Clinicians and Conductors

Our

Clinicians

and

Conductors

Our Clinicians / Conductors

Heather Bush is the founder of OKC Summer Strings, a camp launched in 1997 to offer string music opportunities for middle school students and develop leadership in high school musicians. Over 29 years, thousands have attended OKC Summer Strings and its sister camps, Spooky Strings and Snowy Strings. She is the Orchestra Director at The Academy of Classical Christian Studies, teaches the Casady Lower Division Violin Program, and is a private teacher, performer, and clinician in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas. Previously, she conducted the Overture String Orchestra and taught at Oklahoma City Public Schools, including Jefferson Middle School, US Grant High School, and Classen School of Advanced Studies. Mrs. Bush earned her National Board Teaching Certification while at Classen. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and has played violin for 43 years and viola for 33 years.

Justin Pourtorkan is the Director of Orchestras at Edmond North High School. He is the former Director of Orchestras at Classen School of Advanced Studies. He experience include being the conductor of the Young Artists Orchestra and OYS Associate Music Director, which was part of the Oklahoma Youth Symphonies Inc. He was a finalist for the 2012 OKCPS Teacher of the Year and a Yale Distinguished Music Educator.

Besides outstanding string specialists from the OKC area, outstanding college and high school students assist with camp as "String Coaches"