Faculty of the Youth Orchestra Program
Dirk Meyer - Music Director, Sarasota Youth Orchestras
German-born conductor Dirk Meyer was appointed assistant conductor of the Sarasota Orchestra in 2006. He continues to serve as music director of the Art Nouveau Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble he founded in 2003 to promote more music of the 20th century and for which he has commissioned several new compositions. Maestro Meyer received bachelor’s degrees from the Folkwang-Hochschule in Germany in music and philosophy. He also holds both a master’s degree in music and a doctorate in orchestral conducting from Michigan State University, where he studied with Leon Gregorian and Raphael Jimenez. While at MSU, he served as assistant conductor to the Michigan State University Opera Theatre. Meyer has conducted many orchestras in Europe and America.
Beverly Boardman - Instructor
For nearly two decades, Boardman has been actively involved in developing the musicianship skills of students participating in the Sarasota Youth Orchestra program. Her high energy, creative and inclusive approach to teaching is revered by students. A recently retired Manatee County music teacher, Boardman is trained in educating children in music and other curricular skills using movement as a tool in an active-learning setting. She is a field consultant with the High Scope Educational Research Foundation and has presented workshops for educators around the country. She also has co-authored two books, one of which contains movement warm-up activities for ensembles.
Nathan Frantz - Associate Conductor
Nathan Frantz is a violist in the Sarasota Orchestra in Sarasota, Florida, a position he has held since 1999. Nathan received his Bachelor's degree in Viola Performance from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL in 1997, and his Master's degree in Viola Performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX in 1999. Nathan has performed with many professional orchestras, such as the Naples Philharmonic, The Spoleto Festival Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Philly Pops orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, and the Delaware Symphony. Nathan teaches the string orchestra at the Booker High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Sarasota, FL. He was the viola teacher and head counselor at the Luzerne Music Center in Lake Luzerne, NY for four summers, from 2002 – 2005. Nathan plays with a string quartet based in Sarasota, FL called "Musicians Out of the Box," or MOB, and has enjoyed a very active chamber music schedule. MOB recently released a children's CD called "Music Tales," a collection of children's stories accompanied by famous classical music. Nathan's wife, Alyson, is a dancer who has performed as Soloist with the Sarasota Ballet and Corpse de Ballet with the Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia, PA. Nathan and Alyson enjoy living with their dog, Lucy, in downtown Sarasota.
Susan Heinz - Conductor
Heinz began studying the violin at age 9 in her hometown of Scranton, Penn. In college, she studied music education with John Feierabend and violin performance with Eric Rosenblith and was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda. She graduated summa cum laude, earning both music degrees in 1994. Three years later, she relocated to Sarasota and began teaching general music and strings at Phillippi Shores Elementary School.
Mark Spreen - Associate Conductor
Mr. Spreen received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the University of Florida and his Masters of Arts from Grand Canyon University. He has also completed graduate courses at Florida State University and the University of Miami. Mr. Spreen has served as District Secretary and District Chairman for the Florida Bandmasters Association and is currently the President of FBA. He is a graduate of Riverview High School and is a former Kiltie. Prior to returning to Sarasota, he directed the Lake Wales, Keystone Heights and Fernandina High School bands. His bands have consistently earned Superior ratings at the FBA festivals and have performed in the National Cherry Blossom Parade, the pre-game and half-time shows at the Sugar Bowl and many other popular events. Mr. Spreen is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Music Education National Conference, and Phi Beta Mu. He is currently the Director of Bands at Riverview High.
Cynthia Wiley - Conductor
A native of Sarasota, Wiley studied violin with Dorothy Stahler and was a piano student of Gray Perry. She was a violinist in the Sarasota Youth Orchestra, was a soloist with the Venice Symphony Orchestra and won the Young Artists Concerto Competition on piano. She received both her bachelor’s degree in violin performance and master’s degree in music from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Wiley has performed with various orchestras, including the Texas Chamber Orchestra and the Dallas Opera Orchestra, as concertmaster, soloist and section violin. She has enjoyed teaching violin for more than 15 years. Upon returning to Sarasota, Wiley founded the Sarasota Violin Academy, to share her love of music with an even broader group of students.
