Staff and Faculty
Dr. LaSaundra Belcher
Certified Music Teacher, Wake County Public Schools
Executive Director
Dr. LaSaundra Belcher is a respected conductor, music educator, and arts leader with over 20 years of experience in public schools, higher education, and community music programs. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Wake Forest Community Youth Orchestra in North Carolina, where she leads initiatives that expand access to high-quality music instruction for students from rural and under-resourced communities. Dr. Belcher is chair of NAfME’s Council for Orchestral Education and serves on the Conducting Committee for the American String Teacher’s Association (ASTA).
Dr. Belcher is a sought-after guest conductor and clinician for All-State and Honors Orchestras across the country, with recent engagements in Montana, Georgia, California, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, and Florida. She is also a featured speaker at major music education conferences, including the Texas Music Educators Association, Michigan Music Conference, Florida Music Educators Association’s Emerging Leaders Program, and NAfME’s Pacific Northwest Conference. In February, Dr. Belcher will serve as an adjudicator for the American String Teachers Association’s prestigious National Orchestra Festival in 2026.
In addition to her national presentations, she provides professional development for music educators, equipping teachers with practical strategies to foster student success, increase engagement, and strengthen music programs. Dr. Belcher teaches at Shenandoah University, where she equips aspiring arts entrepreneurs with the tools to build successful, sustainable businesses. Her work reflects a deep commitment to inspiring joy through music, fostering student growth, and empowering educators to create uplifting, engaging learning experiences for all students.
Jesse L. Suggs, Jr.
Board President
Retired, Guilford County Public Schools
[Bio]
Sheila Brown
Treasurer
[Bio]
Andrew Markoch
Board Member
Director of Fine Arts and Innovation, Vance County Schools
[Bio]
Sheila Brown is the Parent Liaison for WFCYO. She has been involved with WFCYO since 2014, when her daughter began in the orchestra. Because of her love of music and desire to support the efforts of WFCYO, Ms Brown asked how she could be of help. She was able to put her administrative talents and abilities to work and began assisting Ms Booth with sending emails to parents, organizing snacks and coordinating the concert receptions. She also assists her husband with the WFCYO website. Ms. Brown believes music is an integral part of a person’s development and feels playing an instrument as a child has tremendous benefits and can open many doors for the student.
Ms. Brown’s biggest regret is that she does not currently play an instrument. As a child Ms Brown has played the piano, violin, clarinet and guitar but did not stick with any of these instruments. She is determined to start playing again as a testimony to others who desire to learn to play an instrument later in life. Ms Brown works in the Learning & Development industry as a Training Manager and has recently obtained her Master’s degree from North Carolina Central University, her alma mater. 