121. Dr. Annalisa Chang discusses inclusion, student leadership, and her journey from higher ed to the high school orchestra classroom

️ The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #121


In this episode, The Orchestra Teacher Podcast host Dr.
Charles Laux sits down with Dr. Annalisa
Chang, orchestra director at Roswell High
School and former professor at Clayton State
University, to discuss her inspiring journey from higher
education back to the high school classroom.





Dr. Chang shares her insights on what it’s like to make the
transition from college teaching to public school, how she’s
building a thriving orchestra program at Roswell, and the
powerful impact of her school’s United Sound inclusion
ensemble, which connects students with disabilities to
music-making through peer mentorship.





Listeners will gain valuable ideas and inspiration around:


Creating inclusive learning environments through student
leadership


Building culture, rapport, and connection with students


Balancing administrative tasks, assessments, and musical growth


Repertoire selection and programming for diverse ensembles


Maintaining professional balance while teaching full-time





Dr. Chang also talks about her unique teaching model that
incorporates peer mentors and teaching assistants, the value of
collaboration across departments, and exciting plans for her
program — including a joint trip to Universal Studios with the
band and choir!


Whether you teach in public schools, higher ed, or youth
orchestras, this conversation is filled with warmth, humor, and
practical wisdom for every music educator.


#TheOrchestraTeacher #OrchestraTeacherPodcast
#MusicEducation #DrCharlesLaux #DrAnnalisaChang #StringEducation
#OrchestraEducation #RoswellHighSchool #MusicTeachers
#OrchestraDirectors #InclusionInMusic #UnitedSound #MusicPedagogy
#OrchestraLife 





— BIOGRAPHY —


Annalisa C. Chang is Director of Orchestras at Roswell High
School in Roswell, Georgia. Prior to this position, she served as
Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music Education at
Clayton State University. At Clayton State, Dr. Chang taught
general music education courses, string methods, music for early
childhood, music appreciation, and supervised student teachers.
She was named the 2022-2023 Gene Hatfield Teacher of the Year by
the CSU College of Arts and Sciences and received the 2023
Pearson Excellence in Higher Education Award in the
Transformational Thought Leadership category. In addition to her
teaching responsibilities, she served as the Director of the CSU
Music Preparatory School.





Her research on string teacher education, the inclusion of
students with disabilities in string classrooms, and equitable
access to music education has been presented at state, national,
and international music education conferences. Her work has been
published in the String Research Journal, the Florida Music
Director, and the ArkMEA Journal.





​As a clinician, Dr. Chang has presented sessions on teaching
students with disabilities, string education, classroom
management, and traditional (folk) music instruction in the
schools at many state in-service conferences, the American String
Teachers Association National Conference, and the Midwest Clinic.





Dr. Chang holds degrees in Music Education from Florida State
University (Ph.D), and the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro (M.M., B.M) where she was a North Carolina Teaching
Fellow.





acchang.com


roswellorchestra.org





— REFERRAL LINKS —


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