Orchestra Adjudicators
Angie Cimbalo serves as the director of the Collin County Youth Orchestra. With 34 years of music teaching experience in Texas she recently retired from Allen ISD. Mrs. Cimbalo has taught in Odessa, the Austin area, Abilene, Amarillo, Richardson and Allen teaching both band and orchestra students at all levels from elementary to college level. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree, magna cum laude, from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. Her groups have been festival and consistent contest winners including consecutive UIL sweepstakes awards, Best in Class awards, Outstanding Orchestra awards. Her orchestras have also placed multiple times in the final rounds of the state Texas Music Educator’s Association’s competition for Honor Orchestra in both string and full orchestra categories. Her high school full orchestra from Richardson High School placed 7th in finals of TMEA Honor Orchestra competition in 1996. The advanced orchestra from Apollo Junior High in Richardson ISD, under the direction of Mrs. Cimbalo was named first in the state three consecutive times and performed for the Texas Music Educator’s Convention in 1999, 2001 and 2003 in San Antonio. The Ereckson MS Chamber Orchestra in Allen ISD, under her direction, also placed in the finals of TMEA Honor Orchestras competition, prior to her retirement in May 2013. Mrs. Cimbalo is an active clinician and adjudicator for TMEA, UIL, and festival events around the state. Her primary instruments are cello, trombone and piano and she has performed with various symphonies and chamber groups over the years. She lives in McKinney with her husband Phil, a cellist, and her special English Springer Spaniel, Maggie. Mrs. Cimbalo has three grown children, Brad, Mallory and Kelsey, and she also has a stepdaughter, Sarah. Mrs. Cimbalo is the proud grandmother to Mariah, Bella, Ethan, Elijah, and Leah! Her hobbies are crafting, cooking and decorating.
Ann Smith is currently the Director or Orchestras at Plano East Senior High School and serves as cluster leader of the Plano East Cluster Orchestra Program. A music educator for 24 years, Mrs. Smith has experience as a violin/viola instructor, performer and orchestra director in the Fort Worth, Arlington, Lewisville, and Plano School Districts. Orchestras under her direction have consistently been awarded the “Sweepstakes Award” for Superior Ratings in University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight Reading for more than 20 years. Orchestras under her direction have also earned “Best in Class” at nationally adjudicated festival throughout the United States. Orchestras under Mrs. Smith’s direction have performed at The Midwest Clinic, International Band and Orchestra Conference and have been named finalist in the Texas Music Educators Association Honor Orchestra Competition as both Full Orchestra and String Orchestra. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. In 2015, she was selected for induction into Mu Omicron Honorary Orchestra Fraternity and is currently serving as the Region 24 Vice President. Ann Smith is formerly a member and chair of the UIL PML New Music Committee. She has also served as Region 24 Orchestra Chair, Region 24 Orchestra Secretary, Region 5 High School Coordinator. Mrs. Smith has also served as Associate Director of the String Orchestra with the Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth. She also maintains an active schedule as a clinician and adjudicator. Ann Smith holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and a Master of Music Education with a Performance Certificate in Conducting from The University of Texas at Arlington. She has been married to her wonderful husband, Phil, for 27 years and has two sons, Andrew 27 and Thomas 23.
Toby Jones is the Director of Orchestras at Paschal High School. He graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Music Education. While at TCU, He held the principal trumpet position in the Symphony under the direction of Dr. German Gutierrez and lead trumpet in the TCU Jazz band under the direction of Curt Wilson. Prior to teaching at Paschal, Mr. Jones taught in the Arlington ISD at Young Jr. High and Arlington High School. In addition to teaching, He is an active musician, playing trumpet and violin in various services throughout the community. He serves as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the state. Professional memberships include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Mariachi ASBA In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wonderful and highly supportive wife Rachel, and his two darling daughters, Grace and Olivia.
Ryan Ross is the Music Director and Conductor of the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra, a professional symphony orchestra in Texas, as well as Director of Orchestras at Plano West Senior High School. He has been privileged to lead four TMEA 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 orchestras are 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 ISD) and Williams MS (Rockwall ISD). 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 Larry Livingston.
Mr. Ross frequently guest conducts and clinics across America. Prior engagements include dozens of all-state, all-region, and district honor orchestras throughout Texas and 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.
Prior to working in Plano, Mr. Ross taught at Lewisville HS (Lewisville ISD) and Williams MS (Rockwall ISD). 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 Larry Livingston.
