Dr. Colleen M. Snyder

Dr. Snyder is a graduate of Stanford University where she earned three degrees: B.A. in Music; M.A. in Music Education; and D.M.A. in Conducting. She recently retired after 32 years of teaching at Reedley College in Reedley, California where she was the Chair of the Music Department. During her tenure there she taught Music Theory, Ear Training, Piano, Instrumental Ensembles, Concert Band, Orchestra, Music Appreciation, guitar, choir, jazz band, and Jazz History and Appreciation.

She is an active performer on violin, viola, saxophone, clarinet, and piano and performs in many musical groups in the San Joaquin Valley including Sequoia Symphony, Kings Symphony, Reedley College Orchestra, Fresno City College Orchestra, Reedley College Community Band, Central Valley Wind Ensemble, Sounds of Freedom Military Band and Arpeggio Strings, a professional string quartet.

Dr. Snyder has been a professional adjudicator at Music Festivals in the states of Washington, Oregon, and California for the last 40 years and has also been a guest conductor for Honor Groups in those states. She has conducted professional orchestras in the U.S., Russia, and the Czech Republic and is the Conductor Emeritus of the Kings Symphony, the Reedley College Orchestra, and the Reedley College Concert Band.

She maintains a private studio where she teaches piano, woodwinds, and strings. She is a certified Suzuki instructor in both piano and violin and has studied with some of the most well-known Suzuki instructors including John Kendall, June Itami, Allen Lieb, Cathy Lee, Wendy Azrak, and Tim Durbin.