About the Directors
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Mrs. Marissa Weller is an active music educator, conductor, and performer in the Detroit-Metro area. Mrs. Weller serves as the Director of Orchestras at Oxford High School, Co-Director of the Fifth Grade Orchestra, and Suzuki Coordinator for the Oxford Community Schools.
Since joining the program in January of 2019, the Oxford Orchestras have initiated the Oxford Orchestras Student Leadership Team and community outreach program, which has grown the Oxford Orchestra presence in the Oxford community. This recognition has also come from their increased involvement in MSBOA events, including superior ratings from all ensembles at MSBOA Festival events. In 2020, the Oxford High School Symphony Orchestra performed and received superior ratings as a "Class AA" ensemble for the first time in school history. Since 2019, the Oxford Orchestras have entered a partnership with the BeeHive Homes of Oxford, where Oxford Orchestra students provide weekly performances and engagement opportunities for BeeHive Residents. Mrs. Weller actively pursues opportunities to grow as a teacher and conductor. She has participated at numerous conducting workshops throughout the country, and has been invited to participate in workshops at Northwestern University, The University of Colorado Boulder, The University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, UCLA, the University of Michigan, and the Michigan Music Conference. Mrs. Weller holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Michigan State University. She completed her student teaching internship in the Okemos Public Schools near Lansing, MI. While at Michigan State, Mrs. Weller actively pursued supplemental coursework in advanced conducting. In addition, she has also pursued graduate-level coursework in string pedagogy under the mentorship of Dr. Judy Palac and Professor Kevin Noe. Outside of music, Mrs. Weller enjoys spending time with her husband Jonah (a trombone player), dog (Minnie), golfing, and traveling. She currently resides in Troy, Michigan. |
Mr. James Berezney is a violinist and educator who has been teaching Orchestra at Oxford Middle School since 2015. He is currently Director of Orchestras at Oxford Middle School and also directs the 5th Grade Orchestra.
Before teaching in the Oxford Community Schools, Mr. Berezney also taught as a violin instructor and early childhood music instructor at the Michigan State University Community Music School in East Lansing, MI and the Brookline Music School in Brookline, MA. In the summers, Mr. Berezney is a violin instructor for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and has participated in summer music festivals such as the Meadowmount Music Festival, NY and the Aspen Music Festival, CO. James is a member of NAfME (National Association for Music Educators) and ASTA (American String Teachers Association).
James holds Bachelor’s degrees for Music Performance and Music Education from Michigan State University, and a Master’s degree for Music Performance from Boston University.
