Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra

David Levin :: Music Education Director

David Levin earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree with a minor in trumpet from The Catholic University in Washington, DC. He continued his studies there, earning a Master of Music Education degree with a minor in conducting in 1983. Mr. Levin began his teaching with the Montgomery County Public Schools in 1979 at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. After spending eight years at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School followed by five years at Seneca Valley High School; Mr. Levin took on the challenge of teaching middle school and joined the staff of Tilden Middle School.  In 1998, he became the Instrumental Music Director at James Hubert Blake High School, the new signature high school for the performing arts, followed by many years as Instrumental Music Director at Winston Churchill High School.  Mr. Levin is currently the Instrumental Music Teacher at Rosa M. Parks Middle School. Throughout his career as conductor and educator,  Mr. Levin’s wind ensembles and symphonies have consistently earned praise for their exquisite display of artistry and refinement. His ensembles have earned superior ratings at competitions and  festivals throughout the world. He is well known for his engaging and personable  style, one which attracts and motivates musicians to perform extremely challenging music at a level “well beyond their years.” He has conducted for enthusiastic audiences throughout North America, London, Scotland, Rome, Prague, Vienna, and most recently, the Netherlands.

Mr. Levin performs professionally with the M Street Brass Quintet and freelances throughout the metropolitan area. His past performing associations  include The Catholic University Orchestra, the Georgetown Symphony and the McLean Orchestra. In recent years, he has appeared briefly with the National Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Levin has also been sought out as guest conductor for Honors Ensembles throughout Maryland and Virginia. He has adjudicated district band, orchestra, and solo festivals throughout the Washington metro area. In May 2013, Mr. Levin conducted his final concert with Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras after serving as MCYO Conductor for 21 years and MCYO Education Director for the past five years.

Scott Herman :: String Specialist :: Symphony Orchestra

Scott Herman has been the Instrumental Music Director at Montgomery County’s Cabin John Middle School for 27 years and conductor for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO) for 14 seasons. In 2009, Mr. Herman received the distinguished Maryland Music Educators “Outstanding Teacher of the Year.” His work with strings is recognized by the American String Teachers Association as a recipient of the “Outstanding Service to Strings” award. The Cabin John MS instrumental music program is widely regarded as one of the finest music programs in Maryland and  received Maryland’s “Exemplary Music Program” award in 2012. The ensembles have been consistently praised for their superior performances at the district and state levels. In addition, Cabin John Middle School has been highly represented in the regional youth orchestras, all-county, and all-state ensembles.

The Orchestra recently performed for the National PTA Reflections program at the U.S. Department of Education. They were featured at the Maryland Music Educators Association Spring Conferences in 2012 and 2002. In 2009, the Band and Orchestra was showcased at the Montgomery County Public Schools Administrators Meeting.  Mr. Herman directed the Montgomery County Junior Honors Orchestras for nineteen seasons and the Junior Honors Band two seasons. In 2008, he directed the Southern Maryland Tri-County Orchestra. In 2006, he guest conducted the Thomas Wootton Orchestra in their debut at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic. In 2002, Mr. Herman directed the Maryland Junior All-State Orchestra. Prior conducting engagements include the 2003 Calvert County Senior Orchestra and the 2002 Baltimore County Public Schools Middle School Honors Band.

Mr. Herman adjudicates music events throughout the region and is sought after by his colleagues as a resource. Mr. Herman’s private trumpet and string bass studio are represented in all-county, all-state, and regional youth orchestras. As a performing artist, Mr. Herman is a member of the Capital Wind Symphony, as well as various chamber ensembles throughout the Washington D.C. metro region. He also served on American String Teachers Association Board of Directors as the “Public School Representative.”