MBDA Central Region (CMBDA)

1. Calendar
2. Documents
3. Board of Directors
4. Schools

Central Region Calendar of Events

Upcoming Events

CMBDA Middle Level Festival - March 6, 2026 (Providence Academy)
CMBDA Honor Jazz Bands - March 7, 2026 (Rockford)
CMBDA BBF/SYF - May 9, 2026 (Zimmerman)
 

Central Region Board of Directors

President: Justin J. Frerich

Justin J. Frerich is the 9-12 Band Director at Becker High School in Becker, Minnesota. In Becker he teaches three bands, a jazz band, marching band, pep band, class guitar, and two music history courses. He advocates for all students to have access to music in their education, and encourages musical growth for all his students. Prior to his position in Becker, he was the 5-12 Band Director at Kimball Area Public Schools, as well as the 5-12 Band Director in the Renville County West School District. He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from St. Cloud State University in 2017. He received his Master of Music in Music Education from the American Band College of Central Washington University in 2023.

Vice President/President Elect: Caitlin Becks

Caitlin Becks is the band director for grades 5-12 at the New London Spicer School District in New London, MN. She also serves as the director for the MN FFA State Honor Band annually at the MN State FFA Convention. Caitlin grew up in Paynesville, MN, and recently moved back to the area.

Prior to obtaining her position with the NLS school district, Caitlin taught music in Crookston MN, Pembina ND, St. Paul MN, and Grand Forks ND. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, and a Masters of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music, Chicago. In addition to teaching, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her family and friends, participating in community theatre, and performing with local ensembles.

Past-President: Kristine Schuldt

Secretary: Britta Bauer

Britta has worked at Rockford Middle School - Center for Environmental Studies since 2018 where she teaches band and general music. Britta also directs the RMS-CES jazz band and is the assistant director for the Rockford Marching Band. Britta has been teaching middle school band and classroom music since 2013. Prior to teaching at Rockford Middle School, she taught at Kasson-Mantorville Middle School and Saint Francis Middle School. Britta graduated from the University of MN - Twin Cities with her Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2012.

Treasurer: Todd Peterson

Todd is in his 8th year of teaching at Little Falls Community High School, where he leads the Wind Symphony, Concert Band and Jazz program. He received his Bachelors from the University of Minnesota (Go Gophers!) and his Master in Music Education at Northern State University. In his spare time, Todd enjoys playing music with friends, hiking, camping, learning new board games, playing golf and spending time with his wife Jessica and their 2 year old son, Oliver.

Membership: David Thompson

David Thompson teaches band and music at Carondelet Catholic School in Minneapolis. Previously, he taught at St. Cloud State University, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in Hastings, Central Lakes College in Brainerd, and Sartell Middle School. As a performer, he regularly performs in area churches, bands, and orchestras throughout Central MN and the Twin Cities. He holds degrees in oboe and music ed from the University of Northern Iowa and St. Cloud State University. In his free time he enjoys baking, going for long walks, and collecting gnomes.

9-10 Honor Band Chair: Brystin LaMont

Brystin LaMont is the 5-12 Instrumental Music Director at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Schools. She enjoys being a part of a small school district and believes that all students whether in a major city or a rural town deserve a quality music education. Prior to her position at BBE, she was the 5-12 band director in Hancock, MN for a year after she graduated from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 2023. She is currently attending Northern State University to obtain her Master’s in Music Education. Outside of surrounding herself with music, Brystin loves to direct theatre productions, go on long road trips with her husband, and hangout with her cats!

6-8 Honor Band Chair: Carina Belford

Carina Belford is currently the Elementary Band Director at Milaca Public Schools. She has been there for the past five years out of the six years of her teaching career. At Milaca she is in charge of the 5th-7th grade concert bands, weekly small group lessons for grades 5-7, as well as 5th Grade Marching Band and Jr. High Marching Marching Band (grades 6-7) at Milaca. Prior to teaching in Milaca Carina taught as a long and short term substitute for the school districts of ISD 728, St. Cloud, and Sartell for a year. Carina holds a Bachelor’s degree in teaching K-12 Instrumental and General Music from St. Cloud State University as well as a minor in Special Education.

