FSYO Welcomes New Overture Strings Conductor

Sarah Morrison is currently director of the orchestra program at Rochelle School of the Arts in Lakeland, where she teaches second through eighth grade strings, including beginning second and third grade Suzuki Violin, the Amati and Stradivari Orchestras, and the Swinging Strings alternative styles ensemble. Ms. Morrison earned her Master of Music Education and Master of Music in Violin Performance from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Music and Humanities from Rollins College in Winter Park. Ms. Morrison has also completed her Suzuki Violin Book One Teacher Training at the Atlanta Suzuki Institute. Prior to teaching in Florida, Ms. Morrison directed the orchestras at Crownover Middle School in Denton, Texas, from 2002 to 2006, and served as elementary string specialist in the public schools of Salem, Oregon.

Ms. Morrison is an active all-county orchestra clinician, adjudicator, and presenter in Florida and currently serves as Chair of the Florida Orchestra Association Mentoring Committee. She has been invited to conduct all-county orchestras in Polk, Pinellas, and Collier counties and has recently enjoyed presenting string pedagogy clinics at state conference, including, "Teaching Strong Fundamentals in Beginning Strings Class: It's All Fun and Games," "New to Teaching Strings? Great Tips, Ideas, and Strategies," and "Creative Planning for the Middle School Mindset: Got Imagination?" Under Ms. Morrison's direction, the Rochelle Swinging Strings were invited to perform at the 2010 FMEA Clinic-Conference.

Ms. Morrison currently teaches on the faculty of the Florida State University Summer Music Camp, where she directs the Chamber Orchestra and Amati/Guaneri Fiddle Ensemble, and has taught on the faculties of the Polk County Youth Symphony, the Stephen F. Austin University Summer Music Program in Nagadoches, Texas, and the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Ms. Morrison is a violinist and currently enjoys performing with the Imperial Symphony Orchestra of Lakeland. She has also performed as a member of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Bach Festival Orchestra of Winter Park, and the orchestra of the Opera Theater of Lucca, Italy.