Ben Meyer
Director

Ben Meyer is currently in his 3^rd year as the Director of Bands at St. Charles West High School.  Mr. Meyer is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia, having earned a BS in Music Education from MU in 2007.  At Mizzou, Mr. Meyer performed as a member of Marching Mizzou, Mini Mizzou, The University of Missouri Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and studied privately in the saxophone studio under Dr. Leo Saguiguit.  Prior to attending Mizzou, he earned an Associates Degree at St. Charles Community College in 2004 having studied saxophone from Elke Overton.  Mr. Meyer is a native of St. Charles, graduating from St. Charles High School in 2001.   

Under the direction of Ben Meyer, the SCW Band Program has performed in various local, regional, and national competition including an award winning trip with the Jazz program to Chicago in the Spring of 2008 and with the SCW Marching Warriors at the Gator Bowl in January of 2009. 

Outside of the SCW Band Program, Mr. Meyer has many interests including playing hockey regularly as well as playing golf, fishing, hunting, and of course being a die hard fan of the St. Louis Blues.  You have to look long and hard to find a more devoted fan of the Blues than Mr. Meyer.  He is currently working on his masters degree through Arkansas State University hoping for a Masters in Administration.  Ben considers it his greatest dream come true to serve the students of the City of St. Charles.

---

Sean Bippen
Assistant Director

Mr. Bippen is currently the director at Hardin Middle School in the St. Charles school district. When he isn't teaching 7th and 8th graders which end of the instrument to blow into he stays busy moving the district music education program forward and with his young family. His "native" instrument is trombone, although we don't hear him playing very often these days. Mr. Bippen also has a passion for golf and for his iPhone.

Becky Pasley
Movement Instructor

Becky's love of movement began at a young age when she attended the Performing Arts Centre in St. Charles. She graduated in May of 2008 from the University of Missouri - St. Louis with a B.A. in Theater and Dance. She also holds an A.A. with an emphasis in music from the St. Charles Community College. She is currently an intern with Modern American Dance Company, a professional company resident at UMSL. This is Becky's first year as an instructor for St. Charles West Color Guard and she has enjoyed working with the students and learning all about Guard. She also teaches private piano lessons and is involved in acting opportunities around the area.

Kelly Schmid
Guard Instructor

Kelly graduated from St. Charles West High School (in 2006?) having been a member of the color guard. She attented the University of Memphis for two years and is now a Junior at Lindenwood University. Kelly says her interests include "Colorguard, cooking, performing, being retarded sober, fishing, I love sports and am WAY too competitive ... I love doing anything that helps relieve stress and makes people laugh." She plans to be an occupational therapist although she describes herself as "completely random" so that may be open to change.

Shaun Spiker
Percussion Instructor

Mr. Spiker (affectionately known simply as "Spikuw" to his younger fans) teaches marching percussion and winter drumline. He comes to us from the Southern Illinios University at Edwardsville (SIUE) where he is working on a major in music and a minor in criminal justice. He has a low opinion of clubs and organizations -- except for band of course. Rumor has it that he keeps his drumsticks sharp by playing drumset in a local band named "Spotting Waldo". They have their own website (spottingwaldo.com) but you'll have a better chance catching up with them on the web at MySpace Music.