Conductor
A native of Missouri, Heather M. Pickett comes from a family with a rich musical background, including performers, educators, and historians. Continuing this tradition, Mrs. Pickett studied saxophone and music education at the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education in May 1995. She taught middle school band for five years and private woodwind lessons for more than 20 years, and has also been active in several other Kansas City-area ensembles. After graduating from the Conservatory, Ms. Pickett returned to UMKC and graduated with a Juris Doctor in December 1997. She practiced law for nine years while at the firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., and then left her legal practice to stay home with her young children.
Ms. Pickett joined the American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City as a saxophonist in 1998. She became the Band’s assistant conductor in 2005 and conductor in April 2007. She is the first woman to lead the Band in its 90+ year history.
In addition to supporting veterans through the American Legion Band, Ms. Pickett is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary – her father was a Sergeant in the United States Air Force and is a Vietnam War Veteran – and actively liaises with local and regional veterans and veterans organizations in hosting events to recognize and assist out nation’s heroes. Further, she was the president of the Permanent Memorial Day Committee from 2009 through 2015, which since the 1920’s had hosted Kansas City’s annual Memorial Day ceremony, most recently in conjunction with the National World War One Museum at the Liberty Memorial.
Officers
- President: Mark Drake, Senior Manager, IBM
- Vice President: Chriss Scherer
- Secretary: Dave Groebe
- Treasurer: Melissa Peterson
- National Convention Coordinator: Mark Drake
- Past President: Clyde Rayburn, retired attorney
Administration
- Drum Major: Kody Willnauer
- Librarian: Tom Mahan
- Asst. Librarians: Buck Buchanan, Melissa Peterson
- Uniforms: Anne Sneller
- Event Coordination: Chriss Scherer
- Equipment Coordination: Al Sneller
- Equipment Transportation: Doug Hall
- Color Guard Commander: Kirk Rush
- Website: Belinda Johnson