Conductors
Dr. Eldred Marshall- Symphony Conductor
The Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA) hailed his “dazzling
technique” and his “clean, tidy approach.” Music critic Laurence
Vittes described him as an “illumination in music,” and said of
his all-Beethoven recital: “Marshall presented a recital so full of
musical thrills and beauties, and so in identification with the
composer’s own persona, that, for a few hours, it was as if he
were communing across the centuries to conjure up a rare and
magical musical spectrum.” The Telegraf Online Constanta
(Romania) reported that Marshall “captivated the audience” in
Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 20, which he conducted from the
piano.
Eldred Marshall began studying the piano at age six and played
in public by age seven. His prodigious and inquisitive mind allowed him to master large swaths of the piano
repertoire quickly as well as consistently win top prizes at the competitions he entered as a child. By 16, he
debuted with orchestra, playing Brahms’s Piano Concerto no. 2 in B-flat Major with the Victor Valley Symphony
Orchestra. Before entering into Yale University, where he graduated with honors with a B.A. in Political Science, he
had already performed all over the United States.
The critically-acclaimed pianist has performed in Spain, Italy, the Republic of San Marino, Belgium, Germany,
Romania, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, the People’s Republic of China, and Canada. He has performed the entire cycle of
32 Piano Sonatas of Beethoven in public, from memory, as a concentrated series, twice. Other notable tour
projects include all-Bach piano recital programs, the Goldberg Variations, the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, and
Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations.
As an orchestral conductor, Marshall has led the Ukrainian State Academic Orchestra (Kiev, Ukraine), the Kharkiv
Youth Symphony (Kharkiv, Ukraine), the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra (Pleven, Bulgaria), the Vidin Philharmonic
Orchestra (Vidin, Bulgaria), the Filharmonica Oltenia di Craiova (Craiova, Romania), and the Constanta “Black Sea”
Philharmonic Orchestra (Constanta, Romania). Additionally, he has led several opera productions, such as Mozart’s
Bastien und Bastienne, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte, as well as Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.
The 2023-2024 Season will feature Marshall making his debuts as a pianist with the East Oregon Symphony
Orchestra (Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4) and with the National Symphony Orchestra of Teleradio-Moldova as
pianist and conductor. Further, he will solo with the Symphony Orchestras of Las Colinas, Arlington, and Garland in
May 2024. He will return to Bulgaria to tour three cities with the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra, doubling as
pianist and conductor.
Marshall earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance degree from the University of North Texas (UNT)
in 2018. Additionally, he earned three Master of Music degrees from Southern Methodist University (SMU): piano
(2011), organ (2012) and orchestral conducting (2013). Institutions at which he has taught include Grambling State
University, Texas A&M Commerce, UNT, SMU, and North Texas Central College. His doctoral dissertation topic was
on the art of conducting piano concerti from the piano – performance practice, discipline and whether or not it is
“real conducting.”
Presently, Marshall serves as the Associate Director of Music at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Rockwall,
TX. Additionally, he is the Artistic Director/Conductor of the Mansfield Philharmonic Orchestra, the Music
Director/Conductor of the Music Ministry Conservatory Choir, the founding Artistic Director/Conductor of the
Lucas Chorale, and the Organist/Music Director of Grace Fellowship Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lucas, TX.
Recently, he was the Artist-in-Residence/Associate Director of Music at the First United Methodist Church of
Garland, where he founded and curated the West Avenue B Community Concert Series.
Fletcher Rudd- Symphony Conductor
Fletcher Rudd began his musical journey in the Arlington Independent
School District after joining the string and band programs at Bryant
Elementary. By the time he graduated from James Bowie HS in 2014, Mr. Rudd had performed with the “Spirit of the Volunteers” marching, concert and jazz bands – as well as the chamber, string, and full orchestras. Mr. Rudd also served as Senior Orchestra President as a student conductor under the tutelage of Dianne Campbell and Jennifer Cliborn. In addition to school, Mr. Rudd was a consistent attendee of the UT Arlington Summer Strings Camp coordinated by Royce, Sylvia, and Brian Coatney. From 2012-2014, he was also a member of the Arlington Youth Symphony directed by Dr. Clifton Evans.
Since entering college, Mr. Rudd has remained musically active in the
Dallas-Ft. Worth area as a cellist and conductor. In 2017, Mr. Rudd
co-founded the Next Gen Chamber Players, now known as the Mansfield Philharmonic, serving as an assistant conductor and Education Director. In the span of five years, the orchestra has grown from a dozen string players to a fully staffed symphonic ensemble. His talents have also led to conducting opportunities with Mid-Cities Strings in 2016 and the B Sharp Youth Orchestras in Fort Worth ISD from 2016-2020. Additionally, he has served as
a guest clinician for middle and high school orchestras, judge for pre-UIL performances and as a judge for Texas Solo & Ensemble competitions. Mr.Rudd is a faculty member at Mansfield Summer Strings as an administrator and conductor.
