History/Looking Forward

The Missouri Small School Band Directors Association began in the summer of 2016 as a letter writing and advocacy campaign. What started out as a reaction to state-level rule changes evolved into what today has become a network of small school music educators working to provide support and professional development to its members, as well as educational opportunities to its members' students.

MSSBDA is indebted to Joe Voga, Ted Keck, and Julie Capps for the initiative that led to this organization's creation. At the MBA conference in 2017, steps were taken to form the organization in earnest. Voga became the first President, with Keck serving as Vice-President, and Capps becoming the first Northwest Representative. Daniel Long became the first Executive Secretary, with Randy Bearden, Doug Schaffer, and Jared Shulse becoming Regional Representatives. 

At the first Board of Directors meeting it was decided to start a festival. It was decided to operate five festival sites across the state, that they should follow the already established format of performance and sightreading, and would introduce time with a clinician as a way to enhance the educational value of the event. 

More than thirty bands participated in the 2018 MSSBDA State Band Festival. That number more than doubled for the 2019 Festival. MSSBDA continues to work, making plans to grow and improve the festival for the future, and to add still more growth opportunities for educators and students in the years to come.

Presidents of MSSBDA

2017-2018: Joe Voga

2018-2019: Doug Schaffer

2019- 2021: Daniel Long

2021 - 2023: Sherry Nichols

2023 - Present: Jerry Lintner