Clinics with MasterClass Faculty
American Classic is providing one-time clinics for high school varsity bands, choirs, and orchestras in select locations!
Alisa Pederson
Houston Area
Alisa Pederson has played violin professionally since the age of 19, and has been a music educator for 39 years, having been elected “Teacher of the Year” twice during that time. She graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science and holds an “all-level” instrumental music teaching degree with a minor in Vocal Pedagogy. While serving as Head Orchestra Director of various middle schools and high schools in the Greater Houston Area, her orchestras enjoyed great success in competition, routinely winning Sweepstakes and Outstanding Performance awards. Ms. Pederson retired from public school teaching in 2013, and from 2013 – 2019, she worked as a private violin teacher. In 2019 she began teaching at St. John’s School as an assistant to the orchestra director and is currently serving in that capacity.
In addition to teaching, Ms. Pederson also works frequently as a conductor, clinician and judge. She is the founder and first violinist for the Encore String Quartet performing recitals and private engagements in the Houston area. She serves as the concertmaster of the Woodlands Symphony, the concertmaster of the Houston’s First Baptist Church orchestra and she performs regularly with the Symphony of Southeast Texas, the Baytown Symphony, the Latin Philharmonic and in various professional theater productions.
Ms. Pederson lives in Sugar Land, Texas where she enjoys being an active freelance musician. While violin is her principal instrument, Alisa also plays viola and piano, and is an accomplished vocalist.
Alisa Pederson is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the American String Teachers Association and the American Adjudicators Association.