Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras logo

Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras

Meet the SEMAYO Staff


Spencer Aston

Symphony Orchestra Conductor
Spencer Aston, Symphony Orchestra Conductor

A native of Lake Orion, MI, Spencer Aston is the instructor of trumpet at Bridgewater State University where he leads the BSU Bear Band and teaches applied trumpet lessons as well as various music theory/history courses within the department. Prior to his appointment at BSU, he served on the faculties at UMass Boston, Boston University, and the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Aston maintains a highly active performance schedule throughout New England. As a conductor, he is comfortable leading any combination of musicians in the orchestra or wind band literature. Aston played a major role in the creation of an orchestral program at the Powers Music School where he served as the Director of the Massachusetts Youth Symphony Project as well as principal conductor for the Chamber Orchestra. He is also the Music Director of the Windham Concert Band in Windham, NH. As a trumpet player, Dr. Aston holds regular positions as principal trumpet in the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Bangor Symphony Orchestra (ME) and second trumpet in the Glens Falls Symphony (NY). Other recent orchestral appearances include the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra, New Bedford Symphony, Odyssey Opera, and Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Aston is an active adjudicator and clinician for competitions and educational ensembles including most recently the MMEA Central District Festival Junior Orchestra, the National Trumpet Competition, the Brookline Symphony Concerto Competition, and the BSU Jazz Festival. He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University, Master of Music degree from the University of New Mexico, and Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music.


Erin Quinton

Debut Orchestra Conductor

Erin Quinton holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Rhode Island college. She is a string specialist for the Mansfield Public Schools and freelances on violin for weddings in the South Coast and Rhode Island areas. Mrs. Quinton is the String Adjucation Chair for the Southeastern Massachusetts Music Educators Association (SEMMEA), and active member of both the Rhode Island String Teacher's Association and has been an adjuictor for the SEMMEA Junior and Senior District music festival. As a conductor she has led the Rhode Island Junior All State Orchestra and the SEMMEA Junior District Orchestra.


Itsva Hernandez

Preparatory Ensemble Conductor
Itsva Hernandez Preparatory String Ensemble Conductor

Ms. Hernandez is a string specialist in the Fall River Public School district. Also, a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a bachelor's degree in music education. From an early age through high school, she was a member of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School in Boston, receiving training in violin and viola. Ms. Hernandez also maintains a private studio from her home, and is an active member of local chamber ensembles.


Adam Jeffreys

Chamber Ensemble Coach
Adam Jeffreys, Chamber Ensemble Coach

Adam Jeffreys is the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra's Education Specialist and the SEMAYO Chamber Coach. He is also a section second violinist with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and a contract violinist with the Syracuse Orchestra. Adam Jeffreys has also worked with other ensembles like the Fermata Chamber Soloists, Opera North (NH), Vista Philharmonic, Montreal Music Collective, International Contemporary Ensemble, and Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Melomanes. He has also held principal and concertmaster positions with the Sinfonia de l'Ouest, Lucerne Contemporary Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de la Francophonie, and The Orchestra Now (TON). Adam Jeffreys has worked with the Bard Conservatory as a sectional coach, and he has also worked with the Stringendo School of Music as both a coach and counselor. He has also taught at the West Island Music Academy, The Harmony Project, and the Oberlin Conservatory as a Secondary Instructor. He received a BM from the Oberlin Conservatory (2018) and a MM from McGill University (2020).


Michael Daniels

Program Director
Michael Daniels, Program Director

Mr. Daniels holds a Masters Degree in Music Education with a concentration in Double Bass Performance from the University of Rhode Island. He is a string specialist in the Dartmouth Public Schools, working with students in grades 5-12, adjunct faculty at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and has maintained a private studio of cello and bass students since 2008.

Mr. Daniels has also served as the Southeastern Massachusetts Music Educators Association (SEMMEA) Senior District Orchestra Manager multiple times and is an active member of the SEMMEA Executive Board. He has also been an adjudicator for Rhode Island and Massachusetts for various All State, District, and Solo & Ensemble music festivals. He has been an Assistant Director of the URI SMA: Strings Camp since 2009.

In addition to teaching, he also performs regularly as a freelance musician throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.


Keri Benson

Private Teacher and String Coach (violin, viola)

Keri Benson grew up in Acushnet where she began playing the violin at age nine. She was a member of the New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra's, NBSYO (now SEMAYO) from sixth through twelfth grade, thus giving the program a special place in her heart. After graduating from New Bedford High School, she earned her Bachelors of Music Education degree with a concentration in Violin Performance from the University Of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Since then she has led string sectionals for the SEMAYO under conductor Tobias Monte and proudly taught many students who have participated in all ensemble levels there. She has prepared students to audition for and participate in local youth orchestras and festivals, and has served as Assistant Senior Orchestra Manager and Senior Orchestra Manager for the Southeastern Massachusetts Music Educators Association, String Chairperson for the Southeastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association, and as an adjudicator for junior and senior level violin auditions at both institutions.

Keri Benson’s thirty years as a member of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, and contract player with the Plymouth Philharmonic for as many years, inspired her to teach new generations of string players who have gone on to become NBSO members themselves as well as private and public school string teachers and professional performers. As a freelance violinist, Mrs. Benson continues to perform professionally throughout the Southcoast in pit orchestras, and with choral societies, chamber orchestras, and also at weddings. In addition to performing, she retains a private studio for lessons and has taught strings in several local public and private schools such as the Fairhaven, Lakeville, New Bedford, and Plymouth public school systems as well as the St. Joseph School, Tabor Academy, Renaissance Community School for the Arts, and Alma Del Mar Charter School.


Ian Legge

Private Teacher and String Coach (cello)

Ian Legge, also known as The Punk Cellist on Instagram, is an alumnus of Berklee College of Music. He blends punk rock and classical music on his cello, creating a unique sound that has garnered him a growing community of fans. He grew up in Dartmouth, MA and studied cello under Heather Church and Charlene Monte. He played in the Rhode Island Youth Philharmonic Orchestra as a high schooler. He has taught lessons privately since 2015.

Stay in the Loop!

Subscribe to the Youth Orchestras Mailing List


About Us: