OHMA ’26 Staff Members- Klohn,Canter,Ross

Each Musicians Abroad tour is guided by an outstanding team of educators who bring leadership, experience and enthusiasm to every step of the journey. These dedicated professionals support students through rehearsals, performances and travel abroad, ensuring each participant has a meaningful and unforgettable experience.

Danny Klohn

Danny Klohn is currently in his 16th year of teaching and 14th year as director of bands at Sandusky City Schools in Sandusky, Ohio. His first two years of teaching were as assistant band director at Bryan City Schools in Bryan, Ohio. Klohn currently instructs Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band and Pep Band at the high school level and is the lead teacher for sixth grade beginning band at two different elementary schools. He assists with the seventh grade band, the eighth grade band, and the middle school jazz band. During Klohn’s tenure at Sandusky City Schools, the Sandusky band program has enjoyed performance experiences at Walt Disney World twice, New York City, leading alumnus Orlando Pace on parade for his enshrinement at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and most recently the Sandusky HS band was a feature performing ensemble at the Ohio School Board Association Conference in Columbus, OH. Sandusky band students have performed at colleges and universities throughout Ohio in many different types of performance settings and ensembles, and the Sandusky band program has continued it’s reputation of consistently receiving top ratings at OMEA adjudicated events during Klohn’s time leading his alma mater. Klohn is a 2010 graduate of Bowling Green State University with his Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and earned his Master of Music in Music Education through Kent State University in 2014 while teaching full-time at Sandusky schools. He is still an active performer as a percussionist with the North Coast Concert Band and resides in the Sandusky area with his wife, Liz, children, Genevieve and Jameson, and dog, Zeus.

Richard Canter

Richard Canter is an accomplished music educator, conductor and clinician, currently serving as band director at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this role, he leads a comprehensive band program that includes beginning band, junior high bands, the Marching Blue & Gold and wind ensemble. He is the author of Scale & Rhythm Chunks, a groundbreaking teaching resource designed to build fundamental skills in a logical, student-friendly format. Widely used by music educators across the U.S. and internationally, the program has been praised by renowned music education leader Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser as, “exactly what is wanted and needed… an idea whose time has come.” Richard is a highly respected clinician and guest conductor, having presented over 100 clinics on effective band pedagogy across 30 states. He has twice been featured as a presenter at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and regularly speaks at state-level music education conferences. He also serves as music director and conductor of the Cincinnati Junior Youth Wind Ensemble, a program sponsored by the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). A passionate advocate for music education, Canter served four years as district president for the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA). In 2024, he was named an Educational Artist with the KHS America Academic Alliance, representing Jupiter Band Instruments and the full family of KHS educational brands. His work has earned him multiple accolades, including Educator of the Year, the Celebrate Excellence Award and winner of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Music Composition Competition. He was inducted into the Ross High School Arts Hall of Fame in 2022, and is set to be inducted into the Finneytown Local Schools Hall of Fame in 2025. Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in music education from Miami University.

Zachary Ross

Zack has served as the head band director at Waverly City Schools for 10 years. He teaches instrumental music in grades 5-12 and directs the marching, concert, pep and jazz bands. He earned both his bachelor and master degrees in music education from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. His primary instrument is clarinet.