Instructors

Bev Anyan received her Kodály certification from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, WI, and has taught elementary music for 30 years in Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. She is a past president of the Oklahoma Kodály Educators and a Nationally Board Certified teacher. An expert in classroom management and sequential instruction, her session with Sandy Knudson at the 2012 OAKE Conference was met with enthusiasm. She currently teaches K‐5 music at Adams Elementary School in Norman, Oklahoma.

Ashlynn Dickinson leads the Lower School music program at Norfolk Christian Schools in Norfolk, VA. She previously taught at Casady School in Oklahoma City and in Norman Public Schools where she was awarded Teacher of the Year for her elementary school and was one of three finalists for the 2017-2018 District Teacher of the Year. While in Norman she served as chair of the conductor and repertoire committee for the 5th Grade All-City Concert. Ashlynn received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Oklahoma Baptist University and Master’s in Music Education with a Kodály emphasis from the University of Oklahoma. She earned her National Kodály certification in the Summer of 2017. She was an active member of OkMEA where she served on the Elementary Committee as the Circle the State with Song State Chair and was the Chair of the 2023-2024 Children’s All-State Chorus. Ashlynn has served Oklahoma Kodály Educators as Secretary, Treasurer and is currently Deputy Treasurer of OAKE. She has presented sessions at the District and State level and enjoys collaborating with veteran and entry level teachers to generate ideas on how to best engage students in the music classroom.

Dillon Downey is a music specialist in Denton (TX) ISD and is the founding Artistic Director of the Denton Community Youth Choirs. He was the recipient of the 2023 OAKE Outstanding Emerging Educator Award and is the vice president of the Kodály Educators of Texas. His Kodály certification is from Midwestern State University and is certified in the first level of Music Learning Theory. Dillon is passionate about community building, curriculum writing, and accessibility. A frequent presenter, Dillon is an alumnus of the Eastman School of Music and the University of North Texas.

Dr. Gerber is assistant professor of music education at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Gerber previously taught at Oklahoma Baptist University, the University of Mississippi and taught elementary music in El Reno, Oklahoma. He received his Kodály certification from OU and has completed Level I of Orff‐Schulwerk certification. Dr. Gerber has published articles on a variety of topics in music education and is a recipient of the 2011 Alexander Ringer Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research.

Sandy Knudson, a National Board Certified Teacher, is an Elementary Music Specialist in Norman Public Schools. She is Artistic Director of the Norman Children’s Chorus and has served as President of OKE, OMEA Circle the State with Song State Chair, and All‐OMEA Children’s Chorus State Chair. She has also served OAKE as a Southern Regional Representative. In addition, Sandy is the conductor of the 2015 OAKE National Children’s Choir in Minneapolis.  Since 1990, Sandy has enjoyed teaching solfege and choir in The University of Oklahoma Kodály summer certification programs in Norman and Tulsa.

Lindsey Schroder, M.M.Ed. Southeastern Oklahoma State University, is in her seventeenth year of teaching elementary music, choir and middle school choir at Chisholm Public Schools in Enid, Oklahoma. She is also a director and co-founder of the Enid Community Children's Chorus. She received her bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University and has completed her National Kodály Certification at the University of Oklahoma Kodály Institute, where she serves as an instructor for the Musicianship and Conducting workshops. Lindsey was the 2024 OAKE National Conference Chair and the Southwestern Representative on the NAfME General Music Council, and enjoys her time as a festival clinician and presenter. She has served as the Elementary Vice President of OkMEA, OKE President, as well as various other organizations on the state and national levels. Lindsey is currently the Southern Division President of OAKE. In 2024, she was recognized as an OkMEA Exemplary Music Teacher in the Elementary Division. She has, also been recognized as the 2013 OkMEA Young Music Educator and 2015 District Teacher of the Year for Chisholm Public Schools, leading to the Oklahoma State Department of Education Rising Star Award. She lives with her supportive husband, Tyler, and their two little showmen, Dean and Rhett.