Best Dr Charles Laux Podcasts (2025)

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122. Building Belonging Through Team-Teaching Magic: A Conversation with Daryl Silberman & Matthew White 53:43

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6d ago53:43

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🎻 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 collaborat…

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121. Dr. Annalisa Chang discusses inclusion, student leadership, and her journey from higher ed to the high school orchestra classroom 46:34

21d ago46:34

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🎙️ 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…

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120. Leadership, Repertoire, and the Modern Conductor — Insights from Dr. Nathaniel Parker (KSU) 59:44

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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 de…

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119. Developing Young Bassists by Mastering the Mindset and Mechanics for Audition Success Featuring Darren Sacks 1:01:24

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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…

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118. Repertoire, Routines, and Fresh Perspectives with Abby Miles, Dublin City Schools (OH) 48:46

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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…

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117. Composing Beyond Limits, Inspiring Musicians with Brian Balmages 47:44

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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 Hal…

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116. Directing, Composing, Inspiring: A Conversation with Dr. Perry Holbrook 42:56

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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 …

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115. Building Community & Legacy with Dr. Gail Barnes, Professor Emerita at the University of South Carolina 41:16

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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, groun…

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114. Marc Kaufman discusses his background and tenure as a band director and his transition to teaching middle school orchestra 1:17:30

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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 concert…

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113. Ashley Culley discusses strategies for program growth, student engagement, and community building, along with insights from her upcoming invitation to perform at The Midwest Clinic. 47:44

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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 ser…

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112. Clay McKinney, author of TheCello.online and full-time middle school director, discusses some cello tip & tricks, his teaching, and more. 53:19

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🎙 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 Mid…

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111. Taniesha Pooser discusses her journey from into an administration role and her initiative, RecolorEd.org 51:43

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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 Mid…

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110. Sadie Uhing discusses her transition into the string world (from band), the challenges and triumphs of her first year in the classroom, and the mindset shifts that helped her succeed. 40:51

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🎙 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 fr…

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109. Frank Lestina talks about his Viola App, Repertoire Adaptation, Rehearsal Insights, and more! 53:20

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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 vio…

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108. A violin/viola pedagogy focus! David Cho shares his "bow tapes" strategy and Charles Laux & Harrison Cook have a Q&A about violin/viola pedagogy. 25:20

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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…

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107. Mac Mayer of Whitaker Middle School in Keizer, OR shares his journey in string teaching and shares some great ideas for warmups, repertoire, and more. 50:22

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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…

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106. Practical, hands-on cello pedagogy with Harrison Cook. Facilitating scale fingerings, shifting, and extensions, oh my! 20:22

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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…

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105. Annie Ray, Orchestra Director at Annandale HS in Virginia and 2024 Music Educator Grammy Award Winner discusses her unique teaching approach and more. 47:00

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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 Fa…

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104. Dr. Heather Lofdahl, Assistant Professor of Music Ed at The Ohio State University discusses her career and shares some of her favorite go-to pedagogy tips 38:20

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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,…

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103. Dr. Tamara Dworetz: Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Presence 37:06

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🎙️ 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 …

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102. Dr. Benjamin Whitcomb shares insights from his extensive career as a performer, educator, and author 39:18

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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. Wi…

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101. Dr. Rick Webb, Associate Professor at SUNY-Fredonia, joins us to discuss his journey in music education, the importance of arranging works by underrepresented composers, and more! 31:05

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The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #101 with Dr. Rick Webb In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we welcome Dr. Richard S. Webb, a distinguished educator, conductor, and scholar in the field of string music education. Dr. Webb shares insights from his journey, from earning degrees in viola performance and music education at Bowling…

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100. Dr. Bob Gillespie talks about his training, his career, the beginning of Essential Elements, and more! 1:10:08

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We’ve made it to Episode 100 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, and there’s no better way to celebrate this milestone than by welcoming one of the most influential voices in string education—Dr. Bob Gillespie. Dr. Gillespie is Professor Emeritus of String Education and Pedagogy at The Ohio State University, a past national President of the American …

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99. Jesús Florido discusses his roots in El Sistema and his journey performing and teaching all over the globe. 1:05:12

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Episode #99 – Bridging Cultures and Styles with Jesús Florido In this vibrant episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we welcome the incomparable Jesús E. Florido—a genre-defying violinist, passionate educator, and global clinician whose music and teaching transcend borders. Classically trained yet wildly versatile, Jesús brings a rich fusion of …

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98. Dr. James Mick of Ithaca College discusses college teaching, his research, and more! 49:45

