Lisa McCutchan

YOSA Sinfonietta Strings Conductor

Growing up in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Lisa McCutchan aspired to become an orchestra director since seventh grade. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1982 and a Master's Degree in Music Education from Penn State University in 1984.

McCutchan began teaching at Eisenhower Middle School in 1983. Since her third year, her orchestras have consistently won sweepstakes in UIL Concert/Sight Reading Competitions. In addition, her orchestras have won "Best in Class" at numerous statewide music festivals. Under her tutelage, the orchestra program at Eisenhower Middle School grew from 21 students in 1983 to 172 students in 1998.

In 1998, McCutchan opened Barbara Bush Middle School and achieved similar success there. In the 2003-2004 school year, McCutchan left to open Rawlinson Middle School and direct the orchestra at Sandra Day O'Connor High School. Due to the growth of both programs, she is now assigned to O'Connor High School and is assisting at the cluster middle school campuses. She continues her award winning tradition: this year, the O'Connor String Orchestra was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall.

McCutchan is a member of TMEA, TODA, TMAA, and Mu Omicron. She has served as adjudicator in UIL events and festivals, clinician for both teachers and students, and conductor for region orchestras across Texas. McCutchan is now on the TMEA Executive Board, serving as the Vice President of TMEA and Orchestra Division Chair. In 2009, she served as President of the Texas Orchestra Director's Association.