Kassy Krause holds degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Illinois State University. In 2008 she had the opportunity to live in Florence, Italy while studying Italian Opera and the Italian language.  In the summer and fall of 2019, Kassy made the time to begin performing again and most notably was seen on the stage at the iconic Chicago Symphony Center, and performed Bernstein’s Mass with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia, which can be seen and heard on the PBS series Great Performances,  released in 2020.

In her thirteenth year as a music educator, Krause is an active member of the Illinois Music Educators Association and has served as the Repertoire & Standards Chair for Show Choir on the American Choral Directors Association board where she led the Illinois All-State Show Choir.  Kassy was awarded the 2014 Fame Aspire Award for Best New Director and the same year her show choir, Flight, won Most Promising New Program. Her concert choirs have been invited to perform all over the world and most recently presented concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Paris, Barcelona, and Rome. She maintains an active schedule of adjudicating and workshopping show choirs nationwide, has vocal directed all state show choirs in Alabama and Indiana and is honored to serve as a Vocal Clinician at Showchoir Camps of America for the last 10 years. 

Kassy is in her 11th year as the Director of Vocal Music at Wheaton North High School in the Chicago suburbs where she conducts five curricular concert choirs and directs the award-winning extra-curricular show choir, Flight. 

John Burlace is a freelance educator and arranger/show designer based in Chicago where he lives with his beautiful wife Ana and their two dogs. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education from Millikin University and his Master of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University. Before his freelance career, John spent 15 years in public education, serving the performing arts department of Carmel High School (IN) from 2014 to 2017 where he directed “The Ambassadors” and assisted with “The Accents” along with producing/directing the school musical and teaching many other courses in a comprehensive program that features 11 performing ensembles. John spent the 12 years before his Carmel tenure teaching at both Wheaton Warrenville South High School and Edison Middle School (Wheaton, IL), where he was the proud director of “The Classics”, “Esprit”, and “Electric Youth” show choirs in addition to many curricular ensembles and non-performance arts courses. His ensembles were consistently recognized for excellence in musicianship, vocal production, choreography, instrumental performance, and show design. As an active arranger, adjudicator, and guest conductor, he has worked with choirs and music educators from coast to coast and maintains a busy schedule presenting workshops nationwide. John is also on faculty at Millikin University supervising student teachers and occasionally appearing on campus to play for a show or guest teach a class or two. He is a proud former Show Choir Repertoire & Standards Co-chair for the Illinois ACDA.

Nick Quamme is a freelance choreographer raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin and now based in West Des Moines, Iowa! Nick has professionally trained and performed for the past 15 years in various areas of the performing arts, including musical theatre, studio dance, and competitive show choir. Nick’s professional work is currently focused on show choir, choreographing for about 25 different groups across the US. Nick was honored to be named the Fame Aspire Award’s “Best New Choreographer” in 2017, with nominations in 2016 and 2018. Outside of choreographing, Nick loves spending time with his family + friends, traveling, exploring the outdoors, and spoiling his cat, Fern. Nick is beyond blessed and thankful to call show choir and dance his passion and career. More than ever, he is grateful for the wonderful students and staff he works with. 

Born and raised in Auburn, AL, Farlanda Buchannon found his love for the arts through vast choral experiences and the harmonious melodies of Southern gospel music. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Voice. A nationally known clinician, adjudicator, choreographer, and conductor, Farlanda has taught many elementary, middle school, high school choirs, and collegiate choirs. Recently awarded Best Choreographer of 2023 by the Chicago Reader, Farlanda travels throughout the United States and beyond as a highly sought-after choreographer for several competitive middle and high school show choirs. He also serves as a clinician at Showchoir Camps of America hosted at Millikin University in Decatur IL, and Heidelberg University in Tiffin OH.  

