Jason Burdett
Harmon and High School Director
Mr. Burdett is the 6-12th Grade Orchestra director in Aurora City Schools. In addition to teaching 6th, 7th, 8th, HS Concert Orchestra and HS Philharmonic Orchestras, Mr. Burdett also leads the AHS Ensemble Club and the AHS Rock Orchestra after school. There are nearly 400 students in the orchestra program and the HS Orchestras have received several Outstanding performances at the OMEA State Orchestra Adjudicated Event as well as having performed in the Bahamas and at Disney World.
Students in the orchestra program have the opportunity to study and perform music from many different genres including, rock, world music, classical and folk music. Students in the program are exposed to sound production, audio and video recording, improvising, playing by ear, composing music, music theory and world music. Through the support of our parent booster organization, the Aurora Orchestra Association, we have brought in guest conductors and educators such as legendary rock violinist and composer Mark Wood and we have also recorded our own Christmas album.
Mr. Burdett earned his Bachelor's of Music Education from Kent State University in 1999, a Master's of Education in Measurement and Assessment from Kent State in Dec. of 2008 and a second Master's of Education from the American College of Education in 2018. Mr. Burdett was named "Music Educator of the Year" in 2019 by the Akron Symphony.
He has performed violin in the Cleveland / Akron area for the past 20 years including a concert in Playhouse Square with Christian Recording Artist Michael W. Smith and as Principle Second of the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Eric Benjamin. Mr. Burdett has also contributed his talents to three CD's, the latest with singer/songwriter Jessie Barr called "Along For the Ride" released in 2014.
Mr. Burdett lives in Aurora with his wife (Katie) and his three daughters, Ellen, Aubrey and Julia.
You may reach Mr. Burdett at jburdett@aurora-schools.org or by phone at (330) 954-2130.
Check out our website at https://www.auroraorchestras.org/
Want to see great pictures of the students at concerts and events such as the Fall Hayride? Like us on Facebook.
Check out Mr. Burdett's Youtube channel for instructional videos as well as some videos of the orchestra concerts.
Mr. Nabring
Leighton Director
Mr. Nabring is in his eighteenth year of teaching, all in the Aurora City Schools. He is certified to teach music and art, K-12, and has a Bachelor's Degree from Miami University. He has studied voice, piano, trombone, viola, and cello and has performed in vocal chorales, musical theater productions (both on stage and in pit orchestras,) concert bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, and on piano at various solo competitions.
Mr. Nabring currently teaches 4th and 5th Grade Orchestra at Leighton Elementary School and Marching Band & Concert Band at Aurora HIgh School.
After school, he is a member of the directing team, along with Mr. Rob Albrecht, for both the Harmon Middle School Musical and the High School Spring Musical.
Mr. Nabring can be reached through email at enabring@aurora-schools.org .