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

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.

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.

Kerry Talley (email)
Mr. Talley is currently in his seventeenth year at Memorial High School and in his fourth year of teaching at the University of Houston. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Houston. Previous positions include Columbia High School (Columbia/Brazoria I.S.D., West Columbia, Texas), University High School (Waco I.S.D., Waco, Texas), and Liberty Junior High School (Richardson I.S.D., Dallas, Texas). Mr. Talley holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University and a Master of Music in Conducting degree from Sam Houston State University, where he studied with Dr. B. R. Henson. Mr. Talley is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Music Education at the University of Houston, Moores School of Music. Mr. Talley is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, International Society of Music Education, American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Talley has been listed multiple times in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, has received the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers Honorary Life Membership, and is the first recipient of the Special Education Parents Advisory Committee’s “Ray of Light” award. In 2002 Mr. Talley served on a national panel of music educators for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. He presented a lecture at the national convention of the Music Educators National Conference in Nashville on the topic of “Inclusion of Special Needs Students in the Choral Program” in 2002 and at the 2004 Texas Music Educators Association Convention.

Betsy Cook Weber
Associate 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.