Meet the Staff

Susan Mullen, Music Director / Conductor

Susan Mullen is in her eleventh year as Music Director, Conductor and Co-founder of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra.

Susan Mullen earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of Wyoming. As a Rotary International Graduate Scholar, she continued her music studies at the Conservatoire de Musique in Neuchatel, Switzerland, working with Jan Dobrzelewski and Ulrich Lehman while performing in chamber groups and orchestras. She has performed with Orquesta Divertimento in Costa Rica, the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, the Denver Chamber Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, Wyoming Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Huntsville Symphony, and University of the South Symphony.

Ms. Mullen has conducted the Alabama All-State String Orchestra, the Williamson County String & Orchestra Bash, and helped pilot the after-school string program at the Bradley Arts Magnet School in Murfreesboro. Ms. Mullen is a recipient of The Trailblazer Award for Arts and Humanities. She is a member of the American String Teacher’s Association, Music Teacher’s National Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association and the Frances Bohannan Music Club. She is currently the Assistant Concertmaster of the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, private violin instructor, and a freelance violinist.

Cheri Drummond, PSO Conductor

Cheri Drummond began playing the violin at age 6. By the time she was 12, she joined the Greater Boston Youth Symphony and went on tour to Japan. She studied at Boston University and The University of Miami.

After college, Mrs. Drummond enrolled in a Suzuki Teaching Training Institute, beginning a life-long pursuit of a nurturing, loving teaching environment. Her current teaching duties include positions at both the Suzuki School of Franklin and Montessori Academy.

Mrs. Drummond began her performance career with the Naples (FL) and Memphis orchestras. She currently plays with the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra and occasionally with the Nashville Symphony. She conducts the Middle TN Summer Youth Orchestra and coordinates and conducts The Williamson County String Bash. She co-founded the non-profit group Franklin Friends of Suzuki, which strives to bring strings into Williamson County schools.

Danny R. Jones, Executive Director

Danny R. Jones assumed the position of Executive Director of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra on August 1, 2005. A native of Germantown, KY, he holds degrees from Clark Memorial College, Newton, MS (AA); Union University, Jackson, TN (BMEd); Mississippi College, Clinton, MS (MM); and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA (MCM).

For the past 13 years, Danny was employed of LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, where he served as a music consultant, team leader and department director. He also has served in numerous church music positions. A published author, he has three books and more than 50 magazine articles to his credit, and currently is working on a new hymnal project for a major publisher. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico as a church music consultant and trainer, and also has had extensive experience in event planning and management. His vast experience makes him uniquely qualified in his new role with the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra.

Danny and his wife, Bettye, have been residents of Murfreesboro for 13 years. They are the parents of two sons, Jeremy and Jonathan, of Greenville, NC and Murfreesboro, respectively.

Anne Duvall, Executive Director Emerita

Anne Duvall, along with Susan Mullen, co-founded the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra in 1997. She was appointed executive director and served in that capacity until 2003. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the McHenry County Youth Orchestra for five years. She also served as president of the Cary (Illinois) Arts Council. While living in North Carolina, Mrs. Duvall established the preparatory piano program at Greenfield Academy and served as its director for two years. She attended William Rainey Harper College pursuing a degree in Piano Pedagogy.

Committed to the music education of young people, Mrs. Duvall continues to teach individual and group piano lessons. She currently serves as president of the Francis Bohannon Music Club. In June 2003 she was elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors of the Youth Orchestra Board of the American Symphony Orchestra League. Mrs. Duvall was awarded the title of Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra Executive Director Emerita in the fall of 2003.