Scott Laird

Scott D. Laird is an Instructor of Music and Fine Arts Coordinator at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics  where he directs the orchestra and teaches courses in Recording Technology,  Classical Guitar and Piano, and Music History. A  native of Indiana, PA, he earned his B.S. in Music Education and his M.A. in Violin Performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  He is an active string educator, performer, recording artist, and conductor. His orchestras have been recognized at the local, regional, and national level for their superior and musically mature performances.

Prior to his appointment to NCSSM in 2001, Laird was director of orchestras for Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD from 1992-2001 and the district-wide string teacher for the Palmyra, PA school district from 1986-1992. Highlights of his years as Orchestra Director at ERHS include concert tours of Scotland in 1999 and the Yucatan Penninsula in 1997, a featured performance of Dave Brubeck's Mass, To Hope, as part of the MENC 2000 National Conference in Washington, DC, and numerous performances for dignitaries in the Washington DC region. While in Palmyra, he founded the Palmyra Bluegrass String Camp, a camp to teach string players with classical backgrounds the fundamentals of bluegrass music. 

He is a member of Music Educators National Conference, The American String Teachers Association, and TI:ME (The Technology Institute of Music Education). He served as Chair of the North Carolina Music Educators' Association Orchestra Division from 2006-2008 and coninues to play an active role in that orgaization.  Additionally, he is President of the NC Chapter of The American String Teachers' Association and Chair of ASTA's National Committee on School Orchestras and Strings.  He is a frequent presenter at ASTA's National Conferences, speaking on topics ranging from electric strings to  traditioinal pedagogy to more philosophical sessions that deal with student motivation and curriculum.

Laird is nationally visible as a Education Specialist for D’Addario Strings, NS Design Violins, and Coda Bows where he is a noted as an authority on string education, electric and MIDI string instruments and their applications in the classroom.  He has conducted many high school and middle school orchestra festivals throughout the United States and is in demand as a guest conductor of honors youth orchestras. He conducted the Maryland Senior All State Orchestra in 2011 and is scheduled to conduct All-State events in South Carolina and Vermont in coming years.  He has held summer faculty positions at Interlochen Summer Arts Academy, UNC School of the Arts, Lamar Stringfield String Camps at Meredith College, The Alaska String Camps, Arlington Echo String Camps, and others.

He is also an active adjudicator having served as a judge for a variety of orchestra and solo and ensemble festivals throughout the United States.  He has studied conducting with Mr. William Hudson of the Fairfax, VA Symphony and the University of Maryland.  Laird is the recipient of the 2010 NC School of Science and Math Award for Exceptional Contribution in Classroom Innovation. It was awarded based on curriculum development with emphasis on innovation and technology, innovative teaching strategies, and innovative teaching activities.  In addition, Laird serves on the Board of Directors of KidzNotes, a not-for-profit El Sistema USA organization that promotes classical, orchestral music training for children in Durham’s poorest neighborhoods.

In addition, Laird is an active electric violinist and recording artist and has appeared on the Motown, REX and Roadrunner record labels.  His latest solo CD entitled, "Simple Gifts," features his writing and performing on a variety of string instruments with an emphasis on the electric violin.  He is also well known for his electric violin work with the thrash metal band,  Believer.  The Gospel Music Association nominated their album, Dimensions, for a Dove Award in 1993. Recently, Scott collaborated with Motown artist and former student, Mya, writing and performing the orchestration on the song "Nothing at All."  He has shared the stage with other well known artists including Dave Brubeck, Lost in the Trees, Mike Marshall, Joey Calderazzo, Jon Metzger, and others. In his spare time, Laird enjoys a variety of activities including camping, road and mountain biking, and writing. He, his wife Barbra, and their sons, Matthew, Joseph, and Cael, reside in Durham, NC.