

Meet The Team Behind OMMA
Wendy Wright
Director
Wendy has been involved with OMMA since 2011. Her daughter, Sophia was part of the OMMA music troupe as a child and she is now an instructor for the summer camp. Her youngest child, Emilia is currently a member of the OMMA music troupe, The Roots. Wendy and her husband, Eric have been dedicated to immersing their children in the culture of traditional Ozark music and Bluegrass. She is committed to preserving OMMA so that future generations may have the unique experience that playing this style of music can bring as well as helping to preserve old time music of the Ozarks. She is the Development Director of Gloria Deo Academy in Springfield, MO. She holds a Master of Science in Communication from Missouri State University.
Randy Garoutte
President
Randy has been involved with OMMA since 2017. His daughter, Emily, is part of the OMMA music troupe. He has seen first-hand how music can influence a young person's life. He understands the importance of preserving the musical heritage of the Ozarks by passing it along to future generations of young musicians. He holds a degree in veterinary medicine from Oklahoma State University College of Medicine and is a practicing veterinarian in Springfield, MO. He is married to his wonderful wife, Teresa, and has two daughters.
Jeff Michel
Vice President
Jeff is a long time native of the Ozarks. He serves as President of the Board of the Mountain Grove School House Jam. His expertise in Old Time fiddle music has been passed down from the previous generation of Ozark fiddle players. His is known to be an expert in Taney County history and also serves on the Board for the Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters. He is the owner and operator of Michel Electric. He is married to Heather Michel and they have 3 daughters.
Jennifer Fansler
Secretary & Treasurer
Jennifer Fansler lives with her husband Judah, four teenage-children and four German
Shepherds near Branson, MO. She has a BS in music from Southwest Baptist University and
worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Music Theory at Truman State University. She has
spent 20 year serving in worship ministry and home-educating her children. Recently, she has
worked as an accompanist and substitute music teacher at College of the Ozarks and School of
the Ozarks. Currently, Jenni serves as the Worship Leader at Church 3:16 and is working
towards her Master’s degree in Worship Studies at Dallas Baptist University. Jennifers children
have been involved with Ozark Mountain Music Association for many years.
Kari Garrsion
Board Member
Kari Garrison was born and raised in Denison, Texas, in a musical family where harmony-filled jam sessions in the kitchen shaped the love and passion that she has for singing. After high school, Kari moved to Virginia, where her sweet voice lent itself perfectly to the Bluegrass scene. Over the next 5 years she shared the stage, as well as the recording studio, with many of the industry’s most promising bluegrass artists.
Then in 2001, following a dare from her little sister, Kari moved to the “Live Show Capital of the World” where she went on to sing with the legendary entertainer Moe Bandy for almost a decade, including appearing on the Grand Ole Opry, which she still considers the highlight of her career.
Kari has shared her sweet smile, powerful vocals and her love of music on many Branson stages over the years. In 2017, she was named Female Vocalist of the Year by both The Branson Show Awards, as well as the Branson Terry Music Awards.
You can currently see Kari celebrating her 20th year performing in Branson, in one of the best productions on the 76 strip, “Clay Cooper’s County Express” show at the Clay Cooper Theatre.
Dennis Pritchard
Board Member
Dennis is a traditional old time fiddler who started playing at the age of 13. He was inspired when he learned his maternal grandfather Foster Barnes played the fiddle. He had already passed by the time I was born.
Learning to play by ear, he would listen to records and attend local jams. He has performed with:
Table Rock Opry, Apple Town Barleen Family Country Music Show, Spring Creek Boys, Missouri Boatride and at Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama as Fiddlin Jake. He is also proud to say that he has shared the stage with these great musicians: Dean Webb, Carl and Pearl Butler, Red Sovine, Vernon Oxford and Billy Grammer.
He says he was truly blessed that his parents, Efton and Gertie Pritchard were supportive of his endeavor along with great mentors like: Eddie Asher, J.R. McNeil and Louis Holt.
As a traditional old time fiddler Dennis has played many hours at round and square dances which he has truly enjoyed.
Larry Sifford
Board Member
Larry is a native to the Ozarks. He began playing banjo when he was 21. He performed on the Mississippi River Boats, Huck Finn & Becky Thatcher, playing Dixieland music. He played in several country music groups throughout the years and was a founding member of the Missouri Boatride Bluegrass Band. His instrument of choice is the upright bass.
Danny Talkington
Board Member
Danny has a tremendous love for Ozark Mountain music and has been visiting the Ozark hills for decades, starting in the early 1970s. In 2018, he bought a home in Forsyth, MO, making this his permanent home, so he could enjoy the beauty and music of this area every day, not just occasionally.
Danny loves children and enjoys teaching them about traditional Ozark mountain music to promote their interest in keeping it alive for future generations.
He is a member of the Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters, which is trying to restore, protect, and preserve the historic buildings, streams, and forests of the Ozarks. He is a retired insurance compliance examiner. He is married to Jonny Talkington, and they have two sons, one daughter, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.