Orchestra Directors JAMIE OVALLE is Director of Orchestras at Martin High School in Arlington, TX. She has been teaching since 2009, with 9 of those years at Martin High School. Mrs. Ovalle began her music endeavors as a student in Arlington ISD with cello as her primary instrument. She graduated from Texas Christian University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at TCU, she studied cello under Dr. Jesus Castro-Balbi and performed with the TCU Symphony under Dr. Germán Gutiérrez. Prior to Martin High School, Mrs. Ovalle spent one year teaching middle school in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. She then spent three years in Fort Worth ISD as the sole director at Meacham Middle School and Diamond Hill–Jarvis High School. Under her direction, these programs tripled in size and earned their first Sweepstakes ratings in recent school history. Mrs. Ovalle joined the Martin Orchestra team in 2013 as an assistant with the late Jennifer Lemin under the leadership of Michael Stringer. During her time as an assistant, she conducted the Martin High School Symphony Orchestra at the Texas Music Educators Convention in 2015 & 2017. When she became the Director of Orchestras in 2017, Mrs. Ovalle conducted the MHS Symphony at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago. The following year, the 2019 MHS Symphony Orchestra was named the High School Honor Full Orchestra and performed at the TMEA Convention for the 3rd time in 5 years. During the same year, the string orchestra was invited to perform in London, England alongside the MHS choir on an international tour. Most recently, the MHS Symphony String Orchestra was invited to perform at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Orlando in March of 2020. She credits all of these honors to the work ethic & heart of the outstanding Martin Orchestra musicians. Mrs. Ovalle has an incredible husband, Dallas, beautiful eight-year-old daughter, Landry Belle, and a handsome son, Jett Ace, who is five. When not on the podium, she enjoys spending time with Dallas, Landry and Jett, participating in church activities, cooking and watching sports. SAMMY BRANCH is an Associate Director of Orchestras at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. Since 2006 he has also been the conductor of the String Orchestra at the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra. Prior to his position at Martin he served as the Head Orchestra Director at Gunn Junior High School in Arlington, Texas for 13 years. He is a product of the Arlington ISD from Martin High School, then under the direction of Mr. Bill Huff. Mr. Branch is a graduate of TCU with Departmental Honors, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree Cum Laude, with violin as his primary instrument. He studied conducting under the direction of Dr. Germán Gutiérrez and violin under the direction of Dr. Curt Thompson. Mr. Branch began his teaching career in 2001, and his groups consistently receive Sweepstakes ratings at UIL music contests and superior ratings at spring festivals. Three times at different festivals his groups have earned Best in Class and Grand Champion awards. Mr. Branch is also an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, and Mu Phi Epsilon. He is also on staff at The University of Texas at Arlington Summer Strings Camp and the Sam Houston State University Orchestra Summer Camp. Fluent in Spanish, Mr. Branch was born in Mexico City, Mexico and immigrated to the United States at the age of 5 and began studying violin at the age of 10. When not conducting or teaching, Mr. Branch enjoys golf, road biking, and spending time with his family.
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