Kathy Winghart
Brookings High School Orchestras |
Kathy Winghart studied music at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Northwest Missouri State University where she received my Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 1998 and received her Masters of Music Education from Northern State University in May of 2021.
Prior to her being the orchestra director at Brookings High School, she had a private music studio of over 50 students and taught piano, violin, viola, cello and vocal lessons. Mrs. Winghart has had the pleasure of playing violin with Prairie Repertory Theater and the State University Theater, Mannheim Steam Roller and for the PBS TV Special with Ethan Bortnik. Mrs. Winghart is also the Vocal Assistant for the Brookings High School Choirs where she assists with honor choir auditions, college scholarship preparation, and is director of the vocal jazz group Swing Republic. She has also been an adjudicator for string & vocal solo events in both South Dakota and Minnesota as well as South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) Solo and Ensemble. Mrs. Winghart performs with colleagues Mr. Bakken and Mrs. Rice for events in eastern South Dakota with the Tre Musica String Quartet. Mrs. Winghart is Music Director for the musical productions at Brookings High School as well as Music Director the Brookings Community Theater. She is also choir director and organist for Our Savior Lutheran Church (Brookings, SD). |
Laura Rice
Mickelson Middle School Orchestras |
Laura Rice, a Brookings native, is a pianist as well as a violinist. She discovered her love of music early in life and by 8th grade already knew she wanted to be a music teacher. She studied at South Dakota State University, graduating in 2013 with a Bachelors of Arts in Music degree. After graduation, Laura ran a private lesson studio, Painting On Silence, where she taught piano, violin, and viola lessons while also accompanying for soloists and playing music for events. Mrs. Rice continues to perform with the SDSU-Civic Symphony and performs with Mr. Bakken and Mrs. Winghart in the Tre Musica String Quartet. She also performed for the PBS TV special with Ethan Bortnik.
Fun fact: Laura’s first orchestral experience was with the very group she now directs: the Mickelson Middle School Orchestra! Needless to say, this group holds an incredibly special place in her heart! |
Jon Bakken
Camelot Intermediate School Orchestras |
Jon Bakken teaches fourth and fifth grade orchestra at Camelot Intermediate School in Brookings, serves as Orchestra Chair Elect of the SD Music Education Association, performs with the SDSU-Civic Symphony Orchestra, teaches cello with the SDSU String Project, and performs in the Tre Musica String Quartet.
Growing up in Minnesota, Jon toured as cellist with the Anoka High School theater department to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland). In 2009, Jon graduated with a BA in music from Luther College (Decorah, IA) and spent a month residency in Vienna, Austria with the Luther College Symphony Orchestra. After marrying his wife, Sara, and following her to South Dakota, Jon worked as a graduate assistant in strings with Dr. Robert Vodnoy at Northern State University (Aberdeen, SD) and taught preschool-12 vocal music at Selby Area School (Selby, SD). An active bassist, Jon toured to Rio de Janeiro with the Luther College Jazz Orchestra, worked two summers at Valleyfair Amusement Park (Shakopee, MN) in a children's rock band called "The Squiggles," and taught at the Northern State University Jazz Camp. |