Welcome to the
2009-2010 school year!
I am very excited to be returning to the Newman Smith Orchestra Department for my fifth year as a director. I have truly enjoyed my time thus far working with the students in class, attending social events and getting to know both parents and students on a personal level over the last four school years. I am looking forward with great anticipation to another year of growing closer as a family of musicians. I am proud to say I once walked the halls of NSHS as a student—I am a Class of 2000 graduate of Newman Smith High School, and one of Mr. Dockray’s former students—and I am eager to watch all of you grow and learn, both musically and personally, as I did in my years here as a member of the Newman Smith Orchestra.
Since graduating from Newman Smith in 2000, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from SamHoustonStateUniversity in Huntsville. During my years at SHSU, I taught violin and viola lessons in Houston, Livingston, and Huntsville and served as Director of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra. Following graduation from college four years ago, I returned to Newman Smith to teach orchestra, and I have enjoyed immensely the opportunity to work with students in each of our four orchestras toward various UIL Sweepstakes and festival awards.
I am thrilled to be one of the directors of this program, which comes from a long-standing tradition of musical excellence set in motion over 30 years ago. I am also particularly excited for this school year as we bring in Mr. Smith as the new Director of Orchestras. When I first came to Carrollton-Farmers Branch to teach, Mr. Smith—then a director at Creekview—was one of the first orchestra directors in the district to really make me feel welcome, and I have come to admire his teaching ability, as well as appreciate his humor and friendliness ever since I have known him. I am confident that each of the students will enjoy having Mr. Smith as a director, and I look forward to creating new memories and traditions as we all grow together in this next phase of the Newman Smith Orchestra legacy.
I know we are all anxious as we begin with a fresh start this school year, and I have great expectations for what we will accomplish together through the NSO.
Here’s to a promising new school year!
Sincerely,
Jessica Milbrandt
Jessica Milbrandt
Associate Director of Orchestras