In addition to his conductor commitments, Farlanda serves as the in-house resident choreographer for Uniting Voices Chicago. A non-profit organization that inspires and unites nearly 4,000 youth to become global leaders through music. He also co-directs Groove, a select ensemble within the world-renowned Voice of Chicago, which was developed to perform more advanced choreography. Farlanda believes teaching students from different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds through diverse choral literature builds community and facilitates creativity.

Outside of Uniting Voices Chicago, Farlanda enjoys traveling and exploring different cities. He is thrilled at every opportunity to empower students through the fine arts, and is so thankful to all the directors, parents, administrators, and communities that support them! 

Ryan Caloud was first introduced to the show choir community when he was fortunate to serve as the director of the Craig HS Spotlighters show band in Janesville WI. He annually is seen in the show choir circuit at such events as Milton’s “Rock the Rock”, Janesville’s “Spotlight Spectacular”, and Sauk Prairie’s “Executive Session Invitational”. Ryan Caloud currently works at Waunakee High School in Waunakee WI (home of the Wisconsin School Music Association).

The Waunakee Band Program involves three curricular Concert Ensembles, two jazz ensembles, a jazz combo, Pep Band, Symphony Orchestra Winds, Pit Orchestra, and multiple chamber ensembles during Solo and Ensemble season. The program also includes an intensive small-group instruction program. He teaches “Music Theory and Composition”; a course in music theory with an AP curriculum track. He strives to keep the wind band movement relevant in the 21st century by recently participating in composition consortiums for wind band with composers Kimberly Archer (Southern Ill. Univ.), John Zarco (Univ. Texas-San Antonio), & Jeff Herwig (Mercer, PA). Ensembles under his direction have completed performance tours to Orlando FL, New Orleans LA, and Boston MA (Spring 2023). He previously served as Director of Bands at Janesville Craig High School in Janesville WI.

Originally from Sun Prairie WI, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education (2012) where he studied trumpet with John Aley, conducting with Scott Teeple, and music education pedagogy with Dr. Teri Dobbs. He is active in the marching arts/drum corps community where he has served on staff with the Spirit of Atlanta (GA) and Oregon Crusaders (OR). His professional affiliations include Phi Mu Alpha (alumnus), International Trumpet Guild, NAFME (National Association for Music Education), WMEA (Wisconsin Music Educators Association), NBA (National Band Association), WCBA (WI Concert Band Assoc.) and the WAA (Wisconsin Alumni Association). He is also an active adjudicator through the Wisconsin School Music Association and has served as the State Honors (Middle Level) trumpet instructor.

Jessica found her passion for dance at the age of four in her hometown of Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin. Her love for choreography and teaching started at a young age when she was asked to choreograph for Sauk Prairie’s Executive Session Show Choir’s European Tour upon graduating high school. Jessica continued her education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. There she had the privilege to perform works by professional companies as well as showcase her choreography in both the university’s dance and musical theater productions. Jessica was dance captain and performed in professional dinner theater productions throughout her college education. After college, Jessica began her teaching experience at Midwest Performing Arts (MPA) in Waunakee, WI. Jessica is now the School Director, Resident Choreographer, and Instructor at MPA where she is in her 13th year of teaching. She has had the privilege of working with the Sauk Prairie High School on their musicals for the past four years. She has also worked with their Executive Session Show Choir where she has been recognized for Outstanding Choreography. Jessica was awarded Outstanding Choreography in the Wisconsin Jerry Awards for her choreography in Mean Girls (2024), Mamma Mia (2021) and The Little Mermaid (2019). Jessica is so proud of to call Sauk Prairie her home and is honored to be sharing her passion and expertise of choreography once again this year!

Adam Peters is a freelance show choir clinician, show designer, collaborator, and adjudicator based out of Iowa. For the last fifteen years, Adam has worked in clinic settings with numerous award-winning show choirs and adjudicated competitions across the country. Adam is extremely proud of his years as a director of show choirs at Muscatine H.S. where he created innovative award-winning story/concept shows. In 2014, Adam was honored to receive the “Spirit of Service” ASPIRE award at the FAME National Championships in Chicago, IL.

