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Michael and Emily after Metrofest 2007 at North Scott High School

Michael Reese

Michael Reese is Director of Choral Activities at Central High School in Davenport , IA. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Iowa , and has completed coursework for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Iowa .  Prior to his doctoral studies, Reese was Director of Choral Activities at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School (1998 – 2004) and Cedar Rapids Prairie High School (1996 – 1998).

Reese is a past winner of the American Choral Director’s Association Conducting Competition and has served as guest clinician and adjudicator for almost 40 choral events across the Midwest, including the 2003 OPUS 9^th Grade Honor Choir.   His choirs have been invited to the 1999 National ACDA Convention in Chicago , IL and the 2002 ACDA Regional Convention in Des Moines , IA.   He has also been honored in various “Who’s Who” publications, and been named multiple times as the Teacher of the Month at Central High School .  An advocate of contemporary literature at the high school, community, and church level, Reese has commissioned five compositions and premiered nine works.

Show Choirs under Reese’s direction have received numerous caption awards, as well as 1^st runner-up or Grand Champion awards in Iowa , Illinois , Indiana , Minnesota , Missouri , and Wisconsin .  He continues to be in demand as both a show choir clinician/adjudicator, and has been an arranger for eight show choirs in Iowa , Indiana , and Ohio .

Reese has served the Iowa Choral Director’s Association for eight years serving in such capacities as:  Fall Student Symposium Chair (1997, 1998, 2006); Youth Choir Clinic Coordinator (1997); Choral Selection Committee member (2000 - Madison); Honor Choir Selection Committee (2002 - Des Moines); Choral Composition Committee Member; Planning Committee for the 2002 NCACDA Convention; Reading Session Chair for the 2002 NCACDA Convention in Des Moines; and two terms as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Male Choirs in Iowa (1999 – 2001; 2001 – 2003). 

He resides in Park View with his wife, Angela, their seven-year old daughter, Peyton, and their baby son, Nolan. 

Emily Wall
Assistant Director of Vocal Music

Emily Wall is the Associate Director of Vocal Music at Davenport Central High School in Davenport, Iowa.  Currently in her third year of teaching, she directs two concert choirs and a preparatory show choir at Central.  She has helped out with Central’s musicals during her career there and even directed last year’s production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”  She holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA where she studied with Richard P. Hoffman and Margie V. Marrs.  At Coe, Emily was the recipient of the Marshall Full Tuition Scholarship for the Arts in vocal music and also an active member in the Delta Delta Delta sorority.  She holds professional memberships in Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Music Fraternity, MENC- National Association for Music Educators, and American Choral Directors’ Association.  In her free time, Emily enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family.

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