Band Staff

Max Meigel

Director of Bands

Mr. Meigel is in his second year in the Park Hill School District and his ninth year of teaching. He is the Director of Bands at Park Hill High School where his primary conducting responsibilities are the Symphonic Band and co-leading the Jazz Band. He also co-directs the Trojan Marching Band with David Potter, Rebecca Stapfer, and Jeff Hewitt. He also assists with the 7th and 8th grade bands at Congress Middle School, with an emphasis on brass instrument instruction.

Prior to Park Hill, Mr. Meigel taught three years at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, MO, and five years in the Lincoln County R-III School District in Troy, MO. He attended Truman State University where he received a B.A. in Instrumental Music (2013), an M.A. in Music Theory (2015), and an M.A.E. in Music Education (2016). Mr. Meigel served as a graduate teaching assistant at Truman, working with the marching band, concert band, pep band, music theory courses, and music history courses. As part of his graduate studies, Mr. Meigel completed his student teaching at Park Hill High School and Congress Middle School in the fall of 2015.

Mr. Meigel grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago but has lived in Missouri since 2009. He is an avid drum corps fan, having marched with the Colts of Dubuque, Iowa, and has attended DCI Finals every year since 2008. In his free time, Mr. Meigel also likes playing board games and tabletop games.

Dr. Jeff Hewitt

Associate Director of Bands

Dr. Hewitt is in his fifth year at Park Hill High School. He co-directs the Trojan Marching Band and teaches Music Appreciation. At the Park Hill LEAD Innovation Studio, Dr. Hewitt is the Director of Band, he is the conductor of the LEAD Campus Band. He also teaches AP Music Theory.

Dr. Hewitt attended Kansas State University where he received a B.S. Ed. in instrumental music. Prior to Park Hill Dr. Hewitt completed three years as as a band director in McPherson, Kansas before pursuing his Masters in Music Performance at the University of Missouri and a Doctorate in Percussion Performance from the University of Arizona.

David Potter

Associate Director of Bands

Mr. Potter is in his twelfth year in the Park Hill Band Program. He is the primary conductor for Concert Band. He also co-directs the Trojan Marching Band. At Congress he directs the 7th and 8th grade bands with Max Meigel. Prior to Park Hill Mr. Potter served nine years as the Director of Bands at Lawson High School in Lawson, Missouri.

Mr. Potter received a Master’s Degree (2012) in conducting from the American Band College of Sam Houston State University. Prior to that he attended Northwest Missouri State University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Instrumental Music Education. (2002). While at Northwest he studied conducting under Alfred E. Sergel III, and Saxophone and Clarinet with Dr. Chris Gibson. He maintains a private studio of area saxophone students at his home. Prior to 2012, he also served for ten years as principle Alto Saxophonist with the Kansas City Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Phillip Posey.

Mr. Potter grew up in Kansas City, and went to Kearney High School where his band directors were Ken Greiner and renowned KC jazz pianist Paul Smith. He resides in Liberty with his wife, Krysten and twin boys, Keaton and Kamden.

Rebecca Stapfer

Associate Director of Bands

Ms. Stapfer is in her sixth year teaching at Plaza middle schools and assisting with the bands at Park Hill High School. At PHHS Ms. Stapfer is the primary conductor for Campus Band. At Plaza Middle School Ms. Stapfer teaches 7th grade band, 8th grade band, and adaptive music. Ms. Stapfer is also an assistant director with the Park Hill Trojan Marching Band and co-teaches the Park Hill High School woodwind choir. Prior to Park Hill, Ms. Stapfer taught Elementary music in St. Louis Public Schools and high school band at Father McGivney Catholic High School.

Ms. Stapfer received a Master's degree in Clarinet performance from Colorado State University (2018) and was a band GTA with the concert and marching bands there. She also attended the University of Kansas where she received a Bachelor's of Music Education. Ms. Stapfer plays with several community bands including the Crossroads wind symphony and Midwest Winds.

Ms. Stapfer grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas. She lives with her two dogs, Jimmy and Hazel and her husband Andrew Gillespie, Director of Bands at Park Hill South. In her free time she enjoys biking, cooking, dog parks, and hanging out with friends.

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