Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia

Artistic Staff

Symphony Conductor and Music Director - Helen Martell

Mrs. Martell is in her seventh year with Bay Youth and this year assumes the position of Music Director and Symphony Orchestra conductor. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1990 with a double Bachelors degree in Saxophone Performance and Music Education, she simultaneously performed in a professional saxophone quartet named Resounding Winds and established herself as a middle school and high school string orchestra director in Chesapeake Public Schools. As a saxophonist, she has performed with the Virginia Symphony and for the Virginia Arts Festival under the direction of JoAnn Falletta. She also performed with the Virginia Wind Symphony and served as the saxophone instructor for the Governor's School for the Arts. Mrs. Martell has conducted All-City events in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News and Virginia Beach and served as adjudicator for the District II Orchestra Festival. In the summer of 2003, Mrs. Martell participated as a Fellow in the Conductors Institute at Bard College in New York under the direction of Harold Farberman. Mrs. Martell has guest conducted the Virginia Symphony during the 2004/2005 season: with the Virginia Symphony Brass on the New Years Eve concert and with the Symphony for a Young People's Concert. In 2007, Ms Martell conducted the Virginia Symphony for the Beethoven Play-Along and a concert in Courtland, VA. Currently, she teaches string orchestra at the School for International Studies at Meadowbrook for the Norfolk Public Schools.

Concert Orchestra Conductor - Todd Parrish

Todd Parrish, originally from Quincy, Illinois, began studying violin at age nine and began writing music at age 14.  In 8th grade, he moved to San Angelo, Texas with his family where he finished high school.  Mr. Parrish received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Oral Roberts University and his Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Arizona, Tucson where he served as assistant conductor of the university orchestra. Mr. Parrish has studied violin with Greg Lynch, Stephen Hamm, Monte Belknap, and Bonnie Terry Warner. He played violin and viola in both the University of Arizona Symphony and in a graduate string quartet under the direction of cellist, Nancy Green.  He has studied conducting with Dr. G. Barry Epperley and Jindong Cai, along with many other conducting teachers in Colorado, Illinois, Maine, South Carolina, and Aix-en-Provence, France.

In 1994, Mr. Parrish began his career by teaching 4th - 12th grade orchestra for School District 117 in Jacksonville, Illinois.  In 2000, Mr. Parrish was hired as Director of Orchestras at Hickory High School in Chesapeake, Virginia.  As a Blue Ribbon School of music, Hickory is known for its strong music program, and Chesapeake is consistently ranked in the top 100 communities for music education in the nation.  Mr. Parrish directs the 9th Grade Orchestra, String Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, and teaches music theory.  The Hickory Chamber Orchestra was one of two high school orchestras selected to perform at the prestigious Virginia Music Educators Association State Conference at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia in November 2006. In 2008, Mr. Parrish will have his first string arrangement published by Alfred Music: Symphony No. 41 – Finale, by Mozart. Mr. Parrish has adjudicated several district orchestra festivals and is a string judge at both the regional and state levels.  In his free time, he enjoys science fiction, the beach, and watching college sports.

String Orchestra and Junior String Orchestra Conductor - Christina Morton

Mrs. Morton is a prominent Suzuki violin teacher in Hampton Roads and a violinist with the Virginia Symphony. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northwestern University and a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University. Mrs. Morton has taught for Norfolk Public Schools (directing string orchestra and the harp program), conducted local All-City programs, and served at Suzuki workshops as a clinician. She is the violin instructor for the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, HomeSchool Plus at Ingleside Baptist Church and Park View Elementary School in Portsmouth. She joined the Bay Youth organization in 1994.

Jr. String Orchestra, Chesapeake Conductor - Beth Argiro

Mrs. Argiro is an orchestra director and violist in the Hampton Roads area.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Performance and her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the Oberlin Conservatory.  Mrs. Argiro has taught elementary and middle school orchestra in Virginia Beach and Norfolk and is currently the orchestra director at Indian River High School and Greenbrier Intermediate in the Chesapeake Public Schools. She was a member of the viola section with the Virginia Symphony for 14 years.  Mrs. Argiro has conducted All- City Orchestras in the Tidewater area, has been selected for Career Teacher Awards and has been awarded numerous grants to support music education.

Administrative Staff
2007/2008