About the Directors . . .
Elise Peterson, Director of Choirs
Elise Peterson is in her ninth year of teaching at Olathe South. She has worked in the choral music field for 31 years. Before coming to Olathe South, Elise taught at Anderson County Junior-Senior High School (Garnett, KS) from 1993 to 2000, Emporia State University (Emporia, KS), as a GraduateTeaching Assistant, from 2000 to 2002, Hays High School (Hays, KS) from 2002 to 2010 and Pioneer Trail Middle School (Olathe, KS) from 2010 to 2012, and Shawnee Mission South High School (Overland Park) from 2012 to 2015. In 2021, Elise was selected as the Kansas Music Educator Teacher of the Year for the state of Kansas.
Elise has directed a variety of festival and show choirs, together with more than 30 major musical productions. Her groups consistently have earned “1” ratings at Kansas Regional Solo & Ensemble Festivals as well as State Large Group Festivals. In 2008, under her direction, the Hays High School Chamber Singers were selected to perform for the Kansas Music Educators Association’s Annual Convention. In 2013, Elise was recognized by the Kansas Music Educator’s Association as Outstanding Music Educator of the Year – NE District High School Choirs. In 2017, Elise served as the Choral Director for the Kansas Ambassadors of Music Choir that traveled to Europe for 16 days. She will continue to serve in this capacity for years to come. In 2018, the Olathe South High School Southside Singers were selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association's Annual Convention.
Elise is an active choir clinician for middle school and high school festivals across the state. She has served in the following capacities:
In her “spare time,” Elise loves performing, whether appearing in musical theater, leading music at church, soloing at weddings or singing with professional groups. She sang for two seasons with the Grammy-winning Kansas City Chorale. Outside of choral work, Elise loves movies – she’s typically first in line the night one opens. She also confesses to being an avid KU basketball fan.
Elise is an Olathe native and a graduate of Olathe North High School. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education from Emporia State University.
Elise has directed a variety of festival and show choirs, together with more than 30 major musical productions. Her groups consistently have earned “1” ratings at Kansas Regional Solo & Ensemble Festivals as well as State Large Group Festivals. In 2008, under her direction, the Hays High School Chamber Singers were selected to perform for the Kansas Music Educators Association’s Annual Convention. In 2013, Elise was recognized by the Kansas Music Educator’s Association as Outstanding Music Educator of the Year – NE District High School Choirs. In 2017, Elise served as the Choral Director for the Kansas Ambassadors of Music Choir that traveled to Europe for 16 days. She will continue to serve in this capacity for years to come. In 2018, the Olathe South High School Southside Singers were selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association's Annual Convention.
Elise is an active choir clinician for middle school and high school festivals across the state. She has served in the following capacities:
- 2023 Olathe Elementary Honor Choir, Lead Director
- 2020 Outstanding KMEA Teacher of the Year
- Olathe School District Co-Facilitator for High School Choir Directors
- Past-President of the East Central KMEA District 2020-2022
- President of the East Central KMEA District (2016-2020)
- President of the Northeast KMEA District (2016-2018)
- Past-President of the Northeast KMEA District (2018-2020)
- President-Elect of the Northeast KMEA District (2014-2016)
- Kansas Choral Directors Association’s Secretary
- KMEA All-State Choir Chair
- KMEA Northwest District Honor Choir Chair
- Kansas Choral Directors Association (KCDA) Repertoire and Standards Chair for Junior High/Middle School levels and Executive Secretary.
In her “spare time,” Elise loves performing, whether appearing in musical theater, leading music at church, soloing at weddings or singing with professional groups. She sang for two seasons with the Grammy-winning Kansas City Chorale. Outside of choral work, Elise loves movies – she’s typically first in line the night one opens. She also confesses to being an avid KU basketball fan.
Elise is an Olathe native and a graduate of Olathe North High School. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education from Emporia State University.
Jason Sickel, Assistant Director of Choirs
Jason Sickel is in his 20th year of teaching and is currently the assistant choral director at Olathe East & South High Schools. Prior to this, he spent nine years as the choral director at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, KS. Over the course of his career, Jason has taught both middle school and high school choir in Olathe, Louisburg, and Osawatomie, Kansas.
Jason is an active member of the Kansas Choral Directors Association where he served for four years on the board as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Children and Community Youth Choirs. He currently serves as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for High School Choirs. In 2008, he was awarded the KCDA Outstanding Young Director Award.
Jason enjoys working with choirs of all ages and has appreciated the many opportunities he has had to clinic and adjudicate elementary, middle, and high school ensembles throughout our great state. Choirs under his direction have been invited to perform in concerts and choral workshops at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Baker University, Northwest Missouri State University, Emporia State University, Wichita State University, and have performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop (2011, 2016, 2018, 2020). He has presented several workshops & sessions for music educators and is known for creating an inclusive environment where students with special needs are welcomed and embraced in his classroom.
Jason received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from Emporia State University and a Masters of Music Education from UMKC. In 2011, Jason was awarded the Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year in Louisburg, KS. In the spring of 2016, Jason was named the Blue Valley School District Secondary Teacher of the Year. He was honored to represent all teachers in Kansas as he served as the 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year. He is married to Heather, a Kindergarten teacher in the DeSoto school district and is the proud father of Lillian.
Jason is an active member of the Kansas Choral Directors Association where he served for four years on the board as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Children and Community Youth Choirs. He currently serves as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for High School Choirs. In 2008, he was awarded the KCDA Outstanding Young Director Award.
Jason enjoys working with choirs of all ages and has appreciated the many opportunities he has had to clinic and adjudicate elementary, middle, and high school ensembles throughout our great state. Choirs under his direction have been invited to perform in concerts and choral workshops at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Baker University, Northwest Missouri State University, Emporia State University, Wichita State University, and have performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop (2011, 2016, 2018, 2020). He has presented several workshops & sessions for music educators and is known for creating an inclusive environment where students with special needs are welcomed and embraced in his classroom.
Jason received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from Emporia State University and a Masters of Music Education from UMKC. In 2011, Jason was awarded the Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year in Louisburg, KS. In the spring of 2016, Jason was named the Blue Valley School District Secondary Teacher of the Year. He was honored to represent all teachers in Kansas as he served as the 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year. He is married to Heather, a Kindergarten teacher in the DeSoto school district and is the proud father of Lillian.