A significant/severe disabilities Orchestra at Annandale High School began as a chance to make music with others and spun into a bigger conversation of what true inclusion actually looks like, and how the lessons taught by the students can be applied to a general education Orchestra class. This session not only outlines why true inclusion in music education is important, but also gives the attendees the tools to start a successful program and a chance to brainstorm creative solutions.
Annie Ray
- Biographical Information
Annie Ray hails from a family of musical performers and
educators in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and began playing piano at the age
of three and harp at the age of five. A graduate of the University of North
Texas in 2017, Annie holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and
Harp Performance. She currently serves as the Orchestra Director at Annandale
High School in the Fairfax County Public School system. Annie is an advocate
for providing universal access to quality music education and is known for founding
and developing creative opportunities to make music accessible to students of
all demographics. Her creation of the FCPS Parent Orchestra helps over 150
parents learn to play their child’s instrument each year and has been featured
in the County School news several times. In addition, the program also partners
with local music colleges to provide hands-on teaching opportunities for future
music educators. This past year, Annie created her Crescendo Orchestra program
to bring the joy of Orchestra to High School students with severe developmental
or intellectual disabilities. In January 2022, this program was acclaimed on
the cover of the Metro section in The Washington Post and she gave the TEDx
talk, “The Sounds of Success” on the topic. Annie’s collective efforts both in
and out of the classroom have received multiple accolades including being
declared “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” in 2019 and 2021 and being named a
quarterfinalist for the 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. She currently resides
in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Irving, their baby girl Eloise, and her
two favorite four-legged hiking buddies: dogs Baymax and Roo.