Martin Orchestra Directors
Michael Stringer is the Director of Orchestras at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. He began his musical training at age 10 in Mesquite, Texas where he studied violin in his school’s orchestra. After studying violin and trumpet throughout high school and college, Mr. Stringer graduated in 2000 from of The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Music degree.
Stringer has taught at Martin HS since 2006. Mr. Stringers’ orchestras have been consistent winners of the UIL Sweepstakes Award, and have won numerous Best in Class Awards in festivals across the United States. Under his direction, the Martin HS Symphony Orchestra has placed five times in the finals of the TMEA Honor Orchestra Competition, and was named 2nd Runner Up in the Full Orchestra Contest in 2009 and the String Orchestra Contest in 2010.
Mr. Stringer currently serves as the TMEA Region V Vice President and in 2008, Mr. Stringer traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to conduct the West Tennessee All State Orchestra.
During the summers, he is on staff at The University of Texas at Arlington Summer Strings Camp. He holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Mu Omicron and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Michael has a wonderful wife, Sara and a five year old son, Matthew. In his spare time, he enjoys bowling for his league team “Complete RCA,” playing golf, choir practice and wrestling with his dog, Rifneerner.
Jennifer Lemin is an Assistant Director of Orchestras at Martin
High School and the Strings Teacher at Little Elementary School in Arlington,
Texas. She started her musical training in this district at Short Elementary,
and then moved through Gunn Jr. High and graduated from Arlington High
School with cello as her primary instrument. Mrs. Lemin is a graduate
of The University of Texas at Arlington where she earned a Bachelor
of Music degree.
Previous to being at Martin she was the Director of Orchestras for two middle schools in Grand Prairie, Texas. Under her direction, the program doubled in size with triple the amount of students enrolling for beginner strings. Additionally, Mrs. Lemin piloted an elementary strings program that thrived in its first year and began the stages of spreading through the district.
During the summers, she is on staff at The University of Texas at Arlington Summer Strings Camp. She holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Orchestra Directors Association.
Jennifer most enjoys time with her husband Don as well as his two kids.
In her spare time, she frequently is hired to play with various performing
groups
Nathan
Keefer is an Assistant Director of Orchestras at Martin High School.
Mr. Keefer grew up as a cellist in the Arlington string program and
was raised in a family of music educators. His mother, Linda Keefer,
was one of the four original string teachers hired by Dean Corey to
start the Arlington string program in 1972. She is currently the director
of orchestras at Arlington High School where she has been since 1977.
His uncle, Bill Huff, was the director of orchestras at Martin High
School from 1982 – 2006. Mr. Huff is now currently the Director
of Fine Arts for AISD. Mr. Keefer began playing the cello at age four
in the Suzuki program. During high school at Arlington High, he was
a member of the All-Region orchestras and the 1998 Texas All-State Philharmonic
Orchestra at TMEA.
In 2005, he completed an Associates Degree in Audio Engineering and
Music Production from Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, Texas. In 2008,
he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from The University
of Texas at Arlington.
Prior to being at Martin High School, Mr. Keefer was the Assistant Director of Orchestras at Bowie High School and the Strings Teacher at West Elementary.
During the summer, Mr. Keefer is on staff at The University of Texas at Arlington Summer Strings Camp and The Texas Cello Academy. He holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Orchestra Directors Association.
Mr. Keefer enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing
golf, and watching sports. He is one of the founding members of the
very popular cello rock quartet The 440 Alliance. The 440 Alliance performs
a variety of music ranging from Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven to The Beatles,
Led Zeppelin, and hip-hop.
**Directors photos courtesy of Terry Ip Photography.