ATHENA SUMMITS

ATHENA FACULTY

All Summit Locations

Dr. Zandra Bell-McRoy is a passionate music educator, performer, and consultant committed to empowering musicians through excellence, creativity, and purpose. With a strong foundation in performing, teaching, and research, she brings over two decades of experience in education, performing, and mentoring students and educators at various levels—from early learners to professionals.

A dynamic leader and advocate for musical independence, Zandra champions a fundamentals-first approach while encouraging students and artists to steward their gifts with integrity and intention. She has served in educational, performance, and advisory roles for schools, arts organizations, and community programs. She is particularly recognized for her expertise in music program development, leadership training, and teacher development.

Zandra is also an active performer and clinician, with a deep belief in music’s power to shape lives and strengthen communities. Her work embodies a distinctive blend of artistic excellence, academic rigor, and heartfelt service. 

GEORGIA

August 16, 2025

Sarah Dietrich holds a percussion performance degree from Western Michigan University, as well as a degree in music education from Kennesaw State University.   As an undergraduate she studied with Judy Moonert and Mark Guthrie, and in 2000 moved to the Atlanta area to continue timpani study with Mark Yancich. An active performer, she has performed with the Kalamazoo, Columbus, Macon, and Savannah symphony orchestras, as well as a substitute for the Chattanooga Symphony and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 

As an educator, she has led percussion studies at McCleskey Middle School, Mabry Middle School, McClure Middle School, Kell High School,  

Allatoona High School, and Kennesaw Mountain High School, as well as is an adjunct percussion educator at Emory University. Sarah is an active percussion clinician and adjudicator and has presented at the Music for All Summer Symposium and the Spirit Camp at Jacksonville State University. 

Along with her husband Rick, Sarah founded Sound Art Percussion, a company that works to build resources and communication tools that provide pedagogical and logistical information to band directors, percussion instructors, and percussion performers of all ages and experience levels.

GEORGIA

August 16, 2025

Myriam Athanas Faulkner is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia. Dr. Athanas earned a Ph.D. and an M.M.Ed. from the University of Georgia, and graduated summa cum laude with a B.M. in Music Education from Kennesaw State University. Her research interests include pre-service teacher training, scale development, and broad applications of assessment and educational measurement in music education. She continues to present research at the international and national levels. 

Dr. Athanas has a background in teaching secondary instrumental music education, specifically at the middle school band level. She was formerly the Associate Director of Bands at Mabry Middle School, in Marietta, GA. She has been on the instructional staff for the Lassiter High School Band, the Wheeler High School Band, and the University of Georgia Redcoat Band. At the collegiate level, she has instructed courses in woodwind techniques and pedagogy, secondary instrumental teaching techniques, and has assisted with Secondary Instrumental Methods, Music Techniques and Field Experiences for Children, music education seminar, graduate Research in Music Education, as well as supervised and prepared pre-service teachers for certification during their student teaching.  

Dr. Athanas studied flute performance with Christina Smith and Alison Gillon and was a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony from 2013-2018. She is also an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Society for Music Teacher Education (SMTE), and the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA).

ALABAMA

September 20, 2025

All bands, small to large, beginning band to college level, are essential. This has been the guiding force behind the career of Lori K. Hart. Recently retired from Guntersville High School, after 46 years as a music educator, Lori has championed the band cause in schools across the Southeast. She is a proud graduate of Troy State University and prior to becoming Director of Bands at Guntersville High School in 2022, she served 15 years as the Director of Bands at Wicksburg High School.

Bands under Ms. Hart’s direction have enjoyed consistent superior ratings, Best in Class awards, and Grand Championships including the 2021 Alabama 3A Marching Band Champion. The Wicksburg High School Symphonic Band, under Ms. Hart’s direction, performed at the 2020 Alabama Music Educators Professional Development Conference.

Lori has served in multi-faceted administrative roles – a principal, fine arts coordinator, district chairperson, and is currently serving as the Immediate Past President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, and only the third woman elected to that position and the second woman to serve. During Ms. Hart’s time as ABA District VIII Chairman, she established the John M. Long Memorial Scholarship for deserving band students in the district. In 2019 and 2021 her peers elected Ms. Hart as the Wicksburg High School Teacher of the Year, and in 2020 she earned the honor of Secondary Teacher of the Year for Houston County Schools. In April of 2024, Lori was presented with the Outstanding Bandmaster Award from the Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. She most recently was selected as one of the 50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference by the School Band and Orchestra Magazine for 2024.

