Staff

Artistic Staff:

Dr. Jean Montès

Dr. Jean Montès,

Artistic Director & Symphony Conductor

jmontes@loyno.edu

Dr. Jean Montès is the Director of Orchestral Studies and Coordinator of Strings at Loyola University New Orleans where he conducts orchestral ensembles and teaches conducting and string pedagogy courses for music education majors.  An accomplished conductor, educator, clinician, lecturer, and performer, he is passionate about challenging and  stimulating audiences and musicians alike.  In addition to his responsibilities at Loyola University, Montès is the Artistic Director of The Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestras (GNOYO) where he conducts the Symphony Orchestra.

In recent years, Montès has held orchestral leadership positions at Virginia Commonwealth University, St. Ambrose University, the University of Iowa, and with the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia, and the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies.  Montès holds degrees from Duquesne University, Akron University and the University of Iowa where he earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts under the tutelage of Dr. William La Rue Jones.

A musician and conductor who enthusiastically promotes music of all world cultures, Dr. Montès is in constant demand as a conductor, clinician, judge and lecturer with orchestras and schools at all levels throughout the country. His unique approach to repertoire selection and rehearsal techniques enables him to connect, to be effective and admired by audiences and musicians of all ages.

Dr. Montès and his wife, Sarah, reside in New Orleans with their seven-year-old son, Jaz Léonard and two year old son Soley Mica both of whom Montès considers to be his proudest achievements. In his spare time, Montès enjoys playing chamber music with friends, cooking and sports such as soccer, squash, badminton, biking and ping-pong.

Katie Antis

Katie Antis,

Philharmonia conductor

katie.antis@mpcds.com

Katie Antis is a native of Virginia. She has taught in various locations, including Fairfax County, Virginia, Northshore High School in Slidell, and is presently the Band and Orchestra Director at Metairie Park Country Day School in Metairie. As an oboist, she received her Bachelors of Music Education from James Madison University in Virginia, and has performed with various orchestras, bands and chamber ensembles in the New Orleans and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She also served as a Guest Conductor with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Early Explorers Concert Series. Mrs. Antis loves living in New Orleans with her husband and sons.

Dr. Kent Jensen

Dr. Kent Jensen,

Sinfonia and Northshore Sinfonia conductor

kent667jensen@yahoo.com

Dr. Kent Jensen currently teaches strings and orchestra at Ursuline Academy.  In addition, Dr. Jensen has been a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) cello section since 1994.  Dr. Jensen was a member of the LPO board of directors from 1996-1999 and served as LPO President during the 1998-99 season. Dr. Jensen studied music at the University of Arizona and at Louisiana State University, and interned with the National Orchestral Association in New York.  He was Principal Cellist of the Louisiana Sinfonietta, a professional chamber orchestra, from 1985-94.  During his youth he was a member of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and also the Tucson Junior Strings, where he served as low strings and chamber ensemble coach.  A member of the GNOYO staff since 1997, Dr. Jensen and his wife, Saeko Yatsuka live in the Carrollton area with their son Isaac, and daughter Yume.

Andrew Dykema

Andrew Dykema,

Northshore Philharmonia conductor

adykema@gmail.com

Andrew Dykema recently relocated to the New Orleans metro area from Colorado. After attending the United World College in New Mexico he received an undegraduate degree in Music and Hispanic Studies from Macalester College (Minnesota), and his Master of Music degree is from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, where he was also the graduate assistant and assistant conductor for the Lamont Wind Ensemble. In the Denver area, he has performed with Opera Colorado, the Colorado Clarinet Choir, and the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado Wind Ensemble, the Denver Contemporary Chamber Players, and the Orion Winds. He also is involved in the performance and rediscovery of the music of Ferdinand Rebay with Italian classical guitarist Nicolo Spera. Highlights of this project include world premiere performances of Rebay’s Trio for guitar, clarinet, and flute, and the Septet for two guitars and woodwind quintet. He attended the guitar chamber music master class at Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy. He has also studied conducting with Dr. Joe Martin of the University of Denver and Dr. Jean Montes of Loyola University. He is currently the grade 4-7 Spanish teacher and assistant band director at Lafayette Academy Charter School.

Administrative Staff:

Theresa Sharaf

Theresa Sharaf,

Executive Director

theresa@gnoyo.org

Theresa Sharaf joined the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra in December of 2009. As a native of New Orleans with a ten-year administrative history in extracurricular youth development, she understands the immense value of the GNOYO programming. Theresa is a long-time advocate for the arts in youth education and development. In 2007, Theresa was recognized by former First Lady, Laura Bush, for directing a post-Katrina play-therapy program based on art, music, theater, and literature. In 2008, Theresa received the Public Education Award from the LA Chapter of the American Planning Association for developing and directing an outreach program for youth self-expression in the Lower 9^th Ward.

Theresa has a musical background in voice and piano. She was raised among a wealth of talent with a large, musically inclined extended family including several professional musicians. She is thrilled that her career path has led her, now, to be in service to nearly 200 of the most talented young musicians in the Greater New Orleans Area by providing executive direction at GNOYO.

Meghan Breaux

Meghan Breaux,

Administrative Assistant

mbreaux@gnoyo.org

Meghan Breaux provides administrative support to all areas of the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestras. She joined GNOYO in September 2009.

Meghan relocated to New Orleans from a small town in south Louisiana called Pierre Part in August 2005. After living in New Orleans for over four years and experiencing its highs and lows, Meghan is proud to call it home. Prior to working at GNOYO, Meghan worked at WWL-TV, Channel 4, and attended the University of New Orleans where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Film, Theater, and Communications Arts.

In her time off, Meghan enjoys watching television and films, spending time in the French Quarter and around New Orleans, and spending time with her family and friends.