EDMOND MEMORIAL
HIGH SCHOOL
BULLDOG BAND
Staff
Jeff Jahnke currently serves as Director of Bands at Edmond Memorial High School. He has previously served as the director of bands at Lovejoy High School in Texas, assistant director at the University of Oklahoma, and director of bands at Jenks High School, Putnam City North High School, and Moore High School.
His primary responsibilities within the band program involve leading the instruction of the Wind Ensemble, marching band, Varsity Jazz Band and assisting with some of the 7th and 6th grade classes at Cimarron.
Jeff is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and also earned a Masters degree in Conducting & Instrumental Pedagogy from Oklahoma State University. He is former student of Gene Thrailkill, Dr. Roland Barrett, Dr. William Wakefield, Dr. Irvin Wagner, and Dr. Joseph Missal.
William Bishop serves as a band director at Memorial High School and at both Central Middle School and Cimarron Middle School.
His responsibilities include conducting the Symphonic Band, assisting with instruction of the marching band and traveling to both Cimarron and Central Middle Schools to teach beginning band classes.
William graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. His primary instrument is Tuba. While at OU he was a member of the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band, OU Wind Symphony and the OU Symphony Orchestra.
William previously served seven years in the Oklahoma National Guard Governor's Own 145th Army Band based in Oklahoma City. He also was a marching member of Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mikela Connella is in her fifth year of teaching and her fourth at Edmond Memorial High School and Central Middle School. Previously, she served as the assistant band director and elementary music teacher at Prague Public Schools.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance. Her primary instrument is the trumpet.
While at SWOSU, she was a member of the Pride of the Great Southwest Marching Band, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, and Trumpet Ensemble.
Marcus Shields is a Tulsa native and began teaching in Edmond Public Schools in 2018. His current responsibilities include directing all band activities at Cimarron Middle School and assisting with the Edmond Memorial Bulldog Band. He has previously served as an assistant director of bands at Jenks Public Schools.
After graduating Union High School, Marcus pursued a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. While at UCO, Marcus performed with world renowned musicians such as Delfeayo Marsalis, John and Jay Daversa and Terell Stafford. Marcus was also recognized as UCO’s most outstanding senior musician before graduating in 2016.
Marcus played trumpet in a variety of ensembles at UCO including Wind Symphony, Brass Ensemble, Brass Quintet, Jazz Band, and Dixieland Band.
Chelsea Madden currently serves as a band director at Memorial High School, Central, & Cimarron Middle School. She previously served as the Assistant band director at Chickasha Public Schools and the Primary Music Director at Duke Public Schools.
Her responsibilities include conducting the Concert Band, assisting during marching season, and teaching beginning Clarinet & Saxophone at both Central & Cimarron Middle School.
After graduating from Altus High School, Chelsea attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she pursued degrees in Music Education and Clarinet Performance.
During her time at Southwestern, she participated in numerous ensembles including the Pride of the Great Southwest Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Orchestra, & Woodwind Ensemble. Chelsea is currently in the final stages of obtaining her Master's in Music Education.
Kevin McDonald is a percussion specialist for the Edmond Memorial Bulldog Band. He has a Music Minor from Oklahoma State University, earned with his Bachelors in English in 1997. He marched Drum Corps with Black Gold in 1991 and 1992, and with The Cadets of Bergen County in 1994. He has worked with marching band programs in the state of Oklahoma since 1992, including time with Broken Arrow, Owasso, and Union while in college and during the formative portion of his teaching career.
Kevin's primary teaching responsibility is as an English teacher, working predominantly with junior in either AP English Language and Composition or AP Seminar. He is also the English Department Chair and a former District Teacher of the Year.
Additional and Support Staff
Jay Welke - Battery Percussion
Tim Bartee - Front Ensemble
Sharon Blocker - Front Ensemble