Richard D. Rader

    The Director and Founder of the Sonic Arts New Horizons Orchestra, Richard received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Malone College in Canton, Ohio and his Masters Degree in Music Education from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Richard is presently enrolled in the Doctorate of Musical Arts Program at Arizona State University.  He taught public school music in Ohio and Arizona from 1962 to 2006.  He retired from Heritage Academy Charter School in Mesa, Arizona in May 2006, prior to that he was Head of the Performing Arts Department at Mountain View High School in Mesa Arizona from 1976 to 1995.  His ensembles consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings at Festival events throughout Arizona and California.  Richard has been an active clinician and adjudicator for the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association.  Richard’s major instrument is the cello. 

Doris Gazda

    Doris Gazda, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Penn State University, taught for many years as a string specialist in the Montgomery County, Maryland, public schools.  Most recently, she was a faculty Associate 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 ASTA with NSOA.

A proponent of new music for student musicians, Ms. Gazda composes for string orchestras.  She is author of High Tech for Strings, technical studies for middle and senior high school orchestras; author of String Town Tunes and More String Town Tunes , concert pieces for teaching beginning strings; Co-author of Fiddling Fingers; co-author of the beginning method, Spotlight on Strings; and arranger of Melodious Etudes, Studies in Lyricism and Progressive Duets for each string instrument. By going to her web-site at www.gazdastrings.com, you can listen to her many published pieces for string orchestra and one piece for concert band.

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, ASTA with NSOA, MTNA, regional school systems and string workshops.

Michele Kalo 

The founder and music director of the Sonic Brass knew her passion was to teach music since the 7th grade. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Bowling Green State University. She has been in public education since 1998, teaching in the Detroit Metropolitan Area for five years and in Arizona since 2003. Her ensembles have consistently received superior and excellent ratings and have performed in New York City, Toronto, Mackinac Island, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney Land, and at the Outback Bowl. She is an active adjudicator and clinician for the Arizona Band and Orchestra Director's Association. Michele continues to play her chosen instrument, the Horn as a member of the Salt River Brass.