William J. Hollin :: Music Director & Conductor :: Philharmonia Orchestra

Now the Director of Instrumental Music at The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts in Hagerstown, MD, Mr. Hollin most recently directed the school orchestras for Missoula County (MT) Public Schools at Hellgate High School and Sentinel High School.  He has also the conductor and Music Director of the Missoula Youth Symphony, one of the finest Youth Orchestras in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Hollin’s groups consistently earned Superior ratings at Montana Music Festivals and they were often singled out for special recognition for their superior level of performance.  Mr. Hollin came to Montana from the Washington DC area where he was Music Director of PVYO for 12 years, 1992-2004. He was also Director of Instrumental Music at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, MD where he was named “Teacher of the Year” in 2002, and again in 2004. While at Quince Orchard, the school’s Orchestra, Concert and Marching Band, and Jazz Band similarly earned superior ratings nearly every year at District, State, and National adjudications. Previous to his tenure at Quince Orchard, Mr. Hollin was the Instrumental Music Director at Gaithersburg HS, and St. John’s College High School. Mr. Hollin also served as guest conductor and clinician for many honor bands and orchestras.

Mr. Hollin earned his BS from Towson University and attended Illinois State University on an NSE Scholarship. He received his Master's degree from The University of Oklahoma where he was Graduate Assistant of Bands assisting with the Marching Band, directing the Concert Band, and leading the “Sooner Showmen” through the 1983 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.  His graduate thesis, "The Wilhelmian Marches; The Military Band Music of Richard Strauss."  was cited with recordings of Strauss’ music by "The Heritage of the March Society."

Mr. Hollin is an active horn player, and his sons Michael and Josh similarly lead active musical lives. His wife Robin is a nurse and educator with the Washington County Public Schools.

 
CONTACT: 
Terry Alvey :: Conductor :: Wind Ensemble

TERRY ALVEY is the Music Director at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. A graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Ms. Alvey received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Trumpet Performance and continued her education at the University of Maryland and Trinity College where she received her teaching certification. She is an active music educator, conductor, adjudicator, clinician, and performer.

Ms. Alvey began her musical experience in the DC area as a freelance musician and a member of the Monumental Brass Quintet. The quintet performed extensively in the metro area, and toured the East Coast. Performances included the Kennedy Center, Lisner Auditorium, the Joseph Meyerhoff Hall and the White House. Ms. Alvey is now a member of the M Street Brass Quintet a Washington DC-based performing ensemble.

Ms. Alvey has been on the faculties of the Levine School of Music, DC Youth Orchestras, Montgomery County Youth Orchestras and Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra programs.

During her teaching career with Montgomery County Public Schools, she has taught at Tilden, North Bethesda and Hoover Middle Schools. Under her leadership, these school bands and orchestras have consistently received superior ratings at both the District and State Band and Orchestra Festivals. Ms. Alvey applies her expertise on the Montgomery County Middle School Curriculum writing team for Instrumental Music. She has also acted as an adjudicator for the Prince Georges County Band Festival as well as their Solo and Ensemble Festival. In addition to her duties at Whitman, Ms. Alvey maintains a large private trumpet studio

Ms Alvey has also served as conductor for the Montgomery County Sixth Grade and Junior Honors Bands, as well as the Senior Honors String Orchestra.. This year Ms. Alvey is honored to serve as conductor for the Maryland All-State Junior Band.

CONTACT: talvey@pvyo.org
 
Rob Dahlin :: Conductor :: Symphony Orchestra

ROB DAHLIN is a product of Montgomery County Public Education. Mr. Dahlin graduated from Sherwood High School in 1987. He obtained a Bachelor of Music Education from James Madison in 1991. After Graduating from James Madison, Mr. Dahlin came back to teach for Montgomery County Public Schools. From 1992-1997 Mr. Dahlin taught at Westland Middle School. From 1997 to 2007 has taught at Ridgeview Middle School. While working at Ridgeview Middle School, Mr. Dahlin recieved the Marion Greenblatt Excellence in Education award and went on to be named the Montgomery County Teacher of the Year (2006-2007).  Since the fall of 2007, Mr. Dahlin has been teaching at Hoover Middle School.  During his 19 years with MCPS his students have earned Superior ratings at the county and state levels. His students have also earned first place trophies at the Music in the Parks festivals eleven times. 

