Youth Philharmonic 2021

WSSYO Conductors & Staff

Margaret Rehder, Ryane Dunnagan, and Barbara Bell lead our talented students in rehearsals and concerts each year. Each conductor brings a wealth of experience in musicianship and education, guiding their respective orchestras to their full potential performance after performance.

Margaret Rehder
Youth Symphony & Youth Philharmonic
Interim Music Director, Youth Orchestras Program

Margaret Rehder was named conductor of the Winston-Salem Youth Philharmonic in 1999. Beginning in 1983, Margaret has led outstanding orchestra programs at R.J. Reynolds High School and Wiley Middle School until her retirement in 2020. She was named Teacher of the Year for 2002 – 2003. She is a Nationally Board-Certified Teacher and is very active with the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Strings Teachers Association and the North Carolina Music Educators Association. Ms. Rehder has been a member of the Winston-Salem Symphony since 1979 and is currently Assistant Principal Second Violinist. She earned a Bachelor of Music in violin performance at Meredith College, a Master of Music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and studied music education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Ryane Dunnagan

Dr. Ryane Dunnagan
Premiere Strings/Chamber Sinfonia Conductor

Dr. Ryane Dunnagan is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She received both her Undergraduate and Masters degrees from the North Carolina School of the Arts in cello performance. Under the instruction of Robert Marsh and Marcy Rosen, founder of the Mendelssohn String Quartet, Ms. Dunnagan has participated in various masterclasses with such artists as Joel Krosnick and the Julliard String Quartet. After completing her Masters degree in 2003, Ms. Dunnagan taught public school at the middle and high school level. In addition to teaching, she also performed with various orchestras in North Carolina and Virginia, such as the Salisbury, Roanoke and Asheville Symphony Orchestras. During that time, she was under the instruction of Alan Black, principal cellist of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. In 2006, Ms. Dunnagan began her Doctorate degree in cello performance at the University of Georgia under the instruction of Dr. David Starkweather. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, she was the Master Teacher of the UGA String Project, a national organization dedicated to promoting music and fostering music education in the public school system. While in Georgia, Ms. Dunnagan performed with various orchestras and most notably performed with the legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck for a documentary produced by Clint Eastwood. Ms. Dunnagan completed her doctorate in 2011 and returned to North Carolina in 2012. She resumed her post in the public schools until 2016. Dr. Dunnagan is in demand as a clinician and frequently guest conducts in schools, county events, and youth orchestras. Dr. Dunnagan maintains a large private studio and is also an active member of the American String Teachers Association. She is currently a lead teacher for the Winston-Salem Symphony’s P.L.A.Y. program, an elementary strings program in the public schools.

Barbara Bell

Barbara Bell
Premiere Strings/Chamber Sinfonia Assistant Conductor

Barbara Bell, a graduate of Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, played in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra during her college years, joining the orchestra’s tour of Germany in summer 1988. That same year, she began teaching privately at the New Jersey School of Music. She graduated from Rowan in 1990 and began her public- school career in Glassboro, teaching Elementary General Music. While teaching in Glassboro’s public schools, Mrs. Bell had a busy private studio and played in local symphonies, such as the Bridgeton Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra Society.

In 1997, Mrs. Bell was hired to teach Orchestra at Cherokee High School in Marlton, NJ, where she also conducted the Cherokee High School Orchestra, the Lenape Regional Orchestra, and the Cherokee String Ensemble. A highlight of conducting the Lenape Regional Orchestra was having William Stokking, principal cellist from the Philadelphia Orchestra, perform a solo.

In 2002, Mrs. Bell and her family moved to North Carolina. She has taught orchestra at several Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. In 2013-2014, Mrs. Bell was named Orchestra Director of the Year. Currently she teaches at Clemmons Middle School and West Forsyth High School.

Mrs. Bell has directed several orchestras that have received superior ratings and has prepared many students to successfully audition for All-County, Western Regional and All-State Orchestras. Two of Mrs. Bell’s children are currently involved in the Winston-Salem Youth Orchestras Program.

Charley Bryant
Education and Operations Manager

Charley Bryant has served as the manager for the WSSYO since September 2015. Charley graduated from the UNC Greensboro School of Music in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. His principal instrument was flute and piccolo. Charley was an educator of K-12 music and band students in Guilford, Orange, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth counties from 1998 to 2018. Charley has served as the Stage Manager of the Eastern Music Festival since June 1997 and worked as a Tech Crew/Stage Crew member for UNCG Auditorium and the School of Music while he was a student at UNCG.

Youth Philharmonic 2021

Auditions

The Youth Orchestras Program regularly holds auditions in late May and late August for the following academic year, and also holds a Summer Festival and an Audition Workshop in July/August.

Youth Philharmonic 2021

History

Founded in 1973 under the auspices of the UNC School of the Arts, the Youth Orchestras became an official part of the Winston-Salem Symphony Association in 2007.

Youth Philharmonic 2021

Conductors & Staff

Each conductor brings a wealth of experience in musicianship and education, guiding their respective orchestras to their full potential performance after performance.

2023/2024 Concerts

The WSS Youth Orchestras Program performs several times throughout the year in exciting programs that are as fun to hear as they are to play. Enjoy any of our upcoming concerts!

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