Leadership
Allison Washler
Allison Washler is the Director of Orchestras at Marcus High School in Lewisville Independent School District. Prior to coming to Marcus, she taught orchestra at Flower Mound High School for four years. Mrs. Washler began playing the violin in fifth grade as part of the Arlington ISD String Program. After graduating from Martin High School, she pursued studies in violin performance at The University of North Texas. In 2009 she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Performance. During her time at UNT, she studied violin with Philip Lewis and Igor Borodin and performed with the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra as well as the UNT Baroque Orchestra.
Mrs. Washler has a wonderful husband named Kyle, a 6 year-old named Brooks, and a 4 year-old named Riley. When she isn't teaching orchestra, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, cooking, trying new foods, and pampering her cat, Penelope.
Gail Bowers
Ms. Bowers is the Assistant Director of Orchestras at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, TX. Ms. Bowers began her musical studies at age 5 on the piano, and viola at age 9. A native of Indiana, she studied privately with Hungarian professor Csaba Erdelyi at Butler University during her high school years. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music studying under Peter Slowik, and a Master of Music from Southern Methodist University under Ellen Rose of the Dallas Symphony.
Ms. Bowers has been a member of the European Ensemble string quartet since 2006, performing weekly for DFW events. She was a member of the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra for 5 years, and has subbed with the Irving and Fort Smith Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Bowers taught private violin and viola lessons in public schools for 12 years before beginning her teacher certification studies, and currently teaches viola as an adjunct at TWU. In her spare time, Ms. Bowers enjoys spending time with her family and being a softball mom!