Meet the Directors

Texas Youth Orchestra

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Meet the Directors

Deborah Perkins

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.

Desiree Overree

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.