Directors

Kristi Tollefson is an experienced string teacher and violinist. She graduated with her Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota in December, 1994. She moved to McAllen, Texas in 1995 to begin her teaching career. While there she performed in the Valley Symphony Orchestra as Principal Second Violin. She served as Assistant Region Orchestra Chair for two years, followed by two years as Region Orchestra Chair, and two more years as Region Vice President for Texas Music Educators Association. She also was an active board member for the South Texas Youth Symphony. Kristi is an adjudicator for UIL contests across the state and is currently completing her Master of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas in Denton. She is the Master Teacher for the UNT String Project and a member of the UNT Mariachi Aguilas.

Sara Wharry is from the metroplex, having originally grown up in Irving TX. She began studying the cello in middle school as part of her father's orchestra class. When given the opportunity as a teenager to help other students with music, she knew a teaching career was right for her. She was a member of the All-Region and All-State orchestras as well as the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. She received her degree from Sam Houston State University where she was the principal cellist of the symphony.

Mrs. Wharry came to Durham in 2005 after teaching in Plano ISD for nine years. Under her direction, the orchestras at Durham MS and at Renner MS in Plano received consistent sweepstakes awards at Concert & Sightreading, Sandy Lake, and Plano Middle School Music Festival. She has been a clincian and a judge around the state as well as a staff member at various summer music camps.

She and her husband recently moved to Haslet (north of Fort Worth) with their "children", Mac the Golden Retriever, and Cheetah the insane cat. They are active volunteers with Optimist International, a service organization benefiting youth. In her spare time, she enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and watching sports.