JUNIOR ORCHESTRA OF YAMHILL COUNTY
“Playing music is the brain’s equivalent of a full-body workout…”
–Laura I. Saunder
JOY TEACHERS
AMY BRUNNER
JOY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Amy Brunner joined YES as the Program Director for JOY in 2023. Amy graduated from Linfield College with her Music Education degree in 2010. Since then she has taught at Pilot Butte Middle School and Bend Senior High School in Bend, Oregon and also band, choir, and orchestra in the Yamhill Carlton School District. During her time teaching, she was recognized as teacher of the year at PBMS in 2016. In 2022, Amy completed her Master’s in Teaching with an emphasis on Educational Leadership and earned her administrative license at George Fox University. Amy has guest conducted with the Central Oregon Youth Orchestra, OMEA District 14 Honors Orchestra, and with Forest Grove’s Neil Armstrong Middle School program as part of their two day orchestra intensive.
Amy firmly believes in the work of JOY and the idea that music has the power to connect us to each other, ourselves, and to better our communities through shared experiences. Growing up in Pasadena, CA, she played cello in local youth orchestras, took private Suzuki lessons, played French horn as part of the Arcadia High School marching band, played in pit orchestras, and played throughout her undergrad college career at Linfield College where she soloed on cello with the Linfield Chamber Orchestra in 2009. Amy’s cello teachers were Rick Mooney, Maggie Edmondson, and Sherill Roberts. These shared experiences with fellow musicians helped shape who Amy is today and she hopes to continue to help advocate and organize music programming for the youth of Yamhill County through the work of JOY. Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and two English bulldogs and together they do activities like hiking, crafting, baking, and venturing to new places.
DAMIÁN BERDAKÍN
CONDUCTOR, JOY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
A native of Córdoba, Argentina, Damián Berdakín began his professional career as a double bassist with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Córdoba in 1999. In 2002, he received sponsorship to study Double Bass Performance at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He continued his education at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, where he earned an MFA in Orchestra Conducting and Double Bass Performance.
While in Los Angeles, Damián served as Music Director of the Pacific Lyric Association, Assistant Conductor of the Santa Cecilia Orchestra, and Artist Teacher for the LA Philharmonic. He also founded the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra and conducted the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra. In 2012, he directed the McNary High School Orchestras in Salem, Oregon. From 2014 to 2016, he was the Director of Orchestras at Stony Point High School in Austin, Texas.
Damián is now in his ninth year as Director of Orchestras at South Salem High School. He resides in the Salem, Oregon area with his wife, Reba, and their 11-year-old daughter, Clara.
SARA HEYEN
EDWARDS SITE DIRECTOR
K/1 VIOLIN TEACHING ARTIST – EDWARDS
CELLO/TEACHING ARTIST/CONDUCTOR – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA EDWARDS
Sara Heyen is a cellist, conductor and music educator committed to fostering connection and growth through the arts. A native of Honduras, she graduated from the National School of Music before earning a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Brigham Young University–Idaho and a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Brigham Young University. She is the recipient of multiple academic and music awards.
Sara is a versatile performer with both national and international experience. She has performed with the Warren Symphony Orchestra and the Rochester Symphony Orchestra in Michigan, and currently maintains an active career in Oregon. She is a member of the Rose Quartet and performs regularly as both a cellist and conductor. Her international performances have affirmed her belief in music’s unique ability to transcend language and cultural borders, uniting individuals and communities through shared artistic experiences.
A passionate advocate for music education, Sara is committed to making high-quality music instruction accessible to children from all backgrounds. She has taught general music to students in grades K–8 and has directed large-scale orchestral and choral ensembles. Her work reflects a deep conviction that the arts are essential to personal development and community well-being.
Sara now resides in Tualatin, Oregon, with her husband and their two children. She continues to engage actively in the local arts scene and is devoted to nurturing the next generation of musicians through performance, education, and community outreach.