Mr. Ross frequently guest conducts and clinics across America. Prior engagements include dozens of all-state, all-region, and district honor orchestras throughout Texas and 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.
Charlotte Moellering, who holds a BME from Southwestern University and a M.Ed. from the University of North Texas, is a nationally recognized leader in the field of music education. She is a Past President of TODA and has taught all levels of orchestra from elementary to college.
Twenty-four of her forty plus years were spent as the orchestra director of the Blalack MS
Orchestras in Carrollton, Texas before she retired in 2010. From 2013-2015, she was an adjunct instructor at Texas A & M Commerce, where she taught the string methods courses, applied string lessons and coached a chamber ensemble. As a master teacher, she is currently in her 12 th year as a mentor/coach to first year music teachers in the Lewisville ISD, and is a nationally sought clinician for Eastman Strings and Music and Arts, as well as numerous region and local school orchestras. Actively involved as a state and national adjudicator for Choice Music Events, as well as Texas UIL, she holds memberships in TODA, TMEA, TMAA, Mu Omicron, Phi Beta Kappa and is an honorary Texas PTA life member. She has served as the Orchestra Vice- President of TMAA, leading UIL adjudicator training workshops. Ms. Moellering is listed in multiple editions of Whos Who of American Women and is a recipient of the National DAR Community Service Award.
At her church, Ms. Moellering directs the intergenerational community orchestra she founded in 2000. She and her wife enjoy travelling and spending time with grandchildren.
Twenty-four of her forty plus years were spent as the orchestra director of the Blalack MS
Orchestras in Carrollton, Texas before she retired in 2010. From 2013-2015, she was an adjunct instructor at Texas A & M Commerce, where she taught the string methods courses, applied string lessons and coached a chamber ensemble. As a master teacher, she is currently in her 12 th year as a mentor/coach to first year music teachers in the Lewisville ISD, and is a nationally sought clinician for Eastman Strings and Music and Arts, as well as numerous region and local school orchestras. Actively involved as a state and national adjudicator for Choice Music Events, as well as Texas UIL, she holds memberships in TODA, TMEA, TMAA, Mu Omicron, Phi Beta Kappa and is an honorary Texas PTA life member. She has served as the Orchestra Vice- President of TMAA, leading UIL adjudicator training workshops. Ms. Moellering is listed in multiple editions of Whos Who of American Women and is a recipient of the National DAR Community Service Award.
At her church, Ms. Moellering directs the intergenerational community orchestra she founded in 2000. She and her wife enjoy travelling and spending time with grandchildren.
Briana Howland grew up in Arlington, TX and graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2012. She is currently the Director of Orchestras at South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, TX. Ms. Howland has also taught at Garner Fine Arts
Academy, Reagan Middle School, and Truman Middle School, all of which are in Grand Prairie. While at Reagan Middle School, Ms. Howland earned Sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sight
Reading for 6 years in a row and grew the size of the program from 45 students to 150. Professional memberships include Texas Music Educators Association, where she has served as Region 20 Orchestra chair, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association.
Academy, Reagan Middle School, and Truman Middle School, all of which are in Grand Prairie. While at Reagan Middle School, Ms. Howland earned Sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sight
Reading for 6 years in a row and grew the size of the program from 45 students to 150. Professional memberships include Texas Music Educators Association, where she has served as Region 20 Orchestra chair, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association.
Louise Rossi-Sklar retired in June 2018 from Highland Park ISD in Dallas, TX where she was the Orchestra Director at Highland Park Middle School for 3 years. She was previously the Orchestra Director at Blalack Middle School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD for 7 years. Her groups consistently earned the UIL Sweepstakes Awards. Louise was one of the assistant conductors of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestras, a position she held for 19 years as well as a private Suzuki violin & viola instructor. She, also, taught String Techniques at SMU for 10 years. Originally from Ohio, Louise received her Bachelor of Music Education from Youngstown State University and a Master of Music from Southern Methodist University. She is active as a clinician and judge throughout the state of Texas and is a freelance violinist in the Dallas area. Louise is a member of the American String Teachers Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, The Suzuki Association of the Americas and has presented clinics on multiple occasions at the annual conventions of TODA and TMEA.
Contact:
877-940-0036
Cell: 817-312-1045
*It is best to email or text during festivals*
Cell: 817-312-1045
*It is best to email or text during festivals*
