Staff

Dr. Charles Weise - Program Director, Symphonic Wind Ensemble Conductor, MJW-South Conductor

Dr. Weise teaches band in Edina, MN and holds degrees from the University of St. Thomas and Penn State University. Previous teaching positions have included all levels of 5-12 band programs. Ensembles under Charles' direction have been selected to play at the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Midwinter Clinic in 2013,2016, & 2023 as well as the Wisconsin Chapter of National Band Association convention in 2018. He has also served as director of community bands, and is in demand as a clinician and guest conductor. He is a National Board Certified teacher. 

Dr. Weise has presented on a variety of music education topics including repertoire selection, young teacher transitions, and chamber music in the classroom at regional and national clinics including the Wind Band Institute, MMEA Midwinter Clinic, the Thompson Symposium for Research in Music Education and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Dr. Weise has also been a supporter of new music, commissioning Erika Svanoe, Yukiko Nishimura, Christopher Lowry, Jodie Blackshaw, Katherine Bergman, Kevin Day, Salvador Alan Jacobo, Kimberly Archer, Carol Brittin Chambers, Ethan Freier, Lane Powell, Jack Stamp, Stephanie Berg, and Victoriano Valencia and supporting consortiums for composers such as Josh Trentadue, Katahj Copley, Marie Douglas, Shelley Hanson, Aaron Perrine, Rolf Rudin, Benjamin Yeo, John Mackey, Dana Wilson, Michael Sweeney, and Daniel Bukvich. 

Dr. Weise is an active member of MBDA (Minnesota Band Directors Association) for which he chairs the Young Band Literature Session (YBLS), New Teacher Conference and is a Past-President of the state organization. He is also a member of the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), National Band Association (NBA), and American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA). In 2012, he received the ‘Distinguished Young Band Director Award’ from ASBDA and in 2018 received the NBA Citation of Excellence.

Geneva Fitzsimonds - Concert Band Conductor

Mrs. Fitzsimonds is in her 34th year teaching instrumental music.  She holds degrees from Concordia College-Moorhead and St. Mary’s University, and is a National Board Certified Teacher.  Her bands have performed at festivals across the region including the MMEA Middle Level Conference, the MMEA Mid-Winter Clinic, and the MMSA Conference.  

As a bassoonist, has served as adjunct faculty at the College of St. Scholastica, UWS and UMD. Mrs. Fitzsimonds is a past member the MMEA Board of Directors and is currently President of the MN Chapter of the ASBDA.  She has served in several capacities on the MBDA Board, is active as an MSHSL Adjudicator and has directed numerous honor bands throughout the region.  Mrs. Fitzsimonds has presented frequent sessions at state and regional clinics and her papers have been nationally published in Teaching Music magazine and on Banddirector.com.  

She is a Golden Apple Award recipient, an MVP Teacher of the Year, and was a GRAMMY Music Educator Quarterfinalist in 2015 and 2016. In 2014 Mrs. Fitzsimonds was honored to receive the MMEA Music Educator of the Year Award, and in 2016 she was named the Edina Teacher of the Year. Her professional affiliations include:  MMEA, MBDA, NBA, Phi Beta Mu, IDRS, ASBDA and EME. Mrs. Fitzsimonds and her husband Scott have two adult children.

Michael Moeller, Prep Band Conductor

Michael Moeller teaches 5th Grade Band at Countryside, Creek Valley, and Normandale Elementary Schools in Edina, where he was selected as the 25-26 Edina Teacher of the Year. Prior to his work in Edina, Mr. Moeller served as an instrumental music educator in the Barnum, Centennial, Lakeville, and Mahtomedi school districts. Active as a performing musician, Michael performs on his euphonium with the Grand Symphonic Winds Wind Ensemble and the Lake Wobegon Brass Band, and is a low brass specialist throughout the Upper Midwest. As an educator and clinician, Mr. Moeller has directed numerous honor bands, has led many masterclasses, and currently works with the Minnesota Junior Winds where he directs the Preparatory Band. Mr. Moeller maintains active membership in the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Phi Beta Mu (PBM), American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA), and the National Band Association (NBA). Michael lives in Minneapolis with his partner, Rachel.

Megan Palmer, Prelude Band Conductor  

Megan Palmer is an Instrumental Music Teacher at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley, MN. Previous positions include South View Middle School in Edina and Waconia Middle School. With a deep passion for music education, Mrs. Palmer teaches band to 7th and 8th-grade students. In addition to her daily classroom instruction, she directs specialized ensembles. She is highly active in the Minnesota music education community, frequently serving as a section coach and an audition judge for the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) Honor Bands. 

