UWABA
The University of Wyoming
Alumni Band Website
President
CURRENT UWABA OFFICERS
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Tommy Reddicks, UWABA President
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Tommy graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1995 after a "brief" seven year undergraduate stay in Laramie. A past KKY president and assistant drum major, Tommy remains very active in the music program at the University of Wyoming. He is an avid sports fan and happily abuses area golf courses. 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. His last classroom included a 1000-pound playable music sculpture that he commissioned from New Zealand. He has recently been hired as consultant for the new Denver Art Museum and is currently aiding in musical research, designs, and installations within the African Gallery (opening fall 2006).
Tommy has been recognized for his outstanding unit writing and is published by the National Core Knowledge Foundation. One of his units is currently used as a national model example for Core Knowledge Training. He currently teaches general music, band, and choir at Flagstaff Academy Charter School in Longmont, CO.
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Jerry Elliott, UWABA Vice President
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Jerry was born in Oct. 30, 1930 at 11:45 PM (he remembers it well), in Oklahoma City, OK. He attended the University of Wyoming from 1949-1952, and then joined the Marine Corps. Jerry revisited UW in 1956 and 1957 to complete his BS in Geology, and then again in 1967 for his BM in music. Jerry became the band assistant to Charles Seltenrich and became affectionately known as "Papa". Jerry received his MM in composition form UMKC-Conservatory of Music. Jerry always played, whenever possible, in bands and orchestras. He retired in 1995.
Jerry currently lives in Chipita Park, CO, which is near Colorado Springs, CO. He spends his time writing and arranging music for his ragtime group, "Uncle Henry's Ragtime Band", and the UW Alumni band. Jerry still enjoys Geology, paleontology, practicing piano, and chasing his dog.
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Megan Hanneman, UWABA Treasurer
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Justin White, UWABA Secretary
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Justin attended UW 1991 through 1995. He was active with KKPsi and Western Thunder for all five years.
After graduating December 1995, he spent five years ski instructing in Colorado, New Zealand and Switzerland before settling down in Denver. He now sells network security and infrastructure software and services for a small integrator based in Denver.
Even though he's very happy in Colorado, he values the time spent in Wyoming: He learned valable skills such as how to organize large unofficial functions, how to function with little or no sleep, and most importantly how to work hard and play hard. Go Pokes!
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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 UW Jazz Ensemble I from 1990-93 and for one season, was a proud member of the wayward (yet always entertaining) sax section in marching band. During veterinary school, she played in the top Jazz Ensemble at Iowa State University. Her motto is “never practice.”
Kirsten currently works as editor/writer of a veterinary publication regarding emergency medicine and surgery. For fun, she plays in a community jazz band, hangs out at the Über-cool University of Wisconsin-Madison Union, and escapes to Laramie as often as possible. Kirsten and husband Kurt have two great kids: Annika and Mateo (brought home from Guatemala on Christmas Eve 2004!).
Kirsten helped spearhead the design and production of the new UWABA pullover. Very nice!
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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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Bill Hoyt, UWABA Member at Large
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Bill Hoyt lives in Green River, Wyoming. He grew up in Laramie where his first band director was Leo Wheeler. He graduated from Laramie H.S. in 1963 and the University of Wyoming in 1967 with a BA in Music Education. He started teaching music in Green River in 1967 and “was” the vocal department. He has been teaching in the Green River public schools since and is in his 39th year of teaching. Bill also sings with a vocal quartet called DQYDJ (Don't Quit Your Day Job); he is leader and player with Sweetwater Sounds, in a Big Band jazz and dance group; sings with Western Wyoming Community College Community Choir; helps out with the local high school musicals; and is a church musician.
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Renee Ballard, UW Liason
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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
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 and for the Vocation Office for the
Diocese of Cheyenne. 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 also enjoys singing in her church choir. Begining in fall of
2006, Renee will once again be seen around the marching band practice field
as she assists the UW colorguard.