Sought throughout the United States as a clinician and educator, Ms. Hart’s recent engagements include the Midwest Clinic, The Honor Band of Nevada, SEUS Middle School Honor Band, UNA Honor Band, SEUS High School Honor Band and numerous All-District and All-County Honor Bands. In 2021, Lori was honored to present a leadership clinic to the student leaders of the Troy University Sound of the South. Ms. Hart is currently serving as the President of the Troy University Band Alumni Association.

Lori serves the band community faithfully through her involvement in professional organizations including the National Band Association, ASBDA, NAfME, AMEA, Alabama Bandmasters Association, and Tau Beta Sigma, where she holds a lifetime membership. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands. In 2020, Ms. Hart was elected to membership in Phi Beta Mu and received the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association. A proud cancer survivor, she serves as a volunteer for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

As an advocate for young directors, Lori has spent a great deal of time mentoring across the state. She believes strongly in an inclusive atmosphere where the desire to learn and flourish, exemplified by young directors, may be given motivation and direction thus improving the outlook for the future of Music Education in Alabama.

PENNSYLVANIA

March 28, 2026

Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin is Director of Wind Band Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Penn State University. In addition to conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, overseeing the graduate wind conducting program, teaching courses in wind band literature and wind conducting, she oversees all aspects of the concert band programs at Penn State. Her appointment at PSU follows three years as Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Carolina. Prior to her tenure at UofSC, Mitchell-Spradlin taught at Valdosta State University as Director of Athletic Bands and was Director of Bands at Chamblee High School in Chamblee, Georgia.

Mitchell-Spradlin has a diverse background as a clinician, adjudicator, educator, and speaker. She is a frequent guest conductor, and has presented regionally at the South Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, nationally at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, internationally at the International Society for the Promotion of Wind Band in Austria, and has served as Tau Beta Sigma’s local and national Women in Music Speaker.

As a proponent of new music, she is engaged in building the wind band medium. She led the consortium and premiere of Aaron Perrine’s Beneath a Canvas of Green for wind ensemble and percussion quartet which was also the source of her doctoral dissertation. Additionally, she is active in a number of premieres and consortiums for new music.

Mitchell-Spradlin serves as the National Vice President of Professional Relations for Tau Beta Sigma: National Honorary Band Sorority. She also holds memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi, the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, and Women Band Directors International.

ALABAMA

September 20, 2025

Cara Morantz joined the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as Assistant Director of Bands in the fall of 2014. She is a part of the instructional team for the Marching Blazers, the Wind Symphony and Symphony Band, and the Blazer Bands. In addition, she provides instruction in music classes including courses in music education.

Prior to her arrival at UAB, Ms. Morantz spent nine years in the public schools of Cobb County, Georgia, where she taught at both the middle school and high school levels. From 2005-2007, she served as assistant director of bands at Lassiter High School, and she has also served on the faculty at Cooper Middle School from 2007-2012, and Durham Middle School from 2012-2014. Ms. Morantz continues to play trumpet actively, and while in Cobb County she also thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony.

Ms. Morantz was educated at the University of Miami, where she graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in music education. She completed her masters degree at the University of Georgia in 2011, where she currently pursues her Ed.D.

GEORGIA

August 16, 2025

Erin Cole Steele is the Director of the Division of Education and Senior Educational Consultant for Conn Selmer, Inc. Prior to joining Conn Selmer, Erin had a successful career as the Director of Bands at Tapp Middle School in Cobb County Georgia for 22 years. Under her leadership, the Tapp Band had many honors included being selected to perform at the 58th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois in December of 2004. While at Tapp, Erin commissioned four pieces of music for the band including Robert W. Smith’s "The Great Locomotive Chase", Frank Ticheli’s "Simple Gifts – Four Shaker Songs". Samuel R. Hazo’s “Ascend” and was part of a consortium of directors to commission Eric Whitacre’s “The Seal Lullaby”. Erin has written chapters for three editions of the GIA publication series Teaching Music Through Performance and is currently a contributing editor for Hal Leonard’s Essential Elements method book and interactive website team. Erin is currently in high demand as a guest conductor for honor and all-state bands across the country as well as a clinician and presenter for music conferences all over the world.

