🎙️ The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #121

In this episode, The Orchestra Teacher Podcast host Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Dr. Annalisa Chang, orchestra director at Roswell High School and former professor at Clayton State University, to discuss her inspiring journey from higher education back to the high school classroom.

Dr. Chang shares her insights on what it’s like to make the transition from college teaching to public school, how she’s building a thriving orchestra program at Roswell, and the powerful impact of her school’s United Sound inclusion ensemble, which connects students with disabilities to music-making through peer mentorship.

Listeners will gain valuable ideas and inspiration around:

🎻 Creating inclusive learning environments through student leadership

🎵 Building culture, rapport, and connection with students

📚 Balancing administrative tasks, assessments, and musical growth

🎶 Repertoire selection and programming for diverse ensembles

🎧 Maintaining professional balance while teaching full-time

Dr. Chang also talks about her unique teaching model that incorporates peer mentors and teaching assistants, the value of collaboration across departments, and exciting plans for her program — including a joint trip to Universal Studios with the band and choir!

Whether you teach in public schools, higher ed, or youth orchestras, this conversation is filled with warmth, humor, and practical wisdom for every music educator.

#TheOrchestraTeacher #OrchestraTeacherPodcast #MusicEducation #DrCharlesLaux #DrAnnalisaChang #StringEducation #OrchestraEducation #RoswellHighSchool #MusicTeachers #OrchestraDirectors #InclusionInMusic #UnitedSound #MusicPedagogy #OrchestraLife 

— BIOGRAPHY —

Annalisa C. Chang is Director of Orchestras at Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia. Prior to this position, she served as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music Education at Clayton State University. At Clayton State, Dr. Chang taught general music education courses, string methods, music for early childhood, music appreciation, and supervised student teachers. She was named the 2022-2023 Gene Hatfield Teacher of the Year by the CSU College of Arts and Sciences and received the 2023 Pearson Excellence in Higher Education Award in the Transformational Thought Leadership category. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she served as the Director of the CSU Music Preparatory School.

Her research on string teacher education, the inclusion of students with disabilities in string classrooms, and equitable access to music education has been presented at state, national, and international music education conferences. Her work has been published in the String Research Journal, the Florida Music Director, and the ArkMEA Journal.

​As a clinician, Dr. Chang has presented sessions on teaching students with disabilities, string education, classroom management, and traditional (folk) music instruction in the schools at many state in-service conferences, the American String Teachers Association National Conference, and the Midwest Clinic.

Dr. Chang holds degrees in Music Education from Florida State University (Ph.D), and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (M.M., B.M) where she was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow.

acchang.com

roswellorchestra.org

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