The mission of the council is to advance orchestral music education by supporting and advising orchestral music educators in their professional endeavors and to have influence in the development of new and quality string programs nationally.

 

Head back-to-school with these tips from members of the NAfME Council for Orchestral Education

Find Council resources in the NAfME Resource Library, searchable by teaching area, level, type of resource, and more.
LaSaundra Booth Headshot

LaSaundra Belcher

Professional Development Content Manager, Chair for Council for Orchestral Education

LaSaundra Belcher is a National Board Certified teaching artist, inventor, author, conductor, and arts administrator. Belcher was named one of 50 Directors who Make A Difference by School Band and…

Council Members

LaSaundra Belcher (2024-2026) Chair
Executive Director
 Wake Forest Community Youth Orchestra
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Elizabeth Fortune, (2024-2026) Past Chair
Associate Director
Washington Music Educators Association
Seattle, Washington
Emily Schaad (2024-2026) Eastern Division Representative
Director of Orchestral Activities
State University of New York at Fredonia
Fredonia, New York
Brett Noser (2025-2027), North Central Division Representative
Lincoln High School Music Department Chair, Orchestra, IB Music Director of Los Mariachis de la Ciudad Estrella (LPS All-City Mariachi)
Lincoln Public Schools
Lincoln, Nebraska
Jerilynn Harris (2024-2026), Northwest Division Representative
Orchestra Director, Odyssey Program at the Libby Center 
Spokane Public Schools
Spokane, Washington
Annie Ray(2025-2027), Southern Division Representative
Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department Chair
Annandale High School
Annandale, Virginia
Brigido (Beau) S. Garza (2024-2026), Southwestern Division Representative
Director of Orchestras
Midland Legacy High School
Midland, Texas
Angela Harman (2025-2027), Western Division Representative
Orchestra Director
Nebo School District
Mapleton, Utah
Krissi Davis (2025-2026), Member-At-Large Representative
Orchestra Director
Midtown High School
Atlanta, Georgia
Tonya Suggs (2025-2026), Member-At-Large Representative
String Instructor
 Wake Forest Community Youth Orchestra 
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Rosalind-Denise Rogers (2025-2026), Member-At-Large Representative
Orchestra Teacher / Founder/ Executive Director
East St Louis - Lincoln Middle School/ Inner Ear Foundation
East St Louis, Illinois
Joe Dyvig
National Executive Board Liaison
NAfME
Olympia, Washington
Lisa Mink, Staff Liaison
Constituency Engagement Manager
NAfME
Virtual Symposium on Music Education and Students with Disabilities and/or Living in Poverty. Saturday, November 15, 2025. A free, virtual event for music educators
September 2025 Music Educators Journal cover art. Now available online. The latest issue of Music Educators Journal.
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