IOWA

July 12, 2025

With over 30 years of experience in education, Mrs. Pat Toben most recently served as the Director of Bands at North High School in Sioux City, Iowa, for three years. Prior to returning to the classroom, she spent seven years as the Arts and Community Engagement Program Coordinator for the Sioux City Community School District (SCCSD). She also taught elementary general music for two years and digital music for one year within the district. Earlier in her career, she held teaching positions in Illinois, Minnesota, and South Dakota, where she focused on developing life skills through band, choir, and general music education.

Mrs. Toben has received multiple honors throughout her career. In 2000, she was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young South Dakotans by the South Dakota Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees). In 2001, School Band and Orchestra Magazine recognized her as one of “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” One of her ensembles was selected to perform at the 2004 South Dakota Bandmasters Convention, and she was named the 2011 West Central Teacher of the Year. As Arts and Community Engagement Coordinator, she played a key role in SCCSD being named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” by NAMM for five consecutive years (2017–2021).

At North High School, Mrs. Toben was instrumental in launching both an Indoor Percussion Program and a Mariachi Program. She trained a dedicated student leadership team and fostered a strong community of student musicians, growing the band program from 80 to 130 members over four years. She also secured funding for essential instruments and guard equipment through successful grant writing efforts.

A respected presenter, Mrs. Toben has spoken at numerous state and international conferences on topics including Fine Arts Standards and the integration of Fine Arts into Career and Technical Education. She authored an article for Yamaha titled "Grant Writing: A 3-Step Game Plan", and has served on the Iowa Department of Education Fine Arts Leadership Team. She is also a past president of the Sioux Valley Orff Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA).

Mrs. Toben holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Arts in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies from the University of Iowa.

ATHENA FOUNDER

All Summit Locations

Dr. Myra Rhoden is the founder of the Athena Music and Leadership, an all-girls music program created to promote musical excellence while emphasizing leadership skills. Retiring in 2024 after a successful 30-year career as a band director in the public schools of Georgia and Alabama, she currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of West Georgia. Rhoden frequently serves as a guest conductor for state, regional, and university honor bands and is honored to have presented sessions at The Midwest Clinic, various national, state and regional conferences, and for school systems and professional development clinics throughout North America.

A native of Tuskegee, Alabama, Dr. Rhoden was named the NAfME 2018 National Band Director of the Year, has been awarded the Outstanding Service to Music Award from Tau Beta Sigma, the Golden Rose Award from Women Band Directors International, multiple Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association, and has been named STAR Teacher and Teacher of the Year. She had the distinct pleasure of being a guest conductor for the United States Air Force Band and the United States Army Field Band of Washington, D. C. and the Tara Winds of Atlanta, Georgia. She is honored to be a member of the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, serves as a Conn Selmer Educational Clinician and was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 2023. She holds degrees from the University of Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi and resides in Fayetteville, Georgia with her husband, Errol Jr. Their son, Errol III, is a freelance musician based in Los Angeles.

ALABAMA, IOWA, and TEXAS Summits

Ms. Wilder is widely recognized as a conductor and clinician, having conducted All State and Honor Bands throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Serving as a resource person for in-service sessions, she works with both local and regional school systems and universities. Her clinics on Motivational Techniques for the Beginning and Middle School Band are often featured at state and national conventions. 

Marguerite taught middle school band at the following schools during her 30-year teaching career: The Lovett School, Woodward Academy and Tapp Middle School.

Ms. Wilder is a contributing author for GIA Publications: Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician; Habits of a Successful Middle Level Musician; Teaching Music Through Performance in Beginning Band Vol. 1 & 2. She is a contributing editor Teaching Music through Performance in Middle School Band and James Froseth’s Do It! Play in Band and Recorder Methods.

Marguerite Wilder is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. Professional organization affiliations include NAfME, GMEA, NBA, Phi Beta Mu and FAME. 

Currently Mrs. Wilder serves as a consultant, clinician, author and editor for GIA Publications, Inc. and is a “Yamaha Master Educator”.