About the Clinicians
Richard M. Cangro, Ph. D., is a Professor and Program Coordinator for Music Education and Director of the Community Music School at the Western Illinois University School of Music. He was formerly a public school band and orchestra director for 15 years in Connecticut, as well as a youth ensemble conductor and chamber music coach for the Hartt School Community Division, University of Hartford (West Hartford, CT). While teaching in Connecticut, he also worked for 10 years as an assessor for the Connecticut State Board of Education beginning teacher licensure program and was the professional development chair for the Connecticut Music Educators Association. Dr. Cangro received a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, a Master of Music Education from the Hartt School, and a Ph.D. in Music Education also from Hartt. With his dissertation focusing on applying cooperative learning strategies to instrumental music learning, Dr. Cangro continues to investigate the nature and effects of student interaction at all levels of music learning. He has served several years on the executive board for the International Association for the Study of Cooperation in Education (IASCE).
A two-time Fulbright grant recipient, Dr. Cangro is active as a presenter, curriculum consultant, adjudicator, and conductor. He has presented workshops and sessions for several school district in-services and at numerous music educator conferences throughout the US, as well as presented professional development to teachers and students in Canada, China, Ecuador, England, Myanmar, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Taiwan (ROC), and Thailand. His articles on music learning and teaching have been published in journals including: UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education; Selected Papers from the 6thInternational Symposium on Assessment in Music Education; American Music Teacher; and Music Educators Journal.
Musically, Dr. Cangro has a wide range of performance experience as a trumpet player and conductor. He is a member of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, performs with the Quincy and Jacksonville Symphonies, and has been an active orchestral player and chamber musician for over 25 years. He has conducted several school, festival, community, and adult ensembles, and is currently the music director/conductor of the Monmouth Civic Orchestra and the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra. At WIU, Dr. Cangro teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in music education as well as directs the Community Music School, advises the Collegiate NAfME chapter and the Mariachi group Mariachi de Oro, and supervises student teachers. He serves on several university committees and is president of the Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society Eta Epsilon chapter, promoting and supporting internationalization efforts in the community.
Hilary Camino, founder of Wyoming Music Therapy, is a nationally board certified music therapist. She has studied music education and pedagogy, and received her BA in Music with vocal emphasis from the University of Wyoming. Hilary then received her MSc in Music Therapy from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hilary worked as a contracted music therapist in Jackson, WY for six years, developing and implementing various music therapy programs into schools, assisted living facilities, and health care facilities to provide music therapy services for groups and individuals with diverse and complex needs and abilities. After piloting a successful music therapy program, Hilary is now a full-time music therapist for St. John’s Health. Hilary strives to advocate for the music therapy profession across Wyoming by educating communities about music therapy, creating jobs for incoming therapists, and strengthening the prevalence of music therapy services throughout the state.
A native Ohioan, Dr. Crystal Sieger (BM, Ohio State University; MM, University of Arizona; PhD, University of Arizona) has served as Coordinator of Music Education at the University of Wyoming since 2014. Prior to arriving in Wyoming, Dr. Sieger resided in Tucson, Arizona for more than 20 years, teaching elementary and middle school band and orchestra. She also served as principal hornist of the Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra, the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, and the Foothills Chamber Ensemble, and guest hornist for the Orchestra of Northern New York. She currently performs with the Powder River Symphony in Gillette, Wyoming.
Dr. Crystal Sieger has worked extensively with undergraduate and graduate music education students, and has pursued research interests in rural music education, culturally responsive teaching, music teacher identity, music performance anxiety, and collaborative efforts amongst music education faculty regarding music education student success. She serves as the Northwestern Division chair for the Society of Music Teacher Education and as the teacher education chair on the Wyoming MEA board.
Nick Allington is a native of Glenrock, Wyoming and has taught elementary music in his home state for 3 years and has taught privately for 10 years in Wyoming and Texas. After completing his studies in music education at the University of Wyoming, Nick moved to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to continue his musical career. While studying classical saxophone and music theory at the University of North Texas, he was also an active performer throughout United States, having presented performances as a soloist and quartet member in Wyoming, Colorado, ldaho, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, and New York. He has performed with the Wyoming Jazz ensemble, University of Wyoming Wind Symphony, Altitude saxophone quartet, Quatuor Mimosa, Melangé saxophone quartet, and the North Texas Wind Symphony. As a member of the North Texas Wind Symphony, Nick has recorded over 100 tracks on soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass saxophones. Along with maintaining an active performing career, Nick also taught privately for several school districts in the greater DFW area. During this time, he successfully taught students from all age ranges varying from beginners to graduate level saxophonists. Several of his students have made All-Region and All-Area bands in Texas and he has had two students make All-State solo honors also in Texas. Several of Nick’s undergraduate saxophonists have gone on to perform in prestigious groups such as the North Texas Wind Symphony and the One O’clock Lab Band at UNT. Nick holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s in Music degree from the University of North Texas in saxophone performance and music theory. Nick began his doctoral studies, also at UNT, but left the program in 2018 to return home to teach elementary music. In his spare time, Nick enjoys reading, learning about the sciences, and learning as many instruments as I possibly can.
