• Adjunct Instructor of Percussion

EDUCATION

B.M., University of Kansas

Mr. Tom Fabing is the Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at McPherson College. Tom is from Gardner, KS and currently lives in Salina KS, where he is a section percussionist in the Salina Symphony. As an educator, Mr. Fabing was previously the drumline instructor at Benedictine College. He also taught percussion at several high schools in the Kansas City area as well as the Midwest Music camp at the University of Kansas in 2022 and 2023.

Tom has performed all around the country and has had an extensive career in the Army Band field, including the First Infantry Division Band (Fort Riley, KS), 77th Army Band (Fort Sill, OK), and the 312th Army Band (Lawrence, KS). Tom is especially passionate about orchestral percussion, performing with several groups such as the Lawton Philharmonic, Oklahoma City Chamber Orchestra, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, and the Ad Astra Music Festival Orchestra.

Mr. Fabing received a Bachelors of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Kansas where he studied under Dr. Sam Um and Dr. Michael Compitello. While at KU, he played with many groups including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and the Steel Drum Ensemble. Other teachers of Mr. Fabing include Mr. Kevin Clarke and Mr. Keith Larson. Tom met his wife Gracie at KU and she is also an active musician and educator. She is a vocalist and can be seen performing in musicals in the area. The two of them enjoy fishing together and spending time with their sweet dog, Liza.

• Phone: (620) 242-0400
• Email: [email protected]

• Adjunct Instructor of Brass

EDUCATION
B.M., Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music
M.M., University of Michigan
D.M.A., Michigan State University

Dr. Hopkins currently resides in central Kansas where he is an active teacher, clinician, and performer. He teaches 5-12 instrumental music at McPherson Schools and is an adjunct instructor of music at McPherson College and Kansas Wesleyan University. He previously taught as an adjunct instructor of music at Barton Community College, Tabor College, and Central Christian College and was a graduate teaching assistant at Michigan State University.

He continues to actively perform as an orchestral musician, soloist, and in chamber ensembles across the nation. Currently he is second trumpet in the Salina Symphony Orchestra. Previously, he was a full member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and held the position of principal trumpet in the Adrian Symphony Orchestra and the Wichita Grand Opera. He has performed as substitute trumpet with many renowned ensembles including the Grand Rapids Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Philharmonic.

Dr. Isaac Hopkins received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University, Master of Music degrees in Music Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Music degree from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. His primary teachers include Justin Emerich, William Campbell, Jack Sutte, and John Brndiar. In the summers of 2016 and 2017 Isaac attended the Aspen Music Festival and School on full fellowship where his primary instructors were Raymond Mase and Kevin Cobb.

• Phone: (620) 242-0400

• Adjunct Instructor of Piano

• Assistant Professor of Music
• Director of Choral Activities

EDUCATION
B.A., Bethel College
M.M., University of Wisconsin – Madison
D.M.A., University of Wisconsin – Madison

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
“My teaching philosophy is all about helping students discover their own musical passion and curiosity. This means holding my students and myself to high standards of performance as well as thinking critically about the music we sing. Choir is one of the few collaborative activities that is potentially accessible to people throughout their entire lives, and I seek to provide students with both the skills and the desire to sing even after they leave school. I also place a large emphasis on finding community and being accountable to the people with whom you sing.”

• Phone: (620) 242-0529
• Email: [email protected]

• Adjunct Instructor of Woodwinds

EDUCATION
MM Ed., University of North Texas
MM Woodwind Performance, University of North Texas
BM Ed, Washburn University with Honors

• Email: [email protected]

• Adjunct Guitar Instructor

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
“I am passionate about the guitar, in all of its styles, and sharing that with my students is a real joy. My goal as a guitar instructor is to fill each student’s musical toolbox with the essentials they need to continue learning, enjoying, and sharing the music that they find personally fulfilling.”

• Associate Professor of Music
• Director of Bands

EDUCATION
B.A. University of Kansas
B.M.E. Washburn University
M.M. Kansas State University

Kyle Hopkins is an Associate Professor of Music, Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at McPherson College. During his tenure at McPherson College the band program has experienced unprecedented growth and success – from eight students to one of the largest band programs in the conference and being selected to play at the Kansas Music Educators Association State Convention five times in the past eight years.

Kyle holds degrees from the University of Kansas, Washburn University and Kansas State University. Prior to returning to college to obtain his first music education degree, he was a Disability Examiner for the State of Kansas specializing in childhood disabilities. Before accepting his position at McPherson College, he was Director of Bands in the McPherson Public Schools for 12 years and before that he taught in Topeka and Shawnee Mission. He is the recipient of McPherson College’s 2015 Faculty Teaching Award, and USD 418’s Teacher of the Year Award in 2011.

In addition to being a sought-after clinician, conductor and adjudicator, Kyle remains active on his French horn. He performs regularly with the Salina Symphony as principal horn, and the Wichita Grand Opera and Wichita Symphony as substitute horn. Kyle and his wife Christi have two grown sons who are active in music. Isaac teaches band and orchestra in McPherson (his wife Meredith teaches orchestra in Hutchinson), and Ben is a master’s student in tuba performance at the University of New Mexico.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
“Throughout history, whenever humans have been faced with the ultimate questions of life and existence, they have relied upon music in their search for meaning. So I am passionate about teaching music and strive to pass on my love of music to my students. I have high expectations for my students to succeed at whatever their individual skill level is. I want them to experience music at its best so they can experience life at its best.”

• Phone: 620-242-0521
• Email: [email protected]