Jazz Honor Band Chair: Jerald Ferdig

Mr. Ferdig is the director of bands for grades 8-12 at Rockford Schools. Mr. Ferdig received his undergraduate degree from Bemidji State University in 1999 and his master's degree in music education from the University of Minnesota in the twin cities. After student teaching in the Becker School District, Mr. Ferdig received his first job at Butterfield-Odin Public Schools where he taught 5-12 band for 6 years. This is Mr. Ferdig’s 20th year at Rockford Schools. Mr. Ferdig also conducts the high school pep band, summer marching band, the pit orchestra for the high school musical, and 2 high school jazz bands. Mr. Ferdig also serves as a board member for the Bemidji State University Music Camp. This is currently Mr. Ferdig’s 26th year in music education.

BBFestival Chair: Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson is the band director at Annandale Middle School. She teaches the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands, as well as, Middle School Jazz Band. Jennifer is from Becker, Minnesota, where she graduated in 1992. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Bemidji State University, where she studied trombone with Tom Swanson and was the University Band Manager, under the direction of Dr. Swanson. She earned her Master of Music in trombone performance from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, where she studied with Dr. Nat Wickham. She taught middle school band in Worthington, MN and 3rd-12th Grade music and band in Kelliher, MN. She spent 20 years in Haines, Alaska, where she taught 5-12 Band and Choir for 3 years and K-4 Music for 9 years. She also ran a fishing charter business while in Alaska. Jennifer is very excited to be teaching music in Minnesota again and proud to be a teacher in the Annandale School District!

SYFestival Chair: Annie Nyholm

Annie Nyholm is in her 10th year as a music educator, currently teaching in the Glencoe Silver-Lake Public School District. She teaches 5th and 6th grade band, along with 5th and 6th grade general music classes at Lakeside Elementary. Prior to GSL, Nyholm taught 6-12 band and Kindergarten General Music at Dawson-Boyd Public Schools for three years. She graduated with her Bachelors in Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 2016 and is currently working on her Masters in Music Education from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. Her primary instrument is clarinet. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and doing all things fiber arts, including knitting, crocheting and sewing.

MS Large Group Festival: Nicole Clark

Nicole is currently in her twenty-third year as Band Director and Music Teacher at Providence Academy. Since her arrival in 2003, the band program has gone through exponential growth from 55 members to 195 members. Under her direction the Symphonic (Upper School) Band at the academy started its superior ratings at both the MSHSL Large Group and Solo/Ensemble competitions. Besides implementing a full 5-12 grade instrumental program for the academy she started the school’s jazz band and has participated in numerous pit-orchestras for the school’s musicals. In addition to directing bands at the academy Mrs. Clark has taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 6th grade, and 7th grade general music as well as Middle School Choir. She has also formally directed the Middle School Chapel Choir, trained cantors, and coordinated and accompanied music for the weekly Middle School liturgy. Currently she is the director of the Cadet (5th grade) and Concert (Middle School) Bands as well as the extra curricular MS Jazz Band and small ensembles. She is involved in NAfME, MMEA, and CMBDA.

A diverse background in music education is what led Mrs. Clark to teaching at Providence Academy. She graduated with the highest honors from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with concentrations in both instrumental and vocal music. Her performance background includes recitals in alto saxophone, piano and voice. She had an internship in Middle School Band, Jazz Band, and High School Choir in Rice Lake, WI. She taught Middle School and High School Choir, Chamber Choir, General Music, and all of the school’s woodwind lessons in Spring Grove, MN. Before coming to Providence Academy she served as the Middle School Concert Band director, assistant High School Marching Band director, and Middle School General Music teacher in Lake City, MN.

In addition to teaching, Mrs. Clark has served as a music director and cantor at the Newman Center Parish in La Crosse, and a cantor at numerous parishes in the Twin Cities.

Schools

For logistical purposes, this roster contains high school, college, and university institutions. The regional assignment for elementary and middle schools is currently identified by the name of the HIGH SCHOOL that serves your student population.