Richard Erne

Richard Erne, Director of Bands at Reeths-Puffer Middle School, recently retired in June 2024 after completing his 34th year in music education. Mr. Erne’s student ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at District and State Festivals throughout his career. He has coached countless students who participated successfully in District and State Solo & Ensemble festivals as well as Michigan All-State ensembles. His Reeths-Puffer Middle School Symphonic Band has been selected to perform at the Michigan Music Conference in 2007, 2020, and 2025. Erne has additionally contributed to the repertoire for young bands by commissioning works from composers William Owens, Daniel Kovats, Brian Balmages, Erik Morales, and Scott Boerma.

Over the span of his career, Erne has been active in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District 7, serving in every office as well as receiving five nominations by the District membership for MSBOA Teacher of the Year. In 2005, Erne founded the first District 7 Middle School Honors Orchestra & Band, a program he continued to chair for ten years and which continues today. He most recently has served as Manager for the Michigan All-State Middle School Orchestra and Band, and as District Emeritus Chair for MSBOA.

Erne has also helped to bridge community connections by regularly hosting visiting European student performing ensembles in the Muskegon area, his ensembles performing regularly at Veterans ceremonies in Muskegon, and serving as interim director of the West Shore Youth Symphony.

Prior to his position with the Reeths-Puffer instrumental music team, Erne taught at Battle Creek Pennfield Schools and Grand Haven Area Public Schools where he served as Chairman of the Music Department and was the Director of Bands and Orchestras. Erne was twice awarded the Educator Achievement Award from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation in 1998 and 1999.

Erne has maintained an active role in seasonal administration at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for the last thirty years, and currently serves as Director of Arts Programs.

Karen Lopez

Karen Lopez is in her 30th year of teaching at Oscoda Area Schools. Karen’s students participate with distinction in MSBOA District and State Festivals and in her tenure

have traveled to perform in Toronto, Montreal, Nashville, Virginia Beach, Disney World, Washington, D.C., New York City, Detroit and Chicago. In addition to band and choir, Karen teaches a Musical Theater class which produces a musical every semester.Karen has served MSBOA District 9 as Vice President for Band and Orchestra, Vice President for Solo and Ensemble, Secretary, Festival Improvements Representative and District 9 All-Star Band Chair. She has hosted District Band Festival, District Solo and Ensemble, and District 9 All-Star Band. Karen is an MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Adjudicator and was selected as the MSBOA District 9 Teacher of the Year in 2013 and in 2024.

Mrs. Lopez was on the staff of Wolverine Band Camp for five summers, and has been teaching at Herter Band Camp since 2016. She has performed with the Tawas Community Concert Band and is a founding member of the Huron Shores Quartet.

Karen earned her BME (1995) and Masters in Music (2001) from Central Michigan University. In her free time, she follows her four impressive children around the state cheering them on in their various arts and athletic endeavors.

Matthew Ludwig

Dr. Matthew E. Ludwig is completing his twenty-eighth year as Director of Bands at Marquette Senior High School in Marquette, Michigan. He holds undergraduate degrees in biology and music education from the University of Michigan and Doctoral and Master’s degrees in wind conducting from Northwestern University. While at The University of Michigan he studied trumpet with Armando Ghitalla and conducting with H. Robert Reynolds, Gary Lewis and Donald Schleicher. At Northwestern University, he studied with conductors John Paynter, Victor Yampalsky and Mallory Thompson. 

Previously, Dr. Ludwig was Assistant Director of Bands at Northwestern University where his duties included serving as the Assistant Director of the ‘Wildcat’ Marching Band and Assistant Director of the Northwestern University Symphonic Band. Presently, in conjunction with his teaching duties, Dr. Ludwig served the Fine Arts Department chair at Marquette Senior High School. Additionally, Dr. Ludwig it a Contingent Assistant Professor at Northern Michigan University, where he has served in both the Education and Music Departments.  

Dr. Ludwig is proud to be a charter member of the Marquette Symphony Orchestra. He is also a member of the Marquette Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, the “Borealis Brass.” Previously, he has received several influential educator awards over the years and was recognized with a 2001 Milken National Educator Award. He was named the MSBOA District 14 Teacher of the Year in 2002, 2016, and in 2024.  In 2013, he received honorable mention as a Northwestern University Influential Secondary Educator. Most recently, he was inducted into the Marquette Music Hall of Fame. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the Midwest.

At Marquette Senior High School, Dr. Ludwig’s groups have enjoyed great success, having achieved superior ratings at the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Festival each year.  Additionally, the Jazz Ensemble has been named best big band at various Midwest jazz festivals including the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Eau Claire, and Shawano festivals.  Dr. Ludwig has held several different offices with MSBOA including District 14 President, Vice President of Band and Orchestra, Vice President of Honors Band, and has served as a site chairperson for the State Solo and Ensemble Festival. 

Dr. Ludwig enjoys any activity having to do with the outdoors, but is especially fond of biking (all kinds, road, mountain, and fat), traveling, camping, making custom wind chimes and assisting with the family jewelry business, LLAlways. Recently, he can be found traveling around and chasing his daughters Anne, Megan and KJ on their various, professional endeavors.  He resides in Big Bay with his wife Linda and their mini Goldendoodle Matilda.

