Staff
Mr. Russell Clark
executive director
Mr. Clark holds a BME from the University of Kansas and a MME from Kansas State University. His area of specialty is string pedagogy in both the classical and jazz settings. During his time at K-State he served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Orchestras, under the direction of Dr. Rachel Dirks. Prior to attending K-State, Mr. Clark worked as the Assistant Director of High School Orchestras in the Lawrence public school district from 2017-2022. During his time there he was named the NEKMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator for Orchestra in 2019-2020, and was the NEKMEA High School Orchestra Chair from 2019-2021. He was also a director of the Lawrence Youth Symphony from 2017-2023. Mr. Clark continues to stay active in the musical community at large by maintaining a studio of private students on violin, viola and bass, working Summer Camps including the K-State String Leadership Institute, and playing in and conducting community ensembles such as the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Community Orchestra, and the Topeka Jazz Workshop Big Band.
His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the National Educators Association, and the Kansas American String Teachers Association.
Conductors
Bronze Ensemble
Ms. Katie Kimmel
Introductory Orchestra Experience
conductor
Katie Kimmel is currently Director of Orchestras at Topeka Seaman Schools, USD #345. In this role she leads the program of 6th-12th grade students and oversees all aspects of string education in the district. She completed her music education training at Kansas State University, and will complete her Masters of Music in Spring 2024 having also received a Master of Public Health (2022) and Bachelor of Nutritional Sciences (2016). While at KSU, she was active across concert ensembles, including the Kansas State University Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Rachel Dirks. During this time, she served on the KSUSO Leadership Team and traveled to the American String Teachers Association national conference to co-present with the team. Katie has been on staff at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan as well as the String Leadership Institute in Manhattan. In her free time, she is active as a community musician, regularly playing in the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra, Manhattan Municipal Band, Little Apple Horn Choir, and other area performances. This is her first season with the Manhattan Youth Orchestras and she is thrilled to join the team to support and further the mission of the organization.
Mr. Hollis Hagenbuch
assistant conductor
A 2023 graduate from Wichita State University with degrees in music education and violin performance and currently the Instrumental Music Aide at Fort Riley Middle School, Mr. Hagenbuch (or Mr. H) is well equipped and very excited to guide and mentor young string players in the MYS Bronze Ensemble. He has experience in assisting and teaching at summer camps in Kansas and Missouri and had a private studio of violin and viola students during his time in Wichita. He’s eager to learn alongside the students while pursuing his Master’s of Music performance at K-State serving as the string division’s Graduate Teaching Assistant.
Silver Orchestra
Mrs. Kristen Toll
String Orchestra Experience
conductor
Kristen Toll has been involved in string education in Manhattan since beginning her teaching career in 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Special Music Education from Wichita State University in 2015, and has since earned her full certification in the Kodaly Teaching Philosophy, as well as partial Suzuki Teacher Certification.
Kristen taught general music and beginning orchestra in the Manhattan-area Public Schools from 2015-2021, spending most of that time at Bluemont Elementary. While teaching at Bluemont, Kristen was nominated as the school’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.
Kristen enjoys performing whenever possible, in and around Manhattan. She served as assistant principal cello of the Salina Symphony in 2019-2020, and returns to play with the symphony annually on their sunset concert.
Having grown up in the Manhattan musical community as a student herself, Kristen is enthusiastic about furthering quality music education in the area for students today. She has been an invited conductor at KSU’s annual String Fling Event on multiple occasions and has sent several students of her own to the state-wide festival. She maintains a private cello studio and enjoys watching the dedication of her students pay off as they grow into skilled and passionate musicians.
In 2016 Kristen took over leadership of the Silver Orchestra and has conducted it each year since, with the exception of the 2021 season. She firmly believes in the mission and the values of the program and is eager to promote the growth of the organization as it enters a new era of development.
Gold Symphony
Full Orchestra Experience
conductor
Dr. Blair Williams
Dr. Blair Williams is Director of Professional Development for the American String Teachers Association. She has served our string teaching community in public school programs, higher education, and in the string studio for over 25 years. Her middle and high school ensembles consistently achieved superior marks at contests and festivals. Conducting and clinician engagements have included youth, regional, and all-city ensembles in Alaska, Kansas, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Texas. A frequent guest conductor, clinician, lecturer, and adjudicator, Dr. Williams enjoys working with and learning from teachers, musicians, and students across the country.
Her presentations and research have been accepted or presented at international, national, and regional conferences and symposia. Her research interests include: music teacher education, community music, and music teacher recruitment. She is published in International Journal of Music Education, Journal of Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, American String Teacher, SmartMusic, and in volume 4 of Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra.
Originally from Newton, Kansas, she earned a PhD from The Ohio State University, a Master of Music from Kansas State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University.
Dr. Phillip Payne
assistant conductor & winds coordinator
Phillip D. Payne joined the Graduate School as Associate Dean in June of 2024. In this role, Dr. Payne guides programs in curriculum development and assessment strategies designed to meet the needs of Next-Gen K-State academic innovation. He guides program creation and supports student success in all areas while also focusing on professional development for faculty and staff.
Prior to his appointment, Dr. Payne served as Associate Director for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance where he led MTD as the Music Executive for Accreditation, oversaw curriculum and assessment, and managed day-to-day aspects of MTD including teaching loads, funding requests, and line scheduling. He also served as Professor, Chair of Music Education, and Lead Advisor at Kansas State University specializing in Instrumental Music Education. Other duties included teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in music education, supervising student teachers, and overseeing all operational aspects of the music education program at K-State.
His research interests include curriculum and assessment, student and teacher mental wellness, job satisfaction, and transfer students’ experiences and successes. He remains an active researcher, clinician, consultant, and adjudicator for districts and arts entities throughout the United States.