| Texas Youth Orchestra |
Meet the Directors
Deborah Perkins, Ph. D., currently teaches string pedagogy and techniques at Southern Methodist University and does free-lance consulting work in the area of string education. She earned a bachelor of music degree from SUNY Potsdam, New York (Crane School of Music), a master's degree from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph. D. from the University of North Texas.
Before moving to Texas in 1989, Dr. Perkins taught and built string programs in South Carolina and in Florida and throughout her career, her groups received consistent "sweepstakes" ratings and invitations to perform for special occasions. She also taught string methods at UNT, Florida Atlantic University and was the first master teacher for the University of South Carolina String Project. Most recently she has become the director emeritus for CTYO "Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra's" Elementary Strings Program- an after school string program which precipitated the establishment of two public school orchestra programs- in McKinney and Lovejoy ISD's. Dr. Perkins has guest conducted numerous honor orchestras, adjudicated festivals and presented clinics locally and throughout the United States.
Dr. Perkins' love of travel started early - at the age of 7 when she took her first airplane ride to see relatives. At age 17, she traveled solo to Europe to visit her brother. Her first teaching job involved assisting a high school orchestra on a 23 day European concert tour and she has been traveling ever since. Through the years, she has traveled with youth groups- and has taken various orchestras to Mexico, Europe and China. In July 2005, she and Desiree Overree co-founded and directed the Texas Youth Orchestra's very successful tour of Italy and Austria. "It is a privilege to make music and see the world through the young traveler's eyes." She is married to Steve Perkins and they have one daughter, Kayla who already loves to travel.
Like the students she teaches, Desiree Overree began her music instruction in the public schools in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, a northern suburb of Dallas. During high school, she had the opportunity to play with the SMU Conservatory Chamber Orchestras, with whom she toured extensively throughout Europe. She attained her Bachelor of Music Education with Highest Honors at Sam Houston State University.
Ms. Overree has taught for Humble ISD, Spring Branch ISD, and Cy-Fair ISD. Under her baton, she led the Memorial Philharmonia Orchestras and placed First Runner-Up in the Texas Honor Orchestra Competition. She has conducted at the MidWest Convention in Chicago with the Memorial Orchestras, and has conducted twice at Carnegie Hall, once with the Stratford HS Orchestras and the Memorial Orchestras. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, the GRAMMY Foundation honored Langham Creek HS for its exceptional public high school music programs, as designating it as a GRAMMY Signature School. In 2004, Miss Overree was a Co-Conductor with Dr. Deborah Perkins with the Texas "Lone Star" Ambassadors, who toured throughout Western Europe. Soon after, Dr. Perkins and Ms. Overree formed the Texas Youth Orchestra, which toured throughout Italy and Austria in 2006.
In 2005, Ms. Overree opened Seven Lakes High School, the newest high school campus in Katy ISD. In 2007, the Seven Lakes Sinfonia Orchestra was ranked as one of the top six string orchestras in the state of Texas. She has been recognized in "Who's Who Among American High School Teachers," and has been recognized as an Educator of Distinction, by the National Society of High School Scholars.
She is frequently invited as an adjudicator and clinician, private violin teacher, and an active freelancer. During the summer, she is a Faculty member of the Sam Houston State University Summer Camps. She holds professional memberships and leadership positions in Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, American String Teachers Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota. In her spare time, she travels, reads voraciously, and is a raving baseball fan.
Mr. Damon Archer is currently the Director of
Bands at Seven Lakes High School located in the
Katy Independent School District. He holds a
bachelor’s degree in music education from
Baylor University and a master’s of music
degree from the University of Michigan.
In his teaching career of fourteen years, he has
taught exclusively in the West Houston area of
Katy, Texas. He began his teaching career at
McDonald Junior High and then accepted a
position to teach at Katy High School. After
many successful years at Katy High School, he
went on to teach at Cinco Ranch High School. In
the subsequent year, he accepted the
challenge to develop a new program as, director of bands, at Seven Lakes High
School.
In addition to his teaching career, Mr. Archer, has performed with numerous
symphony orchestras as a trombonist and is also an active clinician. Some of
his main instrumental instructors included: John Meyer, John Kitzman, David
Gier, Steven Suter, and H. Dennis Smith. He was also fortunate to have the
late Armando Ghitalla, as a chamber music coach while attending the
University of Michigan.
Mr. Archer’s primary conducting teachers have included: Michael Haithcock,
Stephen Heyde, and H. Robert Reynolds. He has also participated in several
conducting symposiums with Richard Floyd and Jerry Junkin. Along with his
various wind ensembles and symphony orchestra duties, Mr. Archer has
directed several brass choirs and community bands throughout his career. He
is currently an active adjudicator and clinician throughout the state.
In regards to the Texas Youth Orchestra, Mr. Archer states, “I am honored to
share this amazing experience with my fellow colleagues and students from
around our great state of Texas. To be able to immerse our students in such a
rich and deep musical culture and environment is a life-changing experience. I
was very fortunate to have an experience of this magnitude with the
American Soviet Youth Orchestra 1990 World Tour under the baton of
Leonard Slatkin. The opportunity of making great music in a variety of
cultures with great people is something that has to be experienced to be
understood. I encourage all students to be prepared to develop life-long
friendships with fellow musicians and get ready for one of the most incredible
cultural and musical experiences of their lives.”
Mr. Archer resides in Katy, Texas with his wife and three children.
Lynne Jackson is currently in her 38th year as a music educator. She has degrees from the University of Michigan and Vandercook
College of Music. Ms. Jackson serves as an adjunct lecturer in music education at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern
Methodist University. She also teaches part-time instrumental music classes in the Plano ISD.
In 1995, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded Ms. Jackson a grant to study Mozart in Vienna, Austria and Prague,
Czech Republic. Since that time, Ms. Jackson has traveled extensively throughout Europe, South America and Canada. She has
accompanied students to New York City on three occasions for performances at the famed Carnegie Hall. Lynne has also traveled
and performed with students in London, Paris, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Germany.
In 1983, Ms. Jackson was selected as the Richardson ISD Teacher of the Year. She is also a lifetime honorary member of the PTA. Ms. Jackson’s professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, an honorary band director fraternity, Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. Lynne is widely known throughout Texas as an adjudicator, clinician, and mentor to young students and teachers. Ms. Jackson is very excited to combine her passions for music, teaching, and travel as a staff member for the 2009 Texas Youth Orchestra tour.
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