75. Conversation with Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli
In this 75th episode, I sit down with Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli, an award-winning music educator and director of orchestras at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, CA. With a career spanning multiple prestigious institutions and a wealth of experience in both orchestra and choral music, Tiffany shares her insights on what it takes to build successful, high-performing music programs.From her academic journey to her leadership roles as President of the California Orchestra Directors Association and Secretary of the American String Teachers Association, Tiffany discusses the importance of mentorship, student self-efficacy, and the role of diversity in the repertoire. Under Tiffany’s leadership, the Henry M. Gunn High School Orchestras have consistently earned superior ratings at festivals, performed at prestigious national conferences, and even earned the title of "Grand Champions" at the 2024 Orchestra Cup National Championships. But it's not just about the accolades—Tiffany's commitment to the growth of her students as musicians and individuals is at the heart of her teaching philosophy.Join us for an inspiring conversation that explores the intersection of music education, leadership, and the power of music to transform lives. -- Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli teaches orchestra at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, CA. Ms. Ou-Ponticelli holds a B.A. in Music Education (viola) from the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Michigan, where her research focused on group composition and student musical self-efficacy in the middle school orchestra classroom. In the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, she studied viola with Richard O’Neill, and received her teaching credential from the UCLA Teacher Education Program. Her ensembles at Gunn High School and previously at Fletcher Middle School, consistently receive superior ratings at festivals. Under Ms. Ou-Ponticelli’s direction, the Henry M. Gunn High School Orchestras have performed at conferences including the Midwest Clinic International Band & Orchestra Conference (2022), the American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival (2018), and were named “Grand Champions” at the Orchestra Cup National Orchestra Championships (2024). Ms. Ou-Ponticelli currently serves as President of the California Orchestra Directors Association (CODA), as Secretary of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) national Board of Directors, and as Website Editor for California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Bay Section. She has also held positions as CODA All-State Orchestras Coordinator, CODA Secretary, CMEA Bay Section Orchestra Representative, and has served as a member of the American String Teacher’s Journal Editorial Committee. Ms. Ou-Ponticelli has presented at state and national conferences including ASTA and CASMEC, and has been an invited conductor for county- and state-level honor ensembles. She was the recipient of the 2022 CMEA Bay Section Outstanding Orchestra Educator Award, and the 2023 CMEA State Richard L. Levin Orchestra Educator Award.Ms. Ou-Ponticelli is an active clinician, guest conductor, violist, and vocalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to her orchestral background, she is a lifelong choral singer and currently performs as an alto with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Ms. Ou-Ponticelli holds a Level III Orff Certification and is an advocate for incorporating Orff pedagogy in the secondary ensemble setting. Her research interests include musical self-efficacy, repertoire diversity, and solfège singing for instrumentalists.
