Phil Kent, director of orchestras
Mr. Phil Kent a native of Scottsville, Kentucky and a graduate from Allen County-Scottsville High School. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University receiving a Bachelors degree in Instrumental Music Education, K-12. He has earned a Masters in Music Education with a string emphasis from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. He studied both trombone with Dale Warren and violin with Stanislov Antoniovich, then upon completion of his degree began studying cello.
Mr. Kent is currently in his twentieth year of teaching strings. He is in his twelfth year as the director of orchestras at Lafayette High School, the School for the Performing and Creative Arts, and Clays Mill Elementary in Lexington, KY. Previously, he taught in the Montgomery County School System in Mount Sterling, Kentucky.
Mr. Kent served as the KMEA District 8 Orchestra Chair, the Kentucky Music Educators Association State Orchestra Chair, and KMEA Credentials and Elections Chair. He has also served as an adjudicator for KMEA Large Ensemble Assessments and KMEA Solo and Ensemble Assessments. Mr. Kent has also been invited to conduct the Jefferson County Regional Middle School Symphonic Orchestra, Campbellsville University Honors Orchestra, and the KMEA Third District Honors Orchestra. Mr. Kent was named Outstanding Director of the Year in 2015 by the Kentucky chapter of the American String Teachers Association and was named Teacher of the Year for KMEA District 7 in 2019.
He has performed with various professional and community ensembles such as the Woodford County Community Theater, the Distilled Theater Group, the Bluegrass Area Jazz Ambassadors, the Yellow Dog New Orleans Jazz Band, and the MetroGnomes Big Band. Mr. Kent is a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha, and the American String Teachers Association.
contact
[email protected]
401 Reed Ln., Lexington, KY 40503
Mr. Kent is currently in his twentieth year of teaching strings. He is in his twelfth year as the director of orchestras at Lafayette High School, the School for the Performing and Creative Arts, and Clays Mill Elementary in Lexington, KY. Previously, he taught in the Montgomery County School System in Mount Sterling, Kentucky.
Mr. Kent served as the KMEA District 8 Orchestra Chair, the Kentucky Music Educators Association State Orchestra Chair, and KMEA Credentials and Elections Chair. He has also served as an adjudicator for KMEA Large Ensemble Assessments and KMEA Solo and Ensemble Assessments. Mr. Kent has also been invited to conduct the Jefferson County Regional Middle School Symphonic Orchestra, Campbellsville University Honors Orchestra, and the KMEA Third District Honors Orchestra. Mr. Kent was named Outstanding Director of the Year in 2015 by the Kentucky chapter of the American String Teachers Association and was named Teacher of the Year for KMEA District 7 in 2019.
He has performed with various professional and community ensembles such as the Woodford County Community Theater, the Distilled Theater Group, the Bluegrass Area Jazz Ambassadors, the Yellow Dog New Orleans Jazz Band, and the MetroGnomes Big Band. Mr. Kent is a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha, and the American String Teachers Association.
contact
[email protected]
401 Reed Ln., Lexington, KY 40503
Aaron Breeck, associate director of orchestras
Aaron Breeck began studying violin at age 9. He received his Bachelors of Music in music education from the University of Kentucky (UK) and his Masters of music from Vandercook College of Music. Mr. Breeck was a charter member of the UK String Project and studied under master teachers Maria Baldwin, Kathryn Drydyk, and Sue Lucas. While at UK he studied violin with Daniel Mason and Margaret Karp.
Mr. Breeck is now in his 19th year teaching orchestra. For 14 years Mr. Breeck was an orchestra director in Montgomery County Public Schools. In 2010 he became the Director of Orchestras at Montgomery County High School. At that post he also conducted the Musical Pit Orchestra for the Robert Haynes Spring Musical held annually. Under Mr. Breeck’s direction the orchestras at Montgomery County High School have received distinguished ratings at KMEA Large Ensemble Assessment every year and earned “Gold Level” in the KMEA Program of Excellence 2012-2019. Mr. Breeck took up the post as associate orchestra director at Lafayette High School, the School for the Performing and Creative Arts and as director of orchestra at Wellington Elementary School in 2019.
Mr. Breeck is an active member of the orchestra community throughout the state of Kentucky. He has been a guest conductor for the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District Orchestra Music Festival and Fayette County Middle School Honors Orchestra. He adjudicates orchestras for Large Ensemble Festivals as well as KMEA Solo & Ensemble Festivals throughout Kentucky. Mr. Breeck has served as the KMEA Orchestra Division Chair for District 8 and is the current KMEA State Orchestra Chair. In the summer of 2013 Mr. Breeck was invited to Yale University to participate in the Yale Symposium on Music Education where he received the Yale School of Music Distinguished Music Educator Award. Mr. Breeck was a co-presenter with colleague Ashley Tyree at the 2015 National School Board Association Conference representing the music department for Montgomery County Public Schools. In 2018 Mr. Breeck was selected as the KMEA District 8 High School Music Teacher of the Year.
In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife Lauren and their daughter Sophie.
contact
[email protected]
401 Reed Ln., Lexington, KY 40503
Mr. Breeck is now in his 19th year teaching orchestra. For 14 years Mr. Breeck was an orchestra director in Montgomery County Public Schools. In 2010 he became the Director of Orchestras at Montgomery County High School. At that post he also conducted the Musical Pit Orchestra for the Robert Haynes Spring Musical held annually. Under Mr. Breeck’s direction the orchestras at Montgomery County High School have received distinguished ratings at KMEA Large Ensemble Assessment every year and earned “Gold Level” in the KMEA Program of Excellence 2012-2019. Mr. Breeck took up the post as associate orchestra director at Lafayette High School, the School for the Performing and Creative Arts and as director of orchestra at Wellington Elementary School in 2019.
Mr. Breeck is an active member of the orchestra community throughout the state of Kentucky. He has been a guest conductor for the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District Orchestra Music Festival and Fayette County Middle School Honors Orchestra. He adjudicates orchestras for Large Ensemble Festivals as well as KMEA Solo & Ensemble Festivals throughout Kentucky. Mr. Breeck has served as the KMEA Orchestra Division Chair for District 8 and is the current KMEA State Orchestra Chair. In the summer of 2013 Mr. Breeck was invited to Yale University to participate in the Yale Symposium on Music Education where he received the Yale School of Music Distinguished Music Educator Award. Mr. Breeck was a co-presenter with colleague Ashley Tyree at the 2015 National School Board Association Conference representing the music department for Montgomery County Public Schools. In 2018 Mr. Breeck was selected as the KMEA District 8 High School Music Teacher of the Year.
In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife Lauren and their daughter Sophie.
contact
[email protected]
401 Reed Ln., Lexington, KY 40503