DENNIS W. RITZ received his BS in Music Education from Mansfield State College in 1969, his MM in Music Education from Mansfield State College in 1974, and his DMA in Orchestral Conducting at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan in 1992. Dennis is assistant professor of music at Shippensburg University, where he directs the university-community orchestra and teaches a variety of music courses. Prior to joining the Shippensburg faculty in 1990 he was director of instrumental music and co-department chair for School Administration District #47 in Oakland, ME, and as director of instrumental music and instrumental music instructor at Montrose Area School District, Montrose, PA.