Melinda Leigh Packer Ellis
Fairfield,CA
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Orchestral Violist
Various Northern California Orchestras
Fairfled, CA
01.2017 - Current
- I have been sitting as the Principal Violist of the Solano Symphony Orchestra for the past three years
- I have also played with the Vallejo Symphony, Symphony Napa Valley, and the Symphony Orchestra of Northern California
Pit Orchestra Musician and Conductor
Downtown Theater
Fairfield , CA
01.2017 - Current
- Pit Violist in professional theaters: Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, She Loves Me
- Conducting Experience - Solano Youth Theater’s Fall 2019 production of Peter Pan, Missouri Street Theatre productions 2019-present: Elf the Musical, Into the Woods, Avenue Q, The Sound of Music, several galas and concerts
- Missouri Street Theater is a professional theater company that typically has 12-20 show runs in a theater seating up to 400
Music Teacher
Vacaville Unified School Distrcit
Vacaville, CA
01.2020 - Current
- Visual and Performing Arts Department chair, overseeing seven theater, music, and art teachers
- Elementary instrumental music teacher for fifth and sixth grade beginning strings at five schools throughout Vacaville Unified School District
- Orchestra Director at Vacaville High School; conducting two large ensembles
Music Teacher
Young Artists Conservatory of Music
Vacaville, CA
01.2018 - 09.2020
- Co-directed the conservatory's three a cappella groups for 9-18-year-old students
- Private and group lesson string teacher
- Instrumental director of two youth rock bands
Vocal Percussion Educator/ Clinician
Self-employed
01.2014 - Current
- Clinician at Music Education Conferences and A Cappella Festivals; 2014 Massachusetts Music Educators Association Conference, 2016 Florida MEA, SoJam A Cappella Festival 2016, New England Voices A Cappella Festival 2017, Boston Sings A Cappella Festival 2016 and 2017, National A Cappella Convention 2018 and 2019
Teaching Assistant
University of Massachusetts
Amherst
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Taught undergraduate Viola lessons, coached undergraduate string quartets, performed as a member of the graduate string quartet - Instructed and designed a freshman seminar course for performance arts majors - Facilitated discussion sections and graded papers as a TA for an undergraduate music appreciation course
Education
Masters Degree - Viola Performance
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA05.2017
Bachelor of Music - Music Education
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA12.2015
Bachelors - Viola Performance
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA12.2015
Certification
Single Subject Music Teaching- k-12; Instrumental, General, Choral
Affiliations
- President, Solano Symphony Orchestra board of directors (November 2021)
- Director of Education on the Operational Board of CASA (Contemporary A cappella Society of America)
Affiliations
- National Association for Music Education
- California Teacher Association
- Sigma Alpha Iota: International Women’s Music Fraternity
Timeline
Music Teacher
Vacaville Unified School Distrcit
01.2020 - Current
Music Teacher
Young Artists Conservatory of Music
01.2018 - 09.2020
Orchestral Violist
Various Northern California Orchestras
01.2017 - Current
Pit Orchestra Musician and Conductor
Downtown Theater
01.2017 - Current
Teaching Assistant
University of Massachusetts
01.2015 - 01.2017
Vocal Percussion Educator/ Clinician
Self-employed
01.2014 - Current
Masters Degree - Viola Performance
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bachelor of Music - Music Education
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bachelors - Viola Performance
University of Massachusetts Amherst