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Episode #98 – Dr. James Mick discusses college teaching, his research, and more! In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. James Mick, Professor of Music Education at Ithaca College, for an insightful conversation on the art and heart of string education. With a wealth of experience as a conductor, pedagogue, …

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97. Inspiring the Next Generation: A Conversation with Daniella Valdez of CYSO String Ensembles and Maine West High School in Des Plaines, IL 46:55

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Episode 97 – Inspiring the Next Generation: A Conversation with Daniella Valdez In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Daniella Valdez, a dynamic music educator, conductor, and advocate for orchestral excellence. As the Director of String Ensembles at the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) and Director of…

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96. A Legacy of Excellence: Bill Bitter on Four Decades of Music Education 42:16

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Episode 96 – A Legacy of Excellence: Bill Bitter on Four Decades of Music Education In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, I am honored to welcome the legendary Bill Bitter, a powerhouse in music education with over 40 years of experience in Gilbert Public Schools, Arizona. Mr. Bitter dedicated his career to shaping young musicians, teac…

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95. Dr. Geoff Neuman from the State College of Florida discusses his career, his teaching, performing, and philosophy. 45:30

9M ago45:30

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In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we sit down with the incredibly talented Dr. Geoff Neuman, a seasoned conductor, educator, and bassist. Dr. Neuman currently serves as the Director of Instrumental Music at The State College of Florida, where he leads The Bradenton Symphony and SCF Symphonic Band. With over 25 years of experience in…

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94. Georgia Ekonomou discusses her amazing career, her philosophy of an orchestra program, and her work on the ASTA Emeritus Committee. 48:11

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In episode 94 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we are honored to welcome the esteemed Georgia Lambros Ekonomou. With an impressive career spanning decades, Georgia has made a profound impact on string education in Georgia and beyond. As the former director of orchestras at the Paideia School and the Lovett School, she has led ensembles to national…

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93. An insightful conversation with Dr. Mark Laycock on mentorship, music education, orchestral leadership, conducting and more 42:33

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🎻 Episode #93 – A Lifetime of Orchestral Excellence with Dr. Mark Laycock 🎶 In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we are honored to welcome Dr. Mark Laycock, Professor of Music at Wichita State University, where he holds the Ann Walenta Faculty of Distinction Endowed Professorship. As Director of Orchestras and Coordinator of Strings, D…

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Sponsorship Announcement - Kaleidoscope Adventures! 1:10

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I am proud to announce that The Orchestra Teacher Podcast is now sponsored by Kaleidoscope Adventures! As a leader in the student travel industry for 30+ years, Kaleidoscope Adventures exceeds expectations for student and performance group travel.Learn more at https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast…

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92. Inspiring Excellence in Music Education with Stephen Lawrence-Carroll 41:32

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🎻 Episode #92 – Inspiring Excellence in Music Education with Stephen Lawrence-Carroll 🎶 In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Stephen Lawrence-Carroll, an esteemed music educator and Director of Orchestral and Music Theory Activities at North Atlanta High School in Atlanta, GA. As the Fine and Performing Arts …

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91. Kiana June Weber, an American-Irish Fiddler, educator, and entrepreneur discusses her career and implementing fiddling into the classroom and her teaching 31:09

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Episode #91: Fiddling in the Classroom with Kiana June Weber In this exciting episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we welcome Kiana June Weber—renowned American-Irish fiddler, educator, and entrepreneur—to discuss her inspiring journey and how teachers can incorporate fiddling into the classroom. A visionary educator and thought leader, Kiana …

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90. Building Bridges: Fostering Collaboration Between Band and Orchestra Directors with Susan Abell & Nick Blue 56:23

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Building Bridges: Fostering Collaboration Between Band and Orchestra Directors In this special episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we welcome two outstanding music educators, Susan Abell and Nick Blue, to discuss the importance of building a collaborative and supportive relationship between band and orchestra directors. Far too often, band an…

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89. Jessie Fuchs, Orchestra Director at Kell HS, in Marietta, GA, discusses an upcoming presentation at the ASTA national conference. 27:45

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In this special episode, hosts Charles Laux and Jessica Fuchs dive into their upcoming presentation at the ASTA National Conference:Compare, Contrast, Collaborate: Perspectives from Early and Late Career Experiences. Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of orchestra education through the lens of both new and seasoned educators. We’ll discus…

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88. Amy Clement and Sarah Ball discuss their careers and decades of co-teaching at North Gwinnett Middle School 36:45

