Prairie Winds Orff Board Members 2022 - 2023
President - Caitlin Nicks
Caitlin Nicks is in her 9th year of teaching. She teaches K-5 music for Bismarck Public Schools in Bismarck, ND.
Caitlin received her Bachelor of Science Degree in K-12 Music Education from the University of Mary and her Master's Degree in Music Education from Boston University. She has completed her Orff Level 1 and 2 training through the University of Mary is Bismarck and Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Caitlin is an active member of Prairie Winds Orff serving as an assistant program chair, program chair, secretary, vice president, and currently president.
In her classroom, Caitlin enjoys building positive relationships with her students to create a safe space for her students to move, play, sing, say, and create. She loves to see students thrive in an Orff centered classroom that gives children the power to create their own music and to build an environment of trust.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family in Williston and friends in Bismarck. She enjoys spending time on both the lake and river soaking up the sun on a boat. She also enjoys reading, baking, gardening, watching her niece at dance competitions and her nephew at dirt biking races.
Her hopes in her new position as president is to spread the Orff approach and love of music and the love of teaching music throughout the state of ND and to help build bridges among the widespread music educators.
Caitlin received her Bachelor of Science Degree in K-12 Music Education from the University of Mary and her Master's Degree in Music Education from Boston University. She has completed her Orff Level 1 and 2 training through the University of Mary is Bismarck and Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Caitlin is an active member of Prairie Winds Orff serving as an assistant program chair, program chair, secretary, vice president, and currently president.
In her classroom, Caitlin enjoys building positive relationships with her students to create a safe space for her students to move, play, sing, say, and create. She loves to see students thrive in an Orff centered classroom that gives children the power to create their own music and to build an environment of trust.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family in Williston and friends in Bismarck. She enjoys spending time on both the lake and river soaking up the sun on a boat. She also enjoys reading, baking, gardening, watching her niece at dance competitions and her nephew at dirt biking races.
Her hopes in her new position as president is to spread the Orff approach and love of music and the love of teaching music throughout the state of ND and to help build bridges among the widespread music educators.
Past President - Gwen Hall
Gwen Hall teaches k-5 music and is Elementary Music Advisor in Bismarck Public Schools, Bismarck, ND. She earned her Orff Levels training at University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN from 1998-2000. Her mission is to spread the love of teaching elementary music to people of all ages through the Orff Schulwerk process. Gwen is also the director of the handbell choir and sings in the choir at First Lutheran, Washburn, ND. She is married to Randy Hall (retired music teacher). They have three children - Jesslyn (elementary music teacher), Courtney (elementary classroom teacher) and Cameron (store associate). She is the proud grandma to Kane and Brooke.
Vice President - Niki Bernier
Niki Bernier, currently teaches elementary music at Fort Lincoln Elementary School in Mandan, ND. In addition, she serves as the instructor for Elementary Music Methods and is the Orff-Schulwerk levels course director at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. She is an active member of the Prairie Winds Orff Chapter having served as the program chair, secretary, and is currently the vice president. She has also been an active member of the Northern Plains Kodály Chapter having served on their board for six years as their ‘Public Relations-Member at Large.’ She was also on the middle school choral staff at International Music Camp from 2013-2019.
Passionate about active music making that merges the Kodály method and the Orff-Schulwerk process, Niki creates an active classroom that focuses on singing, classroom instruments, composition, movement, and creativity. Niki is a Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk certified elementary music specialist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education and a bachelor’s degree in Audio Production from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She graduated with a Master of Arts degree from The University of Iowa in 2011. She earned her Kodály levels certification from Minnesota State University Moorhead and Orff-Schulwerk certification from the University of St. Thomas.
Passionate about active music making that merges the Kodály method and the Orff-Schulwerk process, Niki creates an active classroom that focuses on singing, classroom instruments, composition, movement, and creativity. Niki is a Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk certified elementary music specialist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education and a bachelor’s degree in Audio Production from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She graduated with a Master of Arts degree from The University of Iowa in 2011. She earned her Kodály levels certification from Minnesota State University Moorhead and Orff-Schulwerk certification from the University of St. Thomas.
Secretary - Jesslyn Hall
Jesslyn Hall is in her 7th year of teaching. She currently teaches K-4 music at Hazen Elementary. Previously she taught 5 years of PK-5th grade music, high school choir, miscellaneous middle school music classes, and assisted with high school band at St. John Public School.
