Conductor Donald K. Miller has a wide range of experience in conducting orchestras, wind bands, and chamber ensembles working with musicians of all ages - elementary and secondary students, university students, community ensembles and professional performers. A member of the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) faculty he is founding conductor of the YMCA Youth Orchestra in Chesterfield, Missouri. Dr. Miller is also Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed Peaceful Bend Chamber Music Festival in Steelville, Missouri collaborating with such great chamber music artists as the Jacques Thibaud Trio. In addition, Dr. Miller has served as guest conductor for several ensembles and was named Permanent Guest Conductor of the West County YMCA Community Orchestra in Chesterfield, Missouri. Miller also hosts of A Time for Winds, a public radio broadcast featuring the best music for wind bands and smaller wind ensembles.

At Missouri S&T, the instrumental music program has grown from one concert band and one orchestra to two concert bands, two orchestras, additional athletic bands, and numerous student-led ensembles. During Miller's tenure at Missouri S&T the number of students participating in instrumental ensembles has doubled. To recognize his leadership skills the Missouri S&T Student Leadership Conference presented him with the Black and Veatch Leadership Award. As a result, Dr. Miller has been a featured speaker at numerous leadership events. He has also received the Missouri S&T College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award in each year of his eligibility.

An advocate of new music, Dr. Miller has been responsible for commissioning works from composers such as Timothy Mahr, Andrew Boysen, Raymond Helble and many others. He is also an advocate for music education serving as a clinician for schools and giving presentations at many professional conferences, including two College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) conferences and the Missouri Music Educators Association. He is an adjudicator for Director's Choice Music Festivals, a national network of music festivals, as well as many other state and regional events.

Dr. Miller has studied with notable conducting teachers such as William LaRue Jones, Henry Charles Smith, Myron Welch, James Dixon, Jerry Junkin, Larry Rachleff, H. Robert Reynolds and Eugene Corporon. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The University of Iowa.

e-mail:  dkmiller@mst.edu
Phone:  341-4698
Mailing Address:
1870 Miner Circle
131 Castleman Hall
Rolla, MO 65409

Joel Kramme will have a bio coming soon.

e-mail:  jkramme@mst.edu
Phone:  341-4109
Mailing Address:
1870 Miner Circle
131 Castleman Hall
Rolla, MO 65409

Lori Francis will have a bio coming soon.

e-mail:  lorief@mst.edu
Phone:  341-4739
Mailing Address:
1870 Miner Circle
125e Castleman Hall
Rolla, MO 65409

Shelly Plank began working for the Missouri S&T Performing Arts in October 1993.  Her job consist of designing brochures, tickets, posters and programs for all the music, theatre and art events. In conjunction with all the fun stuff of designing she is the secretary for what is basically three different offices. She answers the telephone, files, orders supplies, types letters, mails distribution, runs spreadsheets, sets up appointments with perspective students, and is knows what's going on in the entire department. Just your typical secretary.  She enjoys working with all of the faculty in the Performing Arts office and enjoys working with the students.

She and her husband Carl have been married for 11-1/2 years and have a two-year-old son, Chessley Gage. Of course with a two-year-old, there's not much -Å“spare-? time to be had. When she does find time, she enjoy -Å“cropping-? (working on Chessley's scrapbook). She and Carl also enjoy spending time with family and friends and enjoy going to NASCAR races.

e-mail:  splank@mst.edu
Phone:  341-4185
Mailing Address:
1870 Miner Circle
131 Castleman Hall
Rolla, MO 65409