Doris Gazda is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Penn State University. She enjoyed many years as a string specialist in the Montgomery County, Maryland public schools, where she founded and conducted the Frederick County Youth Orchestra, and conducted the Potomac Valley Youth and Frederick Community Orchestras. Most recently, Ms. Gazda was on the faculty at Arizona State University. She has served nationally as Secretary for the American String Teachers Association, President of the National School Orchestra Association and Member-at-Large for the ASTA with NSOA.
A proponent of new music for student musicians, Ms. Gazda composes for strings and string orchestra. She is the author of High Tech for Strings (Carl Fischer), a set of technical studies for middle and high school orchestras, and co-author of the beginning method Spotlight on Strings (Neil A. Kjos). Nationally known for her leadership and expertise in string instruction, Ms Gazda presents workshops and conducts conference and regional student orchestras. She is a frequent presenter at state and national meetings for MENC (Music Educators National Conference), ASTA (American String Teachers Association) with NSOA (National School Orchestra Association), MTNA (Music Teachers National Association), regional school systems, and string workshops.
