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Nathan Wilson - Teacher
Nathan Wilson - Teacher
Nathan Wilson began his Fayette County Public Schools journey as the orchestra teacher at Leestown Middle School in 2007. When he started, the program had only 30 students across three classes; under his leadership, the program has grown to over 170 students across five classes. His ensembles have consistently earned Distinguished ratings at KMEA Large Ensemble Assessments, Superior Ratings at the Music in the Parks Festivals, and have received KMEA's Program of Excellence Gold Level Award every year since 2009.
Additionally, an impressive 75% of Leestown Orchestra students participate in the annual District 7 KMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival, and in 2018, his 7th and 8th Grade Orchestras were selected to perform at the KMEA State Conference. For his success, Mr. Wilson was awarded KMEA District 7 Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2017. Mr. Wilson also supports younger students by teaching 4th and 5th grade strings classes at Sandersville Elementary School.
Mr. Wilson is highly credentialed, holding a Master of Music in Theory and Composition and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Eastern Kentucky University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Berea College, where he received several honors, including the Francis S. Hutchins Creative Arts Prize for Music Composition and the Homer E. Williams Award in Interracial Leadership. His advanced study included double bass with Lyle Wolfrom and composition with Dr. Richard Hensel, jazz with Harvey Swartz at the Manhattan School of Music, and extensive string teacher training at the American Suzuki Institute since 2005.
A native of Jonesborough, Tennessee, Mr. Wilson's musical journey began in the Johnson City Youth Orchestra and at David Crockett High School, where he was active in band, choir, and drama alongside sports and student government.
Beyond the classroom, Mr. Wilson is deeply involved in the community. He has been an active member of the Lexington Community Orchestra since 1994, serves as director of music at his church, and is a regular fiddler for contra dancing and regional performances. He holds professional memberships in the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA), the National Association for Music Education, the American Suzuki Association, and the American String Teachers Association.
Mr. Wilson resides in Lexington with his wife, Eva. They have two grown daughters, Anna and Adéla, and the family enjoys traveling, dancing, singing, and playing music together—especially at the annual Christmas Country Dance School in Berea, KY.
Sarah Conrow- Teacher
Sarah Conrow- Teacher
Sarah’s love for strings began in 6th grade, where she played viola in her school orchestra. After 6th grade, her family moved to a district without an orchestra and this deficit in her life lit a fire in her that has been burning ever since. She saw the value and importance of a quality music education in a child’s life and she knew what she needed to pursue: giving other kids the same enriching experience she had.
Sarah is a recent graduate of the University of Louisville, where she gained a master’s degree in violin performance and pedagogy. Previously, she received her bachelor’s degree and certification in music education from Eastern Kentucky University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Honors program and was actively involved in the American String Teacher’s Association during her undergraduate and graduate years. She began her music career while at EKU, where she taught private lessons and performed in various professional ensembles. She built on her professional experience at UofL, as a graduate assistant in music education classes and as a violin sectional leader at Bardstown Schools. She also received her Suzuki Violin certification under the direction of Dr. Timothy Durbin while at UofL.
She now enjoys teaching orchestra at Leestown Middle School, as well as 4th and 5th grade orchestra at Meadowthorpe and Deep Springs Elementary Schools. She values hard work and perseverance above all else, and aims to instill a growth mindset in her students so they can see the bountiful rewards that come from pursuing a musical instrument.
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