SADIE LAPIERS
CRATER SITE DIRECTOR
K/1 VIOLIN TEACHING ARTIST – CRATER
VIOLIN/VIOLA TEACHING ARTIST – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA EDWARDS
VIOLIN/VIOLA TEACHING ARTIST/CONDUCTOR – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA CRATER
Music has always been a part of Sadie’s life. While she was growing up in Washington, her dad played the drums, and her grandfather played the fiddle. It was no surprise, then, that at age nine she wanted to learn the violin, too. Throughout High School, Sadie had the opportunity to play with the Tacoma Youth Symphony, but it wasn’t until college that she realized she wanted to make music professionally.
Sadie graduated from George Fox University in 2021 with a B.A. in Music Performance. She also received Suzuki Book 1 and 2 certification from classes taken under Betsy Stuen-Walker. Since graduating, Sadie has established her own private studio, taught at the Bach to Rock Music School (2021-2023), started working with JOY in the Spring of 2022, and recorded with a couple of musicians for Jazz and Folk albums.
Currently, Sadie performs with the Chehalem Symphony in her free time, and is learning how to play the folk harp. She enjoys spending quality time with her cat, Banana, reading a good book, and working on watercolor art.
COMFORT SMITH
K/1 CURRICULUM SPECIALIST
K/1 VIOLIN TEACHING ARTIST – GRANDHAVEN/WASCHER
Comfort Smith is a violinist who is passionate about teaching music and believes that every child can learn to play an instrument. A native of Newberg, Comfort holds a B.A. in Music Performance and English from George Fox University. She received her M.M. in Suzuki Pedagogy and Violin Performance at Ithaca College in 2022, studying pedagogy with Carrie Reuning-Hummel. In addition to teaching with the JOY Program, Comfort maintains a Suzuki studio in Newberg called Ivy Strings Academy, teaching private lessons and group classes to students of all ages. Comfort is a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA and enjoys performing in various capacities in the community. Comfort has had the privilege of studying violin with Ellen Jewett, Susan Waterbury, Rebekah Hanson, Emma Tepfer, and Sharon Neufeld, each of whom have inspired her to pass along the love of music to other students. Comfort has published original works and arrangements for a variety of instruments. Her compositions are influenced by her love of classical music, fiddle, and jazz. In her spare time, Comfort enjoys cooking, knitting, crocheting, and going on hikes.
ALEXANDRA SCHWARTZ
NEWBY/SUE BUEL SITE DIRECTOR
K/1 VIOLIN TEACHING ARTIST – NEWBY/SUE BUEL
CELLO TEACHING ARTIST/CONDUCTOR – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA NEWBY/SUE BUEL
Alexandra Schwartz earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education from Portland State University, and has an Oregon teaching license. She has had the pleasure of teaching general music and orchestra classes all over the Portland area in both after-school and in-school programs. She has worked with community organizations such as, JOY, Bravo Youth Orchestras, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and Vibe of Portland to spread music education where students may not have the opportunity otherwise. She teaches private lessons through her Suzuki cello studio and believes that every student deserves the opportunity to develop their musical potential in a nurturing environment. When done teaching, she enjoys performing music in the community exploring different genres with the Celtic Light Orchestra, East County Community Orchestra and special holiday performances with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In the summer Alexandra enjoys nature and exploring the Pacific Northwest. She also had the opportunity to work at various summer camps across the country helping international students learn English as a second language. Her mission as a teacher is to encourage students to be lifelong learners, like herself, by continuing to learn and perform music, attend multiple teaching workshops and travel the world whenever possible.
SARAH BARR
CONDUCTOR, JOY PRELUDE STRINGS
Sarah Barr is a violinist and music teacher who is passionate about the positive impact that music can have in the lives of young people. Sarah has earned two degrees in music education: a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Since graduating in 2016, she taught orchestra in Newberg, Oregon, for 6 years, and she is now teaching elementary music in McMinnville, OR, at Newby Elementary. She is excited to join the JOY teaching team as the program grows in McMinnville.
