About the Director

Originally from Pennsylvania, Brittany Dinsmore is an enthusiastic orchestra director who loves to inspire students to deepen their love and learning of music. For over twenty years, Mrs. Dinsmore has taught string students of all ages and playing abilities from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, including eight years abroad in Bangkok, Thailand; Frankfurt, Germany; and Los Gatos, California. Before her current position at Tuscarora High School, she was the orchestra director at Willard Middle School in Aldie, Virginia, where she helped inspire young musicians and grow Willard's large orchestra program from 300 students to over 400 students in two years' time. At the beginning of her career, she was a full-time elementary strings teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools for four years.

Mrs. Dinsmore earned a Master of Music Education Degree from Shenandoah Conservatory in 2008. In 2005, she graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. For both degrees, she earned Summa Cum Laude honors. For the 2005 WVU graduation ceremony, Mrs. Dinsmore was named the School of Music Student Marshal, and she won the West Virginia Foundation Outstanding Senior Award.

Ever since she picked up her first 1/4-size cello at age eight, Mrs. Dinsmore has been passionate about music.  As a high school student, Mrs. Dinsmore loved to be involved in all things music, from high school musicals on the stage or in the pit, to playing the sousaphone and mellophone in the marching band, to being a member of the choir in high school and college. But her main love was the cello, on which she qualified for District, Regional, and State Orchestra festivals three years in a row in Pennsylvania. She was named principal cellist of the Pennsylvania All-State Orchestra in 2001 and invited to participate in the All-Eastern Honors Orchestra with the top high school musicians from across the eastern seaboard. Mrs. Dinsmore sees so much value in the many musical experiences students can have during their high school years, and loves to see students get involved, make connections with other musicians, and challenge themselves to grow in their musicianship.  She is eager to work with the students of the Tusky Orchestra program and encourage each student along on their unique musical journey.