The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

In this heartfelt episode, I reunite with three remarkable former Alpharetta High School Orchestra students—Jason Juang, Kacie Xie, and Sarang Pujari—as they share their orchestra journeys and how those experiences have shaped their collegiate years and budding careers. From concert stages to cutting-edge innovation, their stories highlight the transformative power of music education and the lifel...

A trailer about upcoming episodes featuring some incredible former students! You won't want to miss them! Friday, December 6 - Episode #78 with Sarang Pujari, Kaci Xie, and Jason Juang Sunday, December 8 - Episode #79 with Dr. Rachael Keplin

In episode #77 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we are joined by Vinny Conrod, Director of Orchestras at Innovation High School in Orlando, FL, and President of the Florida chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). With years of experience teaching at both the middle and high school levels, Vinny shares his journey of opening a brand-new high school orchestra program, offering i...

In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, I sit down with the legendary Bob Phillips, an innovator in string education, composer, and conductor, whose work has shaped the landscape of string music education. Known for his pioneering contributions to large group pedagogy and eclectic styles for strings, Bob has written over 25 book series and more than 225 published works for orchestras and...

In this 75th episode, I sit down with Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli, an award-winning music educator and director of orchestras at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, CA. With a career spanning multiple prestigious institutions and a wealth of experience in both orchestra and choral music, Tiffany shares her insights on what it takes to build successful, high-performing music programs. From her academ...

This short trailer podcast briefly explains why I haven't created any new episodes in a few months. Good news is that there is more to come, so stay tuned!

Nicole DeGuire is Associate Director of Orchestras at Carmel High School, Indiana ASTA President, and an avid free-lance violinist with numerous orchestras across the state of Indiana. Earning her B.M. in Violin Performance with Honors at Butler University, she went on to complete her M.M. in Violin Performance and Literature, and an Orchestral Studies Diploma from The Eastman School of Music. Tea...

Check out this fantastic conversation with Dr. David Miller of the University of Kentucky. Dr. Miller discusses his discovery of string teaching (as a horn player growing up), the graduate opportunities at UK, his publications and research, and the string teacher shortage! -- David Miller is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Kentucky, where he teaches undergraduate ins...

An innovative music educator and accomplished musician, composer, conductor and performer, Ron Castonguay was named Director of the Arts and Music Director at The Frederick Gunn School in 2019. Ron teaches all levels of Vocal Ensemble, String Ensemble, and Concert Jazz Band as well as AP Music Theory and provides private music instruction. He is responsible for the leadership and development of th...

Author of the book, 'Make Great Music with Ease! The Secret to Smarter Practice, Confident Performance, and Living a Happier Life', Jennifer Roig-Francolí is an international award-winning violinist, double-certified Alexander Technique teacher, and creator of The Art of Freedom® Method for conscious living and masterful artistry.  Jennifer’s inspiring online coaching programs for musician...

This bonus episode contains a few brief, live interviews from the ASTA/SAA Conference in Louisville. March 21-22, 2024. The ASTA conference this year was absolutely fantastic! There was such a positive vibe and the energy was electric. The guests on this podcast include: Jean Lee from Michigan State University Eric McAllister from NV Dr. Mark Laycock from Wichita State University Amanda Turner fro...

Ryan Silvestri is in his twelfth year at Wando High School as Director of Orchestras. A native of Boardman, Ohio, Mr. Silvestri earned a bachelor's degree in instrumental music education from Florida State University and a master's degree in violin performance from UNC-Greensboro. He is currently pursuing a doctor of music education degree from Liberty University. Ryan completed his string...

Martha Mooke is a Grammy nominated, pioneering electric violist/composer, highly regarded for her artistry, music advocacy, and innovative educational programs. She transcends musical boundaries, enhancing classical training with extended techniques, technology and improvisation. A Yamaha Artist and Eventide’s first Artist in Residence, Mooke is a leading clinician on electric and multi-style stri...

