Stately Oaks Music Festival

Dr. Schaad has directed orchestral programs at Clemson University, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville County Youth Orchestras, and Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestras. In New York, she has taught in Liberty, Hyde Park, and Arlington School Districts, and was a founder of Stringendo Orchestra School in Poughkeepsie, NY. She is active as a region and all-state conductor, opera conductor, orchestra consultant, and old-time fiddler.

Dr. Galen S. Karriker is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at The University of Akron. He conducts the UA Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and coordinates the university bands. Dr. Karriker also teaches Advanced Conducting, Percussion Methods and oversees the annual Ohio Band Directors Conference and High School Band Clinic Festival.

During his tenure as Director of Bands (2013 – present), The University of Akron Wind Symphony has been selected to perform at the 2016, 2018, and 2020 Ohio Music Education Association State Professional Development Conferences. From 1999 - 2013, Dr. Karriker served as Assistant Director of Bands and the UA Concert Band performed as a “clinic ensemble” for the OMEA State Convention in 2002 and 2004.

Jamal Duncan joined the faculty of Arizona State University in Fall of 2020 as associate director of bands and assistant professor of instrumental conducting. His primary responsibilities are conducting the Wind Symphony and teaching classes in conducting. Prior to his appointment at ASU, Duncan served as the assistant director of bands at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Duncan’s research interests include conducting pedagogy, wind literature, and re-defining the traditional concert experience. He has presented on these topics at various state and international conferences including the Midwest Clinic. 

Joe LaBrie is the band director at Liberty Middle School in Fairfax County. As a member of VMEA/VBODA, Joe has been Chair of District X, and served on the logistics committee for the VMEA Conference. For the past eight years, Joe has been honored to serve the state as Middle School Representative. A native of Prince William County, Joe went on to receive music education degrees from LSU and the American Band College through SHSU. He currently lives in Fairfax with his wife, Katie, who is a composer, and their son, Liam.

Jarred Kennedy is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at Louisiana State University. A 2018 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, he began his career as a high school orchestra director in Texas, where his ensembles consistently earned top honors at state competitions. He served for two years as Associate Conductor of the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra and has made conducting appearances with the Austin Civic Orchestra, National Music Festival, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Cascade Orchestra, and the LSU Symphony, Concert, and Opera Orchestras. In 2025, Jarred was selected as one of four fellowship conductors for the Wintergreen Music Festival in Wintergreen, Virginia. An accomplished violinist, Jarred has performed with several Texas orchestras, including the Austin Symphony, Waco Symphony, and Brazos Valley Symphony. He has held leadership roles as Concertmaster of the Clear Lake Symphony and Assistant Concertmaster of both the Temple and Galveston Symphonies. His performance experience also includes appearances at the Colour of Music Festival, Round Top Summer Music Festival, Sewanee Summer Music Festival and National Music Festival.