Meghan Taschenberger Co-Director of the Elementary School Honors Orchestra
Meghan Taschenberger is the orchestra teacher at Elkridge Elementary School.
Ms. Taschenberger graduated from West Virginia University with degrees in Viola Performance and Music Education. She will be pursuing her Master’s Degree in Music Education from University of Maryland beginning this summer.
Prior to teaching at Elkridge Elementary School, Ms. Taschenberger was the orchestra teacher at Hanover Hills Elementary School in HCPSS, and the orchestra director at H.H. Poole Middle School in Stafford, Virginia.
In addition to teaching in HCPSS, Ms. Taschenberger has a violin/viola private studio for students in 6th-12th grade. Over the summer, she is a teacher at AACPS Music Camp, running sectionals for Violin 1, Violin 2, and Violas.
Ms. Taschenberger served as the 22-23 guest conductor for the Calvert County Elementary All County Orchestra.
Beyond music, Ms. Taschenberger loves traveling with her fiancé, spending time with friends and family, and attending Ravens games.
Wesley Thompson, Co-Director of the Elementary School honors Orchestra
Wesley Thompson is the orchestra teacher at Clarksville Elementary School.
Ms. Thompson is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University where she received a degree in Double Bass Performance and Music Education certification. Ms. Thompson also has her Master's Degree in Music Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Along with teaching in Howard County Public Schools, Ms. Thompson is the conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Youth String Orchestra and maintains a substantial private double bass studio in the Baltimore area. Before joining the BSYO, Ms. Thompson conducted the Harford String Orchestra.
In addition to teaching full time during the school year, Ms. Thompson is also the Executive Director of Bass Works, an internationally renowned intensive summer program for bassists aged 5 and beyond and faculty. She is the also the co-founder of Basstravaganza, a small group bass summer camp for school aged musicians in Northern Virginia. A lifetime member of the International Society of Bassists, she is currently on the board of directions serving as the Secretary and a member of the education team. She has co-run the ISB's Young Bassist's bi-annual conference for the past 6 years.
Ms. Thompson frequently acts as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in the Greater Baltimore area. She has acted as an orchestra assessment adjudicator and clinician in Cecil, Fredrick, Calvert, and Howard County, and has served as the guest conductor for the Anne Arundel, Carroll, Calvert, Cecil, and Fredrick All County orchestras. Ms. Thompson has also served as a solo and ensemble adjudicator in Howard County at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
When she is not teaching or conducting, Ms. Thompson performs as a freelance musician on the double bass and electric bass as well as on the violone and viola da gamba. She equally enjoys performing with orchestras, musical pits, and early music ensembles.
Outside of the music world, Ms. Thompson loves to pursue her three favorite hobbies, yoga, baking for her friends and family, and spending time with her dog Banjo.