Our Directors

Dallas Roper

Mr. Roper joined WFHEMA as our head director in 2010, and we are honored to have him directing both Wind Ensemble and Chamber Strings. He graduated from the US Naval Academy and WVU and served as a Naval Flight Officer for 11 years. For the last 13 years, Mr. Roper has been teaching science at East Hill Christian High School. He is a talented musician playing the saxophone, bassoon, and oboe. Mr. Roper has participated in many music ensembles, both instrumental and vocal. Currently, he is the principle bassoonist for the Pensacola Civic Band and one of the founding members of First City Five, a woodwind quintet. He enjoys directing musical theater and recently directed productions of “Seussical” and “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” for the Pensacola Little Theater. Mr. Roper has also directed adult and children’s choirs and currently is the orchestra director at Marcus Point Baptist Church.

Dallas leads our Wind Ensemble & Chamber Strings.

Sharon Kostelecky

Ms. Kostelecky joined WFHEMA in 2010, directing both Beginner and Intermediate Band. We have been amazed at the progress her students have made in such a short period of time! Ms. Kostelecky is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where she earned both a Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees. Currently, she plays the trumpet with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and the Perdido Brass. Ms. Kostelecky also teaches music at Pensacola State College, the University of West Florida, and at her private music studio.

Sharon leads our Beginner & Intermediate Bands.

Andrea Duncan

Mrs. Duncan recently joined WFHEMA, and we look forward to her directing both Beginner and Intermediate Strings. She graduated from Taylor University with a Music Education Degree and an Orchestra Manager and Concertmaster Degree. Mrs. Duncan has performed in many orchestras including the Pensacola Symphony, Northwest Florida Symphony, and The Philharmonic of Northwest Florida. She has also served as orchestra director of various groups including the Escambia County Youth Orchestra, the Okaloosa/Walton Youth Philharmonic Symphony, and East Brent Baptist Church. Mrs. Duncan not only is a talented musician and director, but she has a heart for home schooling. For the last few years, she has been raising a family and home schooling her two children.

Andrea leads our Beginner Strings & Intermediate Strings.