Meet the director

Devyn Wilcox, Director of Orchestras

Devyn Wilcox is the proud Director of Orchestras at Woodson High School located in Fairfax, Virginia. Currently in her 10th year of teaching for Fairfax County Public Schools, Ms. Wilcox has also served as orchestra director at Rachel Carson Middle School, Franklin Middle School and Rocky Run Middle School. Orchestras under her direction, throughout her career, have garnered superior ratings from both state assessments and performance competitions. Ms. Wilcox was the 2023 recipient of the Virginia String Teachers Association’s Orchestra Director of the Year and in 2022, under her direction, the Rachel Carson Symphonic Orchestra performed at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference in Richmond, Virginia. Ms. Wilcox is known for her enthusiasm in the classroom and her ability to grow and maintain large string programs. During her five years at Rachel Carson she grew the program to include over 200 orchestra students with 5 performing ensembles ranging from beginning to advanced levels. 

Additionally, Ms. Wilcox is passionate about providing access to music education for all students. Throughout her career she has worked with populations of English Learner students unable to take elective courses to provide them with opportunities to learn an instrument. During her time at Rachel Carson, what started as a bucket drumming class during the student’s study hall later evolved into a weekly beginning violin class. The endeavor later lead to the school piloting a schedule that now allows English Learner students of all levels with access to taking an elective course. 

Ms. Wilcox earned her B.M. in Music Education and Cello Performance from James Madison University where she studied cello with Dr. Carl Donakowski, and conducting with Dr. Robert McCashin. In 2013, she founded and served as President of the JMU Club Orchestra, an organization that provides university students who play a string instrument at any level the opportunity to perform in a string orchestra. The organization is directed by students enrolled in the university’s music education program and provides them experiences in rehearsing and conducting a developing string orchestra. 

Ms. Wilcox earned her M.ED. in Education Leadership from George Mason University, and has served on several music curriculum committees for Fairfax County Public Schools and the Virginia Department of Education. She is also an active member of the American Strings Teachers Association and the National Association for Music Education.

Apart from teaching in the public schools, Ms. Wilcox spent 9 seasons as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra. She currently serves on their Board of Directors as Secretary and Teacher Liaison where she has hosted beginning violin classes that provide the students of Fauquier County with the opportunity to learn a string instrument at the elementary level at no cost. A native of Warrenton, Virginia herself, this program holds a special place in her heart. Ms. Wilcox now happily resides in Oakton, Virginia with her adorable bulldog Zoey.