Summer Strings Camp
Dates: June 22-26, 2026. 8:30am-12:30pm
Location: Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032
Program Information
Purple and Gold Orchestras: No audition required. Open to rising 3rd-9th grade students with 1 or more years of violin, viola, cello, or bass experience. Students will have large group orchestra rehearsals and participate in instrument-specific sectionals. Students will be placed into an ensemble based upon their age, ability level, and years of experience.
Registration (Mar - May 31) … $275
Late Registration (June 1 - 13) … $300
Advanced High School Orchestra: Audition required. Open to rising 9th-12th grade students. Students will have large group orchestra rehearsals as well as instrument-specific sectionals. Audition Materials will be posted soon. Audition videos are due May 31.
Registration (Mar - May 31) … $325
**No Late Registration**
Audition packets will be posted here soon: violin - viola - cello - bass
Refund Policy
All refund requests must be made in writing and emailed to admin@tcsyo.org. Approved refund requests made on or before May 31, 2026 will receive a full refund. Refunds will not be issued after June 1.
Payment plans and tuition assistance are available. Contact us (admin@tcsyo.org) for more information.
Low Enrollment/Cancellation Policy
We need a minimum number of participants in order to run the Summer Camp. Insufficient enrollment prior to the start of the camp may result in cancellation of the Summer Camp - if this is the case, all registrations will be refunded in full.
Sample Schedule
8:30 - Rehearsal
9:25 - Break
9:30 - Rehearsal
10:30 - Snack Break (bring your own, snacks also available for purchase)
10:45 - Sectionals
11:40 - Break
11:45 - All Groups Combined Rehearsal
12:30 - Dismissal
2026 Summer Camp Concert: Friday, June 26, 11:30am
Summer Camp Staff
Mrs. Diana Chou, Artistic Director
Conductor - Purple Orchestra
Diana Chou is a music educator, cellist, and conductor. She is the Artistic Director of The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras (TCSYO), as well as Conductor for String Ensemble. Mrs. Chou began her tenure with TCSYO in 2017 as the Prelude Orchestra Conductor; under her leadership, the program grew rapidly, and String Ensemble was formed in the fall of 2019.
Mrs. Chou has been a music educator since 2008 and has taught for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) since 2013. She currently teaches at Lake Braddock Secondary School as the Middle School Orchestra Director and is co-department chair of the Performing Arts Department. In addition, she is Director of the Fairfax Chamber Players, an orchestra made up of FCPS teachers in conjunction with the Academy Course Program. She is the Secretary and Event Coordinator for the Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education (FACE) and works to bring musical opportunities to all students. Mrs. Chou enjoys curriculum development and has worked on projects for FCPS and the Virginia Department of Education. She has been a mentor to many first-year orchestra teachers and has hosted several student teachers during her time with FCPS. She is an active freelance cellist in the Washington D.C. area and is a founding member of the Maestra Ensemble. She has performed concerti with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra, Fairfax Chamber Players, and Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra, and is slated to perform the Vivaldi Double Cello concerto with the Friends and Family Orchestra in June 2026. She is an active guest conductor and has worked with Middle School All County Orchestras in Virginia and New York. In May of 2025 she had the opportunity to work with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as a participant in the “Girls Who Conduct” masterclass with Marzena Diakun.
Before moving to Virginia, she taught elementary and middle school orchestra for the Ithaca City School District. She served as Vice President of the Seneca Tompkins Music Educators Association and was the Chairperson for All County and Area All State festivals. Mrs. Chou was also the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Ithaca Community Orchestra from 2011-2013. In 2013 she was named a Music Educator Grammy Award Quarter Finalist. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College, and Master of Music in Conducting from Houghton University.
Dr. Mark Taylor
Conductor - Gold Orchestra
Mark A. Taylor is a musician with many interests. He is a composer, teacher, and cellist. While he has explored several genres, he is primarily an instrumental composer writing both professional and educational works. Compositions have earned awards for creativity, contributions to new music, and editor’s choice but the most rewarding part of writing for him is hearing performers bring the music to life and the impact on audience members. He enjoys collaborating with and often guest conducting the ensembles that commission him to write for their ensembles. In 2014, he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, studying under Dr. Glenn Smith.
