Adjunct
Nate Benzing
Jazz Band, Applied Persussion, Percussion Skills
Classes: MSA 004 Waldorf College Jazz Band
Nate Benzing is currently in his 13th year as director of bands for the Ventura Community School District, and also serves as Instructor of Applied Percussion, Marimba and Percussion Ensembles for Waldorf College in Forest City. He is an active clinician, adjudicator and performer. In 1999 Mr. Benzing served as the percussionist for Shirley Jones at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.
He studied in the music education program with Dick Bauman for two years and received an A.A. from Southwestern Community College. He went on to the University of Northern Iowa and where he received a B.M.E. with emphasis in percussion in 1992. In 2002 Nate was named to the “Whose Who of American Teachers”. In July of 2002 Nate was an Institute fellow for the Leadership Institute of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education in Aspen, Colorado. In 1996 Mr. Benzing was a recipient of the Outstanding Jazz Educator award, presented by the National Band Association.
Mr. Benzing has served as the N.C.I.B.A. high school Honor Band chair for two years. He is Past President Of N.C.I.B.A. and has served as N.C.I.B.A. Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President and is currently the Jazz Affairs chair.
Amanda Brezina
Flute
Classes: MUE 361 Woodwind Skills
Amanda Brezina graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, with a Bachelor’s Degree in instrumental and vocal music education. While attending Wartburg, Brezina was a member of the Wartburg Choir and the Symphonic Band, in which she served as the flute section leader.
Following her graduation from Wartburg, Ms. Brezina taught 5-12 instrumental music at Wapsie Valley, in Fairbank, Iowa, and maintained a private studio of 25 flute and piano students.
In 2004 Ms. Brezina relocated to Lake Mills, Iowa where she directs the middle school instrumental music program. At that time she also joined the Waldorf staff, teaching applied flute lessons.
Tony Brezina
Saxophone
Having joined the Waldorf adjunct music faculty in the fall of 2004, saxophonist Tony Brezina currently teaches 5 th grade and high school instrumental music at Lake Mills Community School District in Lake Mills, Iowa. He also runs a private saxophone studio, which includes students from all over the North Iowa region.
A graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, Mr. Brezina obtained his Bachelor’s of Music Education degree, with an emphasis in saxophone. While a student at Wartburg, he played alto sax in the Wartburg Wind Symphony and was a section leader for two years. He also played alto sax in the Knightliters Jazz Band and in the pep band; he played percussion, tuba and euphonium in the Symphonic Band. In addition, he sang under Dr. Paul Torkelson in the Ritterchor Choir, of which he was assistant director his senior year.
In 2006, Mr. Brezina was named to the “Who’s Who of American Teachers,” and is currently serving as the North Central IowaBandmaster’s Association chairperson. He also plays the baritone saxophone in the Mason City Jazz Coalition Big Band.
In his free time, Mr. Brezina enjoys arranging music. Above all, he likes to spend time with his new baby.
Dan Cassady
Trombone, Low brass
Dan Cassady is one of the leading free lance trombonists in north Iowa. He performs with such groups as the Tuxedo Junction Orchestra, Jive for Five Brass Quintet, the Fort Dodge Symphony, and the Dick Bauman Big Band. He is also a professor at Iowa Central Community College, where he teaches theory and directs the bands. Mr. Cassady holds both a Bachelor’s as well as a Master’s degree in Music from the University of Iowa.
Nancy Farndale
Organ, Double reeds, Accompanying
Nancy Farndale studied at Iowa State University and completed her Bachelor’s degree at St. Olaf College. In 1992 she was appointed chapel organist at Waldorf College where she also teaches organ and double reed lessons. Since 2000 Mrs. Farndale has served as accompanist for the Waldorf College Choir. She is also organist and choir director at the United Methodist Church in Forest City. The Organists of Iowa Recital Series selected Mrs. Farndale to be the guest recitalist for their 1997 concert at the Iowa State University Music Hall. She was chosen especially to showcase several of her organ compositions. She also composes and arranges vocal music. Mrs. Farndale lives in Forest City with her husband, Michael, who is a mathematics and physics professor at Waldorf College. The Farndales have two children.
Deborah Hild
Classes: MUE 341 Methods of General Music
Deb (Brosdahl) Hild joined the adjunct music faculty at Waldorf in 2004. She teaches Methods of General Music in the Public Schools, K-12, as part of the music education sequence.
A two-year graduate of Waldorf College in 1977, Mrs. Hild sang in the Waldorf Choir under the direction of Adrian Johnson and studied piano with Dr. Timothy Schmidt. She received her Bachelor’s of Music Education degree at Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, in 1979. After teaching K-5 music in Greenfield, Iowa, for five years, she moved to Mason City. Here she taught all grade levels in the Mason City School District. She has also taught at Jefferson Elementary School from 1983 to the present.
Mrs. Hild received her master’s degree in music from UNI in 1991. She sings with “Raiders of the Lost Art,” a Dixieland jazz band; “Spats and Flapper Speakeasy Orchestra,” a roaring 20s orchestra; and “The North Iowa Big Band.” Mrs. Hild is also involved in the children’s ministry and music ministry at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa. She lives in Clear Lake with her husband and two children, Amy and Eric.
Ann Kostelnick
Clarinet
Ann Kostelnick is currently in her second year as director of bands at Nora Springs-Rock Falls School. There she directs 5-12 band as well as leads jazz band, marching band, and pep band. She also maintains a private clarinet studio. Ms. Kostelnick currently performs with the North Stars Woodwind Quintet as well as the North Iowa Concert Band. Ms. Kostelnick holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Iowa State University where she performed in the ISU Wind Ensemble, ISU Symphony Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, Marching Band, Pep Band, as well as many other small ensembles.
Kristen Wunderlich
Voice
Kristen Wunderlich received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and English from Luther College in 1997. In 2001 she completed her M.M. degree in Vocal Performance at the University of North Texas and is nearing completion of a D.M.A. in Vocal Pedagogy from the same institution. She is a student of Dr. Stephen Austin. She has been a featured soloist with Texas Chamber Artists, Orchestra of New Spain, Helios Ensemble, Denton Bach Society and Williamsport Civic Orchestra as well as a chorus member for Ft. Worth Opera. Opera roles include Suor Angelica, Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), The Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Alice Ford (Falstaff), Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutte) and Lady Billows (Albert Herring). She has been a finalist in the prestigious Marguerite McCammon competition, Dallas Opera Guild competition and NATSAA. In October of 2005, she received a grant to attend the Second Annual International Physiology and Acoustics of Singing Conference at the National Center for Voice and Speech in Denver, Colorado. Ms. Wunderlich has taught as a Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas, as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Texas at Arlington, as a faculty member at The Pennsylvania State University and is currently a faculty member at Luther College as well as teaching voice at Waldorf College.
