Judges, emcee named for Peony Pageant

Van Wert independent/Peony Pageant information

The judges and mistress of ceremonies for this Friday’s Peony Festival Pageant have diverse backgrounds. Judges this year include Ross Kinsey, Alex Yoder, Cindy Brandehoff and Paula Schumm, while Susan Burchfield will handle the emcee duties for this year’s pageant. The pageant will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Marsh Foundation Auditorium. Tickets are still available at Derry Drugs in Van Wert.

Ross Kinsey

A native of Angola, Ind., Ross Kinsey is the weekend sports anchor at WANE-TV in Fort Wayne. He’s been with the station for eight years, four working in the sports department on-air.  While at WANE-TV, Ross has had the privilege of going to three, that’s right three, Super Bowls, including Super Bowl XLI when the Colts beat the Bears in Miami for the title.

In addition to working hard in sports, Ross also has his hands full at home with two daughters — Kendyl, 4, and Kaelyn, 2.  Ross and his wife, Kourtney, have been married for eight years.

Alex Yoder

Alex Yoder of Fort Wayne, Ind., is a composer of diverse interests and talents. He actively composes for several media including concert band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, marching band, and electronic/electro-acoustic music. His music has been performed at events such as the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and by excellent ensembles across the country. In the realm of marching band, he is one of the youngest yet most widely performed composers of original music for competitive field bands. His marching band compositions and arrangements have been played across the country, as well as in such events as the Macy’s Thanksgivings Day Parade and the Indy 500 Parade.
Alex’s first major work, Extrarius, was written at age 19 and subsequently premiered by the Ball State University Wind Ensemble at his alma mater. He has studied privately with composer Les Taylor, as well as tuba performance with Dr. Mark Mordue.

Cindy Brandehoff

Cindy Brandehoff received her physical therapist assistant degree from Rhodes State College and a Bachelor of Science degree in healthcare administration from the University of Northwestern Ohio. She is currently a full-time faculty member at Rhodes State College, where she is director of clinical education and instructor in the Physical Therapist Assistant program. In addition, Brandehoff is an on-site reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).  She also serves as an advisory board member for The Allen County Abilities Baseball League.

Brandehoff is a life-long resident of Delphos and enjoys concerts, Broadway musicals, traveling, and any kind of football.

Paula Schumm

Paula Schumm is a graduate of Parkway High School and majored in music education in college, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Music degree from Wright State University.  Paula currently performs Appalachian folk music for schools, preschools, nursing homes, and other groups in and around the area.  She and her husband, Herb, live in Spencerville and have two children in college.

Susan Burchfield

Susan J. Burchfield is a licensed professional clinical counselor in private practice in Van Wert. She is married to Marty Burchfield, and they have two children: Will, who attends Ohio University, and Alexis, who is a junior at Van Wert High School.

Susan attends First United Methodist Church, and plays bass guitar in the praise band.  She is a member of the Van Wert Optimist Club and enjoys dancing with the adult jazz competition class at Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks. Burchfield has emceed the YWCA’s “Dancing With the Stars” competition, the Women of Achievement Dinner, and several of Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks recitals, but this will be her first year as emcee of the Peony Pageant.

“I am very excited and honored to emcee the Peony Pageant,” Burchfield said. “The event has such a rich heritage, and the young women involved this year are outstanding!”