135. Mentorship, Legacy, and Building Award-Winning Orchestra Programs — with Shelly Burger & Dr. Chuck Cushinery

In Episode 135 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes two legendary orchestra educators from Las Vegas, Shelly Burger and Dr. Chuck Cushinery. Both guests spent decades shaping the orchestra landscape in the Clark County School District and mentoring generations of students and teachers.Shelly Burger retired in 2021 after a remarkable 37-year career directing orchestras at Green Valley High School and several other CCSD campuses. Her ensembles performed on some of the most prestigious stages in the country, including The Midwest Clinic, Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, and Lincoln Center. Beyond the classroom, she served the profession through leadership roles in state and national music education organizations while mentoring countless young teachers.Dr. Chuck Cushinery began his career as a professional violinist before becoming the orchestra director at Clark High School in 1997. During his tenure, he built a dynamic program that included guitar, piano, and electronic music while leading the Clark Chamber Orchestra to national recognition, including a Grand National Orchestra Championship at the American String Teachers Association conference. His ensembles also performed multiple times at The Midwest Clinic. Chuck is also a two-time Top 10 finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award and now continues his work as a clinician, composer, and educator.In this conversation, Shelly and Chuck reflect on the lessons learned from decades in the classroom:🎻 Building strong orchestra programs from the ground up🎻 Mentoring young teachers and developing leadership in students🎻 Preparing ensembles for major performances and national stages🎻 Navigating the challenges and rewards of a lifelong career in music education🎻 Life and creativity after retirementWith humor, honesty, and decades of wisdom, these two master educators share insights that will inspire both new and veteran orchestra teachers alike.Whether you’re building a program, mentoring students, or reflecting on your own teaching journey, this episode offers invaluable perspective from two educators whose impact continues to shape the orchestra world. 🎶— SPONSORS AND REFERRAL LINKS —Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. ⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠Want to find some classic repertoire or looking for something different and new?  Check out Keiser Productions!https://www.keiserproductions.comLooking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