 

CONTACT: rdahlin@pvyo.org
Sylvia Lee :: Conductor :: Concert Orchestra
SYLVIA LEE, conductor of the Concert Orchestra, graduated from Seneca Valley High School in the top five percent of her class.  She then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and her certification in instrumental music education from the Catholic University of America where she studied piano with Walter Pate and violin and viola with Jody Gatwood.  Since graduation, she has co-conducted numerous MCPS honors string orchestras at both the junior level and the elementary level in central and south county.  She has also adjudicated various orchestral events throughout Maryland and Virginia, such as the Fairfax and Anne Arundel County Solo and Ensemble Festivals, the Columbia Orchestra Young Soloist Competition, and the Maryland All-State Senior Orchestra auditions.  Presently, Mrs. Lee is the orchestra director at John T. Baker Middle School and a string specialist at Clearspring Elementary and Damascus Elementary schools.  She has also served as a string specialist at Clarksburg Elementary, Rockwell Elementary, and Cedar Grove Elementary schools.  Since she first started teaching at Baker, the orchestra program there has tripled in size.  For nine years, her orchestras at Baker have achieved superior ratings at orchestra festivals.  Mrs. Lee is also presently co-director of the summer orchestra camp at Landon School in Bethesda where string camp enrollment has also tripled in size during her six summers there. Next to her family, she knows of no greater joy in life than working with children.
CONTACT: slee@pvyo.org
 
Lisa Ehrenspeck :: Conductor :: Preparatory Orchestra

LISA EHRENSPECK , conductor of the Preparatory Orchestra, graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education with a focus in violin performance. Ms. Ehrenspeck is presently teaching instrumental music at 5 elementary schools- Whetstone ES, Watkins Mill ES, Wheaton Woods ES, Meadow Hall ES, and Summit Hall ES in Montgomery County. She most recently took the position of the Rockville HS drumline instructor, writes their drum cadences, and assists with the rest of their marching band.

As both a string and band specialist, Ms. Ehrenspeck has a great amount of experience working with students particularly in grades K-8. As a musician in the area, Ms. Ehrenspeck frequently performs as a violinist. She has appeared with Pennsylvania's Allentown Band on several occasions as a substitute clarinetist and frequently moonlights as a percussionist. Ms. Ehrenspeck also has frequently adjudicated and substituted for the D.C. Youth Orchestra program. Besides dedicating time to her love of teaching, conducting, and performing, Ms Ehrenspeck is currently pursuing composing and arranging several works in progress.

CONTACT:lisae@pvyo.org
 
Linda Crisafulli :: Conductor :: Flute Choir
LINDA CRISAFULLI, conductor of the Flute Choir, graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and a Master's Degree in Flute Performance.  She has taught the flute for over 30 years at all levels including at Valparaiso University.  She has always incorporated flute ensembles as a part of her private teaching.  Living in the Chicago area after graduation from Northwestern University, Ms Crisafulli played in several ensembles, including symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, woodwind quintets, and for fourteen years as a member of The Magic Flutes, a professional flute ensemble.
Currently, Ms. Crisafulli is the Flute Instructor at the National Cathedral School, and maintains private teaching studios at All Saints Church, Chevy Chase and at home in Gaithersburg. For five years, she was active as a teacher and a conductor in the Gaithersburg Flute Camp summer programs.  For fun, she sings in her church choir and performs with her husband, Peter, in the Crisafulli Duo.  She collects historic flutes and learns how to play them.
CONTACT: lcrisafulli@pvyo.org
 
Jennifer Mitchell :: Conductor :: Clarinet Choir
JENNIFER MITCHELL , Clarinet Choir conductor, graduated summa cum laude from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She earned her Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance from The University of Memphis. As a graduate assistant at the University of Memphis, she conducted the Varsity Band, assisted with the “Mighty Sound of the South” Marching Band, directed the Lady Tiger Pep Band and performed with the University Orchestra. While living in Memphis, Jennifer was a woodwind faculty member at the Germantown Conservatory of Music in Germantown, Tennessee and taught at St. Mary’s Episcopal School. She also worked as a clinician at various high schools, adjudicated Solo Ensemble Festival’s, and performed with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
In 1997 Jennifer moved to Montgomery County and accepted a position at Ridgeview Middle School. At Ridgeview Jennifer conducted the Concert Band, 6th Grade String Orchestra, Beginning Band and Guitar Ensemble. In the Washington D.C. area she has maintained a private studio, adjudicated in Montgomery County and Fairfax County, and performed with the Fairfax Wind Symphony and Virginia Grand Military Band. For the past nine years she has co – conducted the MCPS North County Sixth Grade Honor Band. Currently, Jennifer is the Band Director at Seneca Academy in Darnestown, Maryland. She developed and introduced the instrumental music program in 2007 and started Seneca Academy Summer Music Studies. She lives in Gaithersburg with her husband and two children.