Mr. Rudd is continuing his undergraduate studies in music education at
the University of Texas at Arlington and performs with the UTA Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, the UTASO were invited to perform at the TMEA convention/clinic in San Antonio, TX. Mr. Rudd currently
studies cello with Craig Leffer (Dallas Opera). He has also studied conducting at workshops directed by Dr. Clifton Evans at UT Arlington and Miguel Harth-Bedoya at The Conducting Institute. Mr. Rudd is a cello/double bass instructor in Arlington and Mansfield ISD and an avid concert-goer of local amateur and professional orchestras. Mr. Rudd is a member of Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Orchestra Director Association.
Maranda Shanz- Philharmonic Conductor
Maranda Shanz grew up in Mesquite ISD and started playing double bass at the age of 11 years old. She began playing in one of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra’s ensemble and also played in the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra when she was in high school. She is a 2017 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington where she received her Bachelor’s in Music with emphasis in education. While at UTA, she participated in the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Wind Ensemble as a double bassist. She completed her student teaching in McKinney ISD and then went on to long term substitute teach in Frisco ISD.
Mrs. Shanz began her teaching career in Arlington ISD at Sam Houston High School where she stayed for four years. Now she is in Mesquite ISD at Poteet High School. Throughout her years, she has judged Solo & Ensemble contests, All-Region orchestra, All-State orchestra and Pre-UIL Contests. She has also been on the staff for the University of Texas at Arlington’s Summer Strings and this will be her 2nd year with Mansfield Summer Strings. She is excited to be a co-director of the Philharmonic orchestra this year!
Adriana Medina- Philharmonic Conductor
Adriana Medina is in her sixth year as an orchestra director. She received her bachelors in music education at Texas Christian University where she played violin in the TCU Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Herman Gutierez. After graduating, she began her teaching career as the head director at both North Side High School and Kirkpatrick Middle School in Fort Worth ISD. During her time in Fort Worth, her orchestras earned superior ratings at the UIL Concert & Sight-reading contests.
Currently, she is in her second year in Arlington ISD as the assistant director at Gunn Fine Arts Academy and head director at Jones Academy. Alongside her colleague, Don Sibley, the Gunn orchestras have also received superior ratings and "Best in Class" awards at music festivals. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Medina performs as a freelance musician in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and as a violinist in the Mansfield Philharmonic. During the summer, Ms. Medina is on faculty as a conductor at Mansfield Summer Strings.
During her spare time, she enjoys playing her violin and piano, and composing music. Ms. Medina also enjoys playing video games, watching movies, taking care of her dog, Ripley, and spending time with her longtime partner, Nelson - as well as her friends and family. Ms. Medina is an active member of Texas Orchestra Directors Association and Texas Music Educators Association.
Madison Welch- Concert Conductor
Madison Welch is the Director of Orchestras at Danny Jones Middle School and Mary Lillard Intermediate in Mansfield, TX. Native of West Texas, Ms. Welch previously taught orchestra in Midland ISD for four years before moving to the DFW area. She served as an active violin/viola instructor and performer in the Permian Basin and has been a member of the UTPB Philharmonic Orchestra, Big Spring Symphony Orchestra, and sub in the West Texas Symphony. Ms. Welch graduated with her Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and is currently working on her Masters of Music Education at Texas Tech University. In her four years of teaching, she has had the opportunity to serve as chair of Region 6 All-City Orchestra for MISD, Co-Chair of Midland ISD Honor Orchestra, guest clinic sectionals and rehearsals for Permian Basin orchestras, and teach privately to students ages 6+.
Ms. Welch comes to Mansfield, TX excited to help grow the orchestra program in Mansfield ISD. As an advocate of community programs, Ms. Welch currently performs with the Mansfield Philharmonic Orchestra, various church orchestras and small ensemble gigs. She continues to maintain a private violin studio as well.
Dorian Banks- Concert Conductor
Ms. Banks has been playing viola for over 15 years; starting in her 6th grade year at Lakeview Middle School. She continued orchestra at The Colony High School where she excelled as first chair violist during her junior and senior year. She gained an interest in teaching while gaining experience leading middle school sectionals and student conducting. These opportunities led to her pursuit of music education upon her graduation in 2014.
