2011-2012 District III Officers:
President- James Vaughn, Van Buren Local
James Vaughn is the vocal music director at Van Buren Local Schools, where he teaches the sixth grade choir, Middle School Choir, four high school choirs, music theory and history, and directs the school musical and the award-winning show choir, The Association. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Education degree from Marygrove College.
Vocal music groups from Van Buren have received numerous Superior ratings at OMEA Adjudicated Events under his direction at both the district and state levels, and The Association has placed in the top five overall at over ten competitions during his eleven years as director.
In addition to his duties as vocal music teacher at Van Buren, James holds the position as webmaster of the Ohio Choral Directors Association, and held the High School Repertoire and Standards Chair for two years prior to his appointment as webmaster. He is also a member of the twelve-voice vocal music group Opus 181 which performs in the greater Bowling Green, Ohio area. James also enjoys spending time with family, friends, and his wife, Beth Vaughn, vocal music director at Arcadia Local Schools and assistant director of the All-Ohio Youth Choir at the Ohio State Fair.
Past-President- Dane Newlove, St. Marys City
Dane Newlove is entering his twenty-ninth year of teaching, the last twenty-six as Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department Chair for the St. Marys City Schools. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Wright State University.
His OMEA activities include two terms as President of District III, State Board member, High School Solo and Ensemble Chair, District Conference Chair, and Solo and Ensemble Adjudicator. Newlove is also a member of Phi Beta Mu, the American School Band Directors Association, where he currently serves as treasurer for the Ohio Chapter; and the Percussive Arts Society. He is an active performer in the Lima Symphony Orchestra as assistant principal percussionist; and in the Lima Marimba Ensemble.
Newlove has been named in Who’s Who Among Americas Teachers several times, was the St. Marys American Legion Teacher of the Year in 2005, and was a nominee for the Ohio Teacher of the Year Award in 2002.
He currently resides in St. Marys and celebrated his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with his wife Karen, a mathematics teacher at Memorial High School. They are active in the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St. Marys and have three children: Lindsey, a general music teacher for Crestview Local Schools; Amanda, a junior majoring in social work at the University of Dayton; and Troy, a senior at Memorial High School.
President-Elect- Ryan Yahl, New Bremen Local
Ryan Yahl is currently in his sixth year of teaching, and third as director of bands in the New Bremen Local School District, where he oversees the instrumental music program in grades 5-12. Prior to New Bremen, Yahl taught for one year in the Anthony Wayne Local School District, and two years at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Catholic School, in Toledo.
A native of Wapakoneta, Yahl attended Bowling Green State University, where he earned his bachelors (2006) and masters (2009) degrees in music education. While at BGSU, Yahl was a member of the Falcon Marching Band, Wind Symphony, the University Percussion Ensemble, and was principal timpanist in the Philharmonia. Yahl studied percussion with Michael Sander and Roger Schupp, and conducting with Emily Freeman Brown, Carol Hayward, Kenneth Thompson, and Bruce Moss. As an undergraduate, Yahl was awarded the Dr. Richard and Annette Ecker Award in Music Education, and the Mark and Helen Kelly University Band Award.
Yahl currently holds membership in the Ohio Music Education Association, National Association for Music Education, Percussive Arts Society, National Band Association, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Pi Kappa Lambda, and life membership in Kappa Kappa Psi. Yahl presently serves as president of the BGSU Band Alumni Society, and was recently elected President-Elect of OMEA District III.
Secretary/Treasurer- Karen Kelly, Retired (Van Wert City)