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Amy Clement has taught orchestra in Gwinnett County since 1997. She is currently in her 16th year as one of the orchestra directors at North Gwinnett Middle School. Orchestras under the direction of Ms. Clement have consistently received superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation and her students also participate in solo/ensemble, count…

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87. Harrison Cook discusses his program at Kennesaw Mountain High School 34:23

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The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Special Guest Harrison Cook 🎻 In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we welcome Harrison Cook, Director of Orchestras at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Cobb County, Georgia. Now in his ninth year of teaching, Harrison brings a unique perspective to the classroom, having transitioned from a full-time care…

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86. Building an Orchestra Legacy: Insights from Angela Harman of OrchestraClassroom.com 28:25

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In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, I have a conversation with Angela Harman, a dynamic music educator and leader in the string education community. Angela teaches orchestra in Utah’s Nebo School District, where her dedication and passion have grown her program to include over 360 students daily. Angela is also the founder of Orchestr…

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85. A Conversation with Christine Gero, Orchestra Director at Roosevelt HS in Seattle, WA 58:42

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In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Christine E. Gero, an accomplished conductor, violinist, and music educator. 🎧 Tune in to learn more about Ms. Gero’s unique path, her experiences as a violinist and educator, and her thoughts on keeping orchestra education vibrant and relevant in today’s world. Don’t miss th…

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84. Advancing String Education: A Conversation with Dr. David Pope 34:36

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David Pope serves an Associate Professor of Music Education at Baldwin Wallace University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. In addition, he is also a senior conductor and camp director for the Baldwin Wallace University String Orchestra Camp and serves as a string clinician for Alfred Music. As an active adjudicator and clinician, he has conducted…

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Trailer for Episodes 84, 85, & 86 - Weekend of January 24, 2025 1:21

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Weekend Preview!! Some fantastic episodes coming this weekend! A trifecta of greatness -- college, high school, and middle school specialists!! Friday is Dr. David Pope from Baldwin Wallace University. Saturday I have Christine Gero who is orchestra director in Seattle, Washington. Then on Sunday is the incredible Angela Harman, Orchestra Director …

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83. David Doke discusses his career, his incredible school orchestra trips, some repertoire, and his transition to retirement 45:33

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David Doke is a dedicated and accomplished music educator with over 30 years of experience in orchestra program development and conducting. He spent his teaching career in the Cobb County (GA) School System, where he holds the notable achievement of founding two high school orchestra programs. His teaching journey began in 1994 as the founding dire…

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82. Ben McWhorter, orchestra director at Tates Creek HS in Lexington, KY discusses his unique program including professional chamber music coaching, a peer tutoring program, and more. 53:49

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Ben McWhorter is the orchestra teacher at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky. Known for his professional, engaging, and collaborative approach to teaching, Ben’s orchestras have consistently earned “Distinguished” ratings at district performance assessments during his 19 year tenure. In 2023, Ben implemented a middle school mentoring pr…

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81. Tom Chen talks about his program at Carmel High School, selecting repertoire, working with younger high school orchestras, and more. 56:22

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Thomas Chen is Director of Orchestras at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. Under his direction, the Carmel High School Symphony Orchestra earned regular appearances at the Indiana State School Music Association State High School Concert Finals, produced a recording of Dvorak Symphony No. 9, and performed at The Midwest Clinic in 2019 and 2024.…

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80. Lauren Roznowski Hayden discusses her MS program with over 300 students! 30:54

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This the LAST episode for 2024! Thank you for the support this year! A ton of great content coming your way in 2025!About episode #80...Lauren Roznowski Hayden works for Longfellow Middle School, as orchestra teacher to more than 315 students. She has been a public school teacher for over 17 years, teaching orchestra at the elementary, middle, and …

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79. Dr. Rachael Keplin discusses free improvisation and mindfulness and it's impact on string teaching and learning. 51:32

1y ago51:32

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In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Rachael Keplin—a versatile violist, string educator, and free improviser—for a deep dive into the world of free improvisation, mindfulness, and their transformative impact on learning to play stringed instruments.Dr. Keplin shares her unique approach to fostering creativity and connection through …

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78. Special episode with alumni to discuss orchestra's impact on success in the real world! 1:14:54

1y ago1:14:54

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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 tra…

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Trailer for Episodes 78 & 79 1:11

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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 JuangSunday, December 8 - Episode #79 with Dr. Rachael Keplin

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77. Conversation with Vinny Conrod, Orchestra Director at Innovation High School in Orlando, FL 34:58

1y ago34:58

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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 b…

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76. Bob Phillips reflects on his teaching and career. 51:22

1y ago51:22

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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 an…