MUSIC EDUCATION FACULTY
Jennifer Mishra, Music Education Area Coordinator

John Benzer
M.M. from University of Houston and B.M.E. from North Texas State University; teaches undergraduate instrument pedagogy and band director methods classes; taught for twelve years at Griffin Middle School in The Colony (Lewisville ISD), where his top band was named the Texas CC State Honor Band in 1993 and 1997, and awarded the Sudler Silver Cup under his direction; active clinician, presenter and adjudicator throughout Texas and nationally; co-author of Essential Musicianship-Ensemble Concepts.

Rhona Brink, Elementary/Kodaly Specialist
B.M. degree from the University of Houston, Kodály certification from the Round Top program through the University of Texas at Austin, and a M.M. with Kodály emphasis from Sam Houston State University. Rhona Brink recently retired from public school music education with 26 years of experience, serving for 23 of those years in the elementary music classroom. She has provided many staff development workshops in various Texas school districts and regional Education Service Centers. She has taught graduate level music education courses at Sam Houston State University and has been a clinician for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) state convention

David Bertman
Director of Bands.  B.M.E. from the University of Oklahoma and M.M. from University of Houston. He is director of bands and teaches undergraduate band methods classes and conducting. He was Associate Director of Bands at Haltom High School and he is active nationally as an adjudicator and clinician. He is brass captain head for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.

Terri Humphries (email)
holds degrees from Baylor University, (B.M.E.) and from University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, (M.M.). At these institutions, she participated as a performer in orchestras, wind ensembles (as an oboist) and in choirs, under the direction of distinguished conductors. Ms. Humphries’ teaching experience includes twenty-six years in Spring Branch Independent School District, in addition to experience at the University of Cincinnati and University of Houston. Other professional experience includes writing curriculum and teaching in-service for new music teachers. She has also served as Coordinator for Children’s Choirs at South Main Baptist Church.

Robert Mayes
Taught public schools in Midland Texas; Assistant Director of Bands at Texas Tech; Director of Bands-University of Wyoming; and Director of Bands at the University of Houston for sixteen years; Specialist in secondary instrumental education, national reputation as a director and educator.

Jennifer Mishra
Ph.D. & MME from Kent State University; BME from the University of Northern Colorado; active national and international presenter on topics including string education, research on the memorization process, technology, and multicultural music; active author of research and pedagogical articles in journals such as Psychomusicology and American String Teacher; on the editorial board for The Journal of String Research and arranges music for middle school orchestra.

James L Reifinger, Jr.
is an Assitant Professor of Music Education at the University of Houston, specializing in elementary and general education. He earned a Doctorate in Music Education at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, a Master of Special Education at Lehigh University, and a Master and Bachelor of Music at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. He also earned certification as a Kodály Specialist at New York University and has had additional training in Dalcroze, Orff, and Music Learning Theory.

Betty Shaw
Teacher, performer, clinician and author with teaching experience including both public school and college positions; has created programs for educational television and holds offices in several professional organizations; studied with Robert Pace at Columbia University, where she received an M.A.

Betsy Cook Weber
Director of Choral Studies; Director of Moores School Concert Chorale; served for seven years as Assistant/Associate Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus; successful music teacher in the public schools at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels, during which time choirs there won numerous competitions and awards; active at local and national levels as a conductor, presenter, and clinician; several of her editions of choral works are in current publication; degrees from North Texas State University, Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ), and University of Houston.