Ms. Banks enrolled at the University of Texas at Arlington in fall 2014 where she studied viola under Catherine Forbes and performed in the UTA Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Clifton Evans. During college she also had the opportunity to play in various chamber ensembles including string quartets. She completed her student teaching in FWISD at Monnig Middle School and Lamar High School in AISD. She graduated from UTA with a Bachelors in Music Education in 2019.
Ms. Banks began her teaching career in FWISD at Elder Middle School. There she had students make all region and all district, excel in solo and ensemble, and participated in UIL for 3 years. She is now in her 4th year teaching at Brooks Wester Middle School and Asa Low intermediate School in Mansfield ISD. It is her first year in Mansfield Isd and she is excited for the journey.
Outside of teaching, Ms. Banks still performs her viola with the Mansfield Philharmonic and Northeast Orchestra. She privately teaches violin and viola from 3rd-high school students. Previously she was the viola instructor at Mansfield Summer Strings and is now the co conductor of the Concert Orchestra.
Faculty
Thao Pham-Violin 1
Kristen Hoffner-Violin 2
Kristen Hoffner-Violin 2
Thao Pham is a violinist/violist with 18 years of musical experience. While obtaining her culinary arts degree at Tarrant County College, she joined the TCC Southeast Orchestra. This led to her involvement in several more ensembles: Northeast Orchestra, Texas Chamber Music Project, and Keene Camerata.
In addition to performing in various
Thao Pham is a violinist/violist with 18 years of musical experience. While obtaining her culinary arts degree at Tarrant County College, she joined the TCC Southeast Orchestra. This led to her involvement in several more ensembles: Northeast Orchestra, Texas Chamber Music Project, and Keene Camerata.
In addition to performing in various summer musicals, Thao has performed as a featured soloist in numerous concerts and teaches privately for piano and strings. She also teaches masterclasses for orchestra students in the Mansfield School District. She won the Arlington Arts League scholarship twice with performances on both violin and viola in 2016 and 2017. When she is not teaching or performing, she gigs around the metroplex as a wedding/event violinist. She previously studied with violinists Tzu-Ying Chan, Ivo Ivanov (Fort Worth Symphony), and Emmanuelle Boisvert (Dallas Symphony). Thao obtained a full scholarship to continue her education in music at Southern Methodist University and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music. During her time there, she studied violin with internationally-acclaimed violinist Chad Hoopes and viola with the co-founder and violist of the Escher String Quartet, Pierre Lapointe. Currently, she is the principal violist of the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, viola section player in the Texarkana Symphony, and in May 2017 Thao was a founding member of the Mansfield Philharmonic where she currently serves as concertmaster and president.
Kristen Hoffner-Violin 2
Kristen Hoffner-Violin 2
Kristen Hoffner-Violin 2
My name is Kristen Hoffner and I am thrilled to be a part of the Mansfield Summer Strings staff! I have taught orchestra for seven years in Fort Worth ISD, Northwest ISD and Mansfield ISD. I earned my Bachelors in Music Performance and my Masters in Music Education from University of Texas at Arlington. Go Mavericks!
My passion lies in t
My name is Kristen Hoffner and I am thrilled to be a part of the Mansfield Summer Strings staff! I have taught orchestra for seven years in Fort Worth ISD, Northwest ISD and Mansfield ISD. I earned my Bachelors in Music Performance and my Masters in Music Education from University of Texas at Arlington. Go Mavericks!
My passion lies in teaching and creating music with students. I believe developing musical skills and knowledge are important, but fostering creativity, self-expression, and promoting a lifelong appreciation and participation in music is also an incredibly important part of my role as an orchestra teacher.
Outside of the classroom I enjoy traveling and being outside with my husband and extremely active toddler, Enzo, and our Great Pyrenees named Aspen. I cannot wait to have an amazing week and create new memories and experiences with the Mansfield Summer Strings students!
Tracy Walker- Viola
Kristen Hoffner-Violin 2
Cassidy Robinson- Cello
Tracie Walker began her studies on the viola at the age of eleven at West Elementary School in Arlington. She is a proud product of Barnett Jr. High and Bowie High School. At sixteen, Walker started her viola studio in the area. During her high school years, she was the principal violist of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, became an All-S
Tracie Walker began her studies on the viola at the age of eleven at West Elementary School in Arlington. She is a proud product of Barnett Jr. High and Bowie High School. At sixteen, Walker started her viola studio in the area. During her high school years, she was the principal violist of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, became an All-State violist in 2014, and regularly attended the UT Arlington Summer Strings Camp. Upon graduating, Ms. Walker accepted a full scholarship to Baylor University School of Music, seeking a Bachelor Degree in Music Education while advancing her viola studies with Dr. Kathryn Steely. While living in Waco, she performed with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra, Waco Symphony, and was involved in the Baylor String Project under the direction of Dr. Michael Alexander.
