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YOUTH PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL
1517 S SECOND ST.
LOUISVILLE, KY 40208
(502) 485-8355
Dr. Kevin Callihan - Director of Bands
kevin.callihan@jefferson.kyschools.us
Dr. Kevin Callihan is currently the Director of Bands at the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY and an Associate Conductor of the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony. He has previously held Director of Bands positions at Longwood University (VA), Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Apollo High School (KY). Callihan holds degrees from Morehead State University, Northwestern University, and the University of Kentucky. In addition, Dr. Callihan was named the KMEA High School Teacher of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year.
Ensembles under Dr. Callihan's direction have been selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic, the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, the Jazz Education Network Conference, the College Band Directors National Association/National Band Association Southern Division Conference, the Phi Beta Mu Concert Festival, and the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference. The YPAS Wind Ensemble was selected as a 2023 and 2024 National Winner in The Foundation for Music Education’s Mark of Excellence/National Wind Band Honors Project in two divisions (AAAAA & New Music). In addition, Dr. Callihan has presented and/or performed at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association Clinic, the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference, the International Tuba & Euphonium Conference, the International Trombone Festival, the College Band Directors National Association Conference, and the International Society for Research and Promotion of Wind Music International Conference.
Dr. Callihan is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the American School Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Honorary Music Fraternity, and Who's Who in America. He is an active performer, clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator both regionally and nationally. Callihan currently serves as the KMEA State Jazz Chair and the KMEA District 12 president-elect. He resides in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife Kaitlin and their daughter Katherine.
Conner Kinmon - Associate Director of Bands
conner.kinmon@jefferson.kyschools.us
Conner Kinmon, Associate Director of Bands, Youth Performing Arts School
Summa cum laude graduate of the University of Kentucky, Kinmon brings a proven record of excellence in ensemble direction. Previously Director of Bands at Eastern and Henderson County High Schools, he holds National Board Certification and active membership in the Kentucky Colonels.
Under his leadership, ensembles have earned performances at the KMEA Conference and Phi Beta Mu Festival, received the American School Band Directors Association’s certificate of outstanding performance, and achieved unanimous distinguished ratings at KMEA Concert Festivals. His students’ selections for KMEA All-State and All-District Bands, the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, and prestigious summer camps have risen steadily as has the general membership in all programs he's been a part of.
Honored as the 2020 KMEA District 2 High School Teacher of the Year, Kinmon has served as Marching Band Chair for District 2 and currently chairs Bands for KMEA District 12. What Mr. Kinmon is most proud of is the success of his students both past and present and the relationships made along the way. Mr. Kinmon spends his time away from the band room with his lovely wife Brittany, beautiful baby girl Harper and their adorable puppy Waffles.
Sam Riddick - Director of Percussion
Sam Riddick, Director of Percussion, Youth Performing Arts School
Sam Riddick (b. 2001) currently serves as Director of Percussion at the Youth Performing Arts School and adjunct faculty at Indiana University Southeast. He is an active composer, performer, and educator from Louisville, Kentucky who discovered his love of percussion at the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) under the instruction of Jason Gregory and Curtis Essig. He has participated in Kentucky Music Education Association concerts multiple years, an ensemble participant at the Midwest Clinic 2017, Bands of America Conference 2015, and has had the privilege to perform with the Louisville Civic Orchestra as well as the Louisville Orchestra with Teddy Abrams. Sam is a graduate of the University of Louisville (BME) and Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music (MM). He enjoys composing, conducting, and performing with local orchestras as well as participating with public school music education outreach programs.
SECTIONAL STAFF
Dr. Tony Watson, Flute Specialist
Dr. Blake Johnson, Oboe Specialist
Mrs. Angela Soren, Clarinet Specialist
Mr. Ron Jones, Saxophone Specialist
Ms. Jackie Royce, Bassoon Specialist
Mr. Roger Soren, Bassoon Specialist
Dr. Jim Recktenwald, Trumpet Specialist
Mr. Colin Dorman, Horn Specialist
Dr. Anastasi Fafalios, Trombone Specialist
Mr. Chris Schmidt, Tuba / Euphonium Specialist
PRIVATE TEACHERS
FLUTE
Tony Watson, Charlotte Roth, Kim Spaulding, &
Jean Hutchinson
OBOE
Blake Johnson, Jennifer Potochnic, & DaEun Ahn
BASSOON
Jackie Royce, Eve Parsons, & Francisco Joubert
CLARINET
Angela Soren, Carrie RavenStem, Sam Holman, Marilyn Nije, & Michelle Gilfert
SAXOPHONE
Ron Jones, Cory Barnfield, Adam McCord, Derek Siebert, Brandon Bell, & Andrew Oberhausen
TRUMPET
Jim Recktenwald, Ryan Nottingham, Erica Howard, Tim Hamilton, Sarah McClave, Stacy Simpson, Craig Twedell, George Burnett, & Melanie Dillman
FRENCH HORN
Colin Dorman, Diana Morgen, Ben Taylor, & Tyler Taylor
TROMBONE
Anastasi Fafalios, Bryan Heath, Brett Evans, Chad O'Brian, & Robby Bernardi
EUPHONIUM
Chris Schmidt & John Jones
TUBA
Chris Schmidt, John Jones, & Andrew Doub
PERCUSSION
Mark Tate & Jeremy McMonigle
COLLABORATIVE PIANIST
Debbie Dierks
The Band Department at YPAS provides a safe, caring atmosphere which is rich in student instruction and performance. As accomplished professional musicians themselves, the faculty approach the teaching of music as both a discipline and an art form. In addition to teaching fundamental music skills and artistic performance practices, the faculty members strive to impart to the students a lasting enjoyment and appreciation of music leading to a true passion for the art form as performers, educators, composers, and consumers.
Students in the YPAS Band Program have gone on to study at the Eastman School of Music, Juilliard, New England Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, Boston Conservatory, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, Northwestern University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon University, Lynn Conservatory, Rice University, University of Southern California, and many other major universities and conservatories.
YPAS BANDS TRIP HISTORY
1995: Boston, Massachusetts
1996: Toronto, Canada
1997: Washington, D.C.
1998: San Antonio, Texas
1999: Chattanooga, TN and Chicago, Illinois
2000: Toronto, Canada
2001: New York, New York
2002: Caribbean Cruise
2003: New Orleans, Louisiana
2004: Montreal, Canada
2005: Boston, Massachusetts
2006: San Antonio, Texas
2007: New York, New York
2008: Indianapolis, Indiana (BOA MFA National Concert Band Festival)
2009: Boston, Massachusetts
2010: San Antonio, Texas
2011: Indianapolis, Indiana (BOA MFA National Concert Band Festival)
2012: New Orleans, Louisiana
2013: Washington, D.C.
2014: Chicago, Illinois
2015: San Antonio, Texas
2016: New Orleans, Louisiana
2017: Orlando, Florida
2018: Cincinnati, Ohio
2019: Chicago, Illinois
2022: New Orleans, Louisiana
2023: Indianapolis, Indiana (BOA MFA National Concert Band Festival)
2023: Chicago, Illinois (The Midwest Clinic - Wind Ensemble)
2024: Washington, D.C. (BOA MFA Mid-Atlantic Concert Band Festival)
Lexington, KY (BOA MFA Windfest Concert Band Festival)
2025: Chicago, Illinois (The Midwest Clinic - Percussion)
New Orleans, Louisiana (Jazz Education Network - Jazz Ensemble)
Tampa, Florida (CBDNA/NBA Southern Division - Symphonic Band)
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