The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

Episode 150: A Lifetime of Service to Orchestra Education with Jim Palmer 🎉 Milestone Episode #150!! It’s only fitting that this milestone episode features one of the most respected and influential orchestra educators in our profession. In this special conversation, I sit down with my friend and mentor, Jim Palmer , as he reflects on an extraordinary 37-year career in public school orchestra educ...

🎙️ Episode 149 | Young Kim: Building Excellence Through Fundamentals, Mentorship, and Musicianship What separates a great orchestra program from an exceptional one? In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with legendary orchestra educator Young Kim, Director of Orchestras at Johns Creek High School (GA), to discuss nearly four decades of teaching, leadership, a...

Episode 148 — A Legacy of Excellence with Laura Mulligan Thomas In this inspiring episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , host Dr. Charles Laux sits down with legendary educator Laura Mulligan Thomas , who led the award‑winning Charlottesville High School Orchestra for forty remarkable years. What began as a program of just eight students grew under her leadership into a nationally recognized p...

Episode 147: From College Leader to First-Year Teacher with Olivia Durrence In Episode 147 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with recent University of Georgia graduate Olivia Durrence to discuss leadership, service, string teaching, and the transition from college student to first-year orchestra director. Olivia recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from UGA with a degree...

Episode 146: ASTA, Advocacy, and the Future of String Education with Lynn Tuttle In Episode 146 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Lynn Tuttle, Executive Director and CEO of the American String Teachers Association. Although not a string player herself, Lynn has dedicated her career to advancing music and arts education through leadership, advocacy, public policy, and pro...

Episode 145: Conducting, Curiosity, and Continuous Growth with Dr. Selim Giray In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with renowned conductor, educator, researcher, and author Dr. Selim Giray for a wide-ranging conversation about teaching, conducting, string pedagogy, and lifelong learning. Dr. Giray shares his fascinating journey from growing up in a musical...

Episode 144 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast features an inspiring and deeply thoughtful conversation with veteran music educator and national leader Denese Odegaard. With more than 40 years in music education and decades of leadership through organizations like American String Teachers Association and National Association for Music Education, Denese shares a wealth of wisdom on teaching, advocacy...

143. Full Orchestra, Full Heart: Dan Scott on Building Meaningful Programs In Episode 143 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with nationally recognized educator Dan Scott for an inspiring and practical conversation about building orchestra programs that last, creating meaningful musical experiences for students, and leading with passion over nearly three decades in the cl...

Episode 142: Movement, Freedom, and Healthy String Playing with Dr. Aaron Jacobs In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Dr. Aaron Jacobs for an inspiring and deeply practical conversation about string pedagogy, healthy playing, and the enduring influence of Paul Rolland’s teaching philosophy. Currently serving as Assistant Professor of String Pedagogy and Direc...

Episode 141: Rehearsal Energy, String Pedagogy, and the Future of Orchestra Education with Dr. Keith DodsonIn this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with conductor, educator, and clinician Dr. Keith Dodson for an in-depth conversation about string pedagogy, rehearsal pacing, recruiting, conducting, and what it really takes to build thriving orchestra programs in...

Episode 140: Kirt Mosier — Inside the Mind of a World-Class Educator, Composer, and Conductor In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with internationally acclaimed composer and conductor Kirt Mosier for a conversation that feels as genuine as it is inspiring—moving between the classroom, the concert stage, and the creative process behind it all. Kirt shares h...

Student Leadership, Global Perspectives, and Creative Musicianship with Lori Buonamici In Episode 139 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux welcomes veteran educator, conductor, and performer Lori Buonamici for an inspiring conversation that spans continents, classrooms, and musical styles. With more than 30 years of experience, Ms. Buonamici shares her remarkable journey from her mu...

Episode 138: Joshua Reznicow — Composing, Teaching, and Creating Opportunities In Episode 138 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with composer, educator, and conductor Joshua Reznicow for an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation about balancing creativity, teaching, and leadership in today’s orchestra world. With over 25 years of experience in the Linn-Mar Community Sc...

In Episode 137 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with the dynamic and forward-thinking Al Rodriguez—Director of Orchestras and Music Technology Instructor at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Recently named a Yamaha “40 Under 40” Music Educator (2026) and a two-time GRAMMY Music Educator Award quarterfinalist, Al is redefining what a modern orchestra pro...

Episode #136: From the Air Force to the Podium with Erica Donahoe, Orchestra Director & ComposerIn this episode, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Erica Donahoe, the Director of Orchestras at New Albany Plain Local Schools in Ohio. Erica’s journey to the podium is unlike any other—spanning from the United States Air Force Academy to becoming one of the most prolific string composers in the indus...

In Episode 135 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux welcomes two legendary orchestra educators from Las Vegas, Shelly Burger and Dr. Chuck Cushinery . Both guests spent decades shaping the orchestra landscape in the Clark County School District and mentoring generations of students and teachers. Shelly Burger retired in 2021 after a remarkable 37-year career directing orchestras at...

In Episode 134 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with master educator Joanne May to reflect on five decades of transformative teaching in public schools and higher education. A retired Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of Orchestras at Elmhurst University , Joanne previously spent 33 years in public school classrooms, most notably at Glenbard East High...

133: Dr. Brenda Brenner — Changing Lives Through Strings In Episode 133 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux welcomes one of the most influential leaders in string education, Brenda Brenner . Dr. Brenner serves as the Eugene O’Brien Bicentennial Executive Associate Dean and Professor of Music Education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music , where she specializes in strin...

In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Damián Berdakín , Director of Orchestras at South Salem High School in Oregon, for a rich and inspiring conversation about artistry, intention, and innovation in the orchestra classroom. A native of Córdoba, Argentina, Damián began his professional career as a double bassist before pursuing studies at the Longy Scho...

ASTA Conference 2026 Coverage (parts 1 and 2)Welcome to The Orchestra Teacher Podcast ! We're live from ASTA 2026 in San Francisco, proudly featuring D'Addario, the title sponsor, and their exceptional strings. We talk with a few vendors and some people in the exhibit hall. PART TWO:🎻 Live from the 2026 ASTA National Conference in San Francisco! 🌉Dr. Charles Laux, with The Orchestra Teac...

In Episode 130 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Liz Dinwiddie, Director of Strings at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in the mountains of Northeast Georgia, for a powerful conversation about access, community, and joy in string education. At Rabun Gap, every student from age three through fifth grade is required to take strings. Yes — every student. Liz shares how she struct...

Shoulder Pain? Injury Prevention & Longevity for String Players | Dr. Caleb Davis Shoulder pain is one of the most common injuries in musicians—especially string players. In Episode 129 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with his former student, orthopedic shoulder surgeon, and lifelong cellist Dr. Caleb Davis to talk about shoulder injuries, rotator cuff tears, stre...

In this episode #128 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux is joined by Jonathan Glawe, Director of Orchestras at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a powerful conversation about leadership, culture, and sustainability in orchestra programs. Jonathan shares his path from growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, to leading one of the nation’s most respected high school orchestra prog...

🎻 Orchestra Teaching, PD in Your Pocket & Practical Music Education | Angela Ammerman | Episode 127 In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Angela Ammerman —music education professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville , author, guest conductor, and creator of the viral “ PD in Your Pocket ” series for music educators. Angela shares her journey...

In Episode 126 of the Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with master elementary string educator Susan Ott Rodberg for an inspiring and deeply practical conversation about building strong string programs from the very beginning. Susan is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early/Middle Childhood Music and Orchestra, a Suzuki-trained violinist, and a passionate advocate for acce...