2022 Board Elections
Congratulations to the incoming MMEA Board Officers!
Recording Secretary
Shefali Shah is a 6-12 Music Technology/General Music teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools. Shefali graduated from Frostburg State University in 2019 with a B.S. in Music Education and is currently working on her MMEd at VanderCook College of Music. She is active in music education advocacy at the federal and state level. Shefali has served the MMEA board since 2018 as Collegiate Representative, Exhibits Chair, and Recording Secretary.
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Member-At-Large
Otis Eldridge was born in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Baltimore City public schools where his musical journey began in the 6th grade at Booker T. Washington Middle School. He later attended Baltimore City College High School and eventually Morgan State University where he participated in the Wind Ensemble as well as the Marching, Concert and Jazz band. In 2009, he obtained a bachelor's degree in music then immediately pursued an MAT at the graduate level. He initially became a full-time public-school music teacher in 2011. In 2016, Otis began course work toward a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University. He is currently the band director/music teacher at Hamilton Elementary/Middle School. Some of his hobbies include watching historical documentaries, creating Hip-Hop productions, cooking, and watching Basketball highlights.
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MBDA President-Elect
Scott Engel knows that the key to a well-rounded education is access to arts programs. As the band director and general music teacher at Boonsboro High School in Washington County (‘20-present), and formerly of Perry Hall High School in Baltimore County (‘06-‘20), he works to help his students grow as people and as musicians. Scott earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education from Towson University, and while at TU, he was a member and drum major of the marching band. Scott continues to work with the TUMB as an arranger and a clinician for their summer marching arts drum major camp. Selected as one of the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” in the December 2015 issue of School Band & Orchestra Magazine, Scott hopes to spend the rest of his career making a difference in the lives of his students and colleagues.
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MGMTA President-Elect
Mr. Gabriel Gray is a K-5 General Music teacher and chorus director at William A. Diggs Elementary School in Charles County, MD. He received his BA in Music Education from Marshall University, Huntington, WV in 2017, and began his teaching career in 2018. In addition to his work in the general music classroom, Gabriel has served as a professional development facilitator for his content area, a lead teacher for All-County Elementary and Middle School choirs, and as a vocal music director for high school musical theatre productions. Outside of the school system, Gabriel teaches private voice lessons and group voice classes at Danin’s Showbiz Boutique in La Plata, MD. As a performer, Gabriel has held virtual and stage roles with the Port Tobacco Players (PTP) and served as a tenor vocalist with St. Maries Choral Arts (SMCA).
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MSMTE President-Elect
Kate Evans (she/her), Associate Professor of Music Education at Towson University, is a specialist in choral and general music education. Dr. Evans earned a Ph.D. in music education at the University of Miami and degrees in choral conducting and music education from Central Michigan University. Before moving to higher education, she taught K-12 choir and general music in Michigan. An active clinician, conductor, and researcher, Dr. Evans presents at conferences and teacher in-services internationally and across the United States.
Dr. Evans enjoys collaborating with others through her work in various professional organizations. She serves on the Maryland Choral Music Educators Association Board as University/Collegiate Representative (2017-present). She served on the MMEA Executive Board as Maryland Society for Music Teacher Education (MSMTE) President-Elect (2014-2016) and President (2016- 2018). She also served on the American Choral Directors Association Executive Board for the Maryland/D.C. Chapter as Youth and Student Activities Chair (2012-2015).
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