Brian C. Strain

Brian Strain has been instructing students in choral music for more than two decades.  He was the co-director of the Northshore Youth Chorus of the Greater New Orleans area, which provided training to students in choral music and whose learning endeavors culminated with annual concerts on the Northshore for several seasons.   In addition to his work in the community, Mr. Strain has taught music in both the church and public school settings.   His Orff, handbell and choral ensembles have performed for foreign dignitaries, as well as for community and school level events.  He was named the Elks' Middle School Teacher of the Year and has been honored as the Teacher of the Year at several of the schools he served while teaching in the public school system.  Currently, Mr. Strain is the Coordinator of the Talented Arts Program for the St. Tammany Parish Public School System which is comprised of 55 schools of approximately 39,000 students.  The Talented Arts Program provides Talented Art, Theatre and Music services to students identified through a state evaluation process.  Mr. Strain holds both the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees from Louisiana State University, where he studied choral conducting with Dr. Kenneth Fulton and Dr. James Byo.  He resides in Slidell, LA with his wife and three children.  In his spare time he enjoys hiking with his family and enjoys blogging about their adventures on www.frugalfamilytravelers.blogspot.com