WSSYO Conductors & Staff
Margaret Rehder and Ryane Dunnagan 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 Conductor
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.
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.
Sara Beth Lane
Education Programs Manager
Sara Beth is an enthusiastic arts administrator and music educator. Most recently, she served as the Youth Orchestra and Education Projects Manager for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She is an alumna of the League of American Orchestra’s Essentials of Orchestra Management program through Juilliard Extension. Sara Beth earned her Master’s degree in Arts Administration from Florida State University and her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Murray State University.
Auditions
The Youth Orchestras Program regularly holds auditions in late August for the following academic year, and also holds a Summer Festival in June and an Audition Workshop in July/August.
Conductors & Staff
Each conductor brings a wealth of experience in musicianship and education, guiding their respective orchestras to their full potential performance after performance.
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.
2025/2026 Concerts
The Youth Orchestras perform several times throughout the year in exciting programs that are as fun to hear as they are to play:
Nov 17, 2025: Fall Extravaganza
Mar 2, 2026: Midyear Concert (PS/CS/YP)
Mar 28, 2026: Concert for Community (YS)
May 11, 2026: Spring Finale