75. Conversation with Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli

In this 75th episode, I sit down with Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli, an
award-winning music educator and director of orchestras at Henry
M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, CA. With a career spanning
multiple prestigious institutions and a wealth of experience in
both orchestra and choral music, Tiffany shares her insights on
what it takes to build successful, high-performing music
programs.From her academic journey to her leadership roles as
President of the California Orchestra Directors Association and
Secretary of the American String Teachers Association, Tiffany
discusses the importance of mentorship, student self-efficacy,
and the role of diversity in the repertoire.





Under Tiffany’s leadership, the Henry M. Gunn High School
Orchestras have consistently earned superior ratings at
festivals, performed at prestigious national conferences, and
even earned the title of "Grand Champions" at the 2024 Orchestra
Cup National Championships. But it's not just about the
accolades—Tiffany's commitment to the growth of her students as
musicians and individuals is at the heart of her teaching
philosophy.Join us for an inspiring conversation that explores
the intersection of music education, leadership, and the power of
music to transform lives.


-- Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli teaches orchestra at Henry M. Gunn High
School in Palo Alto, CA. Ms. Ou-Ponticelli holds a B.A. in Music
Education (viola) from the University of California, Los Angeles.
She earned her master’s degree in Music Education from the
University of Michigan, where her research focused on group
composition and student musical self-efficacy in the middle
school orchestra classroom. In the UCLA Herb Alpert School of
Music, she studied viola with Richard O’Neill, and received her
teaching credential from the UCLA Teacher Education Program. Her
ensembles at Gunn High School and previously at Fletcher Middle
School, consistently receive superior ratings at festivals. Under
Ms. Ou-Ponticelli’s direction, the Henry M. Gunn High School
Orchestras have performed at conferences including the Midwest
Clinic International Band & Orchestra Conference (2022), the
American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival
(2018), and were named “Grand Champions” at the Orchestra Cup
National Orchestra Championships (2024). Ms. Ou-Ponticelli
currently serves as President of the California Orchestra
Directors Association (CODA), as Secretary of the American String
Teachers Association (ASTA) national Board of Directors, and as
Website Editor for California Music Educators Association (CMEA)
Bay Section. She has also held positions as CODA All-State
Orchestras Coordinator, CODA Secretary, CMEA Bay Section
Orchestra Representative, and has served as a member of the
American String Teacher’s Journal Editorial Committee. Ms.
Ou-Ponticelli has presented at state and national conferences
including ASTA and CASMEC, and has been an invited conductor for
county- and state-level honor ensembles. She was the recipient of
the 2022 CMEA Bay Section Outstanding Orchestra Educator Award,
and the 2023 CMEA State Richard L. Levin Orchestra Educator
Award.Ms. Ou-Ponticelli is an active clinician, guest conductor,
violist, and vocalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition
to her orchestral background, she is a lifelong choral singer and
currently performs as an alto with the San Francisco Symphony
Chorus. Ms. Ou-Ponticelli holds a Level III Orff Certification
and is an advocate for incorporating Orff pedagogy in the
secondary ensemble setting. Her research interests include
musical self-efficacy, repertoire diversity, and solfège singing
for instrumentalists.