My name is Erik Stone, and I grew up in Kansas City, Kansas with my mother, father, and twin brother. I am a graduate of Wichita State Univeristy with a bachelor's degree in Special-Instrumental Music Education. I attended WSU for several years as an aspiring special music educator and clarinetist. I graduated form Turner High School in May of 2007, and knew I was born to be an educator from an early age. Through my high school musical experience I discovered that music was one of my favorite subjects to teach. 

 

Growing up, I have achieved many different honors. At the age of fourteen I received the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout award, the highest of ranks in the BSA. I performed for the Kansas Music Educators Association State Solo and Small Ensemble Festival, where I received a superior rating. Some of my most cherished memories were the ones gathered while attending the Kansas State and International Lions Band Camps. While attending these camps I was able to study with some of the states finest music educator and private instructors. During these camps I was also able to experience music as a collaborative endeavor during chamber music concerts while participating in a clarinet choir with Professor of Clarinet at Friends University, Rachelle Goter. Over the course of the four years attending both camps, I was able to travel to Chicago, Illinois and Ontario, Canada as a member of the Kansas International Lions Marching Band.

 

I started my studies in college as a bass clarinetist. That quickly changed as I took private lessons on B-flat clarinet. In February of 2008 I was a member of the Kansas Intercollegiate Band performing bass clarinet. During my time at Wichita State University I have also studied voice. While pursuing voice, I had the opportunity to travel to New York City with the WSU A Cappella Choir as we performed in Carnegie Hall in 2009. In 2011, I performed again in New York City at Carnegie Hall, but this time with the WSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble as a clarinetist. Over the course of the last few years I have studied privately on clarinet with Rachelle Goter, Dr. Sarunas Jankauskas, Dr. Adrian Sandi, Dr. Suzanne Tirk, and Elizabeth Widzinski.

 

I started teaching private lessons regularly during my third year at WSU while under the instruction of Dr. Suzanne Tirk. Her influence helped build the foundation of my music philosophy and private instruction principles. Dr. Tirk motivated me to start my own private teaching practices and because of her motivation, I have taught for the WSU: College of Fine Arts Institute, Wichita Symphony Orchestra: Bloomfield Scholars Program, and the Cheney Instrumental Band Program. While participating in these programs as an active educator in addition to my private studio I have taught up to twenty-five students a week during contest seasons. .

 

I am currently an employee of Dodge City Public Schools. I am an Assistant Band Director for Dodge City High School and the Lead Band Director for Comanchee Middle School. 

 

COLLEGIATE ENSEMBLES:

Wichita State University Concert Band: August 2007 – May 2010 Clarinet and Bass Clarinet

The Not so Common Clarinet Quartet: August 2007 – May 2008 Bass Clarinet

Wichita State University: A Cappella Choir: January 2008 – May 2009 Tenor II, Voice

Wichita State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble: August 2008 – May 2013 Clarinet and Bass Clarinet

Clarinet Quartet: August 2010 – May 2011 and Spring 2013 Bass Clarinet

Wichita State University Musical Theater Pit Orchestra, Seasons Fall 2012 (She Loves Me) and 2013 (Guys & Dolls)

Wichita State University Clarinet Choir: January 2012 – May 2013 Bass Clarinet

 

​COLLEGIATE SPECIAL RECOGNITION:

Recipient of the 2012 Glenn & Joanne Goodman Award for my dedication to the professional standards of the School of Music Office and my educational studies​

Graduated with honnors for graduating with an outstanding GPA within the School of Fine Arts at WSU.