Conductor & Artistic Staff

Jason Duckles, Eugene Youth Symphony Conductor 

Since 1999, Jason Duckles has performed as a member of the internationally-acclaimed Amelia Piano Trio. He received his BA from Northwestern and his Master's and Doctorate from SUNY Stony Brook. Jason has also been a member of the Avalon String Quartet and the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, and has appeared as the cellist for the Mark Morris Dance Group. He has performed as part of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project and has collaborated with such artists as Ida Kavafian, Eugenia Zuckerman, and Phil Setzer. Originally from Corvallis, Jason is returning to settle in the NW with his wife, violinist Anthea Kreston, and their young daughter.

Dana Demant, Eugene Junior Orchestra Conductor 

Dana Demant has been a music teacher in the Springfield School District for more than 20 years working at both the middle and high school levels. He currently is the Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Springfield High where he directs the percussion ensembles, the orchestra, and co-directs the symphonic bands. He is the founder and current music director of the Springfield Community Concert Band. Dana has been happily married to Lauren Lindstrom for 26 years and has two fabulous daughters, Jordan and Zoe.

David Chinburg, Eugene Little Symphony Conductor

David Chinburg holds degrees in music education from the University of Oregon and cello performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to his conduction and teaching duties, David serves as principal cellist in the Eugene Symphony and performs with the Oregon Bach Festival and Oregon Festival of American Music. When David is not involved in music activities, he shares the country life with his family on a twelve-acre farm in southwest Eugene.

Sarah Traff, String Academy 2 Conductor/String Academy 1 Instructor

Sarah Traff graduated from the University of Oregon with her Master's degree in viola performance and string pedagogy in 2002. She currently has a full private studio of violin and viola students and performs with local orchestras including the Oregon Mozart Players, the Eugene Symphony and the Eugene Opera.

Lauralie Kallinen, String Academy 1 Instructor

Lauralie Kallinen earned her Bachelor's of Music in cello performance at Lawrence University and her Master’s of Music in cello performance and music education at the University of Oregon. Lauralie has taught string classes in the Eugene Public Schools and the Waldorf School for several years and is a cello teacher for the Suzuki Strings Program. Lauralie also has a large private studio of cello students.

Rafael Videira, String Academy 1 Instructor

Rafael Videira is a graduate of the São Paulo State University (Brazil) and of the University of New Mexico. He holds a Masters Degree in Viola Performance (with Distinction) from the UNM (University of New Mexico), where he studied with Prof. Kimberly Fredenburg. He also is a registered Suzuki Teacher. Currently, Rafael is pursuing his DMA in Viola Performance/String Pedagogy at the University of Oregon, with Dr. Leslie Straka. He teaches group classes and private lessons through the University's Community Music Institute.

Dale Bradley, String Academy 1 Instructor

Dale Bradley's earliest experience with musical instruments was picking out harmonies to church hymns on his parent's piano. A few years later he began playing cello in the Springfield Public Schools. Later he studied with Robert Hladky at the University of Oregon, where he received both Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Cello Performance. Dale is a long-time member of both Oregon Mozart Players and Eugene Symphony Orchestra. He also appears regularly with the Pfaff Ensemble, a group devoted to exploring music and performance styles of the Baroque era. He has appeared with Eugene Ballet and Eugene Opera orchestras, as well as in summer festival orchestras across the state. Dale's teaching activities includes Eugene's Strings Celebration music camps, and a private studio where he teaches cello, bass, and guitar.

Sigrid Karlstrom, String Academy 1 Instructor

Sigrid Karlstrom received a Bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the University of New Mexico where she studied with Brazilian violinist Carmelo de los Santos, also completing a semester of international study with Ole Bohn at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, Australia. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in violin performance at the University of Oregon. Sigrid has completed Suzuki training at the University of New Mexico Suzuki Lab School with Susan Kempter, which involved comprehensive academic coursework and observation as well as professional group and private teaching experience. She has received registration for Suzuki viola with Elizabeth Stuen-Walker and completed additional training with Sue Baer and John Kendall.

Merietta Oviatt, String Academy 1 Instructor

A violin player since age 11, Merietta attended Idyllwild Arts Academy in California and made her debut at the age of 16 with the Desert Symphony Orchestra. She received a full scholarship to attend Louisiana State University where she majored in viola performance. After college, Merietta accepted a Dean of Arts position with the Unitah School of Music and the Arts in Vernal, Utah. While in Utah, Oviatt completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in History and English from Utah State University. She has taught Suzuki viola, violin, and cello and recently lived in Las Vegas where she worked as a freelance musician, a part-time Instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and received her Master's in Music Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She moved to Eugene to begin her Doctorate in Viola Performance and Violin/Viola Pedagogy.