of the masters can provide young people with a glimpse of profound beauty, and can teach all of us to aspire to the highest levels possible."

As a violinist, he has played as concertmaster in many orchestras, and performed as a soloist throughout the United States and New Zealand. He has performed before Queen Elizabeth II, and former president George Bush, and is featured on two CD recordings with the Rawlins Piano Trio. Some areas of interest include Gypsy violin music (the topic of his doctoral dissertation), and the 19th Century violin virtuoso, Ole Bull. Thomson was asked to provide the information written on a plaque at the statue of Ole Bull in Loring Park, Minneapolis - he also played some of Bull's music at the rededication ceremony, in 2000. He recently peroformed several concerts in Korea and Taiwan which met with great success.

John lives with his wife Jean, daughter Alexa (aged 13), and son Sean (aged 8) in Vermillion, SD.

phone: 605-377-5725

email: jathomso@usd.edu

Mark Isackson, Music Director/Symphonia, Summer Strings  - has taught instrumental music at all levels for 30 years. Currently, he is the orchestra, and jazz ensemble director at Axtell Park middle school in Sioux Falls;  the orchestra director at Hawthorne elementary, and the orchestra and band instructor at Renberg elementary. Mr. Isackson is also on staff of the Augustana music camp.

Born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, Mr. Isackson attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth-majoring in multiple woodwind performance while earning a music education degree. He later earned a M.A. from Augustana college. In addition to Sioux Falls, Mr. Isackson  taught five years in Minnesota, and 6 years at the Northeast Music Camp in central Massachusetts.

In addition, Mr. Isackson is an active performing musician. He is the Associate Principal clarinetist with the South Dakota Symphony, and leads the  Sioux Falls Big Band as well as the Leftbank Septet, and Leftbank Quartet.

An active pilot, Mr. Isackson is on the Board of Directors of the Mockingbird Flying Club, and is a Certified Flight Instructor for the Business Aviation School of Aeronautics.

phone: office: 605-367-7647 home: 605-336-6977

e-mail: isackson@sio.midco.net

Dr. E. Harvey Jewell, Assistant Conductor/Symphonia, Wind Ensemble - is a recent past Executive Vice President of the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Dr. Jewell has a twenty year+ career of music teaching, performance, conducting, and administration. He is an accomplished oboist, and performs when his busy schedule permits.

phone: 605-332-4569

e-mail: hmjewell@dakota.net

Richard Getting, Conductor/Philharmonia-is a native Sioux Falls musician, and a graduate of Washington High School. He has studied with Kato Havas in Oxford, England, and Abraham Chavez at the University of Texas at El Paso. Mr. Getting is a member of the South Dakota Symphony, and has several years of experience as a teacher, conductor, and solo violinist.

phone: 605-331-5167

e-mail: richardgetting@sio.midco.net

Jennifer K. Hawkinson, Conductor/Wind Ensemble –

Jennifer Hawkinson is the Director of Bands at Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD, where she has taught since 2001. She previously served as the Director of Bands at West Central High School (Hartford, SD) for three years and the Director of Bands for grades 5-12 in the Alcester-Hudson Schools for four years.

Ms. Hawkinson received her Master of Arts Degree in Conducting from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in 2006, where her primary teachers were Dr. Dale Lonis and Dr. Fraser Linklater. She holds the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD and she also studied flute extensively with Diana Cherry at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Ms. Hawkinson is active as a private teacher, performer, adjudicator and conductor. She maintains a busy private studio, where she teaches students that range in age from elementary to adult. She also serves as the adjunct Professor of Flute at the University of Sioux Falls. She is a member of the Dakota Wind Ensemble flute section and performs locally for a variety of events. She has been a guest conductor of the Yankton Area Summer Band on three occasions and adjudicates regional music contests.

Ms. Hawkinson holds a number of professional memberships. She is the President of the South Dakota Music Educators Association. She is also a member of the National Flute Association, MENC: The National Association for Music Education, South Dakota Bandmasters Association, Alpha Delta Kappa teacher sorority, Phi Beta Mu Music Honor Society, and Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society.

Ms. Hawkinson and her husband, Mike, make their home in Sioux Falls.

phone:

e-mail: jenhawk@sio.midco.net

Jay Reeve, Conductor/Prelude Strings –

is a private string teacher with active Suzuki studios in Sioux Falls, Mitchell, and Freeman. He holds degrees from Knox College and the University of Wyoming, and has taught at Huron College and Northern State College. He currently serves as Adjunct Faculty for violin and viola at Northwestern College. Jay plays violin in the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and free-lances with many other area ensembles, including the Black Hills Symphony. He has been conductor of the Huron Symphony and the Aberdeen Civic Symphony. When he's not teaching, playing, or traveling, Jay can usually be found at his Macintosh, where he creates graphics for books and magazines, and builds both concert and computer programs.

phone: 605-334-0089

e-mail: jayreeve@sio.midco.net