Meet Our Conductors & Staff
Alex Encinas
Artistic Director & Lead Conductor of the Scherzo Ensemble
Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Director of Education
Member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Alex Encinas is a true citizen of the world. He was born in Peru, but his passion for music has taken him to Russia, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Argentina, Germany, Japan, France, and finally to the United States. At the beginning of his international career, he studied violin in Moscow and worked as a violinist with orchestras around the world. But it was the viola that truly captured his heart, leading him to earn a Master’s degree in Performance on the Viola from the University of Southern Mississippi.
As Director of Education for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Encinas is dedicated to expanding access to orchestral music for young people throughout Mississippi. Through education initiatives, outreach programs, and meaningful musical experiences, his goal is to inspire the next generation of musicians and audiences by making symphonic music more accessible to communities across the state.
To date, Mr. Encinas’ career as a professional musician includes his participation in renowned festivals and institutions around the world, including the International Tour with I Musici Estensi from Italy (viola), the International Tour with the Arpeggione Chamber Orchestra from Austria (viola), and the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. He served as Assistant to the Concertmaster at the Symphony Orchestra at the Cité Université in Paris, France, and with the Orquesta Filarmónica in Lima, Peru.
He was also the Artistic Director of the Asociación Cultural Despertando Talentos in Lima, Peru, as well as the Personnel and Recruiting Coordinator for the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. In Russia, he served as manager of the Chamber Orchestra Astraxan and president of the Russian-Hispanic Community Association.
Currently, Mr. Encinas is a violist with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and performs with various ensembles across the country. His lifelong journey as a musician, educator, and advocate continues to connect cultures while creating opportunities for young people in Mississippi to experience the transformative power of orchestral music.
Taylis Fernandez
Cello Coach & Conductor, Allegretto Orchestra
Member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Cellist Taylis Fernández is an American-Cuban musician whose passion for music has taken her from Havana, Cuba, to stages around the world. She began her cello studies in Cuba and, by the age of 15, earned a coveted position with the prestigious early music chamber ensemble Ars Longa. As a young musician, she toured internationally throughout Latin America, including performances in Mexico and Colombia, and appeared at the renowned International Cervantino Festival. During her time with Ars Longa, she contributed to several critically acclaimed recordings, including the award-winning album Eco de las Indias, where she showcased her artistry on the viola da gamba.
After moving to the United States, Ms. Fernández continued her pursuit of excellence in cello performance. She earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Cello Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi, studying under Dr. Alexander Russakovsky. While at Southern Miss, she served as principal cellist of The Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra, where she had the opportunity to perform alongside world-renowned artists including Plácido Domingo, Yo-Yo Ma, and Joshua Bell.
Her musical training continued at Oklahoma State University under the guidance of esteemed cello professor Jeffrey Noel Lastrapes. Throughout her studies, she further developed her artistry through mentorship and masterclasses with internationally recognized cellists including Colin Carr, Paul Katz, and Eric Kim.
As a professional orchestral musician, Ms. Fernández has performed with distinguished ensembles across the United States, including the Sphinx Orchestra, Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Opera, Fort Smith Symphony, and Mobile Symphony Orchestra. She has also been a dedicated member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for several years, sharing her talent and passion for orchestral music with audiences throughout the region.
Ms. Fernández’s artistry extends beyond orchestral performance through her work as a chamber musician and collaborator. She is the founder of the Mississippi Fine Arts String Trio, an ensemble that has performed internationally throughout Chile and Peru, sharing music with diverse audiences and building connections across cultures.
Beyond the concert stage, Ms. Fernández is passionate about sharing the joy of music through education and mentorship. As a faculty member of the Premier Orchestra Institute and the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra, she works closely with young musicians, helping them develop their artistry while inspiring a lifelong appreciation for orchestral music. Through her teaching, she is committed to expanding access to high-quality music education and creating meaningful opportunities for students throughout Mississippi.
Whether performing on stage or guiding the next generation of musicians, Ms. Fernández continues to demonstrate her dedication to the transformative power of music.