After earning her BME, Ms. Walker pursued a Masters of Music Degree in Viola Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, studying with Mr. Roger Myers. Her performance experience included the UT Austin Symphony, Round Rock Symphony, Brevard Summer Institute, and the Eastern Music Festival. Accolades include first prize at the Baylor University's 2016 Semper Pro Musica Chamber Competition and Finalist at the 2017 National Association of Negro Musicians Scholarship Competition. From 2021 to 2023, she was the Assistant Orchestra Director at Arlington High School in Arlington ISD.
Ms. Walker is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, and supporter of the Sphinx Organization. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing her guitar.
Cassidy Robinson- Cello
Jessica Harned- Guest Artist
Cassidy Robinson- Cello
Cassidy matriculated in the Arlington Independent School District, graduating in the top 8% of her class. At the elementary level, Cassidy learned cello in her school’s orchestra and continued with orchestra years after under the direction of various music professionals.
Attending Berklee College of Music, she participated in the Symphony
Cassidy matriculated in the Arlington Independent School District, graduating in the top 8% of her class. At the elementary level, Cassidy learned cello in her school’s orchestra and continued with orchestra years after under the direction of various music professionals.
Attending Berklee College of Music, she participated in the Symphony Orchestra and played in various film scoring recording sessions, ensembles, and professional industry gigs. As a composer, Cassidy has scored several student and short films, and continues to work with up and coming film directors.
Cassidy graduated Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music in 2019 and is currently based in the DFW area.
Joseph Fisher- Bass
Jessica Harned- Guest Artist
Jessica Harned- Guest Artist
Joseph Fisher is a double bassist with a love for music of all kinds. Graduating from Linda Keefer's final year at Arlington High School, he received a bachelor's degree in Music Media from the University of Texas at Arlington. Throughout college, he followed his heart and diverse interests - taking film scoring, additional upper levels
Joseph Fisher is a double bassist with a love for music of all kinds. Graduating from Linda Keefer's final year at Arlington High School, he received a bachelor's degree in Music Media from the University of Texas at Arlington. Throughout college, he followed his heart and diverse interests - taking film scoring, additional upper levels of music theory, taking classical bass lessons from Dr. Jack Unzicker and jazz lessons from Brian Mulholland, playing in rock bands, and even writing and self-publishing a book of short fiction. This widespread curiosity is encouraged with his colleagues, friends, and students.
Approaching collaboration and education, Joseph's biggest priorities are comfort and partnership with the instrument and the environment. He owes this understanding to Dr. Unzicker, as well as to one of the world's most important bass players, Francois Rabbath. Joseph makes it a goal to show his students music that inspires him - music that they may not have heard otherwise.
Beyond teaching, Joseph produces, performs, and arranges on albums for other musicians, as well as leading his own ensemble. He is also Creative Director of the game and media company, Thatchsong.
Jessica Harned- Guest Artist
Jessica Harned- Guest Artist
Jessica Harned- Guest Artist
Jessica Joy Harned stands out as an extraordinary artist, unwaveringly committed to crafting inclusive and enlightened environments through performance and her podcast, "Classical Queens." Which delves into the stories of women of color in classical music.
The success of "Classical Queens" spurred Jessica to extend her endeavors into a c
Jessica Joy Harned stands out as an extraordinary artist, unwaveringly committed to crafting inclusive and enlightened environments through performance and her podcast, "Classical Queens." Which delves into the stories of women of color in classical music.
The success of "Classical Queens" spurred Jessica to extend her endeavors into a comprehensive lecture series, thought-provoking youth education programs, collegiate presentations, and dynamic interactive orchestral performances. As a seasoned performer, Jessica has stood alongside ensembles such as the Boise Phil, Boise Baroque, the Black Legacy Project, as well as Mariachi Sol de Acapulco, winners of the Governor's Award for Musical Excellence.
Beyond her connective performances and educational programs, Jessica ventures into diverse musical spheres. She is currently producing a show for Boise’s premiere performing arts center, The Morrison Center. Classical Queens: Our Time, works to innovate the orchestral experience, by commissioning and highlighting new work, showcasing an orchestra in movement, and centering the narrative around BIPOC lives. In all her work, Jessica remains steadfastly devoted to nurturing a culture defined by equity and growth within the realm of music.