Jesslyn is an active member of Prairie Winds Orff (PWO) serving as Program Chair and Secretary. She has completed her Orff Schulwerk certification from University of Mary and Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. She is currently working on her Masters in Music Education with a Concentration in Autism through Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
Jesslyn holds memberships with NAfME, American Orff Schulwerk Association, PWO, NDMEA, North Dakota United, and Hazen Educators Association. She has received scholarships for advanced training from AOSA and NDU.
Jesslyn participates in church choir and handbells in Washburn at First Lutheran. In the summer she works at the International Music Camp where she has worked many different positions and attended camp sessions as a student.
Jesslyn is an active member of Prairie Winds Orff (PWO) serving as Program Chair and Secretary. She has completed her Orff Schulwerk certification from University of Mary and Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. She is currently working on her Masters in Music Education with a Concentration in Autism through Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
Jesslyn holds memberships with NAfME, American Orff Schulwerk Association, PWO, NDMEA, North Dakota United, and Hazen Educators Association. She has received scholarships for advanced training from AOSA and NDU.
Jesslyn participates in church choir and handbells in Washburn at First Lutheran. In the summer she works at the International Music Camp where she has worked many different positions and attended camp sessions as a student.
Treasurer - Alisha Wohl
Alisha teaches K-5 music at Sunrise Elementary in Bismarck, ND. This is her 17th year with the Bismarck School District. She received Bachelor of Science Degrees in Elementary Education, Secondary Vocal/Instrumental Music Education, and Elementary Music Education from the University of Mary in 2003. She earned her Orff Levels Training (I, II, III) from the University of Mary in 2016-2018. She is currently enrolled in the MME (Master of Music Education) program through Northern State University, Aberdeen SD.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and having coffee dates with friends. She has been married for 16 years to Fred and they have 3 beautiful children: Annabelle (almost 13), Brady (almost 10), and Calista (7). She also loves visiting family and traveling back to the family farm near Eureka, SD.
Alisha holds a membership with American Orff Schulwerk Association, Prairie Winds Orff, GIML (Gordon Institute of Musical Learning), North Dakota United, and Bismarck Education Association. She has received scholarships for Orff Levels training from AOSA, as well scholarship for her MME program.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and having coffee dates with friends. She has been married for 16 years to Fred and they have 3 beautiful children: Annabelle (almost 13), Brady (almost 10), and Calista (7). She also loves visiting family and traveling back to the family farm near Eureka, SD.
Alisha holds a membership with American Orff Schulwerk Association, Prairie Winds Orff, GIML (Gordon Institute of Musical Learning), North Dakota United, and Bismarck Education Association. She has received scholarships for Orff Levels training from AOSA, as well scholarship for her MME program.
Program Chair - Mary McNally
Mary McNally taught music in North Dakota for ten years and joined PWO in 2014. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, Mary is passionate about making music accessible to all students, challenging stereotypes/assumptions about music education, and fostering creative expression in her classroom communities. After completing Levels I and II at NDSU in 2016 and 2017 respectively, she completed her Orff Schulwerk certification at the University of St. Thomas in 2021.
The Orff Schulwerk approach revolutionized Mary’s classroom and provided elemental frameworks and concepts that allowed for student-centered learning and creation. The Orff approach naturally bridges social, physical, economic, skill, emotional, and cultural differences between students. Mary passionately advocates for increased access to music resources and quality instruction by openly engaging students, colleagues, administrators, and the public in dialogue on the crucial role of elementary music education.
Mary recently relocated to Bismarck, ND and is currently pursuing a J.D. at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. As PWO’s program chair, she aims to increase accessibility, communication, and strengthen the support network for elementary music educators in North Dakota. As a beneficiary of several scholarships and grants, she is eager to assist members searching for funding sources to purchase classroom instruments, gain levels training, or attend national conference. Although she spends most of her day studying the law , she is available to members by phone, email, zoom, or in person. Message our Facebook page with your request/info if you would like to be contacted!
The Orff Schulwerk approach revolutionized Mary’s classroom and provided elemental frameworks and concepts that allowed for student-centered learning and creation. The Orff approach naturally bridges social, physical, economic, skill, emotional, and cultural differences between students. Mary passionately advocates for increased access to music resources and quality instruction by openly engaging students, colleagues, administrators, and the public in dialogue on the crucial role of elementary music education.
Mary recently relocated to Bismarck, ND and is currently pursuing a J.D. at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. As PWO’s program chair, she aims to increase accessibility, communication, and strengthen the support network for elementary music educators in North Dakota. As a beneficiary of several scholarships and grants, she is eager to assist members searching for funding sources to purchase classroom instruments, gain levels training, or attend national conference. Although she spends most of her day studying the law , she is available to members by phone, email, zoom, or in person. Message our Facebook page with your request/info if you would like to be contacted!