Ms. Billings-White is honored to be one of four the strings specialists in the Lexington Public Schools. She is currently the only itinerant teacher at the elementary schools, both middle schools and high School. Ms. Billings-White is an active director, strings teacher and performer in the Greater Boston area. She earned a Bachelors degree of Music in Cello Performance from McGill University and...

A graduate of Butler University in 2002, Heather Nieto is in her twenty-first year as a music educator. She started her career at Belzer Middle School in Lawrence Township, Indianapolis, Indiana, where she taught elementary and junior high string orchestra for eighteen years. Heather also served as the Belzer Middle School Performing Arts Department Chair and Lawrence Central High School Assistant...

Adrian Gordon is an internationally performed composer and seasoned music educator. In addition to teaching, Mr. Gordon is a composer with Alfred Music as well as the founder of Leap Year Music Publishing, which publishes string music for elementary, middle, and high school ensembles. His compositions appear on the California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and Texas Orchestra Association Music Perfo...

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast with Dr. Rachel Dirks (Ep. 64) Dr. Rachel Dirks, Director of Orchestral Studies at Kansas State University, is an active conductor, clinician, researcher, and teacher. In addition to her work with the K-State Symphony Orchestra, she teaches graduate and undergraduate string education and conducting courses, and applied cello. She has collaborated with orchestras throu...

Rosie Riquelme Antunez, Director of Orchestras at Decatur High School, received her Bachelors of Music Education degree from Georgia College and State University where she was a student of Dr. Daniel Kaplunas. Rosie received her Masters of Music Education from the University of West Georgia through their online program and continued her own violin studies with Curtis Institute Alumni, Mrs. Valerie...

Jean Lee is the Instructor and Coordinator of String Music Education at the Michigan State University College of Music. She teaches string pedagogy and string methods courses while growing the string music education program through student recruitment and retention outreach programs. Lee is well-known throughout the Midwest as an accomplished clinician, conductor, Suzuki violin teacher, and adjudi...

I hope everyone is having a great back to school season! I know it's a crazy busy time for everyone with assigning instruments, open house, parent meetings, and more. I'm looking to compile a back to school checklist and would love your feedback. What's on your back to school list?? Reach out to me at charles@orchestrateacher.net and let me know your essential "to do's!"...

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast with Anne Marie Patterson (Ep. 61) Anne Marie Patterson is the Orchestra Director at Robert Frost Middle School in Fairfax, VA. She has been a private teacher and freelance violinist in the Washington, DC area for over 25 years, and has taught all levels of school orchestra in Charles County, MD. She directed the Charles County Youth Orchestra and Encore Strings. and...

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast with Katie Eakes (Ep. 60)Katie Eakes is Alaskan native musician and educator. She recently completed her 17th year teaching in the Anchorage School District. She is a graduate of East High School in Anchorage and Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where she received a bachelors degree in music education. At TTU, Mrs. Eakes was a part of the Texas Tech String Pro...

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast with Michael Boitz (Ep. 59)Michael Boitz is Director of Orchestra and Band at Saratoga High School, Saratoga, CA, where he is serving in his 24th year, 20 years of which he served as Visual and Performing Arts Chair. After starting out as the single Instrumental Music Director at Saratoga HS in 1998 with a small number of students participating in just two ensembles,...

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast with Corie Benton (Ep. 58) Corie Benton is the orchestra director at Pope High School in Cobb County, Georgia. Mrs. Benton received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Loyola University in New Orleans. After graduating from Loyola, she began her teaching career in Plano, Texas, moving to Georgia in 2000. Mrs. Benton is an active member of both GMEA and ASTA....

Dr. Rebecca MacLeod is Professor of Music Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she directs the string education program and conducts the UNCG Sinfonia. She is the author of Teaching Strings in Today’s Classroom and is published in Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, Bulletin for the Council of Research in Music Education, Upd...