Besides teaching, Sarah enjoys music through playing violin with the Rose String Quartet and her church worship band. She lives in McMinnville with her husband and son.
ALISON CLARK
VIOLIN TEACHING ARTIST – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA EDWARDS
Alison is a life-long musician. She began her music studies at the age of 6 and discovered her love of chamber music at age 11. She studied music at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the Longy School of Music. Her main violin teachers were Andor Toth and Valerie Vilker-Kuchment.
Alison lived in Japan for 7 years and spent one memorable summer attending the teacher training program taught by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the founder of the Suzuki Method. Most of her teacher training courses have been in the Suzuki Method. Her most unusual musical experience was conducting the first concert of the Socio-Tech Mitsubishi Orchestra in Tokyo, Japan.
Alison has maintained a private violin studio since 2004, first in Silicon Valley, California and now in McMinnville, Oregon. She is delighted to expand her teaching to groups of children through the JOY program in McMinnville.
LINA ALDANA
WASCHER/GRANDHAVEN SITE DIRECTOR
K/1 VIOLIN TEACHING INSTRUCTOR – WASCHER
CELLO TEACHING ARTIST – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA WASCHER/GRANDHAVEN
CELLO TEACHING ARTIST/CONDUCTOR – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA EDWARDS
Cellist Lina Aldana has built a multifaceted career as a performer and educator, inspiring her community through music. She is a dedicated Suzuki educator, leading a private studio where she teaches students of all ages and skill levels. Lina is a co-founder of the Alabama Cello Society and has taught at the Community Music School of the University of Alabama, the Philharmonic of Bogotá Education Project, and the South Georgia String Project. At the collegiate level, she has served as a teaching assistant at Valdosta State University and the University of Alabama. An active performer, Lina maintains a demanding concert schedule across the United States and Colombia as an orchestra player, chamber musician, and recording artist. She has performed with prestigious ensembles, including the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Shoals Symphony Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra,Nueva Filarmonia orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. Lina has a deep knowledge of orchestral repertoire and has collaborated with prominent conductors and soloists. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the National University of Colombia, a Master of Music Performance from Valdosta State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Alabama. Her musical training has been shaped by esteemed teachers, including Julio Gutiérrez, Gabriel Guzmán, Ana Isabel Zorro, Steven Taylor, and Moisés Molina. Lina’s Suzuki training includes instruction from Barbara Balatero, Alice Vierra, and AliceAnn O’Neill, further enriching her approach to music education. Currently, she teaches at the JOY After School Program, maintains a private studio, performs with the Newport Symphony, and is a member of the Fusion Piano Trio and Violín&Cello duet in Salem..
DANIELLE HOWARD DYE
K/1 VIOLIN TEACHING ARTIST – WILLAMETTE
VIOLA TEACHING ARTIST – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA NEWBY/SUE BUEL
Danielle Howard Dye is a dynamic teacher and performer. She previously worked for the JOY Program as a former Program Director and a Viola Teaching Artist, piloting the JOY program at Edwards Elementary from 2019-2023. Danielle returned to JOY in Fall 2024 to teach Kindergarten violin classes at Willamette Elementary in McMinnville while running her private violin and viola studio full-time. Danielle’s current performing commitments include the Rose String Quartet (viola), Tillikum Chamber Orchestra (violin), and subs for Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on violin. She also has recording credits, working with artists such as unreleased music by Dana Libonati, Joel Martin from Toledo, Ellie Hartman, and Alex Nicholls (Hastings). Danielle is based in Newberg, Oregon where she lives with her husband Ken, who teaches elementary music.
ANNE McKAY
VIOLA TEACHING ARTIST – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA EDWARDS
Anne’s violin journey began at the age of six, and she joined her first orchestra at nine. It was in that collaborative environment that she fell in love with chamber music and the unique joy of sharing music with others. Anne has had the honor of performing with the Chehalem Symphony Orchestra in recent years. She is also a dedicated member of the Fellowship String Quartet, which allows her to continue her passion for chamber music. As she continues her education at George Fox University, Anne remains committed to her craft and sharing the power of music with those around her.
