Wes Atkinson is the Orchestra Director and Head of the Orchestra Program at Jenks High School. A Jenks graduate himself, Mr. Atkinson holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Music Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he graduated with honors. He brings over 15 years of experience directing orchestras, bands, and jazz ensembles across the Tulsa metro area, leading the Jenks Orchestra to three consecutive Sweepstakes Awards at the OSSAA State Contest.
In addition to his work at Jenks, Mr. Atkinson serves as a conductor for the Tulsa Youth Symphony Orchestra's Preparatory Orchestra and represents the American String Teachers Association on the OSSAA Music Advisory Committee. He is also an active composer and performer, and when he's not in the concert hall, you can find him playing upright bass at jazz venues around town.
At Jenks, Mr. Atkinson directs the high school orchestras, directs the Jenks Middle School Honors Orchestra, leads the Jenks Orchestra Student Leadership program, advises the Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter, and oversees all orchestra activities within the district.
Amanda Wheaton is the 7th Grade Orchestra Director at Jenks Middle School and Assistant Director of the Jenks High School Orchestras. Mrs. Wheaton is an Instrumental Music Education graduate of Oklahoma State University, with emphasis and extra coursework in String and Chamber Music pedagogy.
Mrs. Wheaton has taught 3rd-12th grade Strings in Colorado and Oklahoma. She has been a guest conductor for the Tulsa Metro Honors Orchestra, a guest clinician for the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences and was a director of the Mozart Strings Project with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. She is a substitute section violinist for the Signature Symphony.
Hyland Spille is the Jenks 8th Grade Orchestra director. Mrs. Spille received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education with a violin concentration from Oral Roberts University. She has played the violin for over twenty years and the cello and viola for ten years. After suffering a wrist injury, she spent three years studying new techniques for playing the violin and has adapted her approach to teaching to accommodate each unique student. Mrs. Spille is a gigging musician in the Tulsa area and a session recording artist at Spille Music Studio.
Micah Neely serves as Director of Orchestras at Jenks West Intermediate and assists with the Jenks East Intermediate and Jenks 7th Grade Orchestras. He has been a member of the Jenks Public Schools Orchestra staff since 2020. Mr. Neely earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Viola Performance, graduating Cum Laude from the University of Tulsa.
In addition to his work at Jenks, Mr. Neely is Associate Conductor of the Tulsa Youth Symphony and performs regularly with the Tulsa Signature Symphony, Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, and Fort Smith Symphony. He is married to Rachel Neely and is a proud Trojan parent.
Laura Duncan currently directs the 6th grade orchestra at East Intermediate and serves as Assistant Director for the West Intermediate and High School String Orchestras. Mrs. Duncan is a proud graduate of the William Jewell College Oxbridge program and holds both a Master of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Arizona and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Texas Woman’s University.
As a professional musician, she has performed with symphony and show orchestras throughout the United States, accompanying such diverse artists as Kathleen Battle, Sarah Chang, Kenny Rogers, Roberta Flack, The Manhattan Transfer, Lyle Lovett, Le Cirque du Soleil, Sandi Patty, and Kristin Chenowith. She maintains an active schedule as a freelance violinist/violist and studio teacher in the Tulsa area.