About the Artists
Dr. Veronica Garcia, Music Director
Dr. Veronica Garcia is a conductor, violist, and arts administrator whose career bridges public education, higher education, nonprofit leadership, and professional performance. She currently serves as Music Director of the Austin Civic Orchestra.
She earned her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Sam Houston State University, and her Doctor of Musical Arts in Viola Performance from Texas Tech University, where she was an AT&T Chancellorās Fellow.
Dr. Garciaās teaching career spans every level, from middle school to university. Most notably, she served as Associate Professor of Strings at Texas A&M UniversityāKingsville, where she was also Music Director of the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra and Director of Mariachi Javelina. She founded the JAVELINA Strings Youth Orchestra, securing over $150,000 in funding to provide free after-school orchestra instruction to local students and real-world teaching experience to music education majors.
In San Antonio, Dr. Garcia led the orchestra program at Bush Middle School and was named 2023ā2024 Teacher of the Year and a finalist for NEISD District Teacher of the Year. She also served as Region 12 Middle School Coordinator for the Texas Music Educators Association, coordinating events for students across the greater San Antonio area.
Her leadership in the nonprofit arts sector includes her tenure as Artistic Administrator for OPERA San Antonio, where she managed financial operations and helped secure major grants from the NEA, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Kronkosky Foundation. Her design and marketing work also supported branding and outreach for multiple seasons and events.
An active guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Garcia has led numerous region orchestras across Texas and held fellowships with the Los Angeles Conducting Institute, the Allentown Symphony, the International Conducting Institute (NYC), and the International Conducting Workshop and Festival (Bulgaria). She regularly presents on topics of pedagogy, programming, and music education, including appearances at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the American Viola Society Festival.
Dr. Garcia is passionate about inclusive access to the arts, community collaboration, and mentoring the next generation of musicians. Her programs and performances consistently reflect a commitment to both excellence and meaningful engagement.
She is currently in her second season as Music Director of the Austin Civic Orchestra, where she is focused on expanding youth engagement, fostering collaborations with local performing arts organizations, and delivering powerful and inspiring musical experiences to the Austin community.
Dr. W.P. (Gus) Sterneman III
Gus has been with the ACO since 2014 and currently serves as Associate Conductor. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas; a Masterās degree from Butler University in Indianapolis with a double major in Conducting and Music History; and a Doctorate in Opera and Musical Theatre Conducting at Arizona State University.
In addition to his work with the ACO, Gus serves as the Director of Worship and Arts at Abiding Love Lutheran Church. His passion for stagecraft can be seen on display with Austinās One Ounce Opera as their Technical Director.
Gus spends his free time playing tabletop games with his wife, teaching his two children the finer points of musical theatre, and practicing his passion for lutherie. He feels Menotti is the epitome of English text setting and hesitantly admits to preferring Verdi over Wagner, but always comes home to Beethoven. He enjoys a good pun, but loves a really bad one. And coffee. Lots of coffee.
Leslie Wingo, Narrator
Leslie Wingo heads up the Sanders\Wingo team, a Texas-based independent communications & storytelling firm.
As a public speaker and podcast co-host, she fosters engaging conversations to challenge stereotypes, labels and assumptions where people feel acknowledged, appreciated, and respected.
She believes in philanthropy, and gives time to organizations whose values align with hers, like the Texas Book Festival, Painting Pandas, The Mueller Foundation, and Dell Childrenās Foundation. Her most important role is raising her ācoworkersā (ages 13 and 8). They are her biggest gift (and sometimes the biggest challenge!).
Jarrod Tuikka, Cello
Jarrod Tuikka was brought up in the Seattle region. He earned a Bachelor of Music in String Performance from Central Washington University and later obtained a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Texas at Austin, studying under John Michel and the renowned Phyllis Young, respectively. Mr. Tuikka has played extensively with various symphony orchestras, including the Yakima Valley, Mid-Columbia, Wenatchee Valley, San Angelo, Laredo, and Temple Symphonies. Presently, he serves as the Principal Cello for the Austin Civic Orchestra.
Elizabeth Simpson, Bass Trombone
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Simpson is a bass trombonist, educator, and entrepreneur from Cedar Park, TX. Residing currently in Pittsburgh, PA, Lizzie is pursuing her Master of Music Performance at Carnegie Mellon University under the guidance of Jeff Dee and is expected to graduate in April 2026.
A pioneer in her field, Lizzie made history as the first female bass trombonist at Cedar Park Middle School, Cedar Park High School, and Michigan State University Spartan Marching Band. She is also a proud redhead and ambassador for How to Be a Redhead.
Coming from a musical family, Lizzie developed a lifelong passion for both performance and music education, with plans to pursue her DMA. Lizzie holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Michigan State University, and studied with Ava Ordman.