Bradley Blair
Director, Western Branch High School Orchestras
Bradley Blair is the director of the Western Branch High School Orchestra program. He is an alumnus of Western Branch High School (class of 2013), and a graduate of Christopher Newport University. While at CNU, Bradley earned a Bachelor of Music with concentrations in both music education and composition in 2017. He also earned a Master's of Arts in Teaching from CNU in 2018. Bradley is also an award-winning composer, and performs regularly with the Hampton Roads Philharmonic on bass. When not making music in the classical realm, he is also a recording artist with the band IANVS.
Nicholas Robinson
Director, 5th Grade Strings, Chittum Elementary
Nicholas Robinson graduated from Christopher Newport University in May of 2021 with a Master of Arts in Teaching with an endorsement in PK-12 Instrumental Music Education. He also received his Bachelor of Music degree with a minor in Leadership Studies from CNU in 2020. During his undergraduate career, he was a member of the Honors and President’s Leadership Programs, the former of which he presented research for at the 2017 Virginia Humanities Conference. As a multi-instrumentalist, he performed with a variety of ensembles at CNU including the Marching Captains, the CNU Wind Ensemble, University Band, Jazz Combo, University Chorale, and CNU Theater. He studied guitar under John Boyles and instrumental conducting under Dr. Mark Reimer.
Mr. Robinson student-taught at Discovery STEM Academy in Newport News, VA and Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, VA in 2021. He currently serves as a Strings teacher in Chesapeake Public Schools. He also teaches private guitar instruction at The Music Post in Yorktown and serves as the percussion instructor for Western Branch High School.
Leah Katz Rosenberg
Director, Jolliff Middle School
Leah Katz Rosenberg attended the Western Branch schools and began viola in the fifth grade orchestra program. She received her Bachelor of Music magna cum laude, with an instrumental music education concentration, from James Madison University and her Master of Music, with an instrumental music education concentration, from Ithaca College.
Mrs. Rosenberg’s school orchestra teachers were Alice and Martin Glasco. They established the success of the Western Branch Orchestra programs and Mrs. Rosenberg now proudly carries on their tradition of excellence. Her private teachers were Linda Althoff, retired violist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra; Dr. Jeffrey Showell, retired viola professor and director of the James Madison University School of Music; and Ramon Scavelli, retired violist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Rosenberg is entering her 14th year of teaching (11th at Jolliff). Prior to teaching at Jolliff, she taught fourth through sixth grade orchestra in the Fairfax County Public Schools. In addition to teaching, she also enjoys performing. While in Northern Virginia, she was a violist in the Manassas Symphony Orchestra. She is now a violist in Symphonicity: The Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach.
Mrs. Rosenberg resides in Norfolk with her husband Jason and three children, Judah, Zahava, and Aliza.