R. Brady Finch
Band Director

Mr. Finch graduated from Florida State University with Master of Music Education in 2001 and began teaching band at LSHS in the fall of 2001. Brady and his wife Laura are the proud parents of two girls: Leah and Rory.

Email Mr. Finch
986-1499 ext. 8883

Mike Steffen
Associate Band Director
Pleasant Lea Middle School Band Director

Mr. Steffen holds a Bachelor's of Music Education from Missouri State University and a Master's of Music Education from UMKC. At LSHS, he conducts the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble, in addition to assisting with the marching band. Mr. Steffen also leads the 7th & 8th Grade Bands & Jazz Band at Pleasant Lea Middle School. Before coming to Lee's Summit, Mr. Steffen taught middle school band in Pleasant Hill, Missouri for three years. A graduate of Grandview High School, Mike was lucky to have Bob Drummond and Garry Anders as his band directors. He has studied saxophone with Kerry Strayer, Tim Timmons, and Randy Hamm. Mike has been married to his high school sweetheart, Miranda for seven years, and they have been blessed with three daughters - Melody (4 1/2), McKenna (3), and Mae (14 months).

Email Mr. Steffen
986-1499 ext. 8018

Russ Pieken
Orchestra Director

Russ Pieken is the Director of Orchestras at Lee’s Summit High School and teaches elementary strings at Prairie View Elementary School. From 1994 – 2008 he was the Director of Orchestras at Olathe East High School and Pioneer Trail Junior High School in the Olathe, Kansas School District. Russ holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Master of Education Degree from Baker University. In 2007 he was awarded the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts/National Symphony Orchestra National Music Educator Fellowship. The fellowship included a four week residency at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Ensembles under his direction have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC’s Constitution Hall, and the Kansas Music Educators Association Annual In-Service/Conference. Russ and his wife Laurie are the proud parents of Joe and Norah.

Email Mr. Pieken
986-1499 ext. 8715

Ryan Sullivan
Associate Choir Director

Ryan Sullivan, a St. Louis native, is proud to be part of the Tiger Music Department. He has both a Bachelor's of Music Education and a Bachelor's of Music Performance in Voice from the University of Missouri - Kanas City Conservatory of Music. In 2007 he received a grant from UMKC to perform music manuscript research in northern France. He has served as an officer for the American Choral Directors Association on the state and local levels. At LSHS, Mr. Sullivan teaches Music Appreciation and directs the Mixed, Freshman Women, Men, Preludium and Concert choirs. His wife, Kristen, teaches voice at their home in Lee's Summit, at Blue River Community College and performs around Kansas City. The Sullivans are very glad to be making music in Lee's Summit!.

Email Mr. Sullivan
Mr. Sullivan's Music Appreciation Website
986-1499 ext. 7051

Diane Riffie
Department Chair
Accompanist and Assistant Band Director

Diane Riffie is the staff accompanist for the music department, assistant band director, and lead teacher for the music department. Before teaching in the Lee's Summit R-7 District, Diane taught K-8 vocal music at Our Lady of the Presentation in Lee's Summit and K-12 vocal and instrumental music in Madison, Missouri. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri, and is pursuing a Master's degree in organ performance from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. Diane also serves as music director and organist at the Lee's Summit Community of Christ Church. Her family includes a son, John Hansen (LSHS grad, '98) and wife, Christy, and son, Aaron Riffie (LSHS grad, '04) and wife, Kyndal.

Email Ms. Riffie
986-1499 ext. 7995

Mike McBain
Assistant Band Director
Director of Percussion

Mike McBain holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University, and a Master of Percussion Performance from the University of Central Missouri. Prior to joining the staff at Lee's Summit, he spent 4 years as Assistant Director of Bands/Percussion Instructor at Raytown High School and Raytown Middle School. Before coming to Raytown, Mike was Director of Bands for the South Hold R-I School District in Oregon, Missouri. He is a graduate of Liberty High School and has studied percussion with Danny Watring, Alfred Sergel III, Kevin Bobo, Doug Auwarter, Todd Strait, and Dr. Michael Sekelsky. Mike is on the Vic Firth Education Team as a Percussion Educator and a Marching Percussion Specialist. He is a battery tech for the Missouri "Sounds of Summer" drumline camps sponosord by Yamaha and was a member of the KC Chiefs drumline during the 2009-10 season. Mike and his wife Leticia live in Lee's Summit and are the proud parents of daughter Lauren.

Email Mr. McBain
986-1499 ext.

Lisa Cohen
Golden Guard Director

Avery Wendt
Assistant Golden Guard Director