Nick Hansberry, Intermediate Band Conductor

Nick Hansberry teaches band and music courses at Waconia High School in Waconia, MN and has been a member of the department since 2021.  At WHS, Mr. Hansberry teaches curricular bands, music theory and music appreciation.  Outside of the day, he directs two of the high school jazz bands, the pep band, the fall musical pit and the Waconia High School Marching Band. Outside of WHS, Mr. Hansberry is the current Music Director for the Minnesota Valley Community Band, an adult community band based out of the Chaska/Chanhassen area. 

Mr. Hansberry is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education-Instrumental (2015) and earned his Master of Music in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas (2023). Mr. Hansberry has also taught at Arvada West High School in Arvada, CO,  La Crosse Central High School in La Crosse, WI and served as the director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the La Crosse Area Youth Symphony Orchestra during this time. When not at school or musicking, Nick enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing his tuba, reading, cooking, and cheering on his Minnesota United FC.

Jill Westermeyer, Rehearsal Assistant

Jill Westermeyer recently retired after 33 years of teaching band. She taught Middle School in St. Anthony, Minnesota and Ankeny, Iowa; High School at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis; and grades 4-12 in Parkston, South Dakota. Westermeyer currently teaches private clarinet lessons in her home studio, coaches clarinet and wind sectionals, judges solo contests and guest conducts.

Westermeyer grew up in Spanaway, Washington where she studied clarinet with Dileep Gangolli. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education at St. Olaf College. While attending St. Olaf, she studied with JoAnn Polley, and was assistant principal clarinet in the St. Olaf Band and St. Olaf Orchestra. She currently plays clarinet in the Minnesota Symphonic Winds and serves as the Band Manager. When not participating in music, Westermeyer enjoys hiking, gardening and spending time with family.

Amy Anderson, Administrative Manager, Coach 

Amy Anderson has a Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College - Moorhead, MN.   She holds a K-12 Instrumental Music License and currently works as a building reserve teacher at South View Middle School in Edina.  Prior to her current position, she worked in multiple schools as a long and short term substitute teacher.  As a percussionist, Amy actively performs with the Minnesota Symphonic Wind Ensemble.   Amy lives in Edina with her husband Chris, and has two sons. They’re big fans of baseball and make a point to visit stadiums whenever they travel. (Fenway Park is a favorite so far.)

Sophie Koehler, Administrative Manager, Coach (South) 

Sophie Koehler is a proud Minnesota native and passionate percussionist dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians. A graduate of St. Olaf College, she brings a wealth of musical expertise and energy to her role as a band director at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley. When not on the podium or behind a drum, you can usually find Sophie exploring Minnesota’s beautiful trails on her bike. This is Sophie's third year working with Minnesota Junior Winds and she cannot wait for what Season 14 will bring!  

Dr. Robert Ouren, Conductor Emeritus

Dr. Ouren has been a Minnesota music educator for over 35 years, graduating from Winona State College with a Bachelors degree, and receiving both his Master of Arts and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. In 1991, Bob became director of bands at Edina High School, where he directed the marching band as well as the Varsity and Symphonic Bands and Jazz Band. The Edina district’s music staff won the Exemplary Program Award from the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) in 1998-99. In 2000, he designed and implemented the band and music programs at the Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource School (The FAIR School) where in 2003, The FAIR School Advance Band was selected to perform at the MMEA state convention. While serving as the Teaching and Learning Specialist For the Arts, the Edina Schools were named 2005 and 2007 GRAMMY Signature School Award winners.

In addition to his teaching duties, Bob has been a wind section coach for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies for over ten years. He has performed all over the metro area and southern Minnesota, and has served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor for numerous festivals, contests and honor bands throughout the state. Bob recently retired from public school teaching but remains very active through these opportunities as well as mentoring and research/advocacy work.

Dr. Ouren has been nominated for many awards including The Disney American Teacher Award, the Ashland Oil Achievement Award, the Stanbury Award for Outstanding Band Director in Minnesota from ASBDA. In 2007, Dr. Ouren was a semi-finalist in the Minnesota Teacher of the Year program (sponsored by Education Minnesota) and most recently received the Educator for the Year Award for 2011 from the Minnesota Music Educators Association.