Faculty Profile
Kaye Waltner
Adjunct Instructor
Kaye Waltner taught public school vocal music for 38 years, before retiring in spring of 2022. The last 7 years of her teaching career, Waltner has been the lead choir director at Sioux Falls Whittier Middle School, where she taught General Music, Rock On, Humanities, Special Edition- show choir, and co- directed the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs. Previously, Waltner was the choral director at Freeman High School for 26 years, where she taught choir, general music, and voice lessons to students in grades 7-12. Under her direction throughout her teaching career, Waltner’s choirs have had the opportunity to travel and perform in Florida, Minnesota, and New York. Waltner’s specialty is working with students on individual voice lessons, helping them learn to develop their voice and technique, and also help them to develop confidence through instruction.
Waltner was the Facilities Chairperson for the North Central American Choral Directors National Conference in 2016. Additionally, Mrs. Waltner has served on the South Dakota American Choral Directors Board of Directors as President, and Southeastern Representative for three terms, and organized and implemented choral conferences in 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2019, and co-chaired a virtual conference in 2020. Waltner has served as a middle school festival guest clinician and middle school and high school adjudicator in South Dakota and Nebraska. Along with her teaching experience in Sioux Falls and Freeman, Waltner also taught in Irene, SD.
Mrs. Waltner’s professional memberships include American Choral Directors Association, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, and NAfME.
Waltner and her husband Terry enjoy living in the country where Terry farms and are the parents of Jessie and her husband Eric, Watertown; and Trey and his wife Katie, Sioux Falls. She also has 4 adorable granddaughters.
Education
- B.A., Music Education, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas, 1984
- Master of Music, Specialization in Vocal/Choral Music Education, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, 2012
Courses Taught
- MUS121 - Applied Voice Lessons
- FA215 - Integrating the Arts into the Elementary Curriculum