Richardson High School
Sara Long is in her twentieth year as Director of Orchestras at Richardson High School. Mrs. Long's orchestras have won numerous outstanding awards and honors during her tenure, including UIL Sweepstakes for many consecutive years. Most recently her orchestra was ranked 19th in the State of Texas. As Director of the Parkhill Junior High Orchestra in 2004-05, the Orchestra earned the distinction of being selected a State Honor Orchestra Finalist by the Texas Music Educators Association. In addition to her teaching experience, Mrs. Long has been a cellist with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Interlochen World Youth Symphony, Texas All-State Orchestra, and Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. She is a former student of Christopher Adkins, principal cellist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Laszlo Varga, and Jim Higgins. Mrs. Long earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Houston (Summa Cum Laude) and a Master of Music from Northwestern University. She is also a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Orchestra Directors Association. During her hours away from work, Mrs. Long enjoys cooking, riding bikes, genealogical research, and most of all, spending time with her husband and their two boys.
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Aaron Fryklund has been teaching orchestra in North Texas for 15 years. He earned his bachelors degree in Music Composition from Oklahoma City University and his masters degree in Music Composition from the University of North Texas. Mr. Fryklund has been playing piano since he was in 4th grade, started violin in 6th grade, and over the course of middle school and high school found a passion for learning new instruments.
As a composer, Mr. Fryklund has seen several of his pieces for string orchestra published by Carl Fischer and performed by young orchestras across the US, and he is one of the current composers for UIL Sight Reading music read in contest by students in Texas and many other states. Mr. Fryklund has enjoyed being a teacher in RISD for the past seven years and is thrilled to be working at RHS alongside Mrs. Long. He also enjoys reading, games (both video and board), and spending time with his wife, Monika, and their sons, Adam and Alex. |
Richardson West Junior High
Angela Sledge is the Richardson West Junior High School Head Orchestra Director. Originally from Abilene, Ms. Sledge earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University as a Summa Cum Laude graduate. In addition to her teaching experience at various summer camps, she has been a violinist and flutist with the Stephen F. Austin Wind Ensemble, Orchestra of the Pines, and Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Sledge is a former violin student of Isador Saslav. In addition to being a violinist, Ms. Sledge is also a flutist and has performed in many symphonies, orchestras, and ensembles. She is a former flute student of Sydney Carlson, Diane Boyd Schultz, and Mary Karen Clardy. She is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, and American String Teachers Association.
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Ethan Gaskin is the Associate Orchestra Director at Richardson West Junior High School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas College of Music. While at UNT, Mr. Gaskin performed in the Symphony Orchestra, worked as a String Project teacher, and studied cello with Professor Horacio Contreras. He enjoys spending his summers teaching at the UNT International Summer Music Institute and is a member of the American String Teachers Association, as well as the Texas Music Educators Association. In his free time, Mr. Gaskin likes to hang out with his friends, play video games, and cuddle with his cat Don Juan.
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Westwood Junior High
Jonathan Roozeboom is the Head Orchestra Director at Westwood Junior High School. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas College of Music. Mr. Roozeboom was a member of the UNT Symphony Orchestra, and studied violin with Philip Lewis. Growing up in Manhattan, Kansas, he was fortunate to study violin with Dr. Cora Cooper and be a part of the Gold Orchestra, a youth orchestra under the direction of Dr. David Littrell. He is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, American String Teachers Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society.
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Sara Cooper is the Associate Orchestra Director at Westwood Junior High. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Music Education, where she studied viola with Dr. Daphne Gerling. After university, Ms. Cooper returned to her hometown of San Antonio where she taught middle school orchestra and performed in small ensembles before returning to DFW. Ms. Cooper enjoys dabbling in sound engineering & production, and actively plays viola and synthesizers in ensembles across Texas. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Orchestra Directors Association.
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RICHARDSON AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
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8:00a
Northwood Hills Roozeboom/Cooper 9:00a Spring Creek Cooper/Roozeboom 1:15p Bukhair Roozeboom/Cooper 2:20p HPPM Cooper/Roozeboom |
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8:00a
ACM Sledge/Gaskin 9:00a MST Sledge/Gaskin 2:15p Dover Sledge Heights Gaskin |