Directors
Mr. David Metrio
Under his direction, the North Gwinnett High School Chamber Orchestra was also invited to perform at the 2023 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Georgia Music Educator Association’s In-Service conference, the Capital Orchestra Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and the Kennesaw State University Orchestra Invitational. The North Gwinnett High School Orchestra has also been named a national winner in the Mark of Excellence/National Orchestra Honors project by the Foundation for Music Education. Mr. Metrio is in demand as a guest clinician and conductor, and has been invited to conduct, present, or adjudicate at various orchestra festivals around the southeast.
Mr. Metrio is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), where he serves on the state board of directors as Chairman for District 13, as well as a member of the state standing committee for the orchestra division. Mr. Metrio is also the organizer for the GMEA Allstate 11/12 Full Orchestra. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), where he serves as the membership liaison for the Georgia chapter. Before serving as Director of Orchestras at North Gwinnett High School, Mr. Metrio served as the Director of Orchestras at Lanier High School in Sugar Hill, GA. In 2020, Mr. Metrio was named the Professional Association of Georgia Educators STAR teacher for Lanier High School as well as a finalist for Lanier High School Teacher of the Year.
David Metrio is a Colombian-American educator, conductor, and double-bassist based in the Atlanta area. Mr. Metrio is currently the Director of Orchestras at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, GA, as well as the conductor for the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Georgia Youth Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Metrio has also served as a double bass clinician for the New England Conservatory Preparatory School in Boston, MA. Mr. Metrio was named the Teacher of the Year at North Gwinnett High School for the 2022/2023 school year, and a Top 25 Finalist for County-Wide Teacher of the Year.
Orchestras under Mr. Metrio’s direction consistently receive superior ratings at performance evaluations and frequently perform in concert and invitational settings. Most recently, the North Gwinnett High School Chamber Orchestra has been invited to compete at the American String Teacher Association’s National Orchestra Festival in March of 2025.
Mrs. Shawn Morton
Shawn Morton is currently in her twenty third year as an orchestra teacher in Gwinnett County. Before teaching at North Gwinnett High School, Mrs. Morton taught at Duluth High School for sixteen years. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Mrs. Morton also holds a Master’s of Business Administration from Shorter College.
Mrs. Morton conducts the Gwinnett County Kendall Youth Orchestra, and she has served as a clinician for local school orchestras, workshops, clinics and camps. Mrs. Morton’s orchestras have performed at the 2007 Midwest Clinic, 2009 American String Teachers Association Conference, the 2011 Georgia Music Educators Association In-service Conference, the 2013 National Band and Orchestra Festival at Lincoln Center, the 2014 Midwest Clinic, and the 2018 American String Teachers Conference, the 2019 Capital Orchestra Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and at the 2022 Georgia Music Educators Association In-service Conference.
Mrs. Morton currently serves as the president for the Georgia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association. She has also served as the GMEA District 13 Orchestra Chair. In addition, Mrs. Morton has presented at the 2014 GMEA In-service Conference, 2019 GMEA Conference, the 2019 Midwest Clinic, the 2021 National ASTA Conference, and the 2023 National ASTA Conference. She currently serves as the HS Orchestra Lead Teacher for GCPS, and she served as the Duluth HS Fine Arts Department Chair. Mrs. Morton also serves as the facilitator for the GA DOE Orchestra Community. She was the 2021-2022 Duluth High School Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Morton is a member of the American String Teachers Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and Sigma Beta Delta. She resides in Buford, GA with her husband Dale, son Hudson, and dogs Mozart and Aria.