2025 NDMEA Elections
Voting Open from February 15-March 15th, 2025.
Results will be shared at our General Meeting March 23rd at 1:30 PM.
Meet The East Region
Representative Candidates
Annette Hovey
East Choral Rep Candidate
Annette Hovey currently lives in New Rockford and teaches 7-12 choir and 5-12 band at Carrington High School in Carrington, ND. Along with those duties, she also teaches a high school musicology elective. She is also a music minister at St. John’s Catholic Church, an accompanist at First Lutheran Church, and is active in Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts of New Rockford as a Youth Camp Director, actor and pianist.
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She is in her 27th year of teaching and throughout her career has had the privilege to teach at all levels of the public school music curriculum. Before moving to New Rockford, she taught K-12 music at Climax-Shelley School in Climax, MN, then moved to East Grand Forks, MN and taught 6-8 choir, 3rd, 4th and 6th grade general music. Annette also runs a private studio and teaches piano, guitar and voice lessons. In the past 10 years, Annette’s high school musicians have earned countless star ratings at large group, small group and solo contests, including 11 Outstanding Performance Awards at state solo and ensemble contest. In the fall of 2018, Annette was named one of four finalists for 2019 North Dakota Teacher of the Year sponsored by North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. She was also chosen by the Governor to receive the 2019 North Dakota Governor’s Award for the Arts in Education.
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Professionally Annette is a member of NaFME, ACDA, NBA, NDMEA, NDACDA, and NDNBA and has had students involved in all of the state festivals and honor groups sponsored by these organizations. This includes a trip with two of her students to the National Honor Festival sponsored by NAfME in 2017.
Eric Bergstedt
East Choral Rep Candidate
Eric Bergstedt is a 5-12 vocal and instrumental music teacher in Enderlin, ND. He is currently in his 20th year of teaching. Eric completed his bachelor's degree from Valley City State University in the spring of 2005.
He started teaching for Enderlin that fall. He completed his master's in music education from North Dakota State University in 2014. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu. Eric teaches 5th grade, 6th grade, Junior High and High School Band as well as Junior High and High School Choir. He has also been a football coach and bus driver.
Eric oversees a thriving music program in Enderlin which features over 50% participation in both high school and junior high. His students participate in and usually score well at large group contest and perform at various concerts throughout the year. They are especially active in small group contest.
Along with his wife Jill, he organizes the Young Musicians Festival for 5-8th grade students each spring. Eric has sung with various local choirs including the Enderlin Men's Choir, the Valley City Troubadours, and Dakota Harmony. All other time is spent following his four children in all of their various activities.
Jack Boyer
East Band Rep Candidate
Jack Boyer is currently serving as the Elementary Music Specialist and Director of Bands at Lake Agassiz Elementary school. Prior to this position he worked in Emerado and Larimore, ND. His band and choir students have received high accolades at both the regional and state level in Small and Large Ensemble competitions. His students have been selected to participate in regional, state, and national level honor bands and choirs. Mr. Boyer also serves on the directing team of the Grand Cities Children's Choir. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in music education from the University of North Dakota, and a Master’s Degree in music education from the University of South Dakota. During his time at USD, he published a beginning band method book that several programs around the country have piloted and adopted.
When he’s not directing choirs and bands, Mr. Boyer enjoys spending time with his family: his wife Lynneah, their daughter Wren, and their black lab Pepper.
Jack currently serves on the NDMEA Board as the East Band Representative.
Gabrielle Helfrich
East Band Rep Candidate
Gabrielle Helfrich teaches 6th-8th grade band and 8th grade jazz band at Heritage Middle School in Horace, ND, part of West Fargo Public Schools. She performs as a trombonist and serves as a board member with the Lake Agassiz Wind Symphony. Gabrielle is a member of NAfME, NDMEA, NDBDA, and NBA. Currently pursuing her Master of Music in Music Education from the American Band College of Central Washington University, Gabrielle is passionate about fostering student engagement and creating diverse musical experiences that inspire lifelong music appreciation.
A 2021 graduate of the University of North Dakota, she performed in a variety of instrumental and vocal ensembles, pursued private studies in trombone, conducting, and composition, and held leadership roles, including president of the Low Brass Club and vice president of the NAfME collegiate chapter. In 2020, she earned the Lillian Elsinga Outstanding Leader Award. Gabrielle began her teaching career in Larimore, ND, teaching 5th-12th grade band and choir and directing the 2021 Governor’s Official State Choir.
Kristine Strege
East Band Rep Candidate
Kristine Strege is currently in her 8th year of teaching and 7th year as one of the directors at Davies High School in Fargo. She teaches Symphonic Band, Jazz 1, Jazz 2, composition, and adaptive music, while also working with the Davies drumline and pit orchestra. In addition, she serves as the course captain of Fargo high school band.
Prior to joining Davies High School, she spent a year as the K-12 music teacher in Belfry, Montana. She received her Bachelor's of music in music education from Concordia College in Moorhead. She lives in Fargo with her husband, Jake, and their pets, Foxtrot the cat and June the dog.
Rich Gonzales
East Orchestra Rep Candidate
Rich Gonzales serves as Director of Orchestras at Sheyenne High School in West Fargo, ND. In addition to three curricular ensembles, he directs the Sheyenne Chamber Orchestra, The Mustang Quartet, and the pit orchestra for the winter musical. The Sheyenne Sinfonia orchestra was selected to perform at the 2024 NDMEA conference, and is currently the 2024-2025 Governor's Band.
Rich maintains a private double bass studio and performs with several organizations, including the FM Symphony, Opera and Ballet. He currently serves as the East Orchestra Representative for the North Dakota Music Educators Association. His passion is building positive relationships with students and making music for the community. Rich holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Music in Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.
Maria Draper
East General Music Rep Candidate
Maria Draper is in her 5th year of teaching. She teaches PreK - 4th Grade General Music, 5th Grade Beginning Band, Middle School Band, and Middle School Choir at Emerado Public School. She previously taught K-5th Grade for 3 years at Badlands Elementary in Watford City. Maria holds membership in NAfME, NDMEA, NDACDA, The National Band Association, Womens Band Directors International, and North Dakota United - in which she currently serves as the President for Emerado Public School.
Maria holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education and a Master’s of Science in Teaching and Leadership both from the University of North Dakota. Although not a music degree, Maria’s Master’s Degree allowed her to focus on music through a new lens of leadership, curriculum and assessment, and behavior studies. For her final project she created a framework for rural, general, music educators to create their own curriculum focused on equity-based practices, and is currently testing it out in her own classroom!
As a lifelong stutterer, Maria holds special education in high regard and not only has experience teaching adults and children with disabilities, but also created an adaptive music class while at Watford City. Maria is also passionate about social & emotional learning, classroom management, and assessment. She lives in Grand Forks with her two sons, Russell and Felix.
Sarah Larsen
East General Music Rep Candidate
Sarah Larsen is a dedicated elementary music teacher at Valley City Public Schools, where she fosters a love of music among her K-3 students. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and a bachelor's degree in music (minor in Piano Pedagogy), both from Valley City State University. Sarah loves working with students of all ages and watching them excel in and out of the classroom.
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Before her current role, Sarah gained valuable experience in higher education, most recently serving as a collaborative pianist and Class Piano instructor at VCSU. Additionally, she held the position of Performing Arts Program Manager at the University of Jamestown, where she contributed to the growth of the performing arts community. Sarah has several years of experience as a private piano instructor as well.
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With a diverse background in music education, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge that spans from elementary music instruction to higher education. She is eager to work and learn alongside other music educators across the state and help connect colleagues in their unique roles in the classroom.