ARCO Director Bios
Ann Felder |
Corinna Smith |
In addition to being a director of the Arts Centre Orchestra (formerly Monroe Youth Orchestra) for 20 of the past 25 years, Ann is employed by Monroe Public Schools where she teaches 5th - 8th grade strings and K - 8 general music. Ann also performs regularly as a violist with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra and as the organist for St. Joseph Church in Ida. |
Ms. Smith’s teaching experience includes co-founding the strings program in the public schools of Tecumseh, MI. Additionally, she has served as founder and artistic director of Saline High School’s official fiddle ensemble, Fiddlers ReStrung for five years; under her direction the high school group has recorded three studio albums and embarked on domestic and international tours, totaling hundreds of performances. Corinna is currently the owner and operator of the “Barefoot Fiddle Studio” and a member of the Irish-Americana band, “Freshwater.” As a freelance artist she has appeared on 7 CD's and one music video, headlined a 2009 ASTA-Illinois workshop alongside Mark O’Connor, and recently had the honor of recording with renowned trumpetist Kris Johnson on his upcoming album "Un Voyage dans les Rêves.” Ms. Smith is very excited to join RRCA’s outstanding staff, teaching the beginning strings class as well as the ARCO Philharmonia. |
Corinna Smith fell in love with string music while growing up in Saline, Michigan, and at eighteen she was hired as the only American in the original international touring fiddle band, Barrage. After performing with Barrage for nearly two years, Corinna returned to Michigan to earn her degree in music education from MSU, studying classical violin as well as jazz and continuing to pursue traditional string music. She graduated with honors in May 2009 and is a certified K-12 music educator in the state of Michigan.
