Meet the Meridian Community Band Conductors
Michael Scholes, Conductor/Music Director
Michael Scholes is the Conductor of the Meridian Community Band and currently serves as Director of Bands at St. Johns Middle School, a position he has held since 2004. Prior to teaching in St. Johns, Mr. Scholes was Band Director for the Merrill (MI) Community Schools (2000-2004). Additionally, he has worked with marching bands from Michigan State University and Albion College. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education from Michigan State University, where his primary conducting mentor was John Madden.
Mike is in high demand as a trumpet player and has performed with the Lansing Concert Band, the Capitol City Brass Band, and Mason Symphony Orchestra, as well as at several local churches and for school and civic pit orchestras. He is a member of Bugles Across America, an organization that provides volunteer live buglers for funerals of United States Military Veterans. Michael currently serves on the board for the Capital Area Down Syndrome Association and resides in Lansing with his wife, Jen, and their three children, Anna, Ella, and Kyle.
Lisa McKim-Hill, Assistant Conductor
For more than 30 years, Lisa McKim-Hill taught music in the public, private, and charter school systems in both California and Arizona before moving to Michigan early Fall in 2025. Primarily a director of bands at the high school level, Lisa directed elementary and middle school bands and choirs during her career. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct professor of music (directing both orchestra and wind band). Lisa designed and directed music outreach service projects with high school band students, providing music performance experiences for refugee children, homebound disabled seniors, and US Veterans.
Prior to her teaching career, Lisa was a practicing music therapist. She has written articles and led numerous clinics pertaining to music therapy, music education for chamber winds, and works for band by women composers. Lisa maintains memberships of many organizations, such as NAfME (National Association for Music Education) MMEA (Michigan Music Educators Association) NFA (National Flute Association) ASBDA (American School Band Directors Association) and WBDI (Woman Band Directors Association). An accomplished flutist, she published a flute album in 2010 entitled Sacred Gifts.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, with a Certification in Music Therapy from California State University, Long Beach and a Master’s in Music degree, with emphasis in Instrumental Music Conducting from California State University, Sacramento.
Carolyn Moravitz Sherrill, Conductor Emeritus
Carolyn Moravitz Sherrill began her affiliation with the Meridian Community Band (MCB) as a clarinetist before becoming its conductor and music director in 1990. She is a native of Ely, Minnesota, and attended Michigan State University from which she earned both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees. In July 2016 Carolyn stepped down as the MCB conductor after having served for twenty-six years in that position. She continues in her role as the Red Cedar Festival Project Director, a position she has held since 1996. Due to her emphasis on continuing education, the band significantly expanded its repertoire to include a wide variety of contemporary, popular, and classical band literature.
Active as a clarinetist, Carolyn performs with the Clarinet Connexions, Grenadilla Quartet, the MSU Alumni Touring Band, and Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band. Among her awards are Kappa Kappa Psi’s Silver Baton Award and the YWCA’s 1999 Diana Award. Professionally, Carolyn taught elementary and middle school band at Lansing’s St. Gerard School for thirty-seven years before her retirement in 2018.
Among her achievements are helping to establish both the Grand Sousa Concert as the MCB’s traditional season opener and the annual Red Cedar Festival of Community Bands, which attracts adult bands from across the state of Michigan.
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The Meridian Community Band’s continued success is made possible with the help of our generous donors.