The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #125 Guest: Sheldon Fisher In Episode 125 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , we sit down with Sheldon J. Fisher , a master teacher whose career represents the very best of long-term program building, musical integrity, and service to the profession. A retired orchestra director from Fulton County Schools near Atlanta, Georgia, Sheldon led ensembles that perf...

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #124 In the Classroom, On the Podium, and in the Dirt: Ashley Braithwaite’s Orchestra Life We’re kicking off 2026 with an inspiring conversation featuring Ashley Braithwaite , an award-winning orchestra educator from Utah whose passion for teaching, leadership, and lifelong musicianship shines through everything she does. Ashley has been teaching privately s...

🎉 New Sponsor Announcement for 2026! 🎉 We’re excited to announce Keiser Productions as an official 2026 sponsor of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast! In this video, you’ll get to know Keiser Productions, a leading publisher dedicated to high-quality string and orchestra music for educators and students. Joining us are Matt Keiser, President & CEO of Keiser Productions, and Cameron Law, String Ed...

Episode #123 — Gretchen Wyder Zunic: How to Build a Thriving, Student-Centered Orchestra Program In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Charles sits down with Gretchen Wyder Zunic , Head Orchestra Director at Upper Arlington High School and a 31-year veteran of music education. Gretchen shares her inspiring journey from her early teaching years in Findlay and Hilliard to building a pow...

🎻 Episode #122 — The Orchestra Teacher Podcast Guests: Daryl Silberman & Matthew White, Orchestra Directors at Scullen Middle School (Naperville, IL) In this energizing episode, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes the incredible teaching duo Daryl Silberman and Matthew White , who have transformed the Scullen Middle School orchestra program through collaboration, creativity, and a deep commitment to st...

🎙️ The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #121 In this episode, The Orchestra Teacher Podcast host Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Dr. Annalisa Chang , orchestra director at Roswell High School and former professor at Clayton State University , to discuss her inspiring journey from higher education back to the high school classroom. Dr. Chang shares her insights on what it’s like to make the tran...

In this episode, The Orchestra Teacher Podcast host Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Dr. Nathaniel (“Nat”) Parker , Director of Orchestral Studies at Kennesaw State University and Artistic and Executive Director of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestras (GYSO) . Dr. Parker shares his journey from a “reformed bassoonist” to a collegiate conductor, offering deep insights into teaching, programming, and lead...

In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Darren Sacks , one of Greater Boston’s leading double bass educators, to discuss how young bassists can transform their playing and mindset to reach new levels of success. Sacks shares his journey from discovering the double bass on a high school field trip to building a thriving studio that prepares students for co...

118. Repertoire, Routines, and Fresh Perspectives with Abby Miles, Dublin City Schools (OH) In this episode, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Abby Miles , orchestra director at Eversole Run Middle School in Dublin City Schools, Ohio. Abby shares her journey from studying music education at Baldwin Wallace University to teaching 5th–12th grade in Perrysburg, where her ensembles performed at the OMEA State...

117. Composing Beyond Limits, Inspiring Musicians with Brian Balmages In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes world-renowned composer and conductor Brian Balmages . Known for his powerful and versatile works for orchestra, band, and chamber ensembles, Balmages’ music has been performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. He has conducted acr...

Episode 116 – Directing, Composing, Inspiring: A Conversation with Dr. Perry Holbrook In this episode, we welcome Dr. Perry Holbrook , Artistic Director of Orchestras at Walton High School in Cobb County, Georgia. Over his 25-year tenure, Dr. Holbrook has grown the Walton Orchestra program from 130 to over 300 students, leading ensembles to perform at The Midwest Clinic, the ASTA National Conferen...

Episode 115 – Building Community & Legacy with Dr. Gail Barnes In this inspiring episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , host Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Dr. Gail Barnes , Distinguished Professor Emerita of Music Education and former Director of the USC String Project. With a career spanning public school teaching, university leadership, groundbreaking research, and co-authorship of Mea...

