ABOUT

Lisa Linde has been the instrumental music director at Newton South High School since 1998. As a teacher and conductor, Lisa directs the Newton South High School Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Honors Chamber Ensembles, Jazz Ensemble, Lab Jazz Ensemble, and four levels of jazz improv courses. In the summers she is active at the South Shore Conservatory Summer Music Festival Conducting the Summer Wind Ensemble. 

Under her direction, Newton South performing ensembles consistently receive state, regional, and national recognition. The NSHS Jazz Ensemble regularly receives top ratings at MAJE state festivals and frequently place in the top four at the Berklee HS Jazz Festival. Most recently the Newton South Jazz Ensemble has been accepted into the 2018 and 2021 Essentially Ellington HS Jazz Festival as well as being selected to the Charles Mingus HS Jazz Festival for the past five years, placing 2nd in 2019.

Lisa is a passionate advocate for gender equality in jazz and has recently started jazzhers, an organization committed to shaping the future of jazz by helping young musicians who identify as female to become connected and feel empowered within the jazz community.

Lisa received her undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and her masters degree in Wind Ensemble Conducting from New England Conservatory where she studied with Frank Battisti. She has served on several boards including MMEA Central District and MICCA as the Solo and Ensemble Chair.