Michelle taught vocal music for twenty-three years in Iowa, retiring from teaching in 2019.  Michelle is a graduate of Trinity International University in Chicago, with a degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education. She began her teaching career in elementary music in West Des Moines from 1994-1995, and then was the vocal music director at Center Point-Urbana High School from 1995-2001.  From 2003-2019, Michelle was the Director of Vocal Music at Pella Community High School, where she directed the varsity and prep show choirs (AcaPella, Bravo and Dutch Divas), while also directing Advanced Choir, Select Choir, two Concert Choirs, the musicals, Chamber Choir and Madrigal Singers each year.  Under her direction, over sixty Pella students were selected for the Iowa All-State Chorus, and her show choirs won dozens of Grand Championships at competitions across Iowa, over one hundred caption awards, and were able to experience performance tours to Florida, New York City, Toronto and multiple performances on Caribbean cruises.  Michelle lives with her husband, Wes, and their goldendoodle, Ace, in Pella, where they have raised three children (Nathan, Noah and Courtney).  Since retiring from teaching in the school system, Michelle stays busy teaching private voice and piano lessons in her studio, serving as a clinician and judge for high school show choir competitions, working in a local women’s clothing boutique, organizing events for both the town of Pella & her church, serving as President on the board for the downtown Pella historic district merchants, and enjoying her new role as Mimi to her first grandchild, Emilia.  

Peter A. Eklund is the current President of the UNL Faculty Senate, was named a Hixson-Lied Endowment Professor of Music, was recently named one of the national quarter-finalists for the first-ever GRAMMY® NATIONAL MUSIC TEACHER OF THE YEAR (out of over 30,000 nominees) and was a national finalist for the NFHS Outstanding Music Educator in 2019. Just this past month, volunteers from three of seven University of Nebraska choirs combined to perform at the request of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies on the US Capitol west steps for the presidential inauguration. Eklund annually conducts instrumental and choral ensembles in no fewer than eight European countries and throughout North America. One of the most active and versatile international conductors today, Peter A. Eklund possesses a unique ability to work effectively with musicians at all levels of performing capability and experience. His curricular choirs have been invited to perform on 46 conventions/conferences of music educators and choral directors. He has conducted over two dozen All-State choirs, some on more than one occasion (South Dakota twice). Trained as a classical pianist and organist in the finest traditions of Western historical music, he now is also a strong advocate for ethnic, contemporary, and world music spanning all genres. His expertise in show choir includes directing high school choirs where they were awarded grand champion status over 95% of the time. He started the University contemporary choral ensemble, Big Red Singers, to provide a platform for students who enjoy the show choir environment and/or enjoy learning how to direct show ensembles at a high level. He frequently also directs high school All-State Show Choirs and just this past fall, directed the Illinois All-State Show Choir.

Drew Neneman, an Omaha native, and member of the SNJ Studio of Music since 2009, keeps an active private studio of over 40 students serving young adults from 14 districts in 2 states. An avid performer of classical and vernacular music, he keeps a full performance schedule as liturgist, pianist, soloist and songwriter.

Drew received his Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance and his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Students of his have received scholarships and honors to attend such prestigious musical institutions as Oklahoma City University, Florida State University, St. Olaf College, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, University of Minnesota, Kansas University, Luther College, Texas Christian University, Farleigh Dickinson University, Viterbo University, Millikin University and the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

While attending UNL, with guidance from Dr. Peter Eklund, Drew received a UCARE grant to complete an undergraduate research survey on vernacular music in secondary education. The survey focused on musical theatre and show choir, taking him around the Midwest as a collaborator, clinician and student among such great Music Educators as Jim Kimmel of Belmont University and Doran Johnson of Westside High School in Omaha, NE.

Seeking to promote excellence in singing and ingenuity of expression, Drew routinely works as a consultant, clinician and judge with choirs from Texas to South Dakota.

