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artistic staff :: daniella valdez

Daniella Valdez is currently the Orchestra Director at Elm Place Middle School in Highland Park, Illinois. Daniella Valdez received her musical training at Texas Tech University and Northwestern University School of Music, where she received her Bachelor's and Master of Music degrees respectively. A native to Texas, she began studying violin at the age of ten. She went on to study in intensive string pedagogy programs with Dr. Cynthia Scully at Texas Tech University and Dr. James Kjelland and Stacia Spencer at Northwestern University.

Her career as a music educator and violinist has lead to developing strong and successful orchestra programs. An accomplished orchestra director, she has led ensembles to receive superior ratings in the Illinois Grade Music Association Organizational Contest. Her students are also participants of the Illinois Music Educators Association Honor Orchestra Festivals and the Illinois Grade School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Festival. During her time in Texas, her orchestras received excellent ratings in the University Interscholastic League Orchestra Concert and Sight Reading Contest. Students also participated in the Region X All- Region Middle School Honor Orchestra Contest affiliated with the Texas Music Educators Association. Ms. Valdez is an active judge and clinician for solo and ensemble festivals. In addition to being an orchestra director, she has a private studio in violin and viola.

Ms. Valdez has performed with several ensembles in Texas and in surrounding areas of Chicago including the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, the Abilene Symphony Orchestra, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, the University of Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. Also an accomplished commercial player, she has performed on stage with Chuck Mangione, Marvin Hamlish, Toni Tennille, and John Pizzerelli.