University of Iowa Bands
Faculty & Staff
A native of Texas, Heidel holds the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Conducting from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas as well as the Doctor of Education in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His principal teachers include James F. Keene, James Sudduth, Gary Smith, Keith Bearden, Donald Schleicher, John Grashel, and Eunice Boardman. Prior to his appointment to the University of Iowa faculty in 2008, Dr. Heidel served as Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and as a teaching assistant in the School of Music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to his university teaching experiences, Heidel was a high school band director in Texas for nine years.
Dr. Heidel has been distinguished with memberships in numerous national and international honor societies and fraternities including Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, Pi Nu Epsilon, and Golden Key. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Musician award at Texas Tech University in both 1985 and 1986, and in 1997, he received the A. A. Harding award at the University of Illinois for the "highest possible achievement, service, and devotion to the University Bands." In 2002, Dr. Heidel was named to the "Who's Who Among America's Teachers," and in 2003 and 2010 he received the Citation of Excellence from the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Band Association. In 2005, he was initiated into Sigma Alpha Iota as a National Arts Associate, and in 2008, he was elected to membership into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.
Dr. Heidel maintains a busy schedule as guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association. Dr. Heidel has presented clinics and workshops at state music conferences in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as well as guest lectures at Texas Tech University, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Ohio University, Bowling Green State University, Oakland University, and the University of Illinois. Heidel has served as a guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. In 2003, Heidel served as an adjudicator for the Limerick International Marching Band Competition and the 100th St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin, Ireland. His summer teaching experiences include serving as a faculty member of the Shell Lake Arts Center, Texas Tech University Band and Orchestra Camp, Illinois Summer Youth Music Program, and the International Music Camp. His list of publications includes numerous articles in the National Band Association Journal, Teaching Music. Dr. Heidel holds memberships in the National Band Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Big Ten Band Directors Association, and College Band Directors National Association.
Contact Richard Mark Heidel.
A native of Illinois, he received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Master of Science in Music Education degrees at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Before his appointment at Indiana, Kastens was Director of Bands at Wheeling High School from 1980-1987 in northwest suburban Chicago. His concert, marching and jazz bands at Wheeling received numerous honors and awards, including performances at the Mid-East Instrumental Music clinic in Pittsburgh, PA; the Music Educators National Conference in Anaheim, CA; and in Dublin, Limerick and Galway, Ireland.
While he was a faculty member at the University of Missouri, Kastens was awarded the Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Education by the office of the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs. In 1996 the members of the Missouri marching band elected him to the Marching Mizzou Hall of Fame (the first director to be so honored). The Missouri student organization Mizzou Spirit elected Kastens "Faculty Member of the Year" in 1998.
Mr. Kastens' professional affiliations include the Iowa Bandmasters Association, CBDNA, MENC, NBA, Phi Beta Mu, Pi Kappa Lambda and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is active as a clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. Kastens has had numerous articles published on various topics of instrumental music education. He has served as a conductor/clinician for the Bands of America Summer National Workshops, the Smith-Walbridge Drum Major Clinics, and is a leader in the field of computer-assisted marching band drill design.
Contact Kevin Kastens.
Graduate Staff
Prior to coming to Iowa, Carter taught high school and junior high school band in Texas for seven years, where his students and ensembles consistently received top ratings at local and state contests. Most recently, his Seagraves High School band was named the runner-up in the Class 1A Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band competition in 2007.
Carter graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas with his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Performance in Conducting. As an undergraduate, Carter studied percussion with Dr. Lisa Rogers and Alan Shinn. He also performed with the Texas Tech Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Goin’ Band from Raiderland, Percussion Ensembles and Steel Drum Bands. As a Master’s student, Carter served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the University Band program and studied conducting with Dr. John Cody Birdwell, Keith Bearden and Gary Lewis.
His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Association of Texas Small School Band, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Contact Carter Biggers.
Marc is a graduate from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education. He played trumpet in many of the University Bands and sang bass in the Oratorio Society. Marc had the privilege of being drum major of the Marching Illini in 2001 when the band traveled to London, England to perform in Wembley Arena.
Contact Marc Decker.
From 2007-2009, Ernest served as Assistant Director of Bands in the School of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, he was responsible for the writing, preparation and teaching of the Badger Drum Line percussion arrangements, conducted band performances for Women’s Basketball and Volleyball athletic events, and served as a conductor for a School of Music University Band. In addition, Ernest served as a band clinician through the UW School of Music’s Arts Outreach program and frequently appeared as a guest conductor.
Ernest attended The University of Iowa as a Graduate Fellow from 2005-2007 where he completed his Master’s of Arts degree in Percussion Performance as a student of Dr. Dan Moore. He served as the drum line instructor for the Hawkeye Drum Line as well as conducted the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band under Professor Kevin Kastens. In addition to his percussion graduate work, Ernest studied wind band conducting with Dr. Myron Welch, Director of Bands Emeritus and orchestral conducting with Dr. William LaRue Jones, Director of Orchestras.
As a percussionist, Ernest possesses former membership and performance experience in military bands and ensembles of the United States Navy and United States Army. As a former member of the Iowa Army National Guard, Ernest received his commission in 2001 through the Iowa National Guard Officer Candidate School (OCS). After serving a tour of duty from 2003-2004 as platoon leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ernest was promoted to the rank of Captain. During his active duty he received several commendations for his leadership and service. Currently, he serves as the Logistics Officer (S4) with the 641st Troop Command Battalion in Madison, Wisconsin.
Ernest possesses teaching experience as a music educator at the university and public school levels. From 2000-2005, he served as Director of Bands in the Des Moines public schools where he directed concert, marching, and jazz bands. His students have continued their education either pursuing degrees in music or in related fields of study. A strong advocate of music education, Ernest has been active as a band clinician, adjudicator, percussion instructor/arranger, and performer throughout the Midwest since 1999. It was during this time he focused and honed his musical skills and education towards band conducting.
An advocate of new music, Ernest has appeared as a guest conductor at regional and international band festivals/conferences on three continents including Australia, Asia, and North America. In 2009, Ernest served as guest conductor of the Mahidol Brass Ensemble in a premiere performance of Leif Sundstrup’s Azira Phal’e during the Thailand Brass and Percussion Festival as well as served as guest conductor with the Mahidol Wind Symphony on their Gala Performance concert during the 2010 Australian National Band Championships in Hobart, Tasmania.
Ernest’s undergraduate education includes a Bachelor of Arts from Limestone College, Bachelor of Music Education from Drake University, and is a graduate of the United States Navy School of Music. His professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Percussive Arts Society, The College Music Society, and the Wisconsin Army National Guard Officer’s Association.
Contact Ernest Jennings.
Contact Oliver Molina. Visit his personal web site.
Steven Riley is entering his first year as a graduate student majoring in band conducting at The University of Iowa. Prior to attending Iowa, Steven was Director of Bands at Johnsburg High School in Johnsburg, Illinois. During his time in Johnsburg his ensembles performed in various music festivals, performed with guest artists, and toured internationally in the Bahamas.
Steven is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education. As an undergraduate, Steven studied clarinet with Professor J. David Harris and performed with the Marching Illini, Symphonic Band I, and the Wind Symphony. Steven was selected as drum major of the Marching Illini from 2005-2007 and performed in the 2008 Rose Bowl.
Steven’s professional affiliations include MENC, Illinois Music Educators Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Contact Steven Riley.
