Director

Mr. Michael Graber

Mr. Michael Graber is an educator and violinist dedicated to string education and performance. Originally from South Dakota, Mr. Graber obtained a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in May of 2011, where he studied under Professor of Violin, Sally O’Reilly. Mr. Graber continued his music studies at Texas Tech University and graduated in May of 2014 with a Master of Music in Violin Performance, where he studied under Professor of Violin, Dr. John Gilbert. It was at Texas Tech that Mr. Graber discovered his passion for teaching music, and in conjunction with his master’s degree also obtained a Texas Teacher’s Certification in the Fall of 2014.

In 2015, Mr. Graber became the Assistant Orchestra Director at MacArthur High School in San Antonio, TX; a position that he held until he was hired at Dowell Middle School in 2017. Since becoming the orchestra director at Dowell Middle School, the Dowell Orchestra program has earned consistent UIL Sweepstakes trophies, multiple best in class awards, placement into the 2024 TMEA MS Full Honor Orchestra State Finals, selected as a 2023 and 2024 Mark of Excellence Commended Winner by the Foundations of Music Education, and other notorieties.

Mr. Graber is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and the national music honor’s society Phi Kappa Lambda: Theta Kappa Chapter. An active performer, he has held section violin contracts with Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony, the Las Colinas Symphony, and is currently under contact with the Allen Philharmonic. Residing in Frisco, Mr. Graber enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Christina and baby son Owen, walking his dog Ponyo, running, reading, traveling, and exploring DFW.