Tammy Luke
Young Mozart Teacher / Individual & Sectional Coach
Member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Tammy is a graduate of Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music. She then graduated from Northern Arizona University with a master’s degree in viola performance with an emphasis on Suzuki violin.
She plays viola in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in addition to teaching strings for the MSO strings program. She also serves as All-City Conductor for the Jackson Public School District’s Orchestra Program. She co-coordinated the All-City Program for four years.
Tammy is a certified Suzuki violin instructor and has served as a clinician in several Suzuki institutes. She is also certified in the Mark O’Connors violin method. She served as a clinician in the 2022 Tupelo Suzuki Fall Kickoff, 2006 Greater New Orleans Suzuki Summer Institute and taught in the 2012, 2018, & 2022 Premier Orchestra Institute. She continues to explore educational avenues by attending clinics and conferences: 2022 Mimi Zweig workshop, 2022 Mark Mutter Group class ideas, 2021 ASTA workshop, 2018 American String teachers Conference, 2014 Charleston Mark O’Connor Camp, 2012 40th Suzuki of Americas Conference, 2012 New Orleans Suzuki Clinic, 2008-2011 American String Teachers Association Conference and Greater Washington Suzuki Institute.
In her free time, Tammy enjoys trivia games, walking, geocaching, pottery & ceramics and dog agility competitions.
Davan Sagara
Brass Coach / Percussion Coach
Member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Appointed in 2024, Davan Sagara joined the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra as principal trumpet. Raised in Pearl City, Hawaii, Davan began playing the trumpet at the age of 10 and has been in love with music ever since. The day he found out that you can make a living playing the trumpet, he knew what he would be doing for the rest of his life.
Davan studied at the Eastman School of Music under James Thompson earning a Bachelors in Trumpet Performance, Music Education, and Mathematics where he earned the elusive Performer’s Certificate as well as the Sidney Mear award for trumpet. He was recently a fellow at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara studying with Paul Merkelo and Barbara Butler, and performed in Carnegie Hall with the New York String Orchestra. As a soloist, Davan has performed with the Kamuela Philharmonic, as well as in recitals across the country from Buffalo, NY to Honolulu, HI.
Davan teaches trumpet privately, as well as being a guest clinician for trumpet and band classes. He has also taught early childhood general music, and music classes in grade schools. He hopes to share his love of music through his playing and teaching. On his free time he likes to surf, spend time outdoors, and fix things he accidentally breaks.
Kim Scarbrough
Woodwind Coach
Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra
Kim Scarbrough has been performing for as long as she can remember. Her musical journey began in the basement of her childhood home, where she and her sister staged magic shows, dance numbers, and even roller-skating routines—In those days admission was a mere ten cents.
During high school, Kim trained with John Curran of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and performed extensively in her school’s symphonic, marching, honor bands and the Rhode Island all-state orchestra. She later continued her flute studies at the University of Rhode Island with Donna Hieken, principal flutist of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.
Kim went on to study at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, where she trained with Chicago flutists Kathleen Goll-Wilson and Vicki Jicka and completed additional work in French Impressionistic repertoire with Dr. William Montgomery of the University of Maryland.
At Wheaton, she performed in the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Flute Choir, and appeared as both a flute soloist and vocalist with the Women’s Chorale under Dr. Mary Hopper, past president of the American Choral Directors Association. She earned her degree in Music Education with emphases in flute, piano, and voice, together with the equivalent coursework of a flute performance degree.
Over the years, Kim has performed in hundreds of concerts, church services, weddings, and community celebrations, and she is equally at home on the Irish whistle and fife.
With more than 30 years of teaching experience in public, private, and homeschool settings, she has taught general music, choir, and musical theater. She currently serves as Woodwinds Coach for the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra and maintains a private studio in flute, piano, and voice. As a certified MusikGarten® instructor, she also teaches early childhood music classes.
Kim is an active member of the Music Forum of Jackson, the Mississippi Music Teachers Association, the Music Teachers National Association, and the National Flute Association.
