2025 Conference Headliners
Jeff Scott
Band Headliner
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Jeff Scott is the former Director of Bands at Cario Middle School in Mount Pleasant, SC, where held that position from 2001 until his retirement in 2023. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and received a Master of Instrumental Music in Conducting at Southern Oregon University. He was awarded National Board Certification in 2005 and 2015. In 2020, he was named Phi Beta Mu “South Carolina Bandmaster of the Year”.
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Mr. Scott is co-author of the highly touted books Habits of a Successful Middle School Band Director, Habits of a Successful Middle School Musician, and Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician published by GIA Publications.
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Bands under Mr. Scott's baton have received exclusively Superior ratings at state, regional and national competitions since 1989. Those bands have also received the SCBDA's Outstanding Performance Award every year since 1989. Mr. Scott is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. He has presented clinics for the Midwest Clinic in 2014, 2017, 2021 and was a panel member in 2022. He maintains professional affiliations with NAfME, Phi Mu Alpha, and Phi Beta Mu.
Michael Culloton
Choral Headliner
Michael Culloton is an Associate Professor of Music at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN where he is the Director of Choral Activities, conductor of The Concordia Choir, Artistic Director of the Concordia College Christmas Concerts, and the Paul J. and Eleanor Christiansen Chair of Choral Music. Dr. Culloton teaches vocal music education and church music courses, serves as campus supervisor for student teachers, and advises the student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He also conducts the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir, a summer program of Concordia College. Along with his duties at Concordia, Dr. Culloton is the Artistic Director and conductor of the Fargo-Moorhead Choral Artists and conductor of the Trinity Lutheran Church Cathedral Choir.
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Prior to this appointment, Dr. Culloton served as the associate director of choirs at Concordia College for eight years, conducting the Chapel Choir, Cantabile, and Kantorei. Before moving to Moorhead, he has was the Artistic Director and conductor of Choral Arts Ensemble and Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota, both organizations based in Rochester (Minn.), for eight years. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., where he studied with René Clausen, and his Master of Music degree from the University of Arizona, where he studied with Maurice Skones. Dr. Culloton completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree through North Dakota State University, where he studied with Jo Ann Miller and Michael Weber.
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Dr. Culloton has taught at Luther College and Winona Senior High School and has also served as the assistant and interim conductor of the National Lutheran Choir. He has held church choir positions in Moorhead, MN, Tucson, AZ, and Decorah, IA, and has been music director for nearly a dozen musical theater productions. Along with his twin brother, Dr. Culloton is the co-editor of the Matthew and Michael Culloton Choral Series with Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc. He has been recognized as the Minnesota ACDA Young Conductor of the Year and has also received the ACDA/VocalEssence Creative Programming Award. He was a featured conductor in Never Stop Singing, a documentary about the history of choral music in Minnesota. Dr. Culloton serves as a guest conductor, clinician, and lecturer throughout the country. He lives in Moorhead with his wife Brynn, who works in the Enrollment division at Concordia, and their daughters Eleanor and Miriam.
Deb Navin
General Music Headliner
Deb Navin teaches General Music in Birmingham Public Schools in Michigan. Deb holds a BM in Music Education from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY and a MS in Elementary Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She is a certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher educator and has trained in Music Learning Theory and World Music Drumming.
She has taught General Music, Choir, and Band in public and private schools in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. She is a frequent national presenter for music teacher workshops and has served on the board for the American Orff Schulwerk Association. Deb plays the Piano, Harp, Flute, Guitar, and Handbells. She lives with her three children and husband in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Angela Harman
Orchestra Headliner
Angela Harman teaches 365 middle school orchestra students each day at Maple Grove Middle School in Mapleton, Utah. She is the founder of www.orchestraclassroom.com, where she publishes ideas and resources for string teachers.
Angela served as UMEA Orchestra VP from 2019-2021 and is currently serving on the NAfME National Orchestra Council. As a sought-out presenter, Angela frequently teaches at professional development conferences including national NAfME, ASTA, state MEA conferences and school districts. She has been featured in NAfME's 'Music in a Minuet' blog and 'Teaching Music' magazine. She has had articles published in the UMEA Journal. SmartMusic blog, and GradeCam blog. She is a contributing author of the book ‘The String Teacher’s Guide to Recruiting and Retention.’ Angela has earned a number of awards including: Give A Note Tour from Radio Disney/Give a Note foundation (2016), Superior Accomplishment Award (UMEA, 2017), and Best of State in public music education (bestofstate.org,2020).
