Directors
Richard Suddendorf
Richard J. Suddendorf was Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Western Michigan University from 1979 until 1991. During his tenure at Western, the University Symphonic Band performed for the Midwestern Music Conference in Ann Arbor, the College Band Directors National Association convention in Atlanta, GA, and the Music Educators National Conference in Chicago. This same ensemble made four series of recordings for Carl Fischer and a series of cassettes for Boosey and Hawkes. From 1979 to 1987, Mr. Suddendorf conducted both the University Symphonic Band and the Concert Band. For the next three years he conducted both the Symphonic Band and the University Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his twelve years, he taught highly regarded conducting classes at both the under-graduate and graduate levels and served on the faculty for the School of Music's SEMINAR summer music program for high school students. In 1981 he founded the Kalamazoo Youth Wind Ensemble/Kalamazoo Youth Symphonic Band, a special ensemble for outstanding high school instrumentalists from Southwest Michigan, which he conducted until 1991.
Mr. Suddendorf was at Capital University in Columbus, OH, for nine years 1970-1979. He served as Director of Bands, Instrumental Department Coordinator and Conductor of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. University Concert Band and the University Symphony Orchestra.
His appointment at Capital followed 14 years of teaching at The Ohio State University, 1956-1970, where he was Professor of Trumpet, Director of the University Brass Choir, Associate Conductor of the Ohio State Concert Band and a member of the Faculty Brass Quintet.
Among his numerous professional honors and awards, Mr. Suddendorf received Distinguished Teaching Awards from The Ohio State University, Capital University and Western Michigan University. In 1975, he was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He served as President of the Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association from 1982- 1984. He received the Citation of Excellence Award from the National Band Association in March, 1984. In April, 1991, the Delta Iota Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity at Western Michigan University presented him the Orpheus Award for significant and lasting contributions to the cause of Music in America.
Mr. Suddendorf's professional affiliations include Phi Mu Alpha professional music fraternity, the College Band Directors National Association. The National Band Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu and Kappa Kappa Psi. He is an honorary member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and a member of the Music Educators National Conference. He was conductor and musical director of the Lansing Concert Band, Lansing Michigan, from 1994 to 1999.
Jennifer Cabral Hever
Jennifer Cabral Hever holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of New Hampshire, her home state. After she received her Masters of Music on bassoon at The Ohio State University, Mrs. Cabral Hever joined the Westerville Community Band. In addition to playing bassoon Mrs. Cabral Hever became the Assistant Director in 2000. During the day, she teaches elementary band, strings and general music in the Olentangy Local School District. Besides school, she teachers private lessons and is called on to play for various bands and orchestras.