Anna Maria Miller
Anna Maria Andrews Miller is in her eighth year as Strings and Full Orchestra Director at Croft Middle Design Center. A native Pennsylvanian, Mrs. Miller received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Duquesne University. She also performed professionally throughout the Pittsburgh area prior to moving to Nashville.
Mrs. Miller has built a thriving String and Full Orchestra program at Croft. Her orchestras have consistently received superior ratings at regional festivals. They have performed at the Tennessee Music Educator’s Association’s State Festival, the Mayor’s State of Metro Address, the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools Conference, The Educational Leadership Learning Exchange and the National Association of Middle Schools Conference. Their reputation for excellence provided them the opportunity to receive an invitation to perform at the 400th Anniversary Celebration of Jamestown in Jamestown, VA. Many students from her program earn superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble Festival and several are selected each year for Mid-State Orchestra.
This year Mrs. Miller begins her tenure as conductor and musical director of the Williamson County Youth Orchestra. This group of highly talented high school musicians from Williamson County and surrounding areas will study and perform a variety of string and full Orchestra repertoire.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Miller serves on several Metro Nashville Public School District committees including District Standards, Textbook Adoption, Standards Assessment, Honors Orchestra, and Contemporary Music Education Professional Development. She is also an instructor for the district Summer Orchestra Camp and has served as a guest conductor at various music festivals. She continues to perform professionally, serves as choir director at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and enjoys sharing her Greek heritage by directing a youth Greek dance program.
Mrs. Miller’s professional affiliation includes membership in the Music Educators National Conference, the Tennessee Music Educators Association, the American String Teachers Association and the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association where she currently serves as Orchestra Chair.
Melissa Edgington
Melissa Edgington began studying violin at a young age. She attended the University of South Carolina and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with emphasis in Instrumental Music Education. Mrs. Edgington has taught at the University of South Carolina String Project (1999 – 2003), was a participant in the USC Symphony, the Lake Murray Symphony, and was the full-time orchestra director at Fulmer Middle School (2003-2006).
During Mrs. Edgington’s time at Fulmer Middle School, the string program more than doubled, growing from only forty string students to over one hundred. Mrs. Edgington has experience teaching private violin lessons, homogenous violin classes, and heterogeneous elementary and middle school string classes. She has also conducted high school ensembles and taught music appreciation and music theory at Ravenwood High School in Williamson County (2006-2007). From 2007-2010, Mrs. Edgington was the full time orchestra director at Poplar Grove Middle School. Once again, under her instruction, the string program experienced substantial growth, with many of her students auditioning and participating in MTSBOA events.
Melissa Edgington has served as the Williamson County Junior Orchestra conductor since it’s inception in January 2007. In addition to conducting the Junior Orchestra, she is currently pursuing a Masters in Violin Performance from Belmont University, teaching private violin lessons and performing various “gigs” around the Nashville area.
When she’s not playing or teaching music, Mrs. Edgington enjoys being a new mom to her baby girl (born July ’10). Mrs. Edgington also enjoys running, hiking, kayaking, the South Carolina Gamecocks and her bunny socks. She loves spending time with her husband and family and is very thankful for everything in her life.
As a music educator, Mrs. Edgington strongly believes in the value and beauty of music. Music provides children with the chance to creatively express themselves while instilling such characteristics as self-discipline, dedication and commitment. Mrs. Edgington strives to be a positive role model for children and hopes to make each child feel needed while awakening their minds to new possibilities. One of her favorite quotes is: ”They may forget what you said, But they will never forget how you made them feel” (Anonymous). Mrs. Edgington teaches because she wants to share music with others and positively influence the lives of children. Mrs. Edgington hopes to teach children to be passionate about music and grow to love it as she does.
Stephanie Anne Dickinson
Stephanie Anne Dickinson began developing her passion for music at a young age. Growing up in a musical family, she was encouraged to become part of the family band as early as possible, and made her stage debut singing “Jesus Loves Me” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at age 4. She then began violin lessons at age 5, and found her true performance instrument, the double bass, by the time she was 9.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Ms. Dickinson went to Kirkwood High School, and through the stellar music program there, began to see the endless possibilities for young people in the realm of instrumental music. It was at Kirkwood where she realized that she would pursue a career in music, and make her life-long goal one of sharing with others the incredible joys she has found in music.
Ms. Dickinson received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, with a double major in Music Education and Double Bass Performance. She then headed down south where she held her first full time school educator position with Memphis City Schools. Here, she taught 4th-8th grade string students. Her middle school orchestras received superior ratings in the regional orchestra festivals, as well as at solo and ensemble festivals. Within her school, Ms. Dickinson enjoyed collaborating with the band and choir teachers, with whom she lead full orchestra concerts, and also lead her students in accompanying the choir.
Upon moving to Nashville, Ms. Dickinson attended Belmont University where she received a Master’s Degree in Double Bass Pedagogy in August of 2010. Here, she was the principal double bassist in the orchestra, and also performed in the pit orchestras for many operas and musicals. As an educator, Ms. Dickinson’s goal is to give students a broad background of music, and utilize as many genres of music as possible. Therefore, while at Belmont she focused on researching how to educate a well-rounded Bassist, which was the topic of her final lecture, recital, and paper.
Currently, Ms. Dickinson is in her first year of teaching for the Williamson County Beginner Reading Orchestra. She is thoroughly enjoying helping her orchestra students take that invaluable first step towards discovering the world of music. Additionally, she teaches bass students at Belmont University, and is a free lance musician, playing all styles of music including orchestral, country, rock-a-billy, bluegrass and rock and roll.
Follow Us!