Austin Johnson-Stawarz has studied at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, the University of South Carolina, and George Mason University. Austin has taught and performed internationally, including two residencies as a guest artist-teacher in Haiti. Austin currently serves as the Board President of the Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education, the membership coordinator for the Virginia Music Educators Association, the treasurer of the Virginia String Teachers Association, and is a co-director of the SoCo Summer Strings.

Mrs. Plumer is in her ninth year as Orchestra Director at South County Middle School and Laurel Hill Elementary School and her eleventh year teaching strings in Fairfax County Public Schools. She also maintains a private cello studio of students ranging in age from elementary school to adult. Mrs. Plumer holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and a Bachelor’s degree and Performance Certificate in Cello from the University of South Carolina, where she taught in the USC String Project, a nationally recognized teacher-training program. She resides in Chantilly, VA with her husband Kevin, daughter Emma, and chocolate lab Savannah.

Alexandra Blaine is the Orchestra Director at Glasgow Middle School. Alexandra holds a Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education and Certificate in Violin Performance from James Madison University, a Music Industry professional certificate from the Berklee School of Music, and a Masters in Educational Psychology from the University of Virginia. Alexandra has also given masterclasses on both fiddling and improvisation. In spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her daughter Josie, her dog Bentley, and her husband Jeremy.

Mr. Chang is in his second year as the strings teacher at Hybla Valley ES and Mt. Vernon Woods ES. He graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Mr. Chang has a private violin studio that has been running since he was in high school (11 years!), with students ranging from elementary to middle school. He also has been going on mission trips to other countries to teach violin and hopes to travel all parts of the world to teach others!

Ms. Herrera has nearly twenty years of teaching experience where she has led various ensembles of all ages to outstanding performances and recognitions. As the director at West Springfield HS she’s had the honor of performing at the White House, participated in the Stirling Arts Festival in Scotland and the Spartan Chamber Orchestra were selected to perform at the Virginia’s Education Conference. Ms. Herrera is proud to be part of the Fairfax County Public School system, and community that consistently supports art and music programs. She believes that music and the orchestra experience allows students to create meaningful and personal connections with themselves and one another.

Mike Klucker is the orchestra director at Luther Jackson Middle School where his students in all classes consistently receive superior ratings. As a sought-after cellist in the area, he can be seen playing in orchestras like the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, weddings, and other corporate events. He also has a thriving private cello studio in the Kingstowne area.

Taryn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a certificate in Violin Performance from the Conservatory of Shenandoah University, providing her a solid foundation for teaching string instruments. With two years of experience teaching elementary strings in FCPS, she nurtures her students’ musical development and enthusiasm for strings by fostering a fun, supportive and engaging learning environment. Additionally, Taryn held private lessons for a short time, where she was able to tailor her approach to each student’s individual needs and help them build their technical skills and confidence. Taryn actively engages in the music community as a member of the local ensemble, NVCO, and she continually works to hone and improve her performance skills. Most recently, she traveled to Vienna, Austria to perform with the Classical Music Festival at several renowned venues. Taryn’s dedication and diverse experiences enable her to inspire and guide students on their musical journeys.

My name is Alicia McMahan and I have been a strings teacher in Fairfax County for the past 25 years. Before that I taught in Arlington at HB Woodlawn for 5 years. I have worked with all levels of string players - elementary, middle school and high school. I have an undergraduate degree in Music Education from The Peabody Institute of Music- Johns Hopkins, and my Masters Degree in English horn Performance from The Juilliard School in NYC. I look forward to working with your string students this summer!

Beth Reed is a music educator, cellist, and advocate for preparing future music teachers.

Currently, Dr. Reed is an Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator of Music Education at Miami University (OH) and the Executive Director of the National String Project Consortium. She taught orchestra for 10 years at Lake Braddock Secondary School. She studied and received degrees from the University of South Carolina (BM, Ph.D.) and the Eastman School of Music (MM). As a researcher, Dr. Reed focuses on music teacher identity, culturally responsive teaching, and authentic context learning environments. When not teaching, she loves traveling, gardening, and walking her dog.

Al Rodriguez is an exciting educator, conductor, and guest clinician in the Northern Virginia Area. A two time “Orchestra Director of the Year” winner from the Fairfax Orchestra Directors Association and a Quarterfinalist for the 2024 Music Educator Award presented by the GRAMMY Foundation, Al has served as Director of Orchestras at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, VA since 2017 and was recently named Director of the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. His ensembles have consistently received multiple “Superior” ratings at the state assessment events. He maintains a regular guest conducting schedule with high school honors groups across the region.

Karina Starling is an orchestra teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools, having taught and guest conducted students of varying levels. She graduated at the top of her class for Music Education and Viola Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory and holds Master’s in Performing Arts Leadership and Management. She also studied as a delegate in Athens, Greece and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In her free time, she performs in two community orchestras and maintains a private studio of violin and viola students ranging in age from elementary to adult. She is excited to be spending a part of the summer making music with SoCo Summer Strings!

Miller Susens is a cellist originally from Dallas, Texas. She received her Bachelors in Music Education from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in 2018. She has extensive experience teaching privately and publicly, and has a background in orchestra and chamber music. When she is not teaching, Miller spends time with her two cats, Hank and Olive, enjoys gardening and painting, and actively looks for new music of all genres.