Webinar: Implementing Bornoff’s String Pedagogy for Diverse Classrooms: From Theory to Practice

George Bornoff and his approach to string pedagogy had a foundational impact on string education in North America. Learn the core philosophy and strategies behind the method and hear from teachers who use it to support goals of equity, agency, expression, and community in their classrooms.

Felipe Morales-Torres has conducted the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras’ Concert Orchestra since 2015, teaches instrumental music education for Northern Kentucky University, and serves as Assistant Director of the Bornoff Foundation for the Advancement of String Education (FASE). He is the co-creator and manager of the FASE Diverse String Teachers Fellowship, a professional development program aiming to advance the inclusion, retention, and overall success of orchestra teachers from underrepresented backgrounds. In 2019, he completed a master’s degree in music education and orchestral conducting at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied bassoon performance and music education as an undergraduate.

Debbie Lyle has directed school orchestras in grades five through twelve and regional youth orchestras for more than 30 years. She was a violin and pedagogy student of George Bornoff, the founder of the Foundation for the Advancement of String Education (FASE, Inc.), and has carried on his mission and vision as FASE’s Executive Director for more than ten years. She is the author of The Bornoff Approach – A Primer and has been a clinician and presented student ensembles in performance at more than 75 colleges and string education conferences.

Joseph Alcocer is a string teacher and mariachi director for the Roswell Independent School District in New Mexico, where he directs the orchestra programs at Goddard and Roswell High Schools and coordinates 12 elementary and four middle school orchestra programs. He serves on the New Mexico ASTA board as Member-at-Large and holds the Bornoff Diverse String Teacher Fellowship.

Jessica Amir has been a sixth through eighth grade orchestra director for Wilbur Middle School in Wichita, Kansas, since 2008. Also a clinician, private studio teacher, performing musician, and national FASE and ASTA presenter, she is a member of the first cohort of FASE’s Diverse String Teacher Fellowship and is certified in Kodály pedagogy levels 1 through 3. Jess plays bass in the local string duo Sunflower Sound and is a union executive board member with the United Teachers of Wichita.

Tom Chester is in his 12th year of teaching, currently serving as orchestra director and Music Department Chairperson at Hoffman Estates High School in Illniois. He previously taught orchestra at Niles West High School and band at Lincoln Middle School in Berwyn, Illinois. He completed his master’s degree in educational leadership at Concordia University in Oak Park. Illinois, in May 2024, and is currently a member of the FASE Diversity Fellowship, actively pursuing certification as a Bornoff teacher.

NAfME presents this live virtual event at no charge to all as a service to the music education profession. To register, you must enter your NAfME member information or create a nonmember account. After registering, check your email for instructions. A recording of this program will be available to all registrants for one week following the live event. Members can also view archived NAfME webinars in the NAfME Academy. The views expressed are those of the presenter; they do not necessarily reflect the views of NAfME.