Dr. Michael A. Weaver:
Music Director and Conductor, HSYO Symphony Orchestra

Dr. Michael Weaver is the Music Director and Conductor for the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra. He is an Assistant Professor of Music at the Cline School of Music of North Greenville University (SC) where he teaches violin, viola, and music history, and conducts the NGU Orchestra. Dr. Weaver has performed with the North Carolina Symphony and performs regularly as a violist with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and occasionally with the Asheville and Greenville Symphony Orchestras. He holds degrees in Music Education, Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from East Carolina University and the Florida State University. He studied conducting at the Florida State University with Alex Jimenez and James Croft. Dr. Weaver has guest conducted for the Inter-Collegiate Music Association in 2006, and the Durham County Schools string festival, 2007. He has also adjudicated for the SCMEA Orchestra Festivals in Greenville and Spartanburg, SC, along with the solo and ensemble festival in Spartanburg in 2008. He also conducts for the annual Hendersonville Symphony Summer Strings Camp.

Ms. Andrea Jackson-Dennis
Music Director and Conductor, HSYO Sinfonietta String Orchestra

Andrea Jackson-Dennis is the Orchestra Director at Rugby Middle School in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She holds a bachelor of music degree from Appalachian State University and earned National Board Certification in 2004. She was formerly the Orchestra Director at West Henderson High School from 2000-2006, until the Rugby Orchestra program expanded to a full time position. During her eight years at both schools, these groups have consistently earned “Superior” Ratings at NC Western Regional Contest/Festival. Six years ago she started a Strolling Strings group at Rugby Middle School for 7th and 8th grade students. This advanced group continues to be recognized locally for it’s “professional-level” student performances. Ms. Jackson-Dennis hosted the North Carolina Western Regional Junior All-State Orchestra Auditions at Rugby Middle School in 2006 and 2007 and has served as the Conductor of the Repertory Orchestra at the NCWRO clinic. She is a conductor of the Hendersonville Symphony Summer String Camp, the Cane Creek Hurricane Camp, and the Henderson County Middle School All-County Orchestra. In her free time, Ms. Jackson also enjoys singing, songwriting, and playing her violin with the acoustic singer-songwriter group “Free Range.”