Directors
David DeVoto is a director of orchestras at Allen High School. Mr. DeVoto earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas in 1994. While at UNT, he was a member of the UNT Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, and String Orchestra and was a student of Anshel Brusilow, James Kjelland, and Jeff Bradetich. Starting in 1998, he served as director of the Lake Highlands Junior High Orchestras in Richardson ISD. Under his direction, his orchestras have received numerous first division and sweepstakes awards. In 2002, Mr. DeVoto became the director of the Allen High School Orchestra. The AHS Orchestra placed in the final round of the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra competition the following school year. In 2006, the Allen High School Orchestra was invited to perform at the 60th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois and again, placed in the final round of the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra competition. In addition to orchestra, Mr. DeVoto teaches music theory, music history, and composition for the International Baccalaureate program - which he helped to create in 2006. He has also taught at Plano Summer Festival, University of Texas - Arlington, and Hummingbird (New Mexico) music camps. He is the past orchestra division chair for UIL Region III and currently serves as the Region Vice-President for UIL Region XXV. Mr. DeVoto holds memberships in Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Texas Orchestra Directors Association. In September 2000, he was a recipient of the Minyard's "First Class Teacher" award. Mr. DeVoto is listed in the 03-04, 04-05, and 05-06 Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Mr. DeVoto was the recipient of the 2003-2004 Standing Ovation Award - given each year by the Allen Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra to the person who has made a significant contribution to the Arts in Allen.
Ellen Townley is a director of orchestras at Allen High School. Ms. Townley comes to Allen ISD from Sugar Land, Texas where she served as the Head Orchestra Director at Dulles Middle School in Fort Bend ISD, a position she held for eleven years. Miss Townley, a native of Norman, Oklahoma, received her Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of North Texas in Denton, and a Master of Music in viola performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. While attending Northwestern University, Miss Townley was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago viola section. She has been Orchestra Director at Clute Intermediate, Brazosport ISD; Sugar Land Middle School and Hodges Bend Middle School; Fort Bend ISD. Her groups have continually received the UIL "Sweepstakes" award. Under her direction, the Dulles Middle School Orchestra was awarded first place at the Bluebonnet Classic (1998), the Buckaroo Showcase of Music (1999, 2000, 2001, & 2002). In addition to the first place awards at the Buckaroo Showcase, the orchestra was selected as the Overall Outstanding Orchestra in both 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005. Under her direction, the Dulles MS Orchestra was invited to perform at the 54th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In 1997 she was named Dulles MS Teacher of the Year. In addition to her teaching, Miss Townley is active as a clinician and judge throughout the state of Texas and was an active freelance violist in the Houston area. She is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Union, American String Teachers Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Mu Omicron and is listed twice in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. She is currently serving on the board of directors for the Texas Orchestra Directors Association as Past-President.
Gary Needham is the director of orchestras at the Allen Lowery Freshman Center. Gary Needham has been teaching for 11 years and currently serves as the Head Orchestra Director at the Lowery Freshman Center in Allen ISD. Before coming to Allen, he served as orchestra director at Frankford MS in Plano ISD for 6 years. At Frankford, the orchestra program had grown to over 220 students, including 3 performing groups and 110 beginners. The groups at Frankford continually received the UIL "Sweepstakes" award and numerous other recognitions. The Frankford Chamber Orchestra had placed in the Finals of the Texas Middle School Honor Orchestra Competition in 2000, 2002 and 2003. In addition to his teaching, Mr. Needham is an active clinician and judge in the Dallas area and around the state. Mr. Needham also serves as the Concert Orchestra conductor for the New Conservatory of Dallas, a position that has held since 2000, and has served as Region 24 MS Chair for the past 2 years. He also remains an active freelance cellist in the Dallas area. Mr. Needham holds membership and affiliations with Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Texas Orchestra Directors Association. Mr. Needham, a native of Amarillo Texas, graduated from Caprock High School and received his Bachelor of Music in Education from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene.
Ann Grosshans is the director of orchestras for all AISD Elementary Schools. Ann Grosshans has been with Allen ISD for 10 years, serving as the 6th Grade String Coordinator. She has taught Orchestra in Midland, Texas and North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Mrs. Grosshans has also taught violin at Music Masters School of Music in Plano for the past 21 years. Mrs. Grosshans was born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico. She received her Bachelors of Music Education from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Mrs. Grosshans performs with the Allen Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. She has also played in the Midland-Odessa Symphony, the Attleboro Symphony, the Roswell Symphony, and the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Grosshans and her husband, Lee, live in Plano. They have a daughter, Katy, who attends Collin County Community College and a daughter, Emily, who attends Texas Christian University. Emily participates in both Orchestra and Band. Mrs. Grosshans is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the North Texas Suzuki Association, and the Suzuki Association of America.
Nicole Pennington is the director of orchestras at Curtis Middle School. Nicole Pennington is in her 8th year as director of orchestras at Curtis Middle School. Mrs. Pennington grew up in Oklahoma City and received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Her teaching career includes orchestra positions in Ardmore Public Schools (Ardmore, OK), Ector County ISD (Odessa, TX), and Dallas ISD. Throughout her career, Mrs. Pennington's orchestras have received several first division ratings at UIL and other competitions. Her groups have also received several "Best in Class" awards at various festival competitions. Mrs. Pennington is an active orchestral adjudicator and clinician throughout the state of Texas. Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Oklahoma Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference and Texas Federation of Music Clubs. She is also listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Mrs. Pennington resides in Allen with her husband Charles (AHS band director) and their children, Jake and Kyle.
Valerie Curry is the director of orchestras at Ford Middle School. Valerie Curry, Ford MS Orchestra Director, is in her 14th year of public school teaching. She previously taught in the districts of Austin, Mesquite and Garland. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. While at the university, she studied violin with Vincent Frittelli and taught in the String Project under Phyllis Young. Mrs. Curry served as conductor of the Young Performers Orchestra, one of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestras until 2005. Her husband is a Principal - and they have a 4-year old son named Cole and his baby brother, Connor.
Angie Cimbalo is the director of orchestras at Ereckson Middle School. Mrs. Cimbalo has been teaching music in Texas since 1979. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree, magna cum laude, from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. Mrs. Cimbalo has taught in Odessa, the Austin area, Abilene, and Amarillo teaching both band and orchestra students. She comes to Ereckson MS from Richardson ISD where she taught for 15 years. Mrs. Cimbalo taught at Apollo JH for 12 years and for 3 years at Richardson High School. Her groups have often been festival and contest winners including consistent UIL sweepstakes awards, Best in Class awards, and placing in the final round of the state TMEA competition for Honor Orchestra several times. Her advanced orchestra from Apollo Junior High in RISD was named first in the state three consecutive times and performed for the Texas Music Educator's Convention in 1999, 2001 and 2003 in San Antonio. She is an active clinician and judge for TMEA and UIL events around the state. Her primary instruments are cello, trombone and piano and she has performed with various symphonies and chamber groups over the years. She lives in Garland with her husband Phil, a cellist, and her special English Springer Spaniel, Maggie. She has a son, Brad and two daughters, Mallory and Kelsey, who both attend Texas A&M University. Brad is a member of the Corp of Cadets. Mrs. Cimbalo also has a stepdaughter, Sarah, who is married and lives Hurst. Mrs. Cimbalo recently became a grandmother to Sarah and Omar's first born, Mariah! Her hobbies are crafting, cooking and decorating.