Artistic Staff | Office Staff | Board Members
Artistic Staff
Dr. Ernest Pereira | Artistic Director
Artistic Director and Conductor of the Youth Orchestras of Charlotte, Dr. Ernest Pereira previously conducted the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras, leading them in performances at Charlotte’s Festival in the Park, Summer Pops at Symphony Park, as well as at national concert venues in Washington, D.C. and Charleston, SC, for Piccolo Spoleto. Under Pereira’s baton, the CSYO performed twice at the prestigious venue of Carnegie Hall in New York City, in 2002 and 2017. In 2020, he led the YOC in a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He has guest conducted the Charlotte Civic Orchestras and appeared on several local chamber music series as either a violinist or conductor. Dr. Pereira was featured at the Charlotte Symphony’s annual Youth Festival, conducting the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the JYO and CSYO, as well as the combined professional and youth orchestras.
Dr. Pereira co-directed, with Dr. Paul Nitsch, the Fun with Chamber Music program for youth at Queens University of Charlotte and has taught violin at Queens. Students from his orchestra and private teaching studio have gone on to major in music at noted conservatories and universities, including the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, Yale School of Music, Peabody Institute at the Johns Hopkins University, Oberlin College, North Carolina School of the Arts, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Vanderbilt University. Graduates of his studio and orchestras also hold performing and teaching positions in many of the nation’s orchestras and universities, as well as having musical careers in film, television, and non-classical genres.
A native of South Africa, Dr. Pereira received his early training in violin in Pretoria from Walter Mony and Alan Solomon, and holds Teacher and Performer Licentiates from the University of South Africa. He studied in this country with David Cerone, graduating as valedictorian from the Cleveland Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1981 and a Master of Music degree in 1982. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987, studying with Vincent Frittelli. Dr. Pereira served as Concertmaster of both the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra as well as the University of Texas Orchestra, and conducted the University of Texas String Project Orchestra. Dr. Pereira served as a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 2023. He has appeared frequently as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States, South Africa, and Namibia, and has soloed with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Charlotte Civic Orchestra. He believes strongly in educating young musicians and maintains an active and successful violin studio. With the newly created YOC, Dr. Pereira continues to foster musical excellence in orchestral performance, drawing on over 30 years of professional experience.
Sarah Case | Sinfonia Co-Conductor
Sarah Heidegger Case has spent her career teaching music in a wide array of settings, from early childhood family music classes to college string methods, and all ages in between. She has maintained a private studio, and taught both general music and strings in public schools. Whatever the setting, Ms. Case pulls on her Dalcroze and Orff training to incorporate movement, singing, and creativity to inform young musicians.
Since moving to Charlotte in 2020 with her family, Ms. Case has freelanced as a violinist and violist in various settings. She currently plays in the Rock Hill Symphony, sings with the Charlotte Master Chorale, and most recently indulged her Broadway interest performing with QC Concerts in their production of Once. Her interests continue beyond music to travel, running, yoga, baking, hiking, and spending time with family.
Ms. Case holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from St. Olaf College where she also sang in and toured with the St. Olaf Choir, a Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Arts degree in String Pedagogy from The Ohio State University. Most recently she earned her Master of Arts in School Counseling. Since 2021 she has earned her National Board Certification and has been a school counselor in CMS.
Courtney Guthrie | Sinfonia Co-Conductor
Bio coming soon.
Erinn Frechette | Flute Choir Conductor
Erinn Frechette joined the Charlotte Symphony as Piccolo/Third Flute in June 2002. Previously she has been a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, and the Sorg Opera Company Orchestra. As a chamber musician, she has performed as Principal Flutist of the Ethos Chamber Orchestra and Queen City Virtuosi, with Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Suzuki and Friends Chamber Music Series, Fresh Ink, the Charlotte New Music Festival, Providence Chamber Music Series, and Friends of Music Series.
In addition to her orchestral duties, she maintains an active teaching schedule, and her reputation as an informative, engaging, and entertaining pedagogue has led to appearances as a Master Class Clinician and Recitalist. She served as acting Professor of Flute at The University of South Carolina during the Winter, 2016 semester, and as Adjunct Professor of Flute at Wingate University from 2014-2023.
Erinn has been a prize winner in numerous competitions including first place in both the National Flute Association’s Young Artist and Piccolo Artist Competitions. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Dissertation: The Pedagogy of Walfrid Kujala: The American Flute School and its Roots in the French Flute School of the Late Nineteenth Century). Primary teachers include Walfrid Kujala, Jack Wellbaum, Bradley Garner, and Richard Graef.
Office Staff
Liz Burns | Executive Director
In addition to serving as Executive Director of the Youth Orchestras of Charlotte, where she is also Cello coach, Liz conducts the Salisbury Symphony Youth Orchestra. She is both the Strings Methods teacher and adjunct professor of Cello at Winthrop University.
Liz performs regularly in the greater Charlotte area. She holds the position of Assistant Principal of the Salisbury Symphony, plays with many regional orchestras, and performs frequently at area churches and in chamber music recitals in North and South Carolina. Liz received her undergraduate degree from UNC Charlotte and a Masters in Cello Performance from Winthrop University.
Grace Haynes-Burns | Executive Assistant
Grace holds a Masters in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from UNC Greensboro. She performs regularly as a soloist and chorister in both the greater Charlotte area and the Piedmont region.