Sarah McDonner | Executive Director
Sarah McDonner is the founder and Executive Director of ECHOrchestra. She is helping ECHO with all executive duties, social media, and marketing. Sarah holds a B.A. in Music Performance from Denison University, Granville, OH and in 2010 she graduated with her M.M. in Flute Performance from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. Her flute mentors include Dr. Leslie Maaser, Dr. Wendy Mehne, David Whiteside, and Melissa Suhr. Sarah and her husband, Ryan, live in the Energy Corridor area (where Sarah grew up) with their two kids and two cats.
Michael Fahey |
Musical Director/ Conductor
Michael Fahey has been performing teaching and conducting in the Houston area since 1991. He has performed with the Theatre Under The Stars Orchestra, Houston Latin Philharmonic and many other orchestras and has conducted high school groups at Symphony Hall in Chicago as well Carnegie and Lincoln Center in New York. Mr. Fahey was the 2012 recipient of the Houston Symphony educator of the year award. Fahey is the founding conductor and music director of ECHOrchestra. Recently retired from Stratford High School after 30 years as a music educator, Mr. Fahey is a member of the Artist Faculty at the Paganini School of Music in Katy, TX and has recently been appointed Interim Conductor for the Houston Youth String Orchestra for the Fall 2023 Semester. He resides in the Energy Corridor with his wife Melanie and their 3 rambunctious canines!
Charles Tittsworth / Associate Conductor
A graduate of the University of North Texas and Southern Methodist University, Charles Tittsworth has been a musician and music educator for 48 years. In addition to teaching all levels from elementary age to college, Mr.Tittsworth has conducted three community orchestras as well as several church choirs. He has also served as President of Texas Orchestra Directors Association and Orchestra Vice President of Texas Music Educators Association. His orchestras were twice selected All-State Honor Orchestra, and he was awarded Teacher of the Year for Lanier Middle School. This summer he was awarded Orchestra Director of the year by Texas Orchestra Directors Association.
Randy Snyder | Personnel Manager
Randy Snyder has been principal trumpet with ECHO Orchestra since its inception in 2014. Randy earned degrees from Stetson University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Houston. Randy, along with Jermaine Smith and Hodari Mitchell, make up the “Echo Jazz Trio.” Snyder is also a published composer and member of ASCAP.
personnel@ECHOrchestra.org
Sarah Garcia | Librarian
Sarah Garcia has been a violinist with ECHO since 2021. She also serves as the ECHO librarian, assists with other ECHO fundraising efforts such as silent auctions and most recently, the first ECHO merchandise sale. Sarah earned her Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting and works as an accountant in Houston’s energy sector. Sarah is a great fan of the Houston Astros baseball team. She enjoys bird watching, fishing, and hunting. Sarah also loves to dote on her two cats and a dog.
Board of Directors
Brianna Muhlenkamp, Chairman and Treasurer
Dr. Laura Plunkett, Vice Chairman
Diane Statham, Secretary
Brian Krueger
Friedhelm Luening
Ray Patton
Advisory Board
Jennifer Dennison Daniels
Michael Madrid
Ray Patton
Angelina Villerreal
Eric Whittaker
Fundraising Committee
Judann Luening
Laura Plunkett
Tammy Stadelman
Diane Statham