ADVOCATES
Kansas Music Educators Association has 7 Kansas Districts, each with its own Music Advocacy Chairperson. Each of the Chairpersons are Music Teachers, both current and retired.
KANSAS MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
STATE
KELLY KNEDLER
KMEA Advocacy Advisor
advocacy@ksmea.org
Concordia, KS
Kelly’s Favorite Advo Quote:
Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul. —-Plato
NORTHEAST
AIMEE DESOTEL
Northeast District
advocacy@nekmea.org
Kansas City, KS
Aimee’s Favorite Advo Quote:
Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart. ― Shinichi Suzuki
EAST CENTRAL
ROBIN CHRISTIE
East Central District
advocacy@eckmea.org
Kansas City, KS
Robin’s Favorite Advo Quote:
To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of life itself, incredible and inconceivable. – Aaron Copland
SOUTHEAST
CHRISTOPHER KURT
Southeast District
advocacy@sekmea.org
Independence, KS
Christopher’s Favorite Advo Quote:
Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel. If we are to hope for a society of culturally literate people, music must be a vital part of our children’s education.” – Yo-Yo Ma
NORTH CENTRAL
SAMANTHA BOXBERGER
North Central District
advocacy@nckmea.org
Junction City, KS
Samantha’s Favorite Advo Quote:
With music, one’s whole future life is brightened. This is such a treasure in life that it helps us over many troubles and difficulties. Music is nourishment, a comforting elixir. Music multiplies all that is beautiful and of value in life.
– Zoltan Kodaly
SOUTH CENTRAL
JAYME K. HAYES
South Central District
advocacy@sckmea.org
Wichita, KS
Jayme’s Favorite Advo Quote:
With music, one’s whole future life is brightened. This is such a treasure in life that it helps us over many troubles and difficulties. Music is nourishment, a comforting elixir. Music multiplies all that is beautiful and of value in life. —-Zoltan Kodaly
NORTHWEST
JOEY NICKOLS
Northwest District
advocacy@nwkmea.org
Norton, KS
Joey’s Favorite Advo Quote:
Music education opens doors that help children pass from school into the world around them – a world of work, culture, intellectual activity, and human involvement. The future of our nation depends on providing our children with a complete education that includes music.
–- Gerald Ford
SOUTHWEST
ERIKA CLAUSING
Southwest District
advocacy@swkmea.org
Plains, KS
Erika’s Favorite Advo Quote:
​I’ve found that no matter what life throws at me, music softens the blow. —-Bryce Anderson