Blue Valley North Director of Orchestras

Judy Erpelding

Mrs. Judy Erpelding is a violinist, violist, and conductor in her 14th year as an Orchestra Director. This is Mrs. Erpelding's third year as Director of Orchestras at Blue Valley North. She also teaches 5th grade strings classes at Valley Park and Overland Trail Elementary Schools.

Previously, Mrs. E spent her last 11 years as the Director of Orchestras at Free State High School in Lawrence Kansas. She conducted six orchestras there: Chamber, Symphonic, Philharmonic, Concert, Freshman, and Beginning Orchestras. Prior to moving to her new position at Blue Valley North, Mrs. Erpelding was the President-Elect of the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association. Erpelding is also a proud member of the American String Teachers Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Kansas Music Educators Association.

In her twelve years of teaching, Mrs. Erpelding has been recognized as the NEKMEA 2016-17 Outstanding Young Orchestra Director, the first year NEKMEA gave this honor. In 2017, Mrs. Erpelding was selected and served as an official chaperone/sponsor for the NAfME All-Honors National Orchestra in Florida at Disney World and accompanied one of her students who was selected to perform in the All-National Orchestra. Additionally, Mrs. Erpelding has served as the KMEA All-State Orchestra Chairperson in 2019 and 2020, and as the Assistant Chairperson in 2017 and 2018. In 2020-21, Mrs. Erpelding was named the NEKMEA Outstanding High School Level Orchestra Director. In 2022 Mrs. Erpelding was selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by the National Society of High School Scholars, and she was a Clinician/Conductor for the 2022 Olathe School District High School Orchestra Festival.

 Mrs. Erpelding holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Baker University, magna cum laude. She completed her internship/student teaching semester under the tutelage of Dr. Rachel Dirks at Lawrence High School, and Mrs. Jennifer Mitchell at Shawnee Mission Public Schools. A Kansas native, Mrs. Erpelding started her journey in music education in Fort Scott, Kansas, where she began studying violin in the 5th grade orchestra under the instruction of Mrs. Jane Williams. She continued her studies with Mrs. Williams until her graduation from Fort Scott High School in 1998. As a violinist, Mrs. Erpelding studied with Carol Cook, Kirt Duffy, Karen Salisbury, Dr. Ralph Carlson, and Lori McKinney. While attending Baker University, Mrs. Erpelding was 1st violinist of the Buell Hill honor string quartet, Concert Mistress of the Baker University Symphony Orchestra in 2010 and 2011, and was selected as the 2011 Performer of the Year in the School of Music. Mrs. Erpelding has also performed as a section violinist with the Lawrence Community Orchestra, the Overland Park Civic Symphony, JCCC Chamber Strings, the Southeast Kansas Symphony,  the Heartland Chamber Orchestra Adult Festival, and the Fort Scott and Iola, Kansas Civic Symphony.

Mrs. Erpelding lives in Eudora, Kansas with her husband of 20 years, Darren Erpelding. Darren is also an educator, working at Eudora High School as a Health/PE Teacher; and the Head Boys and Girls Soccer Coach. Darren and Judy have three children: Kate (22), Jayla (19), and Beckham (17), who all have attended Eudora Public Schools since pre-school. In 2016, Judy Erpelding presented to the Eudora School Board of Education a proposal to start the High School Girls Soccer program. She organized and led the organization that raised the $42,000 needed to start the program. The program is now entering its 9th year and is completely funded. Mrs. Erpelding considers one of her biggest strengths to be her creativity and accomplishment in organizational skills and leadership. She takes pride in her professionalism and finding balance in life with her family and career.