Rebecca Watters
Conductor, Musician, and Arts Education Advocate
Some of Rebecca Watters' earliest memories are related to classical music. From wearing out the "belly dancer 8-track" at Grandmother and Grandpap's house (Sheherezade: Stokowsy & Royal Philharmonic, 1976) to listening intently for the title of a captivating piece on public radio and jotting it down in crayon (Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music), Rebecca's ears have always been widely open and keenly focused on classical music.
Training at the collegiate level in classical piano and Horn have given her invaluable experience in understanding the musician's perspective which drives her every experience on the podium and in her interactions with classical artists. Rebecca earned a Bachelor's in Music from Murray State University in Kentucky, and a Master's in Education from George Mason University in Virginia. Her further musical studies have included conducting with Peter Stark and Achim Holub in London, and Horn with Jamie Hersch in Singapore.
A native Tennesseean, Rebecca taught music in overseas International Schools from 2001 to 2021 at Shanghai Community International School and at Singapore American School, the largest single-campus international school in the world. Music and family brought her home to Music City (naturally!) in 2021 where she joined the Middle School Orchestra faculty at Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Rebecca has adjudicated and coached for the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools Cultural Convention in Singapore in 2005, 2012, and 2019. She has conducted at the Esplanade Concourse in Singapore, the ISKL Band Festival in Kuala Lumpur (2015), AMIS Asian Middle School Honor Band in Seoul (2021 Cancelled due to Covid19), and the Tennessee All-West 9-10 Red Band in Memphis in 2023.
Rebecca has served on the K-12 Education Committee of the American String Teachers' Association (ASTA). She is affiliated with the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS), the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association (MTSBOA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
Rebecca is a proud member of the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women.
Training at the collegiate level in classical piano and Horn have given her invaluable experience in understanding the musician's perspective which drives her every experience on the podium and in her interactions with classical artists. Rebecca earned a Bachelor's in Music from Murray State University in Kentucky, and a Master's in Education from George Mason University in Virginia. Her further musical studies have included conducting with Peter Stark and Achim Holub in London, and Horn with Jamie Hersch in Singapore.
A native Tennesseean, Rebecca taught music in overseas International Schools from 2001 to 2021 at Shanghai Community International School and at Singapore American School, the largest single-campus international school in the world. Music and family brought her home to Music City (naturally!) in 2021 where she joined the Middle School Orchestra faculty at Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Rebecca has adjudicated and coached for the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools Cultural Convention in Singapore in 2005, 2012, and 2019. She has conducted at the Esplanade Concourse in Singapore, the ISKL Band Festival in Kuala Lumpur (2015), AMIS Asian Middle School Honor Band in Seoul (2021 Cancelled due to Covid19), and the Tennessee All-West 9-10 Red Band in Memphis in 2023.
Rebecca has served on the K-12 Education Committee of the American String Teachers' Association (ASTA). She is affiliated with the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS), the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association (MTSBOA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
Rebecca is a proud member of the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women.
Conducting & Adjudicating Appointments
2023 - Conductor - All-West Tennessee 9-10 Red Honor Band
2021 - Conductor - AMIS Asian Middle School Honor Band - Seoul, Korea (Postponed - Covid19)
2019 - Adjudicator - IASAS Cultural Convention
2015 - Conductor - ISKL Band Festival - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2006 - Adjudicator - IASAS Cultural Convention
2021 - Conductor - AMIS Asian Middle School Honor Band - Seoul, Korea (Postponed - Covid19)
2019 - Adjudicator - IASAS Cultural Convention
2015 - Conductor - ISKL Band Festival - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2006 - Adjudicator - IASAS Cultural Convention
Conducting Studies
2019 - Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt - Texas Tech University
2018 - Dr. Robert Taylor - University of British Columbia
2018 - Achim Holub - London Classical Soloists Competition
2017 - Dr. Robert Taylor - University of British Columbia
2016 - Dr. Travis Cross - University of California at Los Angeles
2015 - Dr. Tim Roblee - Shenandoah Conservatory
2014 - Dr. Matthew Schlomer - Interlochen Center for the Arts
2013 - Monte Mumford - University of Tasmania & Melbourne Youth Orchestra
2013 - Dr. Nola Jones - Director of Educational Programs - Conn-Selmer Inc.
2011 - Peter Stark - National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
2010 - Dr. Steven Davis - Kansas City Conservatory - University of Missouri Kansas City
2018 - Dr. Robert Taylor - University of British Columbia
2018 - Achim Holub - London Classical Soloists Competition
2017 - Dr. Robert Taylor - University of British Columbia
2016 - Dr. Travis Cross - University of California at Los Angeles
2015 - Dr. Tim Roblee - Shenandoah Conservatory
2014 - Dr. Matthew Schlomer - Interlochen Center for the Arts
2013 - Monte Mumford - University of Tasmania & Melbourne Youth Orchestra
2013 - Dr. Nola Jones - Director of Educational Programs - Conn-Selmer Inc.
2011 - Peter Stark - National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
2010 - Dr. Steven Davis - Kansas City Conservatory - University of Missouri Kansas City
