Mrs. Erin Jane McConihay Grim, Conductor

Erin graduated from Shawnee High School in 1982 and holds the honor of being the first female Field Commander of the Shawnee Bands. Erin earned a Bachelor of Music Education and Flute Performance at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio (1986), and a Master of Music Education and Flute performance from Bowling Green State University, Ohio (1993).  In her 26^th year of teaching, Erin is the Director of Bands with her husband Brian at Bath Local Schools. Teaching instrumental music grades four through twelve, she also teaches a music theory, history, and composition class to high school students. With the over 500 Bath Band students, the variety of instrumental ensembles keeps the two very busy. Their son, Adam is currently in the Bath HS bands and is also a member of LAYO. Under Mrs. Grim’s direction, the Bath Bands have performed in Nassau, Bahamas, The 2009 Indy 500, Walt Disney World, Cleveland State University, Chicago, Bath Local Schools Events, and OMEA Adjudicated Events.

Since 1986, Mrs. Grim continues to perform as Co-Principal Flutist of the Lima Symphony Orchestra.  She has soloed with the Lima Symphony Orchestra on several occasions including the “Mozart By Candlelight” concerts, two different Brandenburg Concertos, and more.  She has performed as a Flutist and/or Piccolo player with various other ensembles, including Ohio Northern University Ada, many churches throughout Northwest Ohio, several area high school musical productions, The Lima Area Concert Band, the Greene County Adult Concert Band, Centerville, Ohio (soloed), the Shawnee High School Symphonic Band (soloed), and toured with the Worthington Civic Band to Hawaii in the summer of 2001.  Her Flute teachers included Norma Firszt (1976 - 1982), Katherine Boarst Jones (1982 - 1985), Luncinda Altstaetter (summers 1982-1985) Jill Felber (1985 - 1986), and Judith Bentley (1990 - 1993).  As a flute student at Capital University, she performed in master classes taught by James Galway (1986), Ranson Wilson (1985), Dr. Robert Willoughby (1982, 1984),  and Dr. Donald McGinnis. Erin is a member of the Lima Symphony Orchestra Board, Chairperson of the Lima Symphony Orchestra Members’ Committee, and Teacher of many LSO Kidstuff Programs.

            As an educator and conductor, Erin has served as a co-operating teacher for 28 student teachers and served on the Steering Committee for the "Pathwise" Teacher Mentor Training for Allen County Educational Services.  She also served as a guest clinician at James Swearingen's "The Complete Band Director's" workshop in 1994, Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Grim was selected by her high school students for the "Who's Who Among American Teachers" Award in 2000, 2002 and . She has also been chosen as the first high school band director to serve as guest conductor of the Ohio Northern University Band in March 2012. She is a Gemeinhardt Flute Company Clinician since 2000 serving as a guest clinician, she was a flute clinician for the OMEA District Three Convention. Erin also teaches at summer music camps in Michigan, and works with various area flutists in the area. She has served as an OMEA Marching Band Timing and Penalty Adjudicator and revised the OMEA State Solo & Ensemble Piccolo Solo, Flute Solo, Flute Trio, Quartet, & Flute Choir lists in 2006. Erin serves as an adjudicator for OMEA Solo and Ensemble Adjudicated Events throughout Ohio.  She has also served as an auditions judge for OMEA Region Orchestra, OMEA District Three Honors Band, The Lima Area Youth Orchestra, Ohio Northern University Bands, and The Lima Symphony Orchestra. 

Erin is also a Certified Life Coach and coaches those individuals desiring to achieve their goals and personal best. Through her own experience with Life Coaching, she has completed many 5K races and earned a completer’s medal in the 2011 Walt Disney World Half Marathon.

Membership in professional organizations include; The Lima Symphony Orchestra Committee (served several terms), Ohio Music Education Association (elected as District Three Secretary/Treasurer and President), Music Educators National Conference, Ohio Education Association, Bath Education Association, the National Flute Association, the National Band Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association. Member of The Teacher's Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (Alpha Tau Chapter). 

Fan of Disney, my horses, our dog Comet, purple, Thin & Healthy Total Solutions, and more! Find Erin, LAYO, and the Bath Bands on Facebook too! Check out some of my favorite websites!!! http://www.limayouthorchestra.org/, http://www.bathmusicassociation.org/, http://www.limasymphony.com, http://www.bathwildcats.org, and http://www.thinandhealthy.com/.



Rachael Lewis,                                 String Instructor

Rachael Lewis has been a music educator for 27 years, bringing an appreciation of different genres of music to students. This is her 3rd season with LAYO as String-Specialist. She has been Orchestra Director for the Bluffton Schools since 1983, as well a private instructor of violin and viola.  Rachael is also the Bluffton High School Assistant Marching Band Director. In 2002, she began a program, "Music Enrichment for Students with Special Needs", working with grades K-6 students. In 2008, she started a guitar class for students with special needs for grades 7 through high school which, in 2010, received the Success in Public Schools award from the Coalition for Public Education fro Unique and Innovative Programs.  Rachael also teaches private lessons on violin and viola pedagogy at Private Sounds of Instruction Studio. She continues to offer a summer strings program at Bluffton Schools.

Rachael Lewis and Erin Grim