Middle School Orchestra
Ann Victor 

Ann Victor is an experienced music educator with 36 years of teaching, rehearsing and conducting leadership. She has taught students of all ages in Texas: middle school, high school, and university students. While teaching middle school, her orchestras consistently ranked at the top in the Texas Honor Orchestra Competition. She has received numerous awards and “Sweepstakes Honors” from the University Interscholastic League competitions. Her orchestras have been National Winners in the "Mark of Excellence" awards from the Foundation for Music Education.

Ms. Victor is known for her musical leadership. Her orchestras have performed at The Midwest Clinic International Band, and Orchestra Conference in Chicago six times and at The American String Teachers Association Convention, ASTA, as a featured Orchestra. Her middle school orchestra performances were featured on the website for the "Live from Lincoln Center-Outstanding Student Performances."

Ms. Victor has received many personal awards and honors for her work as an educator, including Campus Teach of the Year for Sartartia Middle School and District Finalist (Fort Bend ISD) for Secondary Teacher of the Year. She was also a finalist for the HEB Excellence in Education award and received the Houston Symphony and Spec's Award for Excellence in Music Education.

In addition to her teaching, she has presented clinics at the Texas Music Educator Association, “Fun in Thumb Position on The Cello” with Dr. Peter Kempter and Courtenay Vandiver, and a clinic with James Drew and Carolyn Vandiver for the Three M's for Managing a Successful Program.

She is a member of several music associations, including the American String Teachers Association, Mu Omicron, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, The National Musicians' Union, and Music Teachers National Association. She has served on numerous occasions as orchestra adjudicator and clinician throughout the state of Texas.

She graduated from The Interlochen Arts Academy. She received her Bachelor's and Master's Degree in music performance from Kent State University. She also completed coursework towards a Doctor of Musical Arts in cello performance and teacher certification at The University of Texas, Austin. Ms. Victor was co-conductor with Carolyn Vandiver at the Houston Youth Symphony String Orchestra for the past 24 years.

She receives immense joy from both her orchestra students and her private studio students, several who now play professionally.


Middle School Orchestra
Dr. LaSaundra Booth 

LaSaundra Booth is a National Board Certified teaching artist, inventor, author, conductor, and arts administrator. Booth was named one of 50 Directors who Make A Difference by School Band and Orchestra Magazine. She has 20 years experience teaching and conducting orchestra at the elementary, middle, high, and collegiate level. All of her performing ensembles received superiorratings in adjudicated music festivals and competitions.

Booth has a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University, a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership, a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a Bachelor of Music from North Carolina Central University. She studied with Dr. Timothy Holley, Alex Ezerman, Jesse L. Suggs, Jr., Kellie Keiser, and Jennifer Wernicke. Booth serves as lecturer of music education at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill and adjunct assistant professor at Shenandoah University. Booth previously served as Director of Strings at Winston-Salem State University. Booth is also project grant manager for the National Association of Music Education’s Connected Arts (CAN) Network, where she oversees the professional development for a national cadre of teacher leaders. This year, she serves as chair-elect for the National Association for Music Education’s Council for Orchestral Education. Booth is an alumni of Sphinx LEAD (Leaders in Excellence, Arts & Diversity), who is known for anchoring discussions on how to make public school orchestra programs more equitable, diverse, and inclusive to all students. Her most recent speaking engagements include Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege Division, Sphinx Connect, the National Association for Music Education’s Town Hall, and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). Booth’s dissertation Factors that Influence the Status of K-12 String Orchestra Programs in North Carolina Public Schools was the first of its kind to focus specifically on string orchestra programs in North Carolina.

Booth has a successful history of establishing diverse, equitable, and inclusive programs at the elementary, middle, high school, and collegiate levels. She founded the Wake Forest Community Youth Orchestra (2013), a non-profit organization that provides expert orchestral instruction and free instruments to youth where orchestra opportunities are limited or do not exist. In her tenure, Booth has grown the organization from 3 students to over 500 Pre-K through 12th grade students across Wake, Franklin, and Vance counties. In April 2021, Booth received the Vance County Champion of the Arts Award for bringing the first after-school string program to the district.

