Directors Bio

Michael Reese Emily Schrank Reid Keller

Michael Reese is in his twenty-sixth year of teaching and his seventeenth year as Director of Choral Activities at Central High School in Davenport, IA. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Iowa, and has completed his course work for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Iowa. Prior to his doctoral studies, Reese was Director of Choral Activities at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School (1998 – 2004) and Cedar Rapids Prairie High School (1996 – 1998).
Reese is a past winner of the prestigious American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) Conducting Competition and has served as guest clinician for over 50 choral events. His choirs have been invited to sing at both National and Regional ACDA Conventions. He has been recognized for his classroom leadership in various publications, has been named multiple times as the Teacher of the Month, has been a HUG (Helping Us Grow) award recipient from the Davenport Community School District, and was also awarded the Die Hard Blue Devil Award for his contributions to youth throughout Central.

Show Choirs under Reese’s direction have received numerous caption awards, as well as 1st runner-up or Grand Champion awards in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. He continues to be in demand as both a show choir clinician/adjudicator, and has been music arranger for show choirs in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Reese has served on the boards of the Iowa Choral Director’s Association and the North Central American Choral Director’s Association in nine different capacities; including preparations for two regional conventions and the ICDA State-wide Summer Symposium. He serves the Davenport Community School District as a member of the Music Advocacy Committee, the Music Curriculum Council, and as the Chair of Central’s Music Department. Reese has served his community by being a member of the North Scott Superintendent’s Advisory Council and is the Director of Praise Ministries at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf, IA.

He resides in Park View, Iowa, with his wife, Angela, and their two children; Peyton is a Sophomore at St. Ambrose University and Nolan is a 7th grader at North Scott Junior High.

Emily Schrank is the Associate Director of Vocal Music at Davenport Central High School in Davenport, Iowa. Currently in her seventeenth year at Davenport Central, she directs the Treble Choir and co-directs the 9th Grade Choir as well as the prep show choir, Blue Vibrations. During her tenure at Central, Emily also directed or co-directed several musicals, including “The Music Man,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Godspell,” “Guys and Dolls,” “The Secret Garden,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Footloose.”
Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in K-12 Music Education from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she studied with Richard P. Hoffman and Margie V. Marrs during her undergraduate course work. At Coe, Emily was the recipient of the Marshall Full-Tuition Scholarship for the Arts in vocal music for four years. Emily was also an active member in the Delta Delta Delta sorority where she served terms as chapter music chair and President of the Panhellenic Council for Coe’s Greek system. She holds professional memberships in Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Music Fraternity and the American Choral Directors’ Association.
When not teaching at Central, Emily has enjoyed her time as an honor choir director and show choir judge in her home state of Iowa and around the Midwest. She recently earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and was also named Model Teacher for the Davenport Community School District’s Teacher Leadership and Compensation System. In her free time, Emily enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, cycling, and spending time with her friends and family; especially her wonderful husband and show choir choreographer, Ben Schrank and beautiful daughter Harper. They currently reside in Davenport, Iowa with their adorable puppies, Pacey and Frankie.

Reid Keller Reid Keller
is the Assistant Choir Director at Davenport Central High School in Davenport, IA. Currently in his 13th year of teaching and 9th at Central, Reid co-directs the Freshman Chorus, conducts the DC Bass Clef Choir, and teaches Piano Lab and Music Production through the Davenport Creative Arts Academy. Keller also directs the 27-member show choir band, which accompanies both the preparatory and varsity show choirs. Under his direction, “Pit Nation” has earned 14 “Best Band” caption awards at competitions around the Midwest. Mr. Keller also serves as Central’s Varsity Boy’s Golf Coach.

Prior to his current positions, Mr. Keller taught 7-8 Vocal Music at Sudlow Intermediate (2020-2023), 9-12 Vocal Music at Mid City High School in Davenport (2017-2020), 5-12 Vocal Music at Tri-Center Community Schools in Neola, IA (2013-2015) and 7-12 Vocal Music at Manson Northwest Webster Community Schools in Manson, IA (2011-2013). He was also the Director of the Southwest Iowa Men’s Chorus based at Iowa Western Community College for two seasons.

Reid attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA and graduated with his degree in Music Education in 2011. During his time in the Wartburg Choir, he studied with Dr. Paul Torkelson, the late Professor Weston Noble, and Dr. Lee Nelson. Reid is an active member of the Iowa Choral Directors Association chapter of ACDA and has been a member since 2010. From 2019 to 2022 Keller served as the Facilities Chair for the statewide Opus Honor Choir Festival, which takes place each fall in Ames. Mr. Keller is an avid golfer, an active musician, a frequent traveler, and a passionate sports fan. When not teaching or coaching, Reid loves spending time at home with his wife Sarah and daughter Nora.