UWABA
The University of Wyoming
Alumni Band Website
CURRENT UWABA OFFICERS
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Tommy Reddicks, UWABA President
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Tommy received his BA (1995) and MA (2007) in music education from the University of Wyoming. A past KKY president and assistant UW drum major, Tommy remains very connected to the music program at the University. Tommy has taught general music, choir, band, drama, and orchestra over the past ten years in public, private, and charter schools in Arizona, Washington, and Colorado.
Tommy specializes in world music and multimedia technology. Because of this, his classrooms are famous for their ethnic flair and technological capability. One of his classrooms included a 1000-pound playable music sculpture that he commissioned from New Zealand. He currently consults for the new Denver Art Museum and is currently aiding in educational programming, musical research, designs, and even an installation within the African Gallery (fall 2006). Currently, Tommy is working with the National Core knowledge Foundation to record and produce a CD set for the American songbook, "A Joyful Noise". This project is just getting underway and will complete in 2010.
For film, Tommy often composes for Loosely Translated Productions in New York City. He recently completed scoring the music for a DVD movie for Imago. His music has been heard on Entertainment Weekly's website underscoring photo shoot and "Must List" videos.
In education, Tommy has been recognized for his outstanding unit writing and his units can be found on the website for the National Core Knowledge Foundation. His writing is often used as national model examples for Core Knowledge teachers. Tommy presents his units and teaching style yearly to state and national audiences. He currently teaches general music, band, orchestra, and choir at Flagstaff Academy Charter School in Longmont, CO.
Renee graduated with honors from the University of Wyoming in 1999 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Music. She was active in the music department
of the University for all five years of college. She particpated in the
Western Thunder Marching Band, as a member of the colorguard and later as
co-captain. She also played flute and/or piccolo in the symphonic band, the
wind ensemble and the UW Symphony Orchestra. For two years, she enjoyed
playing in a woodwind quintet with fellow students.
Renee has become, what some call, a Laramie lifer. She and her husband and her son
still reside in Laramie with their three dogs and one cat. The family has
no plans of ever moving. Renee currently works as an administrative
assistant for St. Paul's Newman Center. She continues to play the flute and piccolo in UW Community Band as well as playing in the Laramie City Band during the
summer. Renee can still be seen around the marching band practice field at UW
as she assists the Western Thunder Colorguard.
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Megan Hanneman, UWABA Treasurer
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Hoss Peterson UWABA Secretary
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UW from 1990-1997, following his discharge from the US Navy. He graduated in December of 1997 with a BA in
Broadcast Communications. During his years at UW, Hoss was very active in the Music Department,
beginning studies as a Music Ed major. While he soon realized that his future would not include teaching
music, he stayed involved in the program even after his major changed, and he continued to play in the
Marching Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band and the Pep Band. In addition to playing in various ensembles,
Hoss was a UW Marching Band instructional assitant, and the staduim announcer from 1994-1997. He was a
member of KKY, serving the Alpha Nu chapter as Treasurer. His "lasting legacy" at UW is the fact
that he was the person responsible for originating the name "Western Thunder" for the Marching Band. Hoss
was also instrumental in the re-organization of the Pep Band in the mid-90's, and is one of the founders
of the current UWABA.
a 4-station network in Summit County. He then moved to Cheyenne for a time, then finally back to Laramie
where he became the Morning Show Host and Program Diretor for KCGY-FM. Realizing the lack of stability,
benefits and a future in a small-market radio station, he left the business and moved to the Denver area.
Hoss began a career in the Audio Visual industry, got married, had kids and settled down.
daughters, Kaylee and Grace. His dreams of becoming a hit country music songwriter having been put on hold
temporarily, Hoss found a day job to support his music habit. He is currently the Southern Regional Manager
for a small company that provides audio visual services in hotels and convention centers across the
South. He manages seven properties in five states and spends a good deal of time on the road. Through all
of his travels, he continues to stay abreast of the latest UW Cowboy news, and carries his UW pride with
him everywhere he goes (the tattoos are hard to deny). Hoss hopes to one day return to Wyoming where he can
indulge his love of the state and his school on a daily basis.
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Kirsten Franke, UWABA Member at Large
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Kirsten graduated from UW in 1993 with a BS in molecular biology. She played Tenor sax in the UW Jazz Ensemble from 1990-93 and for one season, was a proud member of the wayward (yet always entertaining) sax section in marching band. During vet school, she played in the Iowa State University Jazz Ensemble. Sadly, her Saxes now live in a saxophone cocoon in a corner of the closet.
Kirsten is a veterinarian and practices small animal medicine and surgery in
Kirsten helped spearhead the design and production of the new UWABA pullover.
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Joyn Feldhaus, UWABA Member at Large
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Attending the University of Wyoming from 1993-1998, Joyn was active each semester in one music program or another. A past Western Thunder Saxophone section leader, he was also a member of the Jazz BAnd and multiple pep bands. Joining Kappa Kappa Psi as a freshman, he held mulitiple offices, ranging from Prospective Member Trainer to Vice President and National Delegate.
Graduating with his degrees in philisophy and psychology, Joyn is currently the manager of a restaurant in Loveland, CO. So the next time you are in the area, please stop by P.F. Chang's China Bistro and say "hi". He would love to discuss UWABA over his extensive wine list.
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Mary Ann Thompson, UWABA Member at Large
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Mary Ann attended the University of Wyoming from 1973 through 1978, graduating with a B.A. in History in 1977. She was in marching band the five years there, playing the alto sax. She also has a masters degree in history from the University of Kansas and a masters of library science from the University of Denver. She has been the Kansas Room Librarian at the Hays Public Library in Hays, Kansas since 1985, running a history collection. She recently published her first book, George Armstrong Custers, Winners of the West.
Mary Ann enjoys traveling back to Wyoming to visit whenever she can, especially to Homecoming which she hasnt missed since 1980, and to go camping in the Big Horns with her basset hound, Brutus.