SIDNEY — On Monday, May 16, 2016, the Sidney City Schools Board of Education is expected to approve the hire of Janet Fu as the new high school and middle school orchestra director. Fu comes to Sidney with an impressive resume filled with a number of professional performance experiences, as well as five years of teaching.

An interview committee to find the next SCS orchestra director was comprised of seven individuals including two building administrators, a parent booster member, a senior orchestra student, a local musician, and two SCS music department teachers. Candidates were asked a battery of questions, asked to perform a musical selection of choice, tune a string instrument, and play a sight-read piece.

The search was narrowed to the top three candidates for the interview selection process. Fu was the committee’s number one candidate after the interviews.

Having completed her undergraduate studies in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Fu received her master’s degree in music education from Bowling Green State University in 2009. Since 2009, she has performed as a violist and violinist with the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra, Lima Symphony Orchestra, and Aldrain Symphony Orchestra; she currently performs as a violinist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

Fu has a variety of teaching experience including private instruction in violin and piano to primary and secondary students; she has taught fifth through twelfth grade orchestra at Springfield City Schools since 2010. Additionally, she has worked with the Springfield Youth Symphony and at the Center for Musical Development – Strings at Wittenberg University.

SMS Principal Diane Voress said, “Ms. Fu was the entire package we are looking for. She has so much to offer our students and the energy and charisma to grow our orchestra program. Ms. Fu shared many great ideas and strategies for working with students from beginners at 6th grade to high school seniors and is an accomplished professional musician.”

Sidney Middle and High School Orchestra students are invited to meet Ms. Fu Monday, May 16, at 5 p.m. at Sidney Middle School.