Dr. Taylor teaches orchestra at Centreville High School in Clifton, VA. He has been named Teacher of the Year by the Virginia branch of the American Strings Teachers Association (VASTA), Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) for Region 5, and the Fairfax Arts Council for Education (FACE). Eric Whitacre featured Dr. Taylor as Teacher of the Week for his work with students on “The Gratitude Project” during the COVID pandemic. He has guest conducted across the Commonwealth of Virginia, presented research and given clinics on teaching composition and new music to fellow music educators, and taught elementary through graduate level students.
As a cellist, primary teachers include F. Wayne Taylor, Brigitta Gruenther and Loran Stephenson. He now maintains a private cello studio of his own. In addition to doing freelance cello work, Dr. Taylor plays in small chamber ensembles, is cellist for the Haase Quartet, and performs in the Friends and Family Chamber Orchestra under the direction of his father.
Dr. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Music degree from George Mason University with high distinction in 2002, receiving the Creativity in Music Award for his class. In 2004, he earned his Master of Music Education degree from Shenandoah Conservatory. The first D.M.A. Composition student to graduate from George Mason University, Dr. Taylor was also granted the Achievement Award at the College of Visual and Performing Arts Convocation in 2014. His work in research and composition has been presented at statewide music education conferences.
When he is not making music, Dr. Taylor enjoys spending time with his family and riding his bike wherever the roads might take him. While he once took an unsupported bike trip from Virginia to Alabama to raise scholarship money for his students, most trips encompass a much smaller radius. He, wife Holly, daughter Jacqueline, and son Curtis reside in Centreville, Virginia.
Mr. Austin Isaac
Conductor - Advanced High School Orchestra
Austin Isaac is the high school orchestra director at Lake Braddock Secondary School since 2015. Prior to joining Lake Braddock, Austin taught orchestra at both the elementary and secondary levels in both public and private schools in Virginia, in addition to teaching privately.
Under his direction, the Lake Braddock Middle School Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at the 2016 annual VMEA In-Service Conference and the Lake Braddock Symphony Orchestra was invited to perform at the 2020 Music For All National Orchestra Festival. Austin holds his bachelor’s degree from James Madison University with a concentration in instrumental education, and his master’s degree in education from George Mason University.
He has served as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for honor orchestras and state assessment performances in various regions of Virginia. He is also a member of the artistic staff of The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras, where he conducts the Chamber and Concert Orchestras. As a member of VBODA, Austin has served in various roles, including as a member of the Orchestra State Grading Committee and as a regional orchestra representative. He is currently the chairman of the orchestra sight reading committee for VBODA.
Austin enjoys writing original music and arrangements for a variety of ensembles. He has written works for string orchestra, full orchestra, band, and choir. His compositions have been featured as J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s Choice selections and have been published with Carl Fischer Publishing, Cane River Music, Zicato Music and Wingert-Jones Publishing, in addition to multiple self-published compositions. Austin lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Nicole and their two cats Lychee and BK.
Ms. Sarah Geiger, Violin
Ms. Sarah Geiger's musical journey began at the age of 3 when she started violin with the Buffalo Suzuki Strings. Through the years she pursued a variety of musical opportunities at the local, regional, and state levels, and upon graduating high school attended Ithaca College for Music Education, graduating in 2005. Ms. Geiger returned to Ithaca College in the summers from 2018-2020 and earned a Masters in Music Education as well.
Currently, Ms. Geiger teaches for Loudoun County at Farmwell Station Middle School in Ashburn, VA working with 6th, 7th, and 8th grade orchestras. Additionally, she coaches Chamber Orchestra – an after school club for students that desire extra performance opportunities. She enjoys bringing students into the community for real-world music experiences, and collaborating with other schools. Ms. Geiger is currently on the board of directors as secretary for The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestra (TCSYO). Ms. Geiger is a violinist with the Maestra Ensemble and also teaches private lessons at The Music Loft.