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Abigail Alwin

Abigail Alwin has a rich career as a multi-faceted musician and educator. As a ‘Michigan String Teacher of the Year’ recipient as well as a ‘Yale Distinguished Music Educator’, Ms. Alwin has been recognized for her passion, leadership, and innovation as a music educator and pedagogue.

Ms. Alwin earned both her Bachelors in cello performance and Masters in Music Education from the University of Michigan, studying cello performance with Anthony Elliot, and has taught in the Ann Arbor Public Schools for over 20 years.

As Director of Orchestras at Clague Middle School, Ms. Alwin’s orchestras have been honored three times to perform at the Michigan Music Conference, and her young orchestras consistently earn division one ratings at the MSBOA Festival, receiving the highest praise for their precision, energy and musicianship. She has guest conducted All-State and regional orchestras in her state and nationally. Abby is deeply committed to helping all children have equal access to music education, and has presented at conferences on topics ranging from teacher wellness, string pedagogy, assessment strategies, mentoring student teachers, and composing with young musicians.

As a cellist and performer her musicianship casts a large net with depth in western European classical traditions, music of the Balkans, free improvisation, and a keen interest in how music expresses culture and connection. She has many regional musical collaborations, and performs regularly with the band Ajde Aman, which balances traditions of the balkans with an innovative approach.

Linda Trotter

Ms. Linda Trotter has retired, after 42 years of teaching, from her role as the orchestra director at West Bloomfield High and West Bloomfield Middle School and previously in the Detroit Public Schools. She also served as an adjunct professor at Marygrove College.  Linda holds a Bachelor of Music in Education from Michigan State University and a Master's in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College. She also attended Adrian College and completed advanced coursework at Wayne State University.

During her educational career she has been very active with MSBOA as the Vice President of Orchestra Activities and Secretary for District 4. She was also a member of the MSBOA State Executive Board as Vice President of Orchestra Activities and Secretary/Treasurer.

During her tenure at West Bloomfield High, West Bloomfield Middle and Orchard Lake Middle Schools, her students consistently earned Superior and Excellent ratings at the MSBOA Orchestra Festival and Solo & Ensemble.

Throughout her career, Linda was recognized for her outstanding contributions to orchestra education and has been honored as the MSBOA Orchestra Teacher of the Year and the MASTA Orchestra Teacher of the Year. Her expertise extends beyond the classroom as she serves as a string adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician, to help shape the next generation of musicians.

In addition to her teaching roles, Linda's conducting platforms includes MASTA String Camp, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Walled Lake Day for Strings and the Dearborn Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has also lent her expertise as a sectional and chamber music coach for MASTA String Camp and several local school orchestra programs, embodying a commitment to nurturing musical talent at all levels.

As a violinist, Linda is a member of the Michigan Philharmonic, Warren Symphony, Dearborn Symphony, where she serves as Interim Principal Second Violin, and the Grosse Pointe Symphony. Her musical journey has seen her share stages with legends like Stevie Wonder, Barry White, Lori Morgan, The Celtic Women and The Eagles, and her recording credits include collaborations with icons such as Aretha Franklin, William Banfield and Fred Hammond.

Justin Valla

Justin Valla is the Director of Orchestras at Okemos High School, and Co-Director of Orchestras  at  Chippewa  Middle School.   Over the course of his 23 year career, his approach to music education has inspired him to bring a varied repertoire of genres and styles to his students.

Justin earned a Bachelors of Music Education and a Bachelors of Double Bass Performance from Michigan State University in 2000.   He then earned his Masters of Music Education in 2010, also from MSU.  Justin taught in the Lansing School District, Marshall Public Schools, and St. Johns Public Schools before coming to Okemos.  He has taught everything from beginning strings to musical pit orchestras to advanced chamber ensembles.    He  has  also  mentored  student  teachers  from  multiple  universities  and colleges,  and  is frequently asked to clinic, conduct, coach, and provide feedback for school orchestras across the state, as well as arrange music for various choral and string ensembles.

In 2019, Justin gave a presentation on how to introduce the blues and improvisation to instrumental ensembles at the MMC.  The Okemos Philharmonic Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2023 MMC, and this remains one of the highlights of Justin’s career.  For that concert, his ensemble performed an eclectic program ranging from jazz standards (Blue Rondo A La Turk by Brubeck) to modern orchestral works (Voices Shouting Out by Okoye) to some of the most moving repertoire ever composed (Serenade for Strings by Tchaikowsky).

Justin has been selected as the MSBOA District 8 orchestra teacher of the year for 2022,

2023, and 2024.  He was also selected as one of the three finalists for MSBOA’s State Teacher of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

Outside of the classroom, Justin has performed with the Lansing Symphony, the West Shore Symphony, various community orchestras, and in many pit orchestras for local theaters.   In 2022, Justin became a co-conductor of the Mid-Michigan Youth Symphony allowing him to work with students around the greater Lansing area and help provide a symphonic orchestra experience for students that may not have that opportunity in their other ensembles.  He also plays every Sunday for a local church in Lansing.   Currently, Justin lives in East Lansing with his wife, Samara, who is a choir teacher in Haslett. Together, they have three daughters; Myah, Julia, and Lara.  Outside of school, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, cooking, arranging music, and performing for his neighbors with his dad-band.