"Music Exists for the Sole Purpose of Growing an Admirable Heart." S.Suzuki
Mrs. Grace Berens, Assistant Orchestra Director, began at Nelson Middle School in August of 2020. She graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2019, having studied violin with Dr. Tim Angel and conducting with Dr. Clifton Evans. While at UTA, she was part of the revitalization and re-charter of the local chapter of the Collegiate Texas Music Educators, serving as an officer and representative; and the regrowth of the Zeta Nu chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, where she served as secretary and vice-president. Mrs. Berens has taught violin lessons for seven years and has been playing the violin for fourteen years, performing in the UTA Symphony Orchestra as well as various community ensembles. In addition, she has worked as a counselor for the Salvation Army's Youth Education Town.
Mrs. Berens loves music and is very partial to cinematic and gaming scores. Her husband is a cellist, as well as an orchestra director at Faubion Middle School in McKinney ISD, and the two of them enjoy playing music together whenever possible. When she's not teaching or spending time with her family and friends, Mrs. Berens loves to create art and read. She is very excited to continue her journey with Nelson and hopes to bring a spark of joy to the classroom.
The Orchestra Directors
Dr. Alan Wagner, Director of Orchestras, began at Nelson Middle School in the Frisco Independent School District in January of 2018. He holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in music education and conducting from Ohio University and a Ph.D. in music education from Florida State University. He taught instrumental music and jazz studies in the public schools of Ohio, New York and Florida for fourteen years and at Emory University prior to his 18-year tenure at Southern Methodist University.
Active as a guest conductor and clinician/consultant for music education, he has presented sessions for the CBDNA, the WASBE, the Midwest Clinic, and for state conferences in Ohio, Georgia, and Texas. In Dallas, he directed the Lovers Lane Jazz Band, an ensemble exploring “sacred jazz,” and hosted the first sacred jazz festival in 2007. His book, A Bio-Bibliography of Composer Warren Benson, was published in 2005 and received the Adele Mellen Prize for Distinguished Scholarship. Dr. Wagner’s other research interests include string pedagogy, string orchestra and wind ensemble repertoire, Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts, rhythm reading, classroom management, jazz pedagogy, music to accompany silent film, and ballet music. He has collaborated with the José Limón Dance Company and the Martha Graham Center on ballet projects.
During his time at SMU, Dr. Wagner founded the Meadows Jazz Orchestra and Meadows Jazz Vocal, taught both graduate and undergraduate music education courses, chaired the string department, served as associate conductor of the Meadows Wind Ensemble, and conducted pit orchestras for silent film and ballets. He also served in various administrative positions since 2003 and retired emeritus as Associate Director for Academic Affairs for the Division of Music in 2016. He is excited about the current achievements and future potential of the Nelson Middle School Orchestra Program.
String orchestras run in the family, as Dr. Wagner’s wife, Christina Wagner, was the orchestra director at Lone Star High School and taught orchestra at Staley Middle School prior to the opening of Lone Star. The Wagners have three beautiful children, Jennifer, Carie, and Brian, and twin granddaughters, Caitlin and Sadie, all of whom live in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. In his free time, Dr. Wagner enjoys time with his family, furniture design and building, the study of architecture, reading, farming and outdoor activities.
Mrs. Michelle Campos, Harp Instructor, is an active performer in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. She has collaborated with several orchestras such as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra among others and has played under the baton of Paul Phillips, Simon Percic, and Gemma New.
In the summer of 2022, Mrs. Campos was a Harp Apprentice at the National Music Festival where she studied under Cheryl Losey Fedor. She has also attended the Harp Oklahoma Workshop every summer for six summers starting in 2010 under the instruction of Gaye Leblanc and Rachel Ellins. During these summers, she participated in masterclasses, harp ensemble, and performed solo works.
When she is not doing classical music, Mrs. Campos plays for weddings and other private events. She enjoys playing a wide variety of genres such as pop and R&B.
She recently completed her Master of Music in Harp Performance at Southern Methodist University under the tutelage of Emily Levin. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Oklahoma City University under Faith O’Neal.