Angela Woo
- Biographical Information
Angela Woo is Director of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, California where nearly 325 students are enrolled in one of three concert bands or three string orchestras. The John Adams ensembles have consistently earned the highest possible ratings at performance festivals, and in 2011, the John Adams MiddleSchool Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the California All-StateMusicEducation Convention as the only middle school concert band in the state to be so honored. An alumna of the University of California, Los Angeles, Ms. Woo earned a Bachelor ofArts in Music Education and Piano Performance, a Master of Education, and a Master of Fine Arts in Conducting. She also holds a Master of Arts in EducationalAdministration from California State University, Northridge. Prior to her appointment to John Adams in 1995, Ms. Woo was Director of Music at Corona delMar High School in Newport Beach, CA where she led the band, orchestra, choral, and jazz ensembles. She was also conductor of the Santa Monica College WindEnsemble.Ms. Woo enjoys an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator with numerous honor groups, conducting symposia, and music festivals throughout the country and internationally.She was the first woman conductor to present premiere performances of the music of Karel Husa and Vincent Persichetti as well as serving as associate conductor for the music of George Crumb and William Schuman at the XIV New Music Forum, directed by Manuel Enriquez, Mexico’s leading composer at the time. Ms. Woo appeared as a guest conductor with the 2018 State Honours Ensemble Program at the Queensland Conservatorium (Griffith University)in Brisbane, Australia.She has been invited by local universities as well as those around the country to lead professional development workshops for music educators at both the middle school and high school levels.Her guest conducting invitations have included the 2004 Kentucky All-State High School Concert Band, the2007 Oregon All-State Middle School Band, the 2014 California All-State Jr. HighConcert Band, and the 2016 Michigan All-State Jr. High Concert Band. Most recently, Ms. Woo conducted the Honors Performance Series 2019 Middle SchoolOrchestra and the 2020 High School Symphony Orchestra, both in Carnegie Hall(New York).Ms. Woo has been recognized by local and national organizations for her contributions and service to music education.Her honors include the 2005 SantaMonica-Malibu District Teacher of the Year from the Santa Monica Rotary Club, the2019 Shining Star Award from Education Through Music-Los Angeles, and the2020 Gold Award by the Southern California School Band and OrchestraAssociation.She was honored atThe Midwest Clinic as a 2012 Legion of HonorLaureate by the John Philip Sousa National Foundation