Daniel Long serves as the K–12 Music Teacher and Band Director for the Norborne R-VIII School District in Norborne, Missouri, where he also serves as the District Athletic and Activities Director. He has taught for eleven years in the Norborne R-VIII School District and previously taught one year in the Lone Jack C-6 School District.
Long earned his Bachelor of Music Education in 2014 and his Master of Music Education in 2018 from Central Methodist University. In 2023, he completed an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership (Building-Level Leadership) from Northwest Missouri State University.
Passionate about expanding opportunities for students in small schools, Long has grown the Norborne band program into one that consistently earns high ratings and top placements in its class at marching competitions. Beyond his work in the classroom, he is a founding member of the Missouri Small School Band Directors Association. Through this organization, he has helped develop a statewide festival program that provides small school bands with opportunities to perform and receive professional feedback. In just eight years, the festival has grown to include more than one hundred bands performing annually. He has also completed a term as the Northwest MMEA District Band Vice President.
Long also serves as a mentor teacher for educators both within and beyond his district. He believes that when schools collaborate and support one another, stronger band programs can be built across the state—creating greater opportunities for every student to succeed.
Aaron Scriven is in his sixth year as Director of Bands at Kickapoo High School and his eighteenth year teaching in Missouri. He holds a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Music Conducting from Missouri State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Missouri Southern State University.
At Kickapoo, Aaron directs the Wind Ensemble, Golden Arrow Varsity Marching Band, and Jazz Band while also assisting with the Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and JV Marching Band. He also teaches AP Music Theory. Under his direction, the Kickapoo Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2022 Missouri Music Educators Association Conference.
Aaron believes the strongest band programs are built through collaboration, trust, and shared leadership. He values the dedicated team of educators, staff, families, and students who make the Kickapoo band program possible and works intentionally to cultivate meaningful student leadership within the ensemble.
Aaron supports music educators across Missouri and is committed to strengthening band programs through collaboration, mentorship, and service to the profession. He is an active clinician and MSHSAA music adjudicator and maintains professional memberships in Phi Beta Mu, NAfME, MMEA, MBA, MOAJE, and NEA.
