Theresa Jenkins-Russ teaches at several schools in Spartanburg District Seven, in South Carolina. She teaches at Whitlock Jr. High , Spartanburg High School, and two elementary schools.
Mrs. Russ attended and graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and studied Violin at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, with Nancy Cirillo, who was a member of the Boston Symphony. She then went on to earn a Master’s of Science Degree in Education from Long Island University in New York. She also began her Ed.D work at Hofstra University in New York and is currently finishing her Educational Administrative Degree at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Ed.S.
Mrs. Russ began teaching in 1987 and taught seven years in the Long Island Public School system in New York and 10 years in the Arlington Public Schools system in Virginia teaching High School and Middle School Orchestra, coordinating the pyramid orchestra staff, and directing the Arlington Youth Symphony in Arlington Virginia. Over the years Mrs. Russ’s orchestras competed at District Festival Events and Nationally rated competitions always winning “Superior” and “Excellent” ratings. Since 2001 / 2002 Mrs. Russ has also been named several times in the publication “Who’s Who Among America’s Teacher’s”.
Mrs. Russ has performed with many orchestras throughout Boston, New York, Virginia, and Washington DC including The New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, The South Shore Symphony, the Brockton Symphony, the Pan-American Symphony, and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic (Mount Vernon Orchestra). Mrs. Jenkins-Russ has played occassionally with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mrs. Russ studied Jazz Violin with several prominent jazz musicians of our time including John Blake Jr., members of the Turtle Island String Quartet, and Billy Taylor and members of his Trio.
In 2002 Mrs. Russ gave a presentation at The Virginia Music Educator’s Conference: “Incorporating Jazz into your String Program” and had her high school orchestra, Washington-Lee High School, demonstrate several selections.
In January 2006, Mrs. Russ was chosen to be on a panel to discuss diversity in orchestral performance and education in our public schools and in our professional orchestras at the International Association for Jazz Education Conference, in New York City. The panel discussion is titled “Connecting with Kids through Improvisation”. Mrs. Russ was also chosen to present in March 2006, at the American String Teachers Association Conference., discussing and performing Alternative Styles of Orchestral Music.
In 2008 at the ASTA National Conference, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mrs. Russ will be presenting a session titled: "Orchestral Diversity": A Look at the 21st Century Orchestra, from elementary through professional. Mrs. Russ will also be conducting the "Alternative Styles 2-hour Reading Session."
Mrs. Russ belongs to several professional organizations including American String Teachers Association, International Association for Jazz Education, South Carolina Music Educator’s Association, The American Symphony Orchestra League, Music Educator’s National Conference and has been a member of the American Federation of Musicians, New York State School Music Association, Suffolk County Music Educators Association, Long Island String Festival Association and Virginia Music Educators Association.
In 2007, Mrs Russ also presented at ASTA with a panel discussion titled Alternative Styles for Orchestras, and conducted the Alternative Styles Reading Session.
Mrs. Jenkins-Russ continues to be a clinician / presenter at the annual ASTA conferences each year. The conferences take place each year in a different city.
Mrs. Jenkins-Russ is also a member of "Spartanburg Focus on Leadership", an organization that promotes the development of leadership in the Spartanburg, South Carolina community.
Mrs. Russ also maintains a private studio teaching violin, viola and cello to intermediate and advanced students. The Studio for String Artistry.
