Nicholas Williams
Director
Murphysboro Middle School Bands
Phone:(618) 684-3041, ext 2224
Email: nwilliams@mhs.org
Nick Williams is a native of Murphysboro, Illinois, graduating from Murphysboro High School in 2003. He attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he received his Bachelor’s of Music degree in Music Education, in May 2007. While at SIU Carbondale, Nick studied conducting under Dr. Susan Davenport, Director of Choral Activities, and Professor Edward Benyas, Director of Orchestras. He also studied band methods under Professor Michael Hanes, Director of Bands Emeritus, and current Director of Bands, Dr. Christopher Morehouse. In July 2007, Mr. Williams was selected to become Director of Bands for Murphysboro Middle School. He teaches Band, Jazz Ensemble, 5th grade Beginning Band, 6th grade Music Theory, and 8th grade Music Appreciation.
In addition to being Director of Bands for Murphysboro Middle School, Nick serves as the Assistant Director for the Crimson Express Marching Band, where he teaches both visual and musical elements. He previously worked with Crimson in 2005, and has worked with the Pinckneyville High School and Belleville East High School band programs. Nick has also served on staff with SIU Carbondale’s own Marching Salukis as an undergraduate assistant.
Mr. Williams is a member of MENC: The National Association for Music Education, and the Illinois Music Educator’s Association.
Michael Moreland
Beginning Band
Director of Bands at Murphysboro High School
Mr. Moreland (Opie) is a 1987 graduate of Brainerd High School in Brainerd Minnesota. He was a five-year member of the Belleville Black Nights Drum and Bugle Corps and is currently the brass caption head and chief music arranger for the Crimson Express. Michael has attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Southeast Missouri State University, John A. Logan College, and received his Bachelor's degree in music education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in the spring of 2003. Mr. Moreland has worked with Stouton High School, Mt. Olive High School, and Harrisburg High School marching bands, and was Director of Bands at Murphysboro Middle School. In the summer of 2007, Opie was selected to become Director of Bands for Murphysboro High School and Crimson Express.
Mary-Alice Moss
Middle School Instrumental Music
Stephanie Hanson
District 186 General Music Instructor
Blue Devil Band Color Guard Instructor
Stephanie Hanson is from Murphysboro, Illinois, where she currently lives and is an active citizen. She graduated from Murphysboro High School with high honors in 1998. In 2004 Mrs. Hanson graduated cum laude from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a Bachelor degree in Music Education. Her studies were focused in vocal and instrumental music, with her primary instrument being voice. During her years at SIUC she was a member of the SIUC Concert Choir, Choral Union, Marching Salukis and Symphonic Band. Her teaching style and techniques have been influenced by the teachings of Dr. John V. Mochnick, who is the former Director of Choral Activities at SIUC, and Dr. Katherine Hickey, former Kodály instructor at SIUC.
Aside from teaching elementary general music and coaching the Blue Devil Band Color Guard in Murphysboro, Mrs. Hanson also teaches private lessons in her home, and she is a director with the Southern Illinois Children’s Choir. Mrs. Hanson is a member of the Music Educator’s National Conference, the Illinois Music Educator’s Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota.
Carl Alexander
Percussion Tech