NATE NAUMAN
CELLO TEACHING ARTIST – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA CRATER
Nate began his cello studies at age 11 through his public school orchestra, and in late 2022, he began more intensive training with Sherill Roberts. After graduating high school, he began pursuing a career in music by studying with Heather Blackburn at George Fox University, where he serves as principal cellist of the Chehalem Symphony.
In fall 2024, Nate won the Chehalem Symphony concerto competition and was a finalist in the Oregon ASTA state solo competition. He made his concerto debut in spring 2025 performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Chehalem Symphony. Later that year, Nate attended the Meadowmount School of Music in Westport, New York, studying under renowned cellists Thomas Landschoot and Wei Yu, and chamber music with David Salness.
Outside of music, He enjoys spending time with his family, riding motorcycles, and working on his car.
LESLIE BLANDING PERRING
K/1 VIOLIN TEACHING ARTIST – MEMORIAL
CELLO TEACHING ARTIST – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA NEWBY/BUEL
Leslie Blanding Perrin joined the JOY! program in 2024. Her own childhood benefited from group and private violin lessons in the Suzuki method from ages 4-11 and she is happy to give back to another generation. During middle and high school, she studied classical piano, bass clarinet, and sang in choir. At 18, she picked up cello—which became her primary instrument, and took private lessons with Walter Hogsett, Lori Presthus, and Sherril Roberts for about ten years. In her 40’s she learned the basics of jazz piano and also picked up the tenor guitar and voice. She enjoys playing casually in various community gatherings—planned or impromptu jam/improv sessions with local musicians—mixing musical genres, and now with JOY!.
She is also a garden consultant, and watercolor artist— selling her work locally and further afield under the name, the Leafy Lexicon. She lives in Carlton, OR with her husband, Bengal cats, heritage sheep, a flock of chickens, and a large wild garden.
AMY LEELANI BOWDEN
VIOLIN/VIOLA TEACHING ARTIST – AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA GRANDHAVEN/WASCHER
Amy LeeLani Bowden is a passionate musician, performer, and teacher. She is new to Portland from North Carolina, where she grew up in the mountains with parents who were both teachers and musicians. Music has been a part of her life since as early as she can remember; learning bits of music theory and how to harmonize are some of her earliest memories. Amy began playing the violin at age 10, in public school as well as private instruction with renowned violinist Roger Bernardi. As an adult she has found the violin to be a very versatile instrument, and she enjoys performing in different genres with a variety of groups—from classical to blues to rock to country and more! Amy has taught children of all ages a variety of instruments in several states in the US, and has traveled with multiple groups to perform a wide range of music. One of the things that stands out most about Amy is her positivity and light; people of all ages respond to Amy’s enthusiasm and happy demeanor. Add to this her passion for music and you have the perfect recipe for a children’s music teacher! Amy believes that music has a profoundly positive impact on our minds, our bodies—our entire being—and that the earlier we expose young people to music the more benefit we will see. As a self-proclaimed joy-spreader, Amy is so excited to join the JOY program and contribute to the wonderful impact it has on children and the entire community!
JULIA PRIDAVKA
TEACHING ARTIST & SITE MANAGER
Native to Dallas, Texas, Julia spent her childhood playing the violin starting at age 5 through the Suzuki method. She holds a diploma from the world-renowned Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Following her high school education, she earned a degree in String Music Education and Performance from the University of North Texas College of Music. During her time at UNT, she performed and travelled with the Concert, Symphony and Baroque Orchestras. This is now her third-year teaching in Oregon, currently teaching for the JOY music program and running a full-time private lesson studio. When Julia is not teaching or performing, she enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and spending time at home with her husband and dog.