Andrew Dillon
Young Mozart Teacher & Allegretto Theory Coach
Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Dillon is an artist, performer, and educator born and raised in Jackson, MS, who is passionate about music through social change. Andrew matriculated from Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education in K-12 Strings. He received his Master of Arts in Teaching from Longy School of Music at Bard College.
Mr. Dillon believes all children should have a robust, active music life and he strives to ensure all children have access to classical music education. With more than 15 years of experience as an elementary music educator in Mississippi and North Carolina, Andrew uses his training in social emotional learning combined with his education and professional artistic talents to integrate music and other arts into math, science, language arts, history, social studies, and religion.
Mr. Dillon specializes in lessons, workshops, and performances in children’s museums, public and private schools, after school programs, summer art camps, libraries, community centers, special events, and performing arts venues.
Temperance Babcock-Steiskal
Allegretto Orchestra Conductor
Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra
Award winning violinist, Temperance Babcock, has been playing the violin since she was four. She began her formal studies under Jennifer Porterfield in her home town of Ardmore, Oklahoma. At age eleven, Temperance began studying under graduate students at the university of Oklahoma and by fourteen was accepted into the studio of the head violin professor, Felicia Moye. Felicia graduated from the Juilliard School of Music and studies under world renown teacher Ivan Galamian. Moye also founded the Miami String Quartet.
At nineteen, Temperance began to take an interest in bluegrass fiddle which resulted in a move to Nashville, TN, in August of 2003 where she studied and performed with Grand Ole Opry fiddle players Hoot Hester, Kenny Sears and Carl Franklin. Temperance has recorded with members of Kentucky Thunder and has performed with Mac McAnally, Paul Overstreet, Casting Crowns, Dove Award winner, Christy Southerland , and jazz singer, Cassandra Wilson. Babcock has also opened for Ricky Skaggs, Sunny Sweeney, Jake Owens, Restless Heart and Sawyer Brown.
Temperance recently played in a televised tribute for the world renowned song writer, Ben Peters, where she performed with Charlie Pride and Grand Ole Opry performer Jimmy Fortune.
Temperance’s dynamic trio with MPB’s Grassroots host, Bill Ellison and Jeff Perkins has been featured on radio shows such as the Thacker Mountain Radio Show, the Sucarnochee Revue and MPB’s Mississippi Arts Hour.
You will also see Babcock in the PBS children’s show, Lomax the Hound of Music, as a fiddling bear and cowgirl.
Alina Shook
Director
Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra
Alina Shook is a passionate advocate for young people, music education, and the transformative power of the arts. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, she moved to the Jackson area in 2018 with her husband, Paul, and their three children. Her journey with the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra began as a parent, watching two of her own children grow as young musicians through the program. Inspired by the impact of MYSO and the opportunities it provided for students, she became increasingly involved with the organization and was elected Parent President in 2021.
Through her leadership and dedication, Alina developed a deeper understanding of the important role youth orchestras play in shaping confidence, creativity, discipline, and community among young musicians. She was later hired by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra to oversee the daily operations and management of the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she now works to support students, families, faculty, and the continued growth of the program.
Before joining the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Alina spent more than 15 years working in the field of Clinical Social Work, where she focused on supporting children, youth, and families. Her professional background gave her a strong foundation in advocacy, mentorship, and creating environments where young people can thrive. She later dedicated several years to focusing on her own children’s education and development, an experience that further strengthened her appreciation for the important role learning opportunities and community support play in a young person’s growth. Today, she continues that commitment through her work with the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Music has been a lifelong passion for Alina. Growing up as a musician herself, she experienced firsthand the positive influence music can have in a young person’s life. Her work with the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra allows her to combine her love of music with her dedication to empowering the next generation.
As the director of MYSO, Alina is committed to increasing awareness of youth orchestral programs throughout Mississippi and helping more students discover the joy, discipline, and community that music provides. Her goal is to support the continued growth of MYSO while creating meaningful opportunities for young musicians to learn, perform, and develop skills that will benefit them both on and off the stage.