Leanne Griffey is currently in her 16^th year of teaching Orchestra at Kinard Middle School in Fort Collins where she teaches approximately 180 6^th-8^th grade Orchestra students each year. She has had the privilege of performing with her Kinard Orchestras at the National Orchestra Festival and Colorado Music Educators’ Association conference multiple times and leads them to consistently earn superior ratings at local and state festivals.

Both Leanne’s mother and grandmother were musicians and educators, and they instilled in her a love and appreciation for both arts. Thanks to her incredible Orchestra teachers in Fort Collins in junior high and high school, Leanne experienced the joy of being in excellent public school music ensembles, setting high expectations as she embarked on her own career.

Since earning her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Mrs. Griffey has taught combinations of Orchestra, Choir, Band, and Music Explorations in various schools including Blevins Junior High (Fort Collins), schools in Greeley, CO, and in Williamsburg, VA. Throughout her career, Mrs. Griffey has also taught private violin, viola, and voice lessons. She enjoys teaching students from many different communities at the summer Camp Con Brio, as guest conductor for honor orchestras, and as an adjudicator and clinician all around the state. Mrs. Griffey is now serving the Colorado Chapter of the American String Teachers Association as President-Elect.

Mrs. Griffey enjoys performing as her schedule allows, usually as a violinist and sometimes a violist. She recently served as the Concertmaster of the Greeley Chamber Orchestra for 15 years, as Guest Concertmaster of the Health & Wellness Orchestra (Fort Collins) and has performed with the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Longmont Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Richmond (VA) Symphony, Williamsburg (VA) Symphonia, and string quartets.

In the rare moments she’s not making music, Mrs. Griffey is with her husband, Kevin (an engineer), their daughter, Clara (a Junior at Kansas State), or Leanne’s parents, plus their adorable, adopted cats. She loves snow, skiing, hiking, and biking, especially when balanced with good food. Mrs. Griffey is very honored to have this opportunity to share the joy of music with the St. Vrain Valley School District Chamber Orchestra!

Jonathan West is a Colorado-based music educator. While growing up in Colorado Springs, Jonathan began playing the cello with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association and the horn in his public school program.

While studying for a Bachelor of Music Education degree at The University of Northern Colorado, Jonathan took cello lessons from Gal Faganel. As a member of the University Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Russel Guyver, Jonathan played for soloists Rachel Barton Pine, Peter Stumpf, and Robert deMaine.

At the outset of his teaching career, Jonathan was a teaching assistant during the inaugural years of the UNC String Project, a weekly after-school program for beginning string students in the fourth and fifth grades. This program helped solidify Jonathan’s love for teaching. Jonathan was featured in an article about the program’s success: “Colorado Teacher Shortage Presents Opportunities For Some Future Educators” by Stephanie Daniel on KUNC.org. As a young conductor, Jonathan was selected for the Colorado Music Educator Association 2019 Conducting Clinic and participated in the master class with Larry Livingston. For the 2021 CMEA conference, Jonathan was invited to speak for a panel session “Mixtures for Success,” discussing how new teachers are surviving teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jonathan is in his 6th year as Director of Orchestras at Creighton Middle School and Lakewood Area Elementary Schools, teaching grades 5 through 8. During his time there, his orchestras have received “Superior” ratings at large group festivals. His students participate in Solo and Ensemble competitions and perform for community organization events like the Lakewood Symphony.  Jonathan is now in his 4th season as Director of the Longmont Youth Symphony’s ‘Longmont Youth String Ensemble,’ and is owner and manager of Camp Con Brio: String Camp of the Rockies, a summer youth orchestra camp. Recently, Jonathan and his co-host, Chue Vue, started the podcast “Tired and True” discussing all things strings including pedagogy, philosophy, and how their idea of “winning orchestra” has changed through their careers. Jonathan has recently judged and cliniced several orchestras at various events in Colorado, including the 2024 Nordic Festival in Poudre Public Schools and the 2026 Cherry Creek School District Middle School Honor Orchestra. Jonathan received the 2026 “Outstanding String Teacher Award” from the Colorado chapter of the American String Teachers Association.