Conductor & Artistic Staff
Jason Duckles, Eugene Youth Symphony Conductor
Dana Demant, Eugene Junior Orchestra Conductor
David Chinburg,
Eugene Little Symphony Conductor
David Chinburg holds
degrees in music education from the University of Oregon and cello
performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to
his conduction and teaching duties, David serves as principal cellist
in the Eugene Symphony and performs with the Oregon Bach Festival and
Oregon Festival of American Music. When David is not involved in music
activities, he shares the country life with his family on a twelve-acre
farm in southwest Eugene.
Karen Doerfert,
String Academy 2 Conductor
Karen Doerfert is the band and orchestra director at Roosevelt Middle School in Eugene. A graduate of South Eugene High School,
Karen is an Arts Umbrella alumni, having participated in the Junior Orchestra and Youth Symphony programs. Karen studied music at the University of Northern Colorado,
where she received her Bachelors of Music Education degree with a double emphasis in violin and oboe. Prior to her current teaching position, Karen taught band and orchestra in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Karen has performed with ensembles such as the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Cooperative of the
South West, Empire Strings, Giovanni String Quartet, and the Eugene Symphony Orchestra. Karen is excited to be back in her hometown of Eugene, and she is thrilled to
join the Arts Umbrella family!
Lauralie
Kallinen, String Academy 1 Instructor
Lauralie Kallinen earned her Bachelor's of Music in cello performance at Lawrence
University and her Master’s of Music in cello performance and music
education at the University of Oregon. Lauralie has taught string
classes in the Eugene Public Schools and the Waldorf School for several
years and is a cello teacher for the Suzuki Strings Program. Lauralie
also has a large private studio of cello students.
Dale Bradley, String Academy 1 Instructor
Dale Bradley's earliest experience with musical instruments was picking out harmonies to church hymns on his parent's piano. A few years later he began playing cello in the Springfield
Public Schools. Later he studied with Robert Hladky at the University of Oregon, where he received both Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Cello Performance. Dale is a
long-time member of both Oregon Mozart Players and Eugene Symphony Orchestra. He also appears regularly with the Pfaff Ensemble, a group devoted to exploring music and performance styles of the
Baroque era. He has appeared with Eugene Ballet and Eugene Opera orchestras, as well as in summer festival orchestras across the state. Dale's teaching activities includes Eugene's Strings Celebration
music camps, and a private studio where he teaches cello, bass, and guitar.
Merietta Oviatt, String Academy 1 Instructor
A violin player since age 11, Merietta attended Idyllwild Arts Academy in California and made her debut at the age of 16 with the Desert Symphony Orchestra. She received a full scholarship to
attend Louisiana State University where she majored in viola performance. After college, Merietta accepted a Dean of Arts position with the Unitah
School of Music and the Arts in Vernal, Utah. While in Utah, Oviatt completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in History and English from Utah State University. She has taught Suzuki viola, violin, and cello and
recently lived in Las Vegas where she worked as a freelance musician, a part-time Instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and received her Master's in Music Performance
from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She moved to Eugene to begin her Doctorate in Viola Performance and Violin/Viola Pedagogy.
Ruth Root, String Academy 1 Instructor
Ruth Root began violin lessons in the 4th grade in the Long Beach Public Schools. She was concertmaster of her high school orchestra and also performed in the Long Beach All-City Orchestra and
All-Southern California Orchestra. In 1967, Ruth graduated from Pacific Christian College and went off to start a family. In 1988 she received her teaching certificate from the University of
Oregon School of Music and began teaching classroom music in Cottage Grove. In the 90’s Ruth taught beginning strings in more than nine Eugene-area elementary and middle schools. Ruth joined
up with Arts Umbrella in 1996 as the director of the Encore Strings (now String Academy 2). Ruth has performed in many pit orchestras for musical theater and also founded and performed in both
the Dover and Degani String Quartets. She currently performs with Riverside Chamber Symphony.

