Principal Dr. Chris Richie, Ms. Carol Doemel, the LHS fine arts department and The Lassiter High School Orchestra Association are pleased to announce the appointment of the new Director of Orchestras: Dr. Charles Laux. Dr. Laux will take over the orchestras for the Fall 2022 semester. He assumes this role following the retirement of our 29-year veteran and the architect of our amazing program, Ms. Doemel.
“The Lassiter High School Orchestra Association (LHSOA) extends its warmest welcome to Dr. Laux as he joins us to lead our string programs at LHS. We are excited to partner with him to help build upon Ms. Doemel’s substantial legacy. Our program is in great hands, and we are excited that its future will be as bright as its past.” – Alec and Laura Davidson, LHSOA co-Presidents
“Dr. Charles Laux brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Lassiter Orchestra program. Dr. Laux has built and sustained successful orchestras throughout his career, Dr. Laux has proven himself to be a highly skilled musician, a student-centered teacher, and an excellent collaborator with parents, colleagues and students. Dr. Laux’s experiences and expertise will enable him to instantly engage with students in our orchestras. His intellectual curiosity and history of leading successful programs is an excellent fit for Lassiter and what we envision for our orchestra program. Dr. Laux is eager to meet our students and families as we prepare for the 2022-23 school year.” – Dr. Chris Richie, Principal
Dear Lassiter Orchestra Students and Families,
Hello! My name is Charles Laux and I am honored to have been selected as the next director of this incredible orchestra program! I am excited to get to know each of you, help lead you through your musical journey, and continue the Lassiter Orchestra tradition of excellence that has been set forth by Ms. Doemel for so many years.
At the core of my teaching and learning philosophy, I feel that playing an instrument and participating in an orchestra program should be a fun, unique, and memorable experience and an opportunity to foster relationships that truly matter. I believe that every student can be successful and that success comes from hard work and dedication toward a common goal. Superior performances stem from proper preparation that includes a focus on improving and reinforcing string technique, utilizing good musicianship skills, and playing with passion. Through daily commitment, students will become confident, independent musicians who can also work collaboratively to create beautiful music and share their love of music with others.
I hope you have a strong finish to the school year and a safe and restful summer break. I look forward to our time together and can’t wait to get started!
Sincerely,
Dr. Laux
Dr. Charles Laux
Dr. Charles Laux is the former Director of Orchestras at Alpharetta High School where his duties included directing five levels of orchestra, including the nationally recognized AHS Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Laux holds degrees in music education from Ohio University, the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.
A string educator in his 26th year, Dr. Laux has worked with diverse student populations from elementary school through the collegiate level. He directed award-winning school orchestra programs in the states of Nevada, Florida, and Ohio. Under his direction, the Winter Park High School Philharmonic Orchestra was selected to perform at the 60th annual Midwest Clinic. From 2012-2016, he served as Assistant Professor of String Music Education at Kennesaw State University where he taught string techniques and pedagogy, music education technology integration, supervised student teachers, conducted the KSU Philharmonic, and coordinated string outreach activities, including serving as founding director of the KSU String Project. Under his leadership, Kennesaw State became the largest string education program in Georgia and the KSU String Project grew to serve nearly 110 elementary school students.
Endorsed as an artist-educator by Hal Leonard Corporation, D’Addario Orchestral and Eastman Stringed Instruments, Dr. Laux has presented over 150 educational sessions for organizations such as the Midwest Clinic, American String Teachers Association, Technology Institute for Music Education, Association for Technology in Music Instruction, and at music conferences spanning 24 states. He regularly presents professional development in-services for school districts across the country and has presented internationally at Colegio Menor San Francisco near Quito, Ecuador. His performing experience includes seasons with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Nevada Chamber Symphony, the Columbus String Quartet, and a collaborative solo-performance with several members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Laux remains in frequent demand across the nation as an orchestra clinician, presenter, conductor, and adjudicator. Most recently, he was awarded “Educator of the Year” by the Georgia chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Dr. Laux enjoys giving back to the string and orchestra community through his “Orchestra Teacher” website, podcast, and YouTube channel. In his spare time, he enjoys running, cycling, camping, cooking, watching sports, coaching baseball, boating, and wakeboarding. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Stacy, and sons, Charlie (12), and Anderson (10).