Jaclyn Krulik is the Director of Choirs at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and a Master of Music Education degree from Anderson University in South Carolina. Prior to moving to the Kansas City area in 2022, Jaclyn taught vocal music at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2012-2016) and Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa (2016-2022). At Blue Valley North, Jaclyn conducts five choirs, Co-directs the annual musical, and she serves as the sponsor for the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

In her time as a music educator, Jaclyn has taught all voicings of curricular choirs, directed show choirs and show bands, and served as the musical director and choreographer for her school’s annual musical. Jaclyn’s curricular choirs have consistently earned top marks in the Iowa and Kansas State Large Group Contests. Show choirs under Jaclyn’s direction earned various caption awards, Mixed Prep Grand Champion, and the privilege to compete against varsity-level show choirs in finals at multiple competitions. One of her career highlights includes when her advanced treble ensemble, Bella Voce, was selected as a featured choir in the Iowa Choral Directors Association Choral Symposium Choir in 2022. Jaclyn has toured with her choirs throughout the United States and abroad with performances in England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Spain.

Jaclyn grew up dancing competitively, and she spent five years working as a dance instructor and choreographer. She loves that working as a director, clinician, and adjudicator in the show choir community lets her combine her passions for singing and dancing and share it with others. In her free time, Jaclyn enjoys spending time with her husband, Andrew, their son Cooper, and their dog, Oreo.

David Fog has been a choral music educator in Iowa for 41 years, including 34 years at Emmetsburg High School where he directed six choral groups before retiring in 2014. After initial retirement, Dave taught 4 more years at North Union and Bishop Garrigan schools, introducing show choir and vocal jazz choirs into their choral offerings. The vocal music program at Emmetsburg was named one of fifty “Outstanding Small School Music Programs” in the United States by the Standards and Repertoire Committee of the American Choral Directors Association. In addition to numerous IHSMA state contest honors, the EHS Choral Groups have earned superior ratings and overall championships at choral festivals in Orlando, Chicago, St. Louis, Washington DC, and Denver during their regional tours.

The EHS varsity show choir, “High Voltage” consistently strove to “raise the bar” for small school excellence in show choir competition, finishing first in their class and performing in overall championship finals many times. He also has directed all aspects of 23 musicals and serves as an evaluator for the Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards program.

Mr. Fog has been a football coach since he began teaching and was named the Class 1A Assistant Coach of the year in 2010. He continues to be an active ICDA mentor, clinician and adjudicator for show choir festivals and IHSMA sponsored state contests. In 2021, he had the privilege of directing the ICDA 2021 Opus Bass Clef Honor Choir. He and his wife, Kelley, have been a “team” throughout their careers, co-teaching at Emmetsburg and assisting each other in all musical undertakings. They love to travel and get together with their four children and six grandchildren on weekend gatherings, tailgates and at their home on the lake in Emmetsburg.

Greg is a member of vocal group Vertical Voices. He has also been honored to tour with the New York Voices as a sub. Recent appearances include Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Riviera Maya Jazz Festival and the Gran Canaria Big Band as well as the New York Voices/Bob Mintzer Big Band tour in Japan, 2014. He has performed with Adele, Rosemary Clooney, Imogen Heap, Jennifer Holiday, Bobby McFerrin, Chris Potter, Dianne Reeves, säje, Helen Sung, Joe Williams, and more.  

His compositions and arrangements are performed around the world by many of today’s premier vocal ensembles including Chanticleer, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Chicago Children’s Choir, the St. Olaf Choir and Quava Vocal Group of Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Dr. Andrew Last

Dr. Ryan Person

Dr. David Haas

Tom Hales

Dr. Brett Epperson

Bob Anderson

Jaclyn Krulik

David Fog

Nick McGraw

Cathy Britton

Ben Eklund

Melissa Eklund

Dalton Myatt

Drew Neneman

Ted Brimeyer

Adam Peters

Rosana Eckert

Dr. David Von Kampen

Dr. Jeremy Fox

Kim Nazarian

Greg Jasperse