|
LMMS Orchestra
The orchestra program at Lost Mountain Middle School has been in existence since the opening of the school in 1992. The past orchestra directors were Erin Barnett and Jule Anderson-Cutcliff. The present orchestra director, Linda DeMerritt-Stephens has been with the program since 2000.
The orchestra program boasts over 300 members in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. The program offers orchestral instruction for beginning, intermediate, and advanced performers. The course is taught on a daily basis throughout the school year. The program is also enhanced by before school programs - the violin and cello choirs, and advanced chamber ensembles. These groups meet once a week and perform for the community outreach programs. The orchestra program has received numerous awards. The eighth grade orchestra was accepted to perform at G.M.E.A convention at Savannah in 2011 and 2014. The seventh and eighth grade orchestras have received consecutive Superior ratings at the Cobb County Middle School Large Group Festival in both performance and sight-reading. They have also been accepted to perform for Walt Disney World's Magic Music Days for the past fourteen years. The seventh and eighth grade orchestras have also performed at the State Capitol with former Governor Sonny Perdue conducting! We have had numerous students received Superior ratings at Solo and Ensemble Festival, place into the Cobb County Middle School Honors Orchestra, and G.M.E.A All-State orchestra. |
The Director
|
Ms. Linda Stephens is in her 15th year as the director of the Lost Mountain Middle School Orchestra Program in Cobb County. The orchestra program boasts over 300 students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade levels. Under Ms. Stephens' guidance, the Lost Mountain Orchestras have received Superior ratings at Large Group Festival. The 8th Grade Chamber Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2011 and 2014 Georgia Music Educator's Conference. For the past 12 years, the eighth grade orchestras have been invited to perform at Disney World and the Georgia State Capitol.
From 1996 until 2000, Ms. Stephens was Director of Orchestras at Harrison High School in Cobb County. The Harrison Orchestras received consecutive Superior ratings at the state and regional festivals. In 1998, the Harrison Chamber Orchestra was chosen to perform at the Georgia Music Educator's Association state conference. That same year, Ms. Stephens was selected as Who's Who Among America's Teachers and was presented the Cobb County Award of Excellence. During her 19 years of teaching in Cobb County, Ms. Stephens has served as Treasurer for the Georgia Music Educator's Association District 12, High School Honors Orchestra Chairman, Middle School Honors Orchestra Chairman, Strings Jamboree Coordinator, and Middle School Large Group Orchestra Festival Chairman. Ms. Stephens has had the privilege to conduct and adjudicate numerous orchestra festivals and Honors programs throughout the state of Georgia. She is also on staff with Encore Music camp and has conducted the Gwinnett Tapestry Festival. Prior to teaching in Cobb County, Ms. Stephens taught with the Omaha, Nebraska and Arlington, Texas Public Schools. In Omaha, she was conductor and educational coordinator of the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras and Honors Orchestra Program. Her Texas Junior High programs consistently received Superior Ratings at the University of Inter-Scholastic League Contests. In addition to her public school teaching, Ms. Stephens is a certified Suzuki Violin Specialist. She has taught Suzuki for the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras, the Youth Orchestras of Greater Fort Worth and the University of Texas at Arlington. Ms. Stephens earned her Bachelor of Music Education Degree and a Minor in Violin Performance from Tulsa University. As a violinist, she has performed with the Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Philharmonic, Denton Bach Society and the Fort Worth Symphony. Ms. Stephens resides in Marietta, Georgia, with sons Paul (percussionist) and Dean (cellist). |
Assistant Director
Jarod Boles is the Assistant Orchestra director at Lost Mountain Middle School, a double bassist, and private instructor actively freelancing in the metro Atlanta area. In addition to teaching, Mr. Boles is currently a member of the Peach State Orchestra, and sub for the Augusta Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and frequently plays in an array of shows in midtown. His most recent performances have included playing with Actors Express in Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” the musical, as well as Lucas Craig’s “The light at the Piazza”.
A Georgia native, Mr. Boles received his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Kennesaw State University and attended Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
Outside of the teaching and performance realm, Mr. Boles has maintained an active presence in Arts Administration. While attending KSU, he served as a student assistant at the Dr. Bobby Baily Performing Arts Center for three years and served as Assistant House services manager for the 2013-2014 season. More recently, he has acted as a Production Assistant for the KSU College of the Arts, and currently serves as an Operation Coordinator/sectional coach for the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra.
In his free time, Mr. Boles enjoys frequenting his Crossfit Gym, practicing Olympic Weightlifting, trying to cook, and spending time with his cat, Berlioz.
A Georgia native, Mr. Boles received his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Kennesaw State University and attended Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
Outside of the teaching and performance realm, Mr. Boles has maintained an active presence in Arts Administration. While attending KSU, he served as a student assistant at the Dr. Bobby Baily Performing Arts Center for three years and served as Assistant House services manager for the 2013-2014 season. More recently, he has acted as a Production Assistant for the KSU College of the Arts, and currently serves as an Operation Coordinator/sectional coach for the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra.
In his free time, Mr. Boles enjoys frequenting his Crossfit Gym, practicing Olympic Weightlifting, trying to cook, and spending time with his cat, Berlioz.
