High School String Orchestra Rehearsal Lab
Clinic Synopsis:
In this rehearsal lab, Ross will demonstrate rehearsal strategies and concepts with an emphasis on practical pedagogy that you can implement in your ensemble rehearsals as early as tomorrow. The shared strategies are as equally applicable to a group “firing on all pistons” as they are to an ensemble in a rebuilding situation, and while some ideas are “tried and true,” others may open new avenues on ways to help your students better understand their role in music making. The rehearsal lab will feature the wonderful musicians of Anne Tschetter at Penn High School (Indiana).
Ryan Ross
- Biographical Information
Ryan Ross is the Director of Orchestras at Plano West Senior High School, as well as Music Director and Conductor of the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra, a professional symphony orchestra. He has been privileged to lead four TMEA “state championship” Honor Orchestras, including the 2019 string orchestra, 2018 full orchestra, and 2016 string orchestra at Plano West and the 2014 full orchestra at Jasper High School (the only non-varsity orchestra ever to earn that distinction). His ensembles have also been the recipient of several additional recognitions, including a 2018 invitational performance at The Midwest Clinic and National Winner status in the Mark of Excellence National Orchestra Honors and The American Prize for Orchestral Performance. Prior to working in Plano, Mr. Ross taught at Lewisville HS (Lewisville, TX) and Williams MS (Rockwall, TX). In addition, he served for five years as Music Director of the East Texas Youth Orchestra in Tyler and four seasons as Artistic Director and Conductor for the Dallas Festival of Modern Music and its resident professional chamber ensemble, Ars Nova Dallas. Originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, Mr. Ross earned his bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from Texas Tech University. His principal conducting teachers are Gary Lewis and Donald Schleicher, supplemented by additional study with Marin Alsop, Gustav Meier, Larry Rachleff, and Kenneth Woods. Mr. Ross frequently guest conducts and clinics across America. Prior engagements include dozens of all-state, all-region, and district honor orchestras throughout Texas, as well as in Oklahoma, Florida, Alaska, Arkansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Utah. He holds membership in TMEA, TODA, and TMAA, and he has presented clinics on multiple occasions at the annual conventions of TODA, TMEA, and The Midwest Clinic. Mr. Ross is a contributing author in volume 4 of the GIA Publications Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra.
Anne Tschetter - Biographical Information
Anne Marie Tschetter is the Orchestra Director at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana. Penn High School, located in North-Central Indiana, is the only high school in the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation serving over 3300 students. Penn is consistently a high performing school with a graduation rate of 98% and over 50% of students graduating with Academic Honors diplomas. Anne received her undergraduate degree in music education (B.M.E.) from Grand Valley State College and her graduate degree in Music Performance on Viola (M.M.) from the University of Notre Dame. Originating from Lansing, Michigan, Mrs. Tschetter is in her 38th year teaching and has taught orchestra in Oconee County South Carolina (1984-86), South Haven Public School District in South Haven, Michigan (1986-88), South Bend Community School Corporation in South Bend, Indiana (1988-1996), and Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (1996-present). The Penn High School Orchestras have received Gold ratings in competitions, and With Distinction awards at Indiana State School Music Association competitions. They have performed in at the National Orchestra Cup in NYC, multiple times in Orlando, and will compete in the ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta, Georgia in March 2022. Anne has received the PHM Teacher of the Year award in 2017, the INASTA Middle School Orchestra Teacher of the Year in 2016, and the Michiana Outstanding Music Educator Award in 2015. She is a violist, violinist, and cellist and performs with the Indigo String Quartet and local symphonies on an as need basis. She has performed with the South Bend Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Elkhart Symphony, LaPorte Symphony, West Shore Symphony, Kent Philharmonia, Greenville Symphony, Anderson Symphony, and others. Professional memberships include: National Education Association, Indiana Music Educators Association, American String Teachers Association, and the National Association for Music Education.
Zac Coudret - Biographical Information
Zac Coudret is in his fifth year as the Assistant Orchestra Director at Penn High School. He is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelors of Arts in music education and has been teaching orchestra since earning his degree in 2010. Mr. Coudret has taught orchestra in the Eastern Howard School Corporation, the South Bend Community School Corporation, the Goshen Community Schools and currently teaches in the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. Mr. Coudret’s orchestras have competed in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) competitions and earned Gold with Distinction ratings for their performances. Mr. Coudret was one of the conductors of Goshen’s 2015-16 8th Grade Orchestra that performed at the Indiana Music Education Association (IMEA) state conference. Outside of the school day, Mr. Coudret coaches viola sectionals for the South Bend Youth Symphony and enjoys playing the viola in orchestras and small ensembles when possible. He also has previously been in the viola section of the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra. He and his wife, Christine, have three beautiful little children. He enjoys spending time and sharing the joys of music with his family.
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