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Julie BlackstockA graduate of Baylor University with a degree in Music Education, Julie Blackstock is in her fourth year as the Director of Orchestras at Liberty High and serves as Orchestra Lead for Frisco ISD. Prior to teaching at Liberty, Ms. Blackstock taught in the Carrollton/Farmers Branch Independent School District for sixteen years, twelve of those at Creekview High School. Under her direction, the orchestras at Creekview consistently received top ratings in UIL contests and at festivals around the country and were finalists in the TMEA Honor Orchestra Competitions. During her first at Liberty, the Camerata Orchestra placed 5th in the finals for the TMEA Honor String Orchestra Competition and the Liberty Symphony Orchestra was named first runner-up in the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra Competition. The symphony orchestra was also invited to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in December 2015. In the fall of 2016, Camerata Orchestra placed 3rd in the TMEA Honor String Orchestra Competition and then was again named runner-up in the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra Competition in July of 2017.
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Ms. Blackstock has also been a frequent adjudicator and clinician for UIL, Solo/Ensemble contest, festivals, and All-Region Orchestras around the country. During the summers, she regularly works at the Baylor University High School Orchestra Camp as a cello section leader and directs one of the chamber orchestras. She has has served as Assistant to Kevin Krentz, Music Director of the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival in Winthrop, WA, and has mentored students from Seattle University.
Formerly the Region 24 Orchestra Division Chair, Ms. Blackstock is proud of her memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Mu Omicron, and is honored to be a member of Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers. She also served on the University Interscholastic League’s Prescribed Music List committee which chooses selections to be included on the PML for UIL contest performances.
When not at work, Ms. Blackstock enjoys spending her time reading, watching movies, hanging out with her niece Maike, nephew Noah, taking photos, and dreaming of traveling in the summers.
E-mail: blackstockj@friscoisd.org
Formerly the Region 24 Orchestra Division Chair, Ms. Blackstock is proud of her memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Mu Omicron, and is honored to be a member of Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers. She also served on the University Interscholastic League’s Prescribed Music List committee which chooses selections to be included on the PML for UIL contest performances.
When not at work, Ms. Blackstock enjoys spending her time reading, watching movies, hanging out with her niece Maike, nephew Noah, taking photos, and dreaming of traveling in the summers.
E-mail: blackstockj@friscoisd.org
Victoria LienMs. Victoria Lien is the Assistant Director of Orchestras at Liberty High School in Frisco ISD. Born in Plano, Texas, she began her musical career with piano at the age of five and continued with viola throughout school. Growing up in the Dallas metroplex has given her many opportunities, including performing with both the Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra as the principal violist and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. Ms. Lien earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Performance with teacher certification (Summa cum Laude with Honors from the Honors College) from Texas Tech University where she studied with Dr. Katrin Meidell and Dr. Kimberly Sparr. During her time at Texas Tech, she taught in String Project, led by Dr. Blair Williams, and led viola sectionals in the high schools. As an orchestral violist, Ms. Lien has also performed with the Texas Tech Symphony Orchestra as well as the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. In her last year at Texas Tech, she was awarded the honor of winning the 2015-2016 Presser Award. She also recently graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master of Music Education degree under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Elizabeth Chappell. At Liberty, Ms. Lien not only teaches her classes, but also leads and teaches Parent+Teacher Orchestra, a group of beginner parents and teachers who meet once a week to learn to play. In 2021, she was awarded the Teacher of the Year award for Liberty High School. When she is not teaching or playing, Victoria likes to craft and draw, travel, run, and try new foods. She is aiming to be more sustainable. E-mail: lienv@friscoisd.org |
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Yumiko Endo SchlafferYumiko Endo Schlaffer has been steadily gaining a reputation as a masterful artist ever since her impressive American debut recital in May 2000 at the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York, shortly after completing her Masters degree from the Juilliard School. She has been a recipient of numerous awards, including First Prizes in the Japan International Harp Competition –in both Young and Advanced divisions. Ms. Endo Schlaffer is one of the most distinguished harpists in her native Japan, and she was honored with the opportunity to perform at the Imperial Palace for Her Majesty the Empress and Her Royal Highnesses. In 2004 and 2006, she gave her major solo recitals in Tokyo to sold out audiences, and was soon after invited to perform as a soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Ms. Endo Schlaffer has performed throughout the US, Europe and Asia, and her solo engagements include appearances with Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Allen philharmonic, and Irving Symphony Orchestra. She had been also invited as a solo artist by Chicago Chamber Musicians, Basically Beethoven Festival in Dallas, The Wartburg Symphony, Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony among others. |
Yumiko is also an accomplished orchestral harpist, she has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic as well as Dallas Symphony Orchestra. From 2001 through 2004, she served as the principal harpist of the New World Symphony Orchestra, where she was featured as a concerto soloist in 2002 and 2004.
Ms. Endo Schlaffer began her musical training at the age of three and learned musical theory and Piano. While taking lessons with Ayako Shinozaki, she received her Bachelors degree from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. She also studied extensively throughout Europe with Marie-Claire Jamet and Isabelle Moretti of France, and Marisa Robles of England. Ms. Endo Schlaffer earned her Masters degree from The Juilliard School where she studied with Nancy Allen, principal harpist of the New York Philharmonic. She then pursued her further studies with Sarah Bullen, principal harpist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Endo Schlaffer has been serving as a board member of American Harp Society in Dallas since 2007 and has been the president since 2015.
Website: http://www.YumiHarp.com
E-mail: schlaffy@friscoisd.org
Ms. Endo Schlaffer began her musical training at the age of three and learned musical theory and Piano. While taking lessons with Ayako Shinozaki, she received her Bachelors degree from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. She also studied extensively throughout Europe with Marie-Claire Jamet and Isabelle Moretti of France, and Marisa Robles of England. Ms. Endo Schlaffer earned her Masters degree from The Juilliard School where she studied with Nancy Allen, principal harpist of the New York Philharmonic. She then pursued her further studies with Sarah Bullen, principal harpist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Endo Schlaffer has been serving as a board member of American Harp Society in Dallas since 2007 and has been the president since 2015.
Website: http://www.YumiHarp.com
E-mail: schlaffy@friscoisd.org
