Directors Bio

Your Directors

Michael Reese
is in his 30th year of teaching and his 21st 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 all 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 53 honor choirs across the Midwest. His choirs have been invited to sing at both National and Regional ACDA Conventions. He has been a HUG (Helping Us Grow) award recipient from the Davenport Community School District, and has also been 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 eight states. Central Singers, Incorporated, has qualified for, and placed at the Show Choir National Championship Finals. Reese continues to be in demand as both a show choir clinician/adjudicator, and has been music arranger for 51 show choirs in 14 states.

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. He has served the Davenport Community School District as a member of the High School Infrastructure Task Force, Music Advocacy Committee, Music Curriculum Council, Creative Arts Academy Instructor, and as the Chair of Central’s Music Department. Reese has served his community by coaching youth baseball and softball, being a member of the North Scott Superintendent’s Advisory Council, being a church musician/conductor for 36 years, and currently serves as the Director of Praise Music at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf, IA, since 2005.

He resides in Park View, Iowa, with his wife, Angela, their daughter, Peyton (6th Grade Teacher at Williams Middle School in Davenport) and their son, Nolan (12th Grade - North Scott Senior High).

Emily Schrank
is the Associate Director of Vocal Music at Davenport Central High School in Davenport, Iowa. Currently in her twenty-first year at Davenport Central, she directs the Treble Choir and the prep show choir, Blue Vibrations, and also co-directs the 9th Grade Choir, Bass Clef Choir, and Concert Chorale. 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, and also a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. 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. In her free time, Emily enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, 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
is the Assistant Choir Director at Davenport Central High School in Davenport, IA. Currently in his 15th year of teaching and 11th at Central, Reid co-directs the Freshman Chorus and Concert Chorale, conducts the DC Bass Clef Choir alongside Emily Schrank, and teaches Piano Lab and Music Production through the Davenport Creative Arts Academy. Keller also directs the 25-member show choir band, which accompanies both the preparatory and varsity show choirs. Under his direction, “Pit Nation” has earned 20 “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 at Central, Mr. Keller has taught 5th-12th Grade music at several other places in Iowa. Keller began his career at Manson Northwest Webster before moving to Tri-Center (Neola). He spent several years teaching music at Mid City High and Sudlow Intermediate School in Davenport before resuming full-time status at CHS. Reid 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 Paul Torkelson, Weston Noble, and Lee Nelson. Reid is an active member of the Iowa Choral Directors Association chapter of ACDA and even presented on Show Choir Band at the 2025 ICDA Summer Symposium in Pella, IA. 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 or at Walt Disney World with his wife and daughter.