Dawn Herron, a native of Texas, is in her 17th year of teaching and is excited to serve as the new head director of the Freestate High School Orchestra program. She received her education from Sam Houston State University, graduating cum laude, where she studied under Andrew Wilson, Dr. Carol Smith, and Dr. Lisa Burrell.

As a performer, Herron has toured Eastern Europe, performing in Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic. As a conductor, she has participated in master classes with Gary Lewis, Jeffery Grogran, and Larry Rachleff. Throughout her career, Herron has been recognized for her work as an orchestra director, with her ensembles earning numerous accolades. Most notably, her Kleb Chamber Orchestra was selected to perform at the 75th annual Midwest Clinic and Convention. In 2020, the Kleb Chamber Orchestra was a finalist in the Texas String Honor Orchestra competition.

In previous roles, Herron’s orchestras have consistently earned top honors, including her Doerre Full Orchestra, which performed at the 68th annual Midwest Clinic and Convention in 2014, and her role as conductor of the 2008 Klein High School Texas Honor Full Orchestra at TMEA.

Herron holds memberships in KMEA. Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two beautiful children.