Ms. Taylor was born and raised in Atlanta, GA where she started playing the double bass in 6th grade Beginning Orchestra.  She recieved her bachelor's degree in Music Education from Stetson University in DeLand, FL.  From there, she moved to Las Vegas to begin her teaching career where she lived and taught orchestra for 14 years.  Four years ago, family and friends persuaded Ms. Taylor to move here to Plano, TX and she is so glad she did!  She loves this area and loves teaching at Renner Middle School.  She also loves being closer with my family, loves her dogs, and loves ice cream and tacos!

Mary Havenstrite is the director of Orchestras at Robinson Middle School. She studied the Violin at a very young age in New Orleans, where she was born.  She received her undergraduate degree in music education from Loyola University of New Orleans before moving to Texas. She achieved her masters in violin performance from the University of North Texas. She began teaching in 1993 and has been teaching at Robinson since 2005.  She resides in Plano with her family. 

Jennifer Guffey is the Director of Orchestras at Schimelpfenig Middle School in Plano, Texas. This is her 25th year of teaching and eleventh year at Schimelpfenig Middle School. Mrs. Guffey grew up in a musical family, with her father being an orchestra director and her mother playing violin, she began studying the violin privately at the young age of five. She continued her music studies throughout high school participating in Orchestra. After graduating from high school, Guffey pursued her music career at Northwestern State University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education.

In 1999 Mrs. Guffey began her teaching career in Fort Bend ISD in Sugar Land, TX. She was the assistant orchestra director at First Colony Middle School and Garcia Middle School. She took her first head director position at SugarLand Middle School and taught there from 2000 - 2013. Throughout Mrs. Guffey's teaching career, her groups have received consistent UIL Sweepstakes awards and Best in Class Awards. Under her direction, the Schimelpfenig Middle School Symphony Orchestra has been a Finalist of the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra Competition two times and in 2023 was a commended winner for the Mark of Excellence/National Orchestra Honors Project.

Guffey was recognized in 2004 with the TexASTA Marjorie Keller Young Teacher of the Year award. In addition to her teaching, Mrs. Guffey is an active clinician and judge. She has served as the Region Middle School Orchestra Chair for UIL Regions 13 and 25. She is a proud member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Mu Omicron.

Mrs. Guffey resides in Plano with her husband, Anthony and their two sons Bryson and Austin. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching movies, and crafting.

Amy Gross is currently the Associate Director of Orchestras at Plano West Senior High School in Plano, Texas.  She is in her eighteenth year of teaching in Plano ISD.  Amy grew up in Plano, Texas and attended Jasper High School and graduated in the charter class of Plano West Senior high under the direction of Jo Wallace-Abbie.

A 2006 graduate of Sam Houston State University with a B.M. in Music Education, Amy studied violin with Mr. Andrew Wilson and conducting with Dr. Carol Smith and Dr. Allen Hightower.

Mrs. Gross holds a membership in the Texas Orchestra Director’s Association and Texas Music Educators Association.  She currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and two children, Hailey and Ethan.