More than 50 middle and high schools will soon send their best musicians and vocalists to Central Methodist University to participate in the 2020 Music Festival.
The competitive event will take place February 28 at various sites across the Fayette campus, including the Inman Student and Community Center, Puckett Field House, Swinney Conservatory, Classic Hall, and the Missouri Room. Events are open to spectators, but seating is limited in some of the venues.
Almost half of the schools scheduled to attend are led by band directors who have graduated from Central. Bands led by directors with Master’s degrees from CMU include Fulton– Kelly Neudecker, Laura Speed Elliott Middle School – Kyle Donnelly (with Warner Bailey), Mexico Middle School – Sarah Murdock and Josh Yancey (with Julie Pappas), New Franklin – Lisa Dobbs, Our Lady of Lourdes – Sarah Nolke, and Stover – Caitlin Bird.
Participating bands with CMU alumni directors who graduated with Bachelor’s degrees include Bueker Middle School – Sara Summers (with Jordan Summers and Ryan Layton), Brookfield – John Wiggans, Brunswick – Susan Bishop, Cairo – Jamie Bishop, Elsberry – Rebecca Cooper, Fatima Junior High – Ryan Lewis and Zack Fincher, Fayette High School and Middle School – Alex Kirby and Vanessa Miner, Hallsville – James West and Susan Henke, Hardeman – Nancy Meyer, Hatton McCredie – Pam Crawford,
Macks Creek – Jennifer Hopkins, Norborne – Daniel Long, Pilot Grove – Brendan Wiesehan, Principia Middle School – Johnathan Daniels, Salisbury – Michael O’Neill and Micheal Williams, Santa Fe High School – Shawn Thompson, Slater – Stephen Meyer (with Debra Foreman), St. Joseph – Nylah Beach, St. Pius X – Kelley Head, and Sturgeon – Dominik Lehman (with Kimberly Guilford, choir director).
Other schools slated to participate in the festival include Bevier, Blair Oaks Middle School, Brashear, Bunceton, California Middle School, Centralia (Chester B.), Christian Chapel, Eldon Middle School, Hale R-1, Holy Rosary, Knob Noster, Linn Middle School, Macon Middle School, Marceline, Marshall, Moberly, North Shelby, Odessa, Renick, Russellville Middle School, Smithton, South Callaway, South Shelby, Southern Boone, West Middle School, and Westran High and Middle Schools.