Cori Smith, Music Director
Cori is the director of bands at Curtis Junior High School in the University Place School District where she directs three concert bands and one jazz band.
Cori holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Montana, a Master of Music Education from the University of Idaho, and is a National Board Certified teacher.
When she’s not conducting, she performs actively in the region as a member of the Tacoma Concert Band, South Sound Symphonic Band, Brass Band Tacoma, and the Highline Symphonic Community Band.
She is the current Band Curriculum Officer for the Washington Music Educators Association, and loves to attend conducting symposia, play competitive tennis, and spend time outside in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Kasil Benner, Assistant Music Director
Kasil guest directed our band in the Fall of 2022. Kasil is the director of bands at Evergreen Middle School in Federal Way, Washington. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education with certificates in Leadership Studies and Research Experience from the University of Kansas. Prior to teaching at Evergreen, he taught at the elementary level both in general music and in band in addition to teaching private low brass lessons.
Kasil is an avid performer on euphonium and tuba, having performed with a number of large ensembles and chamber groups around the country. In 2017, he won the Northwest Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference solo competition on euphonium. He is currently a master’s candidate in the American Band College at Central Washington University. Kasil has performed with the Highline Community Symphonic Band since 2015.
Jordan Beckman, Guest Music Director (Spring 2023)
Jordan directed our band in the spring of 2023. Jordan has been a music educator since 2005. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana. From 2005-2014 he taught middle and high school at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There he directed the middle school Wind Ensemble, jazz ensemble, high school marching band, jazz ensemble, pit orchestra, and various chamber ensembles. He became the Director of Bands in 2013.
Jordan moved to Seattle, Washington in 2014 where he became the Director of Instrumental music at Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines, Washington, overseeing the wind band and orchestra program. While at Mount Rainier he conducted the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, chamber music, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, Percussion Class, Guitar Class, and International Baccalaureate music courses. In 2019 he received his Master’s degree in Music Education with an emphasis in conducting through the American Band College at Central Washington University.
He now has the privilege of being the full-time caregiver for his daughter, Julia. He enjoys spending time with his wife Jennifer, daughter Julia, and dog Walter. His hobbies include all things culinary, especially the art of making pizza and baking sourdough bread.
Daniel Kexel, Former Music Director (2008 – 2022)
Daniel Kexel took the reins as director of the Highline Community Symphonic Band at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. Daniel is a music teacher in the Franklin Pierce School District, and has previously taught middle and high school bands in Kent and Tacoma. Dan also was an instructor for the Tacoma Youth Symphony for 14 years, and was the co-director of the Auburn Summer Music Camp. Dan graduated from WWU in 1994 with a degree in Music Education and Performance and received his National Board Certification in teaching in 2007. In addition to being an HCSB band member for two years, he has previously performed with the Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Opera, Tacoma Symphony, Bellevue Philharmonic, and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra.
Ron Hazenberg, Former Music Director (1997 – 2007)
Ron was a music educator in the public schools for over 22 years, and was the Director of Bands at Evergreen High School.
Prior to moving to Washington State in 1992, Mr. Hazenberg taught in Sacramento, California. A graduate of California State University, Sacramento, Hazenberg studied trombone with the late Norman J. Hunt. His conducting teachers include Dr. Fred Westphal, Ronald Holloway, Sir David Whitwell, and Kyung Soo Won, past conductor of the National Orchestra of Seoul, Korea.
Hazenberg served for nine years on the Capitol Section Music Educators Board of Directors, coordinating honor groups on both the regional and state levels. Among other positions, he served as Music Director and Conductor of the Sierra Nevada Wind Symphony, and guest conductor of the Northern California Junior High Honor Band. He has performed with the Stockton Symphony, the Auburn Symphony (CA), and with the Stockton Choral during the 100th anniversary concert series of Carnegie Hall (1992).
In Washington Hazenberg has served as President of the Soundview Region of the Washington Music Educators Association, staff member of the Washington Ambassadors of Music European Tour, Music Representative of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, and staff member of the Western International Band Clinic. Hazenberg was honored in 1998 as a recipient of the Washington State Sharon Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Education.