Episode 114 – The Orchestra Teacher Podcast featuring Marc Kaufman In this episode, we welcome H. Marc Kaufman , orchestra director at Lovinggood Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia. After a several successful decades teaching band, Marc made the transition to strings. His previous collaborative work with full symphony orchestra and chorus concerts sparked his passion for orchestra, leading him...

Episode 113 – Building a Thriving Middle School Orchestra with Ashley Culley In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Charles talks with Ashley Culley , director of orchestras at Dodgen Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia. Over her 25-year career — 19 of them at Dodgen — Ashley has grown her program from 190 to over 380 students while serving as a leader, performer, clinician, and adju...

🎙 The Orchestra Teacher Podcast — Episode 112: Clay McKinney, author of TheCello.online and full-time middle school director, discusses some cello tip & tricks, his teaching, and more. In Episode 112 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux welcomes the passionate and innovative Clay McKinney, director of orchestras at Parkway Central Middle School in Missouri. With over a decade of...

In Episode 111 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux welcomes the dynamic and inspiring Taniesha Pooser — assistant principal at the Gwinnett School for Math, Science, and Technology, founder of Recolor. Ed, and veteran orchestra educator. With over 15 years of classroom experience, multiple accolades (including 2022 Gwinnett County Middle School Teacher of the Year), and a deep comm...

🎙 The Orchestra Teacher Podcast — Episode 110: Sadie Uhing – From Trumpet to Strings: A Young Educator’s Journey In Episode 110 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Sadie Uhing, a rising star in the world of string education. Currently in her second year of teaching, Sadie shares her inspiring and unconventional path from growing up as a trumpet player and band studen...

Episode 109 – Frank Lestina: Viola App, Repertoire Adaptation, and Rehearsal InsightsIn this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we sit down with veteran educator and conductor Frank Lestina, who shares a wide range of insights from his rich career in music education. Topics include the innovative “Vln2Vla” viola learning app, which helps violinists transition to viola, and adapting repertoi...

Welcome to a special episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, where string educators share their creative ideas, tips, and teaching tools with listeners. Episode 108 kicks off this exciting new series with a contribution from David Cho, an elementary string specialist from Prince William County, Virginia. David introduces his innovative “bow tapes” concept—using standard fingerboard tape on the b...

In Episode 107 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, host Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Mac Mayer, orchestra director at Whitaker Middle School in Keizer, Oregon, for an insightful conversation about teaching strings across different regions and levels. With 22 years of experience spanning Ohio, Georgia, Kansas, and Oregon, Mac shares his journey in string education, the importance of energy and honesty i...

This video episode features an amazing cellist and pedagogue, Harrison Cook, who is the orchestra director at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. Harrison gives us some practical, hands-on pedagogy about cello scale fingerings, shifting, extensions, and more. — BIOGRAPHY — Harrison is currently the Director of Orchestras at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Cobb County, Georgia. He...

Episode 105 — Annie Ray: Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact in Orchestra Education In this powerful episode, we sit down with Annie Ray, 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award winner and Orchestra Director at Annandale High School in Fairfax County, VA. Annie shares how she’s redefining access to music education through groundbreaking programs like the Fairfax Parent Orchestra and Crescendo Orchestra—des...

Episode 104 — Dr. Heather Lofdahl: Expanding String Education & Teacher Training Join us for a conversation with Dr. Heather Lofdahl , Assistant Professor of Music Education at The Ohio State University and recipient of the 2025 OSU Distinguished Teaching Award. We discuss her work expanding access to string education through community partnerships, her leadership with the Newark-Granville You...

🎙️ Episode 103 — Dr. Tamara Dworetz: Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Presence In this inspiring episode, we welcome Dr. Tamara Dworetz , a dynamic American conductor whose passion for music, education, and storytelling is evident in every note she leads. Tamara shares her incredible journey—from her beginnings in the Atlanta public school system to conducting major orchestras. 🎧 Listen now to...

Episode 102 – Dr. Benjamin Whitcomb: Performer, Pedagogue, and Prolific Author In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast , we welcome the esteemed Dr. Benjamin Whitcomb, Professor of Cello and Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Dr. Whitcomb shares insights from his extensive career as a performer, educator, and author. With accolades for his teaching, research, and serv...