Meet our Leadership

Christian Orr - Director of Bands

Christian Orr, a Native of Staten-Island, NY, born to the parents of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert and Alesia Orr inherited a love for music at the age 8 when the family moved to Cheraw, SC. He was later raised in Goldsboro, NC where he graduated from Eastern Wayne High in 2008 before moving to Winston-Salem, NC to pursue his college degree.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Winston-Salem State University and later completed his degree requirements to acquire his Masters of Music degree in Trumpet Performance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Since graduating from these institutions, Mr. Orr is a highly decorated musician and educator bringing 9 years of teaching experience and over eleven years of professional playing in the community. He is currently coming into his 7th year as the band director at North Forsyth, teaching various ensembles such as two concert bands, a jazz ensemble, percussion class, orchestra, beginning band, and marching band. During his time as the director of bands at North, he was recently awarded band director of the year, ASBD Ed Rooker Encore Award, two superior ratings at MPA, first place at a major marching band competition, and currently serves as the All-County Jazz chair for Forsyth county. When Mr. Orr is not in the classroom, you can find him in the community performing with various community groups and professional groups. 

Kania Mills - Assistant Director

Kania Mills is a classically trained clarinetist/saxophonist from Charlotte, North Carolina.  She received her Bachelor of Music (B.M.) and Master of Music degrees in Clarinet Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she studied with the late Robert Listokin, Daniel McKelway, and Igor Begelman.  She has also had studies with Charles Neidich from Julliard and her masterclass performances include work with distinguished musicians, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels, Alan Kay, and the New York Woodwind Quintet.  

Kania is Adjunct Woodwinds Faculty and the Assistant Band Director to Anthony Jones at Livingstone College, where she has taught for nine years.  

Kania has been the concertmaster for the Salem Band over ten years, and also performs with the Salem Swing Band.  She is the manager of the Salem Sax Quartet.  She has been a member of the Piedmont Wind Symphony (Eb Clarinetist) for 20 years, now under the direction of Mark Gorman, and has performed with Grammy award winning artists, Al Jarreau, Diane Schurr, Ronnie Milsap, Dionne Warwick, Arturo Sandoval, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paul Anka, Kenng G, America, Neil Sedaka, and other accomplished performers.  The Three Irish Tenors, Ben Folds and The Wailers, to name a few.

Kania performs extensively as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and has participated in numerous conferences, festivals, operas, musicals, and chamber music ensembles, which includes The Doppler Effect Duo with Dr. Kinard Douthit, YNO (Your Neighborhood Orchestra), conducted by Elizabeth Kowalski in Charlotte, N.C. and is a WDAV Classical Noteworthy Artist.  She also performs with the Livingstone Jazz Combo under the direction of Dr. Lawrence Quinnett.  Kania is a recording studio artist and works on various projects for multiple producers.  

Her prior experience includes Broadway Theater Productions under the direction of Kevin Stites as a multiple woodwind pit musician with performances in New York.  She was one of the top six finalists for the National Astral Artists Competition in 2009.

Kania is passionate about giving back to her students and community.  Her teaching experience includes both private lessons and working with various ensembles in middle schools, per-college/college programs and universities.  She has coached chamber ensembles and prepares students for all-district, all-county, all-state, recitals and competitions.  She is also the Assistant Director to Corey Gaston at Concord Academy and Christian Orr at North Forsyth High School.

Bio Coming Soon

Danielle Kinne - Dance/Flag Coach

Danielle Kinne, originally from California, attended Interlochen Arts Academy (Interlochen, MI) with scholarship, for four years before receiving her BFA in Dance Performance at Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) and her MFA in Choreography with K-12 licensure in Dance Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. While living in Philadelphia, she danced for independent choreographers/artists such as Merian Soto, Erin Forman- Murray, Marianela Boan (BoanDanzAction), Megan Durham-Wall, Megan Mazarick, and Abigail Zbikowski and was a company member of the Leah Stein Dance Company for seven years. She has choreographed and performed as part of Philly Fringe Festival, the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, Bates Dance Festival, Lincoln Center's Outdoor performances, Winston- Salem’s Ruby Slipper Fringe Festival Performance Series, the North Carolina Dance Festival and the Greensboro FRINGE festival . Ms. Kinne was also a recipient of the SPARK! Fund Grant in 2017. Dani has taught as adjunct faculty at Coker College and UNC-Greensboro, and been a guest Choreographer and teacher with Dance Projects, and Interlochen Arts Academy, and WSFCS.  Danielle currently is training towards her (200 hour) certification in yoga,  works as a guest artist and independent choreographer in the triad area, is the dance teacher and Valkyries dance coach at North Forsyth High School.

Mr. Wayne Jones - Assistant Dance/Flag Coach

Mr. Jones started dance in his native city Winston Salem, NC at UNCSA Preparatory Ballet Program. Graduate of the Virginia State University with a Bachelors in Public Administration. He is Founder and Director of Greater Vision Dance Company of Winston Salem, NC. He also apart of Community Artist that works with different organizations/schools  North Carolina Black Repertory Company(“Nativity According to the Gospel” as Joseph/Dance Captain), Triad Cultural Arts(Youth Artist Connection),  and he has had the opportunity to be Resident Artist at North Forsyth High School for the past 5 years just to name a few. He is excited about working the Valkyries this year as Assistant Coach and can’t wait to see how his first year goes working with the Band.