AUSTIN YOUTH ORCHESTRA

 

AYO LEADERSHIP

 

Thomas H. Waggoner, Coordinator

  Thomas H. Waggoner is the Director of Fine Arts Programs for the Texas Education Agency. His responsibilities at TEA include the administration of all curricular and instructional aspects of the state's public school art, dance, music, and theatre programs, grades K-12. Mr. Waggoner oversees the Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts, which was established by TEA to support fine arts education in Texas schools. Mr. Waggoner is also a founding member of the newly-established national association, State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education.

  Prior to his appointment at TEA, Mr. Waggoner served as Administrative Supervisor of Fine Arts for the Austin Independent School District (1991-2000). During his tenure as fine arts administrator for Austin ISD, he was one of the co-founders of the Austin Youth Orchestra program. He served as Director of Bands at The University of Mississippi in Oxford (1987-1991) and Associate Director of Bands at Texas State University in San Marcos (1981-1987).

  Mr. Waggoner received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and completed post-graduate studies in Educational Administration at Texas State University, receiving his Mid-Management Certification. Upon completion of undergraduate studies in 1972, he was appointed as Director of Bands at William B. Travis High School in Austin ISD. Mr. Waggoner has conducted All-State, All-Region, and Honor Bands in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas and frequently serves as guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and speaker throughout the United States.

  Mr. Waggoner was the recipient of the 2004 Founders Award from the Texas Educational Theatre Association, Inc., the 2005 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Texas Music Educators Association, and the 2005 Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association. He often writes articles that are published in regional and national journals and is affiliated with many professional arts organizations, including the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Austin Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity.

 Ana Maria Solis, Organizer

  Ana Maria Solis de Herrera is currently the Director of Orchestras at Austin High School in the Austin Independent School District. Previously she was Director at O. Henry Middle School, Lamar Middle School, and McCallum High School. Prior to her appointment as Austin Youth Orchestra Organizer, she served as Co-coordinator and Conductor of the Concertante, Sinfonietta, and Philharmonic Youth Orchestras.

  Mrs. Solis holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Violin Performance and a Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Texas. She has completed certifications in Suzuki Method and conducting workshops at the University of Texas.

  Mrs. Solis has performed internationally with several orchestras in Asia, Latin America, and the United States, including the Ehime University Orchestra in Matsuyama, Japan, the Carlos Chavez Symphony in Mexico City, and the Ohio Light Opera. Mrs. Solis has been invited to speak at music educators conferences in Italy, Sweden, and Latin America on her research on the musical preferences of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the United States.

  In Austin, Mrs. Solis maintains a performance schedule with several chamber groups. She also teaches violin from her private studio at home. Many of her private students have placed in the Texas Music Educators Association All-Region and All-State Orchestras.

 Fidencio Solis, Organizer

  Fidencio Solis was born in Mexico City, Mexico and started playing the violin at age three, giving his first performance at age five. Mr. Solis has played as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Orquesta Juvenil de Camara, Orquesta Vida y Movimiento, Orquesta de la UNAM, Orquesta Sinfonica Carlos Chavez, Orquesta Sinfonica de Oaxaca, Orquesta Sinfonica de Tlaxcala, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

  Mr. Solis has won several violin competitions in his native country of Mexico, and, as a result in 1996, he was awarded a full scholarship to come to the United States to continue his studies at the University of Southern Mississippi where he holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Music Education. Because of his enjoyment of teaching, he has also completed certifications in Suzuki Methods at the Chicago Suzuki Institute.

  In Austin, Mr. Solis maintains a performance schedule with several chamber groups and also teaches violin from his private studio at home. Mr. Solis is currently the Director of Orchestras at O. Henry Middle School in the Austin Independent School District.

 

  William Dick, Coordinator-Emeritus 

  Mr. Dick taught in the Austin schools for 29 years and was conductor of the AISD All-City Orchestra, which reorganized in 1995 as the Austin Youth Orchestra.

  Mr. Dick's teaching career has been distinguished by many awards, including Music Educator of the Year from the American String Teacher's Association and Director of the Year from the Texas Orchestra Director's Association. 

  He is considered a leader in the Suzuki movement in the United States and serves the Suzuki Association of the Americas Board of Directors as liaison officer to the public schools, was co-editor of the public school column of the American Suzuki Journal, has served as the Public School area coordinator for the International Suzuki Teachers Conferences and is the Viola area coordinator for the 2002 International Suzuki Teachers' Conference. He has served as chairman of the Texas U.I.L. violin committee and has trained dozens of All-State Orchestra members (including two concertmasters and one principal violist).

  Mr. Dick's career as a performer includes a variety of experiences: 11 years as a violist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, director and performer for USO Tours of the North Atlantic, a member of Esther's Follies comedy company, and a Best Actor award from the Austin Circle of Theatres.

  In October, 1999, Mr. Dick was presented a "Music of the Heart" Educator Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Sony Corporation, and the National Coalition for Music Education. He now practices from a rosewood replica of the music stand that Meryl Streep used in the movie based on the work of Roberta Guaspari.

Home

For any web issues contact: Sitemanager