Madeline (Sawmiller) Frankenhauser was born and raised in St. Marys, Ohio.  After graduating from Memorial High School, she attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio and completed her Bachelor of Music degree in 2005.  Shortly after graduating, she married her college sweetheart and the two moved to North Carolina to pursue teaching careers.  

            Mrs. Frankenhauser served as the band and choir director in Taboro, NC for seven years and also gained experience teaching beginning band, middle school band, choir, and general music while in NC.  After the birth of their two sons, the Frankenhausers began looking for jobs closer to their families in Ohio.  

            In 2014, she accepted the Associate Director of Bands position for St. Marys City Schools which offered her the chance to move back to her home town.  Here, she now co-teaches instrumental band in all grade levels 5-12.  She and her husband have settled back into Ohio and enjoy spending time with their families.

Mrs. Frankenhauser graduated from the American Band College during the summer of 2018 with her Masters in Music Education degree from Central Washington University.  She co-directs the St. Marys Area Community Band and is the Youth Music Director at St. Pauls United Church of Christ in St. Marys.

In 2023, Mrs. Frankenhauser accepted the Director of Bands position at MHS and became the first female head director in St. Marys Bands history.  

Howard T. Spencer is a dedicated music educator and accomplished percussionist. A graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School, Howard pursued his passion for music at Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he obtained his Bachelor of Music Education in 2023. During his time at Purdue, he studied under Eric Schweikert and served as the Principal Percussionist in the University Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Daniel Tembras.

In 2023, Howard participated in the PFW Europe Tour, where the Wind Ensemble performed across France, Switzerland, and Italy for two weeks. He embraced the rich culture, stunning architecture, and exquisite food of these countries, making the experience unforgettable.

While at Purdue, Howard was actively involved in several ensembles and organizations, including the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, National Association for Music Education, and he served as President of the Wind Band Council. His hard work and dedication were recognized with the ASBDA Outstanding Potential Award and the Outstanding Senior Award for Music Education. Beyond his academic pursuits, he performed with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants drumline, the FC Fort Wayne drumline, and the Old Crown Brass Band in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has also performed with the Lima Symphony and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Players Association.

Entering his second year of teaching at St. Marys City Schools, Howard is excited to be part of a vibrant community and is committed to maintaining a high level of excellence within the ensembles. He looks forward to inspiring his students and sharing his love for music with the next generation.

Nikki Koenig is the current general music teacher at St. Marys West Intermediate School.  

Raegan is a proud graduate of the class of 2022 at St. Marys Memorial High School, where she developed a deep passion for music and participated actively in the symphonic band and choir, jazz band, and marching band, assuming leadership roles throughout her involvement. 

Currently, she is pursuing a degree in early childhood education at Ohio State Lima, driven by a desire to give back to the community that has shaped her journey. Raegan finds great joy in mentoring young musicians and fostering a love for music in our students. It is truly rewarding to be part of their musical growth and to contribute to the vibrant arts community at St. Marys.

Liz is a graduate of St.Marys Memorial High School where she was a majorette for SMABB. After graduating high school Liz went on to graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wright State University Lake Campus. When not working as a registered nurse she enjoys spending her Friday nights with all 10 majorettes!

Dane Newlove retired following the 2012-13 school year after a thirty-year career in education, the last twenty-seven as Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department Chair for the St. Marys City Schools.  Bands under his direction performed at national-level events such as the Citrus Bowl Parade, Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade; as well as state level concert band adjudicated events. 

 He is currently the Director of Adjudicated Event Materials and Awards for the Ohio Music Education Association, and teaches part time as percussion specialist for the Coldwater and St. Marys City School systems in West Central Ohio, where he coaches small group sectionals, soloists and ensembles, and is responsible for instrument maintenance and ordering. Percussion soloists and ensembles under his direction consistently received superior ratings at both the Junior High and High School levels, many in the highest level of Class A, and are frequent participants in honor bands across the area. 

Newlove is a member of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity; the American School Band Directors Association, and the Percussive Arts Society. He is also an active performer as a percussionist in the Lima Symphony Orchestra, Lima Marimba Ensemble, Unclouded Day Vocal Ensemble, and as principal percussionist for the Old Crown Brass Band from Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  Dane is also the founder and co-director of the St. Marys Area Community Band.  He also presents frequent percussion clinics and band critiques for bands and music educators across Northern and West Central Ohio.  Dane is a published arranger of percussion ensembles for young performers through Per-Mus Publications of Columbus, OH, and is an artist/performer endorser for Innovative Percussion, Inc. 

Josh has been instructing and coaching the SMABB Drum Majors since 2021. He re launched the SMABB Drum Major program as a sophomore at Memorial in 2007 and has been helping ever since. Josh attended Indiana Wesleyan University and obtained a Church Music degree in 2014. He lives in St. Marys with his wife and 3 kids. “Giving back to the St. Marys band program is important to me. Being involved with SMABB has given me so many opportunities that I wouldn’t have experienced alone.”