Sandy Neel

Sandy Neel has retired from Hillsborough County Schools after teaching for 35 years. Ms. Neel is the former Director of Orchestras at Burns Middle School in Brandon, Florida. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, Cum Laude from the University of South Florida, graduated with the highest academic honors from the College of Education, and received superior academic achievement from the College of Fine Arts.

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In 2003 Ms. Neel earned her national teaching certification for the early adolescent and young adults. In 2007 Ms. Neel and the Burns Honors Orchestra was the first middle school orchestra invited to perform for the Florida Music Educator’s Association Convention and receive an award for excellence in performance. Each year Ms. Neel’s orchestras earn superior performance ratings at the Florida Orchestra Association Music Performance Assessments, and Solo & Ensemble music festivals, and consistently have students place positions in All State and All County orchestras.

As a pioneer of string education in Hillsborough County, Ms. Neel has generated a curriculum for the young string musicians in grades 7-12, she was instrumental in devising a curriculum for the performing arts wheel, and served as founder of the Hillsborough All County Orchestra. She has developed and led elementary string programs recognized as Music Demonstration string ensembles by the Department of Education.

As a former conductor for the Tampa Bay Youth Orchestra and the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra, Sandy has devoted 22 years to helping students to develop a passion for music and excel to their fullest potential in a performance ensemble.