Adam has many irons in the fire and is currently the Director of Operations for Clock, Inc., an LGBT+ community center non-profit in the Quad Cities. Adam completed his 200-hour yoga teacher training intensive last year and teaches at multiple studios in the Quad Cities and beyond. Adam was recently named a “Forty Under 40” award winner by the Quad City Business Journal in recognition of his business success and civic/philanthropic activities in the Quad Cities. He previously worked on Senate and Presidential campaigns in California, Iowa, & Pennsylvania. In his spare time, Adam enjoys running, calling Bingo at the Raccoon Motel, and cuddling with his one-eyed orange cat, Herbert Hoover.  Adam is proud of his decade of involvement at Showchoir Camps of America and urges all to join the fun!

In the spring of 2019, Corey Pompey was appointed associate director of bands at UW–Madison, succeeding longtime director Mike Leckrone.

Most recently, Dr. Pompey was assistant professor of music, associate director of bands/director of athletic bands at the University of Nevada-Reno. Prior, he served as the assistant director of bands at Pennsylvania State University, where he assisted with the Penn State Marching Blue Band and Athletic Bands, conducted the Concert Band, taught undergraduate conducting, and assisted with student-teacher supervision.

Dr. Pompey also served as an assistant instructor with University Bands at The University of Texas at Austin. He was involved in all creative and administrative aspects of the program, some of which included The University of Texas Wind Ensemble and The Longhorn Band. Dr. Pompey taught in the public schools of Alabama for seven years before moving to Texas.

Dr. Pompey holds a bachelor of science degree in music education and a master of arts degree in music education from The University of Alabama. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting at The University of Texas. Principal conducting teachers include Jerry F. Junkin, Kenneth Ozzello, and Gerald L. Welker.

Professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association and Phi Mu Alpha.

Mr. Nathan J.W. Pierce is currently the Director of Bands at Cumberland High School where he presides over all aspects of the instrumental music program including the 15-time state champion marching band. Before his appointment at Cumberland, Mr. Pierce

taught at Milton High School for twelve years, DeForest High School for three years, Baldwin-Woodville High School for five years, and in the Weston School District for two years. During his twelve years at Milton High School, his show choir bands received numerous “Best Band” awards in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Mr. Pierce keeps active in the competitive high school marching band venue with his own school as well as having been on the staff of numerous high school marching bands throughout Wisconsin including Sauk Prairie High School, Columbus High School, and Stoughton High School. He has been selected for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers three times and named “Most influential band director in Wisconsin” by School Band and Orchestra Magazine. He is a member of the “Band Director’s Marching Band” which marched in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1st, 2022, and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November of 2023.

He earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December of 1998. While at the university he studied trumpet with John Aley, studied conducting with James Smith, and played in numerous ensembles including the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, University Band, Brass Choir, and the Trumpet Ensemble. In addition, Mr. Pierce was a four-year member of the UW Marching Band and was a regular sub with the Wisconsin Singers Band.

Mr. Pierce keeps active as a performing musician as a member of the Northwinds Brass Band based in Rice Lake, WI. Prior to moving to Cumberland, he was an active musician in the Madison area as a member of the Madison Brass Band where he served as Assistant Music Director and played Eb Soprano Cornet, Bb Cornet, Flugelhorn, BBb Bass, and Percussion. He has also written several musical arrangements for the ensemble. Mr. Pierce performed with the Madison Wind Ensemble where he played Trumpet, Tuba, Percussion, and Baritone Saxophone. He previously played both Tenor Horn and Bb Cornet with the Sheldon Theatre Brass Band in Red Wing, MN. Mr. Pierce currently serves on the board of directors of the University of Wisconsin School of Music Alumni Association. He also serves on the Wisconsin School Music Association State Marching Band Committee. He lives in Cumberland, WI with his wife Amy and their dog Ali.