Amy M. Knopps, currently serves as Associate Director of Bands, Director of the Marching Band, and Associate Professor of Music Education at Eastern Michigan University where she directs the Marching Band and Basketball Band, Symphonic and Concert Band, and teaches courses in conducting and music education.
Dr. Knopps holds degrees from The University of Georgia, University of Kansas, and the University of Missouri-Columbia where her principal conducting teachers were John P. Lynch and Dale J. Lonis. While at Georgia and Kansas she held conducting associate positions that involved conducting both concert and athletic bands as well as teaching courses in the music curriculum. During her time at UGA, Dr. Knopps received the Hugh Hodgson School of Music Director's Excellence Award and at the University of Kansas she received the Russell L. Wiley Graduate Conducting Award.
Additional teaching experience includes numerous years as Director of Bands at Center High School and Center Middle School in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri where she guided all aspects of the diverse and award winning band program. While in the Center School District, Dr. Knopps received the 2003 Missouri Fine Arts Outstanding Teacher Award and the 2004 You Make the Difference Award for her dedication and commitment to excellence in education. As an advocate for new wind music she commissioned and premiered Jonathan Newman’s 1861 for concert band in 2004.
Dr. Knopps continues to be an active conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across the United States, and internationally having worked and performed throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America. She is also known for her published contributions as she has authored several articles for School Band and Orchestra Magazine, and has contributed to six volumes to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. In addition to her published articles she has completed extensive research on American-Sponsored overseas secondary band programs in the People’s Republic of China.
Dr. Knopps maintains professional affiliations with the College Band Directors National Association, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the National Association for Music Education, Tau Beta Sigma, and has been awarded an honorary membership in Kappa Kappa Psi.