Booth is an accomplished entrepreneur. She is author of Meals for Musicians: Delicious Meals to Fit Your Busy Lifestyle. Booth was awarded a patent for a device to enhance string instruments (USPTO# 20140260902). She was also featured in the 2008 edition of North Carolina Symphony’s Opus magazine and performed on an episode of One Tree Hill, the WB network's hit television series. In December 2022, Dr. Booth co-authored, Finding Light in Dif icult Times: Responding, Creating, & Protecting Intellectual Property, which is a free resource for Orchestra Teachers commissioned by the Library of Congress and the National Association for Music Education.

Booth is in demand as a cellist and guest conductor. She has performed with Integrity Strings, Cellist Ti Awo, Colour of Music Symphony Orchestra, Greensboro Philharmonia, Raleigh Symphony, Duke Symphony, and Durham Symphony. Her most recent appointments include guest conductor of the Intercollegiate Music Association’s String Orchestra (IMA), conductor of NAfME’s All-National Honors Symphony Orchestra, guest clinician for the California Orchestra Director Association and Washoe County School District High School Honors Orchestra in Reno, NV. Booth served as the inaugural conductor for the 2022 Chamber Orchestra conductor for the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles(YOLA) National Festival. Booth accepted the invitation to return as conductor for the YOLA festival in July 2023. Booth was honored to have Maestro Gustavo Dudamel perform as a section violinist to close out the concert as she conducted Arturo Marquez’s Danzon No. 2. Booth served as the Orchestra Headliner for the 2023 Northwest Regional Music Educators Association in Bellevue, Washington. Dr. Booth is excited to serve as clinician for the Georgia Music Educators Association.


9th & 10th Grade String Orchestra
Julie Blackstock

A graduate of Baylor University with a degree in Music Education, Julie Blackstock is currently in her 26th year of teaching and her tenth year as the Director of Orchestras at Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas. Prior to teaching at Liberty, Ms. Blackstock taught in the Carrollton/Farmers Branch Independent School District for sixteen years, twelve of those at Creekview High School. Under her direction, the orchestras in both districts consistently received top awards and honors, including regularly being finalists of the TMEA Honor String and Full Orchestra competitions. The Symphony Orchestra at Liberty High School was also invited to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in December 2015.

Ms. Blackstock has also been a frequent adjudicator and clinician for UIL, Solo/Ensemble contests, festivals, and All-Region/All-District Orchestras throughout Texas, Arkansas, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. She also served as an instructor/conductor at the Baylor University Summer Music Camp for 20 years.

Currently Vice-President of TMEA Region 24, Ms. Blackstock is proud of her memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Mu Omicron, and is honored to be a member of Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers. For six years she served as Orchestra Lead for Frisco ISD, developing curriculum and staff development, facilitating Professional Learning Committees, and mentoring teachers.

Ms. Blackstock is passionate about sharing intimate musical moments and modeling vulnerability through music. One of her core beliefs and philosophies is to create a safe environment in the musical classroom where all students find a place to belong, connect, and express themselves. Cultivating relationships this way is one of her greatest strengths. In a fast-paced society, she believes making music together helps students be aware of and appreciate the world around them.

In her free time, Ms. Blackstock enjoys spending her time reading, tending her flowers and vegetables, watching and feeding birds, and traveling on road trips whenever she can, alongside her cat Little Susie.


11th & 12th Grade String Orchestra 
Tamara Dworetz 

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Tamara Dworetz is a dynamic and electric musical force on the podium. She has conducted the Paris Mozart Orchestra, Boston Pops, Dallas Opera Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony, and Mankato Symphony. She has served as an assistant conductor for the Orchestre de Paris (Klaus Mäkelä), Gürzenich Orchestre Cologne (François-Xavier Roth), BBC Concert Orchestra (Bramwell Tovey) and Atlanta Symphony (Nathalie Stutzmann) and won 2nd prize in the Boston Pops' Leonard Bernstein Conducting Competition. Her 2023-24 season will include a debut with the Arkansas Symphony featuring pianist Conrad Tao. She is thrilled to be the newly-appointed Music Director of the Georgia Philharmonic.

Tamara was recently selected as 1 of 14 candidates from a worldwide pool in the 2022 La Maestra Conducting Competition and Academy for Women Conductors in Paris, France. She was the only US-born conductor selected for the competition and earned a spot as one of 6 semi-finalists. 'Maestra', a documentary directed by Maggie Contreras, features 5 conductors from the competition, including Tamara, and was premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and highlighted on CBS National News as well as international film festivals.

A devoted music educator, Tamara’s musical beginnings took place in the Atlanta Public School System, and she is passionate about leading K-12 and pre-professional musicians in enriching musical experiences. Tamara is the newly-appointed Georgia State University Director of Orchestral Studies & Charles Thomas Wurm Distinguished Professor in Instrumental Music. She has served guest conducting residencies at Boston University School of Music, SUNY Fredonia School of Music, and the Longy Conservatory Orchestra at Bard College and was Music Director of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) Orchestra and Concert Choir and guest conducted the TMEA (Texas) All-State Philharmonic Orchestra and All-Northwest Honor Orchestra. From 2013-16, Tamara was the Director of Orchestras at Lakeside High School where she increased enrollment by 50%.


9th & 10th Grade Full Orchestra
Douglas Droste

Conductor Douglas Droste is recognized as possessing "obvious joy" for making music and a "sure sense of timing" when on the podium. Those under his baton routinely acknowledge his in-depth interpretations, keen sense of communication, and personable ability to empower musicians.

Droste’s guest conducting appearances include the INSO-Lviv Symphony Orchestra (Ukraine), and the orchestras of Kansas City, Indianapolis, Columbus, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Midland-Odessa, Fox Valley (IL), Chappaqua (NY), and the Amarillo Virtuosi. Equally at home in the pit, he has conducted over 30 productions of opera, ballet, and musical theatre. Droste has also led eclectic shows with artists such as Black Violin, Ben Folds, The Flaming Lips, Pink Martini, Michael Cavanaugh, Time for Three, Christian Howes, and Disney’s All-American College Orchestra Alumni, among others. He previously served as Artistic Director of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, where he was praised for dynamic performances, innovative programming, and his rapport with musicians and community.

A dedicated teacher, Droste is Director of Orchestral Studies at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music, where he conducts the Baldwin Wallace Symphony Orchestra and teaches conducting. He regularly programs traditional repertoire, works by underrepresented composers, as well as new music by the composers of today. He also seeks unique collaborations and projects, such as Ron McCurdy’s Langston Hughes Project, sensory friendly concerts for children with special needs, and a recording with Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, “Take Me to the World,” on the Ghostlight label.

As an advocate of music education, Droste serves as conductor of the Music for All Summer Symposium Youth Orchestra and is active as a clinician and adjudicator, including Festival Disney, ASTA’s National Orchestra Festival, and the Music for All National Festival. He has conducted numerous all-state orchestras, as well as the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, and an upcoming engagement with the Music for All Honor Orchestra of America. Droste is a Yamaha Artist and Master Educator.

A talented violinist, Droste has performed with the orchestras of Canton, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Nashville, and the Lancaster Festival, among others. He is also skilled on viola, trumpet, and as a tenor. Droste holds degrees from The Ohio State University and Texas Tech University.


11th & 12th Grade Full Orchestra
Jeffrey Grogan 

Jeffrey Grogan is an internationally-acclaimed conductor and teacher, currently serving as Director of Orchestral Activities at the Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University and Artistic Director of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestras. Recent work includes conducting at the Musikverein in Vienna, Sydney Opera House, Harpa Concert Hall in Iceland, and in Bangkok and Singapore. Grogan serves as a Master Educator for the Yamaha Corporation of America and is on the Advisory Committees of the Midwest Clinic and Music for All. For several summers, he was invited by the LA Philharmonic to conduct alongside Gustavo Dudamel at Disney Hall, a part of the Youth Orchestras of Los Angeles National Festival.

Following his passion for performing and helping to create new music for orchestras, he has collaborated with many composers such as Omar Thomas, Amanda Harberg, Lowell Liebermann, Michael Colgrass, Eric Whitacre, Steven Stucky, and Scott McAllister – as well as soloists Richard Stolzman, Stefan Hoskuldsson, Julian Schwarz, and the Canadian Brass. Grogan worked in studio and on several projects with violinist and composer Mark O’Connor, recording O’Connor’s March of the Gypsy Fiddler with the Ahn Trio and New Jersey Youth Symphony on OMAC Records; a recording which is played on classical music radio throughout the country. Grogan previously served eleven seasons as Education and Community Engagement Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and as Conductor and Artistic Director of the NJSO Youth Orchestras, the InterSchool Orchestras of New York and the New Jersey Youth Symphony. He was the founding Artistic Director of two El Sistema inspired programs in New Jersey: CHAMPS and the Paterson Music Project. Grogan taught for over a decade at the University of Michigan, Ithaca College, and Baylor University and is the former Associate Director of Bands and Marching Band Director at the University of Michigan and Baylor University.