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.

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 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

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.