SDBA Board Members
Mrs. Karels is active in the Milbank area serving as a church organist for St. Joseph’s Parish in Rosen, Minnesota. She also participates in the Ortonville Area Swing Band playing trombone and piano. Mrs. Karels operates a private music studio with instruction in piano and organ studies.
Mrs. Karels feels fortunate to work in a very music supportive town. She and her husband, Jason, have two children, William and Hope. Jason is one of the CTE instructors at Milbank High School. William is currently attending SDSU as a Mechanical Engineer major with participation in Concert Choir, Concert Band, Pep Band, and Pride of the Dakotas. Hope is a junior at Milbank High School where she participates in Band, Choir, and Tennis. Mrs. Karels in her spare time serves as a Grant County 4-H Leader and a member of the Milbank Area Lions Swim Team board.
Ben Koch has been Director of Bands at O’Gorman High School since 2014, where he conducts 2 concert bands, 2 jazz bands, jazz combo, pep band, marching band, brass choir, and the musical theatre pit orchestra. A native of Sioux Falls, Ben graduated from O’Gorman in 2004 and went on to receive undergraduate and masters degreesin music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is currently serving as a member of the Region II Music board and has previously served as the AA band representative on the SDHSAA Music Advisory Committee. Ben enjoys playing horn with the Sioux Falls Municipal Band and is a regular pianist/organist for Sunday Mass at his home parish.
Kimberly Carda graduated from Hoven High School and received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northern State University. After completing her student teaching at Aberdeen Roncalli, she was hired as the band director in the fall of 1997. She continues in that position today. In addition to teaching lessons, she directs all the school’s instrumental ensembles including the 5th Grade Band, Middle School Concert Band, High School Concert Band, High School Jazz Band, and 7th-12th Marching & Pep Band. She plays piano for weekly Masses and helps with music for the drama productions. One of her favorite moments as a music educator was the opportunity to direct the Aberdeen Roncalli Concert Band at the 2020 South Dakota Bandmaster’s Convention.
Kimberly was honored to receive the Phi Betu Mu South Dakota Bandmaster of the Year in 2022. She serves as President of Region IV and on the North Area Honor Band planning committee. She is also one of the original chairs of the SD Bandmasters Elementary Music Contest, held in Aberdeen annually. Professionally, she is a member of the South Dakota Bandmasters Association, South Dakota Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, National Catholic Band Association, and National Federation of State High School Associations. She is an active pianist and vocalist for St. Mary’s Catholic Church and plays horn for the Aberdeen Municipal Band.
Kimberly and her husband Joel have been married 28 years and have three daughters: McKayla, an elementary teacher in the Bishop O’Gorman Catholic School system; Erica, a Northern State University graduate and current nursing student at Lake Area Technical College; and Leah, a senior at Aberdeen Roncalli and future music education student at an undecided university.
George Dragoo is the Director of Bands at Rapid City Stevens High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Chadron State College in Nebraska, and a Masters of Arts and Letters from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. Mr. Dragoo is also a graduate of the internationally renowned American Band College. Mr. Dragoo is an active member of the South Dakota Bandmasters Association and a proud member of Phi Beta Mu. He currently holds the position of President of Region 8 to the South Dakota High School Activities Association and Secretary/Treasurer for the South Dakota Bandmasters Association.
Mr. Dragoo serves as the Head Director of the Stevens High School Band. His directing responsibilities include the Symphonic Band, Silver Jazz Band, Cadet Band, Blue Raider Marching Band, and the Stevens Pep Band. Over the summer Mr. Dragoo directs the Rapid City Ranger Band, performs with the Rapid City Municipal Band, and teaches at the Rapid City Summer Band School.
Mr. Dragoo’s family consists of his wife Jenni, and his children Simone and Ethan. He is active in the Fountain Springs Church and enjoys any pastime that allows him to spend time together with his family. Finally, Mr. Dragoo is a Die-Hard Cubs Fan for life.
Coming soon…
Wendy is active in the Mellette and Aberdeen area and serves as a board member of the Northwestern Community Foundation. She also serves as a pianist at the North Highland Methodist Church in Aberdeen. She enjoys playing trumpet in the Aberdeen City Band and also the Northern State University Concert Band. Wendy also enjoys giving private instruction on piano and other instruments. Besides her active involvement in music, Wendy also enjoys coaching middle school track in the spring.
Wendy and her husband, Eric, are proud parents of two wonderful kids. Miranda is attending Northern State University as a studio art major with a digital media minor and entrepreneurship minor. Josh is a sophomore at Northwestern High School who enjoys music and athletics. Wendy enjoys spending time with her family and has been a die-hard Vikings fan since 2nd grade and will forever be hopeful that they will win a Super Bowl in her lifetime.
Elizabeth Bengs is in her 12th year as the PK-12 music teacher for the Hoven School District where her duties include PK-6 general music, 5-12 instrumental music, and 7-12 vocal music. She grew up in Hosmer, SD and attended Edmunds Central High School. Mrs. Bengs earned her BME in Instrumental and Vocal Music Education from Northern State University in 2011. She is a member of the South Dakota Bandmasters Association, South Dakota Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, and Phi Beta Mu.
Mrs. Bengs is active in her church, serving as a member of the worship committee, Sunday school teacher, and pianist. She has participated in Hoven’s Christmas on the Prairie concert, held in conjunction with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, since 2010. For this annual event, she is honored to serve as choral repertoire planner and director of the All-Faiths Choir.
Mrs. Bengs is thankful for the love and support of her family. She and her husband, Eric, have two children, Jase and Mayla. She enjoys spending time with her family, drinking coffee, and keeping up on all things Disney.
Brock Persson is a Music Director at Todd County High School in Mission where he has taught since 2021. He taught at Todd County Middle School in Mission from 2016-2021 where he oversaw the 6th-8th Grade Band and General Music classes. He taught at Klein Elementary School 2024-2025 and Lakeview Elementary School 2016-2017. All schools are a part of the Todd County School District.
In 2015, Mr. Persson received his Bachelor of Arts in Education, Music Education, K-12 degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK). In 2022, he completed a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Sinte Gleska University (Mission, SD).
As an undergrad student, Mr. Persson was a founding member of the High Plains Chapter of International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA). Also founding member of Loper Low Brass Ensemble. A member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity at UNK. Also a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at UNK, where he served in multiple leadership roles.
As a performer in undergrad, Mr. Persson has toured the Midwest with the UNK Wind Ensemble (2009-2010) under the direction of Dr. Neal Schnoor. He has performed countless times with the Loper Low Brass under the direction of Dr. Seth Fletcher. Some notable performances include, 2 Great Plains Region Tuba Euphonium Conferences, 2 Nebraska Music Education Association performances, Southwest Region Tuba Euphonium Conference in Grants, New Mexico, The 50th Anniversary International Tuba Euphonium Conference at Indiana University, and multiple Kearney local performances. He has performed with the University of Nebraska-Kearney “Pride of Plains Marching Band” under the direction of Dr. Neal Schnoor & Dr. Gary Davis (2009), Dr. Duane Bierman (2010-2015), Dr. Michael Beard (2010-2011), and Dr. Brian Alber (2012-2015). He took part on a trip with The Pride of the Plains Marching Band to France and Italy where they played in Nice, France, Milan and Rome, Italy, and played for the Pope on New Year’s Day 2012 in the Vatican.
Mr. Persson is a member of the South Dakota Bandmaster’s Association. He has been selected two times to play Sousaphone representing South Dakota with the Saluting America’s Band Directors (SABD) Band Director Marching Band (BDMB). Where he and others performed at Bandfest at Pasadena College and on New Years Day at the Tournament of Roses Parade-2022 in Pasadena. Also performing at Ground Zero at 9/11 Memorial as well as on Thanksgiving Day in the Macy’s Day Parade-2023 in New York City.
He and his wife Kalinda have two daughters, two dogs, and a cat. When not teaching music, Mr. Persson spends his time creatively making different projects with woodworking tools, laser engraving machines, and a 3D printer.