Judging Panel
TOM SANDHOLM - MUSIC GENERAL EFFECT
Tom retired in 2012 following 40 years of teaching
5-12 instrumental music at Bennett Community School, at
Montezuma Community School, and at Grinnell Middle
School. He continues to teach privately and irects
honor bands throughout the state of Iowa. He has judged
marching band, small group/solo, and large group
contests for 38 years for the Iowa High School Music
Association, He has had the opportunity to serve as a
chaperone with Iowa Ambassadors of Music for two tours
throughout Europe. He is an active member of the First
Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Montezuma serving as
organist and pianist for 39 years. Tom and his wife,
Carol, enjoy spending time with their three married
children and nine grandchildren.
DAVE NEWPORT - MARCHING GENERAL EFFECT
Dave Newport retired in the spring of 2010 after 33
years of teaching in the state of Iowa. He was director
of bands at Grinnell High School for 20 years and also
taught at La Porte City (Union High School), Montezuma
and Winfield/Mt. Union. Dave received his BA and MA in
music education from the University of Northern Iowa. He
has conducted several honor bands and is an IHSMA
adjudicator. In 1999 Newport received the Outstanding
Iowa Teacher Award from Grinnell College and was the
recipient of the Grinnell Educator and Citizen of the
Year award in 2006.
KEVIN MAKINSTER - MUSIC EXECUTION
Kevin Makinster is currently the Director of Fifth
Grade Bands at Linn-Mar Community Schools, a position he
has held since 2000. In his 31st year of teaching, he
began his career in 1985, spending seven years as Band
Director at Midland High School in Wyoming, Iowa before
coming to Linn-Mar where he served as Associate Director
of High School Bands for eight years before becoming the
5th Grade director.
A member of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, and
current President of the North East Iowa Bandmasters
Association, he was awarded the Phillip Sehmann
Excellence in Teaching Award from the NEIBA in 2006. Mr.
Makinster is active in Eastern Iowa as a guest conductor
and adjudicator/clinician. He serves as a clinician and
adjudicator at High School Marching Band contests in
Marion, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, and performs
regularly on the trumpet in the Cedar Rapids area as a
member of the Heartland Brass.
MARILYN RIPPY - MARCHING EXECUTION
Marilyn Rippy is a 2000 graduate of Truman State
University where she received her Masters Degree in
Music Education. She is in her 11th year of
choreographing for Fort Madison High School's color
guard and her 16th year as a music educator. She is
currently at South Tama Elementary teaching K-5 general
music. Outside of teaching, Marilyn has been an
adjudicator for solo/ ensemble contests throughout the
state of Iowa and has judged various marching band
competitions in the color guard and marching/
maneuvering execution categories.
ADAM GROH - PERCUSSION
Adam Groh is the Director of Percussion Studies and
Chair of the Division of Visual and Perfoming Arts at
Graceland University in Lamoni, IA. He is in demand
throughout the United States and abroad, and maintains
an active schedule as a performer and guest clinician.
Adam received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in
Percussion Performance from the University of Texas at
Austin, his Master's degree from Florida State
University, and Bachelor's degree from Truman State
University.
